The new electoral cycle, which began in Extremadura On December 21, it will stop in Aragon (February 8), Castile and León (March) and Andalusia (June?). What do these 4 autonomous communities have in common? In addition to the political sign of their outgoing autonomous governments, all Popular Party (PP)all are united by the weight of the primary sector in their economies. As shown in the report “The agricultural sector and the food industry in Spain”, prepared by the economic analysts of Andalusia (Unicaja) and published last week, it highlights that Andalusia represents more than a third of the Spanish agricultural income estimated in 36,760.2 million euros (2024). It is followed by Castilla y León, which represents 10%, while Aragon and Extremadura together represent 14%.
The study brings more data to the table: the Andalusian agricultural sector contributes 6.5% to the value added (GVA) of its economy or the wealth generated by the production of goods and services, excluding the goods and services used for their production. In the case of Aragonis 5.9% while in that of Castile and León This is 5.8%. In Extremadura Agricultural activity weighs even more, since it represents 7.7% of the GVA of its economy. On the other hand, the Andalusian community ended last year with 239,600 employees in this activity, which represents 6.9% of salaried workers. In the case of the Aragonese, number of employees There were 34,800 people employed in the countryside, or 5.6% of those employed. While in the Castilian-Leonese autonomy, this workforce increased up to 60,900 workersthis represents almost 6% of all salaried workers. A figure which, in Extremadura, rises to 9.3%, reaching 38,800 people.
Andalusia represents more than a third of Spanish agricultural income, estimated at 36,760.2 million euros (2024). It is followed by Castilla y León, which represents 10%, while Aragon and Extremadura together represent 14%, according to a study by Economic Analysts of Andalusia (Unicaja).
From the coordinator of farmers’ and breeders’ organizations (COAG), one of the three professional associations which brought together hundreds of Spanish farmers in Brussels to participate in the European mobilization of December 18 against cuts in Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)remember that “Aragon, although more urbanized around Zaragoza, has entire regions where agriculture and livestock are hegemonic”. Furthermore, they point out that “Castile and León is the community with the highest percentage of rural population of Spain”. In any case, they warn that “the rural world can serve as a thermometer of the general context: if the primary sector mobilizes massively against or for of a government, generally trails the peri-urban and small town vote.
The distribution of seats by provinces, key
The dean of the Professional Faculty of Political Sciences, Sociology, International Relations and Public Administration of the Community of Madrid (Colpolsoc) and professor at the Carlos III University, Javier Lorenzo Rodríguez, highlights in a conversation with “Economic information” what what “Everything related to agri-food is relevant in Extremadura and Castile and Leónalthough in the case of Aragonthere is a certain dissociation between the metropolitan area of Zaragoza and very different territories like Huesca and Teruel. ” For this reason, the also professor at the Carlos III University believes that the area will influence the debates of the new electoral cycle. “The agricultural sector is fundamental to all these economiestherefore this will enter more into the agenda as a discursive axis, with other elements such as renewable energies which do not set the agenda”, comments this expert, who adds that it will also depend on “how they present these issues on their agendathe political parties that will participate in the next elections.
“The agricultural sector is fundamental for all these economies, that is why it will enter more of the agenda as a discursive axis, with other elements like renewable energies that do not set the agenda,” said Javier Lorenzo Rodríguez (Colpolsoc)
The PP-Vox conflict over the “heart” of the farmer
A clear example of the above can be found in the two major formations of the Spanish center right: Popular Party (PP) And Voice. Both have been openly competing for months for the favors of the agricultural sector. In any case, Rodríguez (Colpolsoc) warns that “the rural vote is not homogeneous and that, depending on the territories, it leans more towards the PP (Castilla y León), the PSOE (Extremadura) and even, recently Vox (Castile and León)”. In the main opposition party, its spokesperson at the Joint Commission for the European Union and former Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of the Junta de Castilla y León (2015-2019) Milagros Marcosensures that “Beyond votes, the primary sector is strategic.” The popular MP is coordinating the preparation of a white paper full of proposals to tackle their problems. “We are concerned about the sector, whether it is profitable, sustainable, competitive in the markets…” says Marcos.
According to the popular MP, the white paper will address the problems of this sector from perspectives as diverse as profitability “through good financing independent of the rest of European policies”, in reference to the proposals for reducing aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) put on the table by the European Commission; as well as attracting a greater number of workers, ensuring sufficient border controls, “create rural pride” and promoting the use of mountains, among other axes. The people claim the management capacity of their party in the face of Vox and refuse to allow the problems of the countryside to be solved by populism: “The rural vote cannot be supported by shouting and without reading the 2030 Agenda“, he concludes.
“Beyond votes, the primary sector is strategic,” said Milagros Marcos (Popular Party, PP), while Vox sources affirm that “agricultural or livestock activity in “emptied Spain” has suffered for decades due to the ideological impositions of Brussels.”
Vox and “the ideological impositions of Brussels”
In accordance with the above, sources from the political formation chaired by Santiago Abascal emphasize that “the agricultural sector and the rural world are an essential element of Spanish culture” and emphasize that “Spanish agriculture is an essential economic element.” Concretely, Vox recalls that the food industry plays an “absolutely essential” role in the economic development of many Spanish regions. However, they criticize the fact that “agricultural or livestock activity in ’emptied Spain’ has suffered for decades due to the ideological impositions of Brussels”. What they identify with “green policies” and “climate fanaticism” from Brussels. From this formation, which has just doubled its representation in Extremadura, they promote the initiatives that they presented to the Congress of Deputies to protect the traditional olive grove. “with measures that guarantee the profitability of its agricultural management and its conservation”, promote the recognition of hunting, as well as a “frontal” rejection of the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda, among others.
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