Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused the main right-wing opposition party of turning its back on the fight against climate change after the People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox group both rejected his renewed appeal for a cross-party national climate pact, despite one of the country’s worst wildfire seasons on record.
Speaking after his final cabinet meeting before the government’s August recess, and later during a press conference, Sánchez used his address not only to defend his administration’s economic and social record after eight years in power, but also to launch a sustained attack on the opposition, arguing that Spain needs unity rather than political division in the face of an escalating climate emergency.
The appeal came as firefighters continued making progress against the wildfires that have devastated large areas of central Spain. Sánchez said emergency crews could now ‘see the light at the end of the tunnel’, but warned that increasingly destructive fire seasons demanded a coordinated national response. ALSO READ: ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ as Spain starts lifting wildfire evacuation orders.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), more than 207,000 hectares have already burned across Spain since the start of 2026, making it one of the country’s most destructive wildfire years in modern history. ALSO READ: Spain’s three largest wildfires on record have all occurred within the last two years.
The prime minister first proposed a national climate pact following last summer’s devastating fires, renewing the call after this year’s deadly blaze in Almería (Andalusia), where 13 people lost their lives. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez visits wildfire-hit Galicia and pledges ‘national pact’ to address climate emergency.
The agreement, finalised in December 2025 following consultations with scientists, environmental organisations and civil society groups, sets out around 80 proposals and 15 broad areas for action aimed at helping Spain adapt to increasingly extreme weather. ALSO READ: Sánchez unveils Spain’s largest anti-wildfire operation after devastating 2025 fires.
Among the measures are the creation of climate refuges during extreme weather events, a new model of forest management designed to reduce wildfire risks, the establishment of a national civil protection agency and the creation of a scientific advisory council. Sánchez has repeatedly argued that the agreement should mirror previous state-wide pacts on issues such as terrorism and violence against women by securing broad parliamentary backing regardless of which party is in government. ALSO READ: Spain faces escalating wildfire crisis as Sánchez warns climate emergency cannot be ignored.
However, the proposal has met firm resistance from the opposition.
PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo declined to comment on the initiative during a visit to Madrid’s wildfire command centre, avoiding political statements while emergency operations were still under way. Shortly afterwards, the party’s parliamentary spokesperson, Ester Muñoz, questioned the government’s emphasis on climate change, suggesting the left was using climate-related deaths to distract attention from what she described as poor government management of the crisis.
While acknowledging that the climate has always changed throughout history, Muñoz cast doubt on the extent of human responsibility for current conditions, reflecting a position increasingly criticised by the government as climate scepticism. ALSO READ: Study finds climate change made Spain’s wildfires 40 times more likely.
Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso also challenged Sánchez’s approach, arguing that most wildfires are caused by human activity rather than climate change itself and criticising what she described as overly simplistic, ‘broad brush’ environmental policies. ALSO READ: Guardia Civil arrest tractor driver over alleged negligence as Spain’s wildfire crisis deepens.
The debate has also highlighted the PP’s increasingly delicate position following coalition agreements with Vox in several regions. Those agreements have included criticism of the European Green Deal and opposition to what both parties describe as ideological environmental policies, although some PP regional leaders have publicly acknowledged the reality of climate change when responding to local natural disasters. ALSO READ: PP-Vox agreement sees Juanma Moreno secure a third term as Andalusian leader.
Government ministers responded by accusing the PP of increasingly adopting Vox’s position on climate policy in order to preserve regional political alliances. PSOE spokesperson Montse Mínguez said the PP had embraced climate denial, while Transport Minister Óscar Puente argued that the opposition’s stance, together with cuts to public services, had made Spain more vulnerable during increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
Although some of Sánchez’s own parliamentary allies have questioned whether the climate pact is little more than a political distraction, the government says it will continue promoting the initiative, with another national convention planned this autumn and fresh invitations for organisations to sign up to the agreement. Some measures, including the scientific advisory council, are expected to proceed regardless of whether opposition parties participate.
Defending his government’s track record
The increasingly bitter exchange over climate policy formed part of a broader defence of Sánchez’s eight years in office during his final appearance before the summer break.
Facing mounting political pressure, corruption scandals involving former allies and growing calls for early elections, the socialist leader highlighted what he described as his government’s achievements on the economy, employment, social policy and climate action. ALSO READ: Spanish PM’s brother banned from public office for 9 years after court rules job was created for him.
‘How would others have responded to these crises?’ he asked, referring to the recent wave of devastating wildfires that has swept across central Spain.
On the economy, Sánchez pointed to Spain’s continued strong performance, noting that the European Commission forecasts GDP growth of 2.4% in 2026. ALSO READ: Spain raises 2026 growth forecast to 2.6% despite Middle East conflict.
‘We are the government of and for the people,’ he concluded, rejecting demands from both the opposition and some of his own parliamentary allies, including Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) and the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ–PNV), to call an early general election ahead of the scheduled 2027 vote.
His minority government has been unable to secure sufficient parliamentary support to approve a new national budget, forcing it to extend the 2023 budget for a third consecutive year — an unprecedented situation in Spain’s modern democratic history.
The prime minister also faced questions over a series of corruption investigations involving figures close to his administration.
Former transport minister and long-time ally José Luis Ábalos has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for corruption offences, while Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez, has received a nine-year ban from holding public office. ALSO READ: Spanish PM’s brother banned from public office for 9 years after court rules job was created for him.
Separate legal proceedings involving the prime minister’s wife, Begoña Gómez, and several former senior socialist officials remain ongoing, while former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is also under investigation over alleged influence peddling and money laundering. ALSO READ: Former PM Zapatero breaks silence over Plus Ultra investigation and luxury jewellery.
Asked whether the growing number of cases had damaged his government’s credibility, Sánchez insisted they were ‘isolated’ incidents rather than evidence of wider institutional corruption. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez rejects claims of ‘widespread corruption’ amid growing pressure on government.
The prime minister continued to defend the innocence of his family and Zapatero, accusing the PP and Vox of ‘orchestrating a dehumanisation campaign’ against those close to him, while maintaining that his government had a zero-tolerance approach to corruption. ‘We have always acted with resolve,’ he said. ALSO READ: Poll finds most Spaniards believe ‘lawfare’ exists amid deepening trust crisis in justice.
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Nuestra coherencia y sensatez son ejemplo y fuente de inspiración para millones de personas en todo el mundo.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 28, 2026
Queda un año para culminar esta legislatura y seguir demostrando que España puede crecer, proteger y avanzar sin dejar a nadie atrás.
Somos el Gobierno de la gente. pic.twitter.com/Jd0JKelTo6
El negacionismo climático es el peor de los combustibles ante la emergencia climática.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 28, 2026
Hoy, con más fuerza y argumentos que nunca, reclamo el acuerdo de país que más necesita España. El Pacto de Estado frente a la Emergencia Climática es un imperativo. pic.twitter.com/xkwQ42tlTa
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