No to war': 23 years later, Spain's PM revives the left's historic slogan against the Iraq invasion

"The CIS, Spain's statistical bureau, asked almost 2,500 citizens their opinion about the military intervention in Iraq being prepared by the George W. Bush administration and supported by Spain's government, then led by Jose Maria Aznar of the Popular Party (PP). The result was one of those cross-party agreements that are so rare today. More than nine out of ten respondents rejected the war."

"The government's position can be summed up in four words: No a la guerra (No to war),' he said. The refusal has led U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten Spain with a trade embargo. Sanchez's position brings to the forefront a historic demand of high symbolic value, especially for the political left."

"The prime minister only has to say those four words for almost everyone to remember both the feeling of unity that the movement triggered, and what the Iraq w[ar achieved]. The parallels are so clear they practically draw themselves."

In 2003, Spain experienced rare cross-party consensus when over 90% of citizens opposed the Iraq War, mobilizing millions in demonstrations. This unified movement contributed to an unexpected electoral victory for the left the following year. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez now deliberately echoes this historic moment by rejecting U.S. use of Spanish military bases for potential Iran strikes, using the same 'No to War' slogan. His stance has prompted Trump to threaten trade sanctions. Sanchez seeks to recreate the political momentum and broad consensus that characterized the 2003 movement, appealing to the symbolic power this cause holds for the political left and attempting to unite diverse political factions around a common position.

Read at english.elpais.com