Madrid – The 41st Federal Congress of the PSOE, which will be held between November 29 and December 1 in Seville, is shaping up to be a key stage for the redefinition of Spanish foreign policy, especially in relation to Western Sahara. Various sectors of the socialist militancy have come to this meeting with a clear message: to correct the position adopted by the Government of Pedro Sánchez and to align themselves with international legality regarding the Western Sahara conflict.
A turn in PSOE policy
Various socialist federations have presented amendments to the Congress that seek to reverse what they consider a “turn” in Spanish foreign policy towards Western Sahara, a change that, they criticize, moves away from the resolutions of the UN and the AU on the decolonization process. These proposals call for the PSOE to recover its historic role in defending the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people, as established by International Law.
In particular, the Socialist Youth and the Madrid Federation advocate the formal recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and the application of effective diplomatic pressure on Morocco to achieve a fair and human rights-respecting solution. However, the Ferraz leadership has avoided directly addressing this issue in the framework report for the Congress, which has generated unrest among the party’s rank and file.
«Moroccan dictatorship» and human rights violations
The discussion on Western Sahara has been reflected in the amendments of some federations, such as that of Cantabria, which have described Morocco as a «dictatorship» due to the «systematic violations of human rights» in the occupied Sahara. These federations demand that the Spanish Government act as the historical responsible for the territory and that it press for the release of the Sahrawi political prisoners, in addition to denouncing the abuses before the international community.
This internal disagreement within the PSOE puts Pedro Sánchez in an uncomfortable position. The growing pressure from critical sectors contrasts with the position of the Ferraz leadership, which continues to defend a close relationship with Morocco, despite the contradictions with the historical principles of the party. These sectors consider that the current policy of the Government is moving away from the fundamental values of the PSOE and from international legality.
The historical responsibility of Spain
One of the amendments most supported by the party’s rank and file highlights the “historical and moral responsibility” of Spain as the administering power of Western Sahara. This argument takes on special relevance after the Government’s defense of the Moroccan autonomy plan, which is widely criticized by the sectors of the PSOE that defend the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to decide their future.
The timing is also crucial following the recent rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which in October 2024 ruled the annulment of trade agreements between the EU and Morocco due to the plundering of Western Sahara’s natural resources. These rulings reaffirm the distinction between Morocco and Western Sahara, reinforcing the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people.
With the 41st Congress just around the corner, Pedro Sánchez’s leadership faces an unprecedented internal challenge. Critical sectors of the party, supported by a significant part of the membership, are demanding a change in Spain’s foreign policy towards Western Sahara. The pressure is clear: the PSOE must realign its stance with the historical principles of justice, self-determination and respect for human rights.
This Congress could mark a turning point in socialist politics, redefining not only Spain’s relationship with Morocco, but also the PSOE’s future commitment to the decolonisation process of Western Sahara.
