The Spanish are clear: they reject war and those who promote it. For this reason, they repudiate the president of the United States, Donald Trump. This is not a new feeling, as confirmed by the latest 40dB delivery. for the April barometer The Country and Cadena SER. The different thing is that this opposition and distrust now exceeds that generated among the population even by the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, a totalitarian leader who has been invading European soil for more than four years. The idea that an ally of Madrid continues to live in the White House has been broken.
Trump is considered, according to the poll released this Monday, as the greatest threat to world peace, slightly above Putin. Both appear followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Demoscopic research also reveals a deep pessimism about the future of the planet, to the point that less than 10% expect it to be more prosperous and stable, when we are in the 21st century, which should be that of progress and stability.
Among Spaniards there is also a division almost into two halves, very marked by ideological differences, regarding the increase in defense spending. On the other hand, leaving NATO is only advocated by Podemos voters. All internal survey data can be downloaded here.
When respondents are asked to choose the leaders who most endanger the peace of the planet, Trump is indicated by 81%, compared to 79.3% who cite Putin and 71.2% Netanyahu. The rest of the leaders suggested by 40dB. They are further away: the new Iranian supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei (62.9%); the North Korean Kim Jong-Un (62.25%) and, with even greater distance, the head of state of the other superpower, the Chinese Xi Jinping, who remains at 49.3%.
The Grupo Prisa newspaper indicates that, although the greatest animosity towards Trump is located among voters on the left, “those of the PP are not very benevolent towards him either.” The voters of the first opposition party do indicate Putin as the greatest danger (80%), although not with a great difference over the American (71.3%). Understanding with Trump is only detected among Vox followers, where his threatening image drops to 36.5%. “This discrepancy between the voters of the two right-wing parties is also observed with the figure of Netanyahu, seen as a danger to peace by 60% of those in the PP and only by 24% of those in Vox,” it is added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at the Kremlin on January 30, 2020.
Previous studies by the same demographic institute had confirmed the very majority of popular opposition at the start of the war. Now, after five weeks of exchange of fire, there are no more supporters of continuing the offensive until the ayatollah regime is overthrown.
56% reject it, a predominant opinion, again, among all voters except Vox. Much larger percentages declare themselves in favor of a ceasefire in the Palestinian conflict, the search for a negotiated solution to the political crisis in Venezuela and the maintenance of international aid to Ukraine.
The work published today corroborates that international news has become a main part of the information menu of Spaniards: two out of three claim to follow it. But the enormous gap by age and sex is striking. Between the oldest and the youngest there is almost 20 points of difference in favor of the former in following this type of news. An abyss similar to the one that separates men from women, they are much more attentive to what is happening in the world.
An illustration from ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine shows Donald Trump, US president, trying to blow up the planet with a bomb.
Fatalism is here to stay
The turbulent world situation has spread a thick blanket of fatalism among the population. The data is stark: almost 70% declare themselves pessimistic about the future; Around half predict that it will be violent, authoritarian and unequal, while less than 10% predict it with hopes of improvement. The possibility of a democratic involution in the US and the EU is plausible for 59% in the first case and 54% in the second.
By two in three respondents or even more, Americans are expected to undertake new military adventures, including Greenland and Cuba, and the Middle East conflict is expected to lead to a global economic crisis. Half believe a global war is possible. The fear that Putin will invade an EU country drops to 39%, deepens The Country.
The differences by ideological blocs become much more noticeable when issues linked to the national debate are addressed. This is what happens when asking about Spain’s position in international politics. A majority (37%) considers it positive compared to 30% who consider it negative. The rest remains “neither good nor bad” in the middle of a chasm between the favorable opinions of the left and unfavorable opinions of the right. ‘
Much more consensus arouses the defense of the economic, territorial and energy sovereignty of Spain, as well as international law, issues supported by more than 75% of those interviewed by 40dB. More than half would be in favor of the creation of a European army. That Spain provides military support to the United States in the campaign against Iran and prioritizes its relationship with Washington is rejected by percentages greater than 50%.
At this point, in addition, there is a division among PP voters, while Vox voters show off their pro-Americanism. The hypothetical sending of Spanish troops to conflict zones does not raise much controversy. Even to different degrees, rejection prevails among all electorates.
There is another issue that draws a clear line between ideological sectors, separating those surveyed into two almost perfect halves: the increase in military spending. 46.3% are in favor and 45.3% are against. On the right, supporters make up an overwhelming majority, while the left declares themselves against it, less pronounced among PSOE voters. The positions regarding a hypothetical recovery of compulsory military service are clearer: only Vox voters would see it well.
Nor, although it might seem otherwise, are there too many disagreements about NATO. Almost two out of three declare themselves in favor of continuing in the Alliance. This favorable position, although more pronounced on the right, prevails among the electorates of all parties, including Sumar and with the sole exception of Podemos.
The survey closes with a question: would you be willing to take personal risks to defend democracy in Spain? Half answer yes and 36% say no, without major distinctions between voters.
