Sánchez re-election as Spanish PM deals blow to Polisario hopes

MADRID – The re-election of Pedro Sanchez as Spain’s Prime Minister on Thursday has dealt a huge blow to the separatist Polisario Front’s hopes of Madrid dropping its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara.

Spain's parliament voted to make Sanchez prime minister for another term on Thursday, ending a protracted deadlock after an inconclusive general election in July.

His Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) reached separate deals with a number of regional parties to earn their backing, including a contentious bill on amnesty for Catalan separatists that has sparked protests across Spain.

Sanchez had 179 votes in favour and 171 against, with no abstentions.

His re-election is set to boost economic, political and security cooperation between the two neighbouring countries which are already enjoying strong strategic ties.

The Spanish government spokeswoman Isabel Rodriguez said last April that Spain and Morocco maintain diplomatic relations based on ''mutual respect and responsibility'', adding that bilateral relations are governed by the Joint Declaration of April 7, 2022 and the conclusions of the High Level Meeting, held in Rabat last February.

"Spain will continue to work according to the principles of collaboration, mutual respect and responsibility with Morocco," said Rodriguez.

In February, the governments of Spain and Morocco signed deals on managing migration and boosting Spanish investment in Morocco, among 20 agreements reached at wide-ranging meetings.

Morocco is an ally to Western powers in fighting extremism and important in aiding EU migration policies, and Sanchez applauded what he described as a trust-building step at the signing ceremony in Rabat.