EU membership and the Europeanization of Spanish political parties

Abstract

This article explores the extent to which Spanish political parties have been affected by the pro-European views of a wide majority of the Spanish electorate and by EU membership. It suggests that Spain's two main political parties, the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) and the Partido Popular (PP), have become Europeanized as a result of both phenomena. Hence, socialists and conservatives have adapted their political discourse to reflect and satisfy the pro-European stance of most Spaniards and the demands related to EU membership. To prove the Europeanization of these parties, I analyze the electoral manifestos that PSOE and PP have used to communicate their political agenda to the Spanish electorate in national elections dating back to the restoration of democracy.