The coalition government is going through the most complicated moment of the legislature with the feminist agenda, always the flag of the left, at the center of the confrontation between PSOE and Podemos. Therefore, as a factor of government tension and linked to the strategies of this election year that is opening. The reform of the only yes is yes law, the approval of the trans law and the abortion law have condensed the debate in Congress this week. Feminism at the center of politics, with a strong destabilizing charge in the Government. But also, although with anger, opening debates.
What happens, explains Margarita León, professor of Political Science, is not so different from the general polarization of politics. The spaces have been fragmented and therefore the electoral competition is much more fierce. If before the competition was structured between the right and the left, the fragmentation is also installed within each block. Vox wants to exploit all the consensus around equality policies, including the pact against Gender Violence, to try to drag and displace the PP. On the left, polarization also makes a dent.
The PSOE had had until the formation of the coalition government -January 2020- the flag of feminism accompanied by broad social support, and it is evident that Podemos, through the Ministry of Equality, has entered into competition for the hegemony of the agenda feminist.
The latent confrontation between the PSOE and Podemos has emerged as a result of the controversy over the release of sexual offenders with the entry into force of the law of comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom, but they come from further back. A coalition government is always difficult, and in the trans law -with opposition from the feminists of the PSOE-, President Pedro Sánchez chose to avoid controversy within the Executive without therefore addressing these socialist voices. The issues that Minister Irene Montero has brought onto the feminist political agenda are, according to Professor León's analysis, more ideological, morally charged, and therefore more divisive. It is the cultural battle as a political strategy.
Arantxa Elizondo, professor of Political Science (UPV), indicates that despite the fact that in the feminist movements there is a feeling of demoralization due to this battle, it must also be taken into account in a positive way that the debate shows that the feminist agenda is in the institutions, albeit with differences.
If a general reading of the coalition government is made, the feminist agenda that has been located in the center has also had consensus. The decree of equal pay, the law to improve the working conditions of domestic workers, the draft family law, are fundamental issues, says Elizondo, which have had a great agreement. And in the issues where there is none, important debates on the feminist agenda are also introduced, especially around sexual freedom. All this in an Executive where, in addition to the president, it is the women ministers who are at the center of this legislature section.
The disunity of feminism, or the different currents that make it up, and political polarization not only occur in Spain, indicates the UPV professor. The difference with respect to other countries is that here the Government is a coalition and is made up of two parties with different visions on some issues regarding the feminist debate, and with many speakers. The point is that both parties must know "that they cannot arrogate the monopoly of feminism, which is plural."
The impact on public opinion of the releases in the application of the law of the only yes is yes is difficult to redirect. But it also indicates that a poor defense of this norm has been made which, according to Elizondo's analysis, has very important issues in the defense of sexual freedom. The previous injuries have left the Government without the strength to give a common response, and bills have been paid.
The election year complicates the possibility of rebuilding consensus on an agenda – the defense of equality between men and women – in which it is essential. The Ministry of Equality, Professor León points out, has been inexperienced in the perspective of weaving alliances.
The political tension over the feminist agenda raises fears of a rebound effect. On the one hand, the risk that the difficulty of weaving a joint strategy will facilitate the advance of the ultra-right discourse, regressive in women's rights. On the other, the generation of weariness among the citizens due to this constant and harsh confrontation, due to a saturation with so many messages.
The feminist movement, and also in the Government, would have to define a clearer strategy around the necessary and main policies -for example, sexist violence- and park the polarization, the experts point out.
The coalition is not considered to be in danger at the moment, but the year is looking complicated, and the question is whether the impact is being gauged. The 8M will once again express division. And it is possible that until after new elections the consensus fund cannot be fully rebuilt.
