Spanish Boxing

Do you think they will behave differently towards the U.S?
Zapatero is waiting to see who wins the presidential elections in the U.S., while Rajoy will probably have a more direct line to the current Bush administration. But both want better relations with the U.S. president. I think they will seek to recover that relationship after the U.S. elections.

You wrote a letter to the next Spanish president recommending that he implement a more active foreign policy. Specifically, what do you think he should do to benefit Spain's interest in the world?
I would recommend that he serve as a bridge between France and Germany, because their relations are not good at the moment. Secondly, I'd advise him to try to invest more in building good relations with the United States. Also, Spain should play a more constructive role in Latin America, for example, by preparing and pushing for change in Cuba.

How does Spain stand in the world after Zapatero's first term in office?
Zapatero has had a discreet foreign policy. I don't think he has been very interested in focusing on foreign policy during his first four years. If he wins, he'll have to be more interested, because in 2010 Spain will have the presidency of the European Union. In general, I would say that Zapatero's foreign policy has followed the feelings of the Spanish people, especially on issues like withdrawing troops from Iraq and investing in good relations with Europe and promoting the European Constitution.

Will voters turn out in high numbers for this election?
There will probably be a high turnout, but not as high as in 2004. Then, people voted against the government. Some cast their votes to punish Aznar's administration for the way it had managed information after the Madrid bombing. Those attacks mobilized many people who don't usually vote. This time interest is not as high.

© 2008