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Ex-Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson joins Spain’s anti-amnesty protests

As a sign of the current political chaos in Spain, American right-wing TV personality and conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson appeared in Madrid alongside far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal at the capital's latest anti-amnesty protests.

Published: 14 November 2023 10:24 CET
Ex-Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson joins Spain's anti-amnesty protests
"I love Spain and they are trying to steal your country," Tucker Carlson has said of Sánchez's controversial amnesty deal. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP)

Controversial former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson made a surprise appearance in Madrid on Monday night as he joined far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal at a protest against caretaker Socialist (PSOE) Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s amnesty deal with Catalan separatists.

In what was the 11th consecutive day of protests against the PSOE deal with Junts per Catalunya, which includes a legal amnesty for those involved in the failed 2017 independence bid, Abascal attended the demonstration outside the PSOE headquarters on Ferraz Street in Madrid, along with Carlson.

IN IMAGES: Thousands of Spaniards rally against amnesty for Catalan rebels

Known for his right-wing conspiratorial style, most notably Covid-19 scepticism and his role in promoting the 2020 electoral fraud conspiracy, Carlson at one time had the highest-rated TV show on American television.

Time magazine said in 2021 that he “may be the most powerful conservative in America.” A long-time supporter of Donald Trump, he was fired from Fox in April of this year.

Since leaving Fox Carslon has begun working independently and interviewed international political leaders. In September he travelled to Buenos Aires to meet Javier Milei, a Presidential candidate in Argentina characterised by some as extreme right. According to Vox sources speaking to El Confidencial, he will interview Abascal this Tuesday.

Carlson posted a picture of him standing next to Abascal at the protest.

In Madrid, Carlson admitted his unfamiliarity with Spanish politics yet still felt confident enough to give his opinion on the amnesty: “I love Spain and they are trying to steal your country. That’s not how a democracy should work,” he said.

“You can’t give an amnesty just for people to vote for you. You have to have the rule of law. It’s very difficult to understand what’s going on in Spain if you’re not here. Your policy is complicated for an American. I want to understand it and try to explain it. If you are not Spanish, there are parts of Spain that are complicated for a foreigner.”

READ ALSO: Spain’s amnesty dilemma – the ‘end of democracy’ or logical next step?

Despite something of a language barrier, politically speaking Carlson and Abascal’s Vox speak much of the same language.

Carlson, like Vox, has expressed anti-immigrant and anti-Islam sentiment, stoked fear about demographic replacement, promoted conspiracy theories, and is seen as an ‘anti-woke’ voice who successfully injects far-right or extremist rhetoric into mainstream political discourse.

Carlson has maintained a huge following despite being fired by Fox, boasting 10.6 million followers on Twitter/X, and his appearance at the protest and sudden interest Spanish politics will likely increase awareness of the amnesty deal and Spain in right-wing social media spheres around the world.

Carlson told press at the protest that the anti-amnesty demonstrations are “not getting the coverage it deserves… we thought it deserved more coverage than it’s getting.”

Over the last 11 days, thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets in order to protest against the PSOE-Junts amnesty deal. The Spanish right has described Sánchez as a traitor and that the amnesty deal represents a step on the road to dictatorship.

The investiture vote for Sánchez’s re-election will begin with the debate on Wednesday 14th. The vote is scheduled for Thursday 15th in the Spanish Congress.

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POLITICS

‘It’s time to reset Britain’s relations with Europe’

As he begins his first overseas trip, the UK's new Foreign Secretary David Lammy writes for The Local on how Britain plans to rebuild ties with Europe and become a better neighbour.

Published: 7 July 2024 08:54 CEST
'It’s time to reset Britain's relations with Europe'

I am a man of multiple identities. Londoner. English. Patriotic Brit. Proud of my Caribbean heritage. A transatlanticist. And, throughout my political career, absolutely committed to a close partnership with our European neighbours. 

As the new British Foreign Secretary, with our Prime Minister Keir Starmer, this government will reset relations with Europe as a reliable partner, a dependable ally and a good neighbour. 

That is why I am travelling immediately to some of our key European partners. Sitting down with Germany’s Annalena Baerbock, Poland’s Radek Sikorski and Sweden’s Tobias Billström, my message will be simple: let us seize the opportunity for a reset, working even more closely together to tackle shared challenges. 

READ ALSO: New UK foreign minister in Germany for first trip abroad

The most immediate of these challenges, of course, is Ukraine. We will stand by the brave people of Ukraine, as they defend their freedom against Vladimir Putin’s new form of fascism.

British military, economic, political and diplomatic support for Ukraine will remain ironclad. But we are always stronger when we work with others. Germany, Poland and Sweden are all also staunch supporters of Ukraine. European security will be this government’s foreign and defence priority.

Russia’s barbaric invasion has made clear the need for us to do more to strengthen our own defences.

Next week, the Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary and I will all travel to Washington for the NATO Summit. 75 years ago, my political hero and former Labour Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, was pivotal to forming the Alliance. He would have been delighted to see NATO grow larger over the years, with Germany, Poland and now Sweden all joining the most successful defensive alliance in history. 

This Government’s commitment to the Alliance is unshakeable, just as it was in Bevin’s time. I will be discussing this weekend how NATO allies can go further in investing in our tightly connected defence industries and providing Ukraine with its own clear path to joining our alliance. 

Alongside security, we want to do more together to bring prosperity to our continent. None of us can address the urgency of the climate emergency alone – we need coordinated global action. This is particularly important in Europe, whose energy networks are so closely connected – together, we must invest in the industries of the future and deliver sustained economic growth for all.

And finally, we must do more to champion the ties between our people and our culture. Holidays, family ties, school and student exchanges, the arts, and sport (I was of course cheering on England in the Euros…). Thanks to this, our citizens benefit from the rich diversity of our continent. 

We can deliver more cooperation in many areas bilaterally, via NATO and in groupings like the G7, the Joint Expeditionary Force or the European Political Community which will gather at Blenheim Palace on July 18th. 

But if we are to fulfil our ambitions for a reset, we must also improve Britain’s relationship with the European Union.

I will be explaining to my new fellow Foreign Ministers how our new Government’s proposal for an ambitious and broad-ranging UK-EU Security Pact would underpin closer cooperation between us, enshrining a new geopolitical partnership. I also look forward to hearing their ideas for how we can rebuild trust and reset the relationship between the UK and the EU. 

Over centuries, our individual and national stories have come together to tell a wider story of shared progress. Today, we all share a commitment to democracy, human rights and international law. Tragic experiences in our continent’s shared past have helped us to understand how our shared security and prosperity depend on these shared values.

And I believe these values also offer a foundation for closer partnership in the future. My visit this weekend is just the beginning. I look forward to seeing Britain reconnect with our European neighbours in the years ahead.

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