Will Catalonia be a big issue in the Spanish election?

Will Catalonia be a big issue in the Spanish election?

Will the Catalonia question be a big issue in the Spanish election coming up in November?

You bet it will. Passions have been further inflamed now, and the question that has been difficult from the very beginning, by the very heavy prison sentences that was given to those that are accused of sedition, that is organizing the independence referendum. So, passions are heating up. It will be a difficult issue for the entire Spanish political system to handle for years to come.

What is the European reaction and how will it handle the fact that the Peace Party won the election in Poland?

Well, it was a democratic election. I mean, there are restrictions in the judiciary. The government controls part of the media in a rather awful way. But there is little doubt that the party actually won the election. That has to do with the economy doing well. And they're sort of handing out, handing out a lot of welfare payments to people as well. But Poland is an important country. The European Union will continue to treat it as a member state. I think that there will be somewhat acrimonious discussions when it comes to the financial framework. The budget for the European Union, where Poland has been benefiting quite substantially during the past few years, but where it stands when it comes to the law are, to put it mildly, questionable.

More from GZERO Media

Last week, Microsoft released the 2025 TechSpark Impact Report, which highlights how the company is assisting regions across the US in achieving these goals. Since its launch, TechSpark has obtained over $700 million in community funding, supported more than 65,000 people in developing digital skills, and, thanks to the work of TechSpark Fellows, catalyzed $249M+ in funding and upskilled 34,600 individuals across 46 communities — highlighting the ripple effect of local leadership and innovation. Learn more about this progress in the 2025 report here.

Members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold a flag in the divided city of Deir al-Zor, Syria December 7, 2024.
REUTERS

¼: The new Syrian government has signed a ceasefire with US-backed Kurdish fighters who control roughly a quarter of Syria’s territory, in a pact that could smooth the re-integration of Kurdish areas into the Syrian state.

A drone view of families of hostages and their supporters protesting ahead of the two-year anniversary of the deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, demanding the immediate release of all hostages and the end of the war in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 4, 2025.
REUTERS/Rei Ash

66: A new poll by the Israel Democracy Institute shows 66% of Israelis say it’s time to end the war in Gaza, up 13 points from last October.

Palestinians inspect the destruction after Israeli airstrike hit Bank of Palestine in Gaza Strip Palestinians inspect the destruction after Israeli airstrike hit Bank of Palestine in Gaza Strip on September 24, 2025.
  • IMAGO/APAimages via Reuters Connect

Negotiations are ongoing to end the war in Gaza, with US President Donald Trump urging parties to “move fast” to reach a deal.