The leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) and the group of the European Parliament of the same name, Manfred Weber, caused a stormy reaction in Madrid and Brussels after he questioned the future presidency of Spain in the Council of the European Union amid internal divisions in the center-left government coalition over the war in Ukraine, notes Euractiv .com on Wednesday, quoted by Agerpres.

European Socialists reacted by saying that Weber’s statements were a sign of “weakness”.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, the Podemos party, which is part of the governing coalition in Madrid, has been categorically against sending weapons to Ukraine, while the Spanish Workers’ Party (PSOE) has again favored sending military aid.

On January 21, Podemos spokesman Pablo Echenique said his party opposes participation in “NATO’s passion for war.”

Podemos officials participated in anti-NATO protests during the Madrid summit in June 2022.

Podemos General Secretary Ione Belarra, who is also the Minister of Social Rights, asked the PSOE on February 17 to reconsider its position on the supply of arms to Ukraine due to fears of an escalation of the conflict.

For its part, the PSOE insisted on supporting the shipment of weapons as part of a joint European response to the conflict, and on February 23, Spain’s Socialist-led defense ministry sent six Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

On March 9, the majority in the Spanish Parliament voted for additional arms deliveries to Kyiv. However, Podemos voted against it.

Manfred Weber, who faces internal challenges over how he leads the EPP, criticized the governing coalition in Madrid for its “undefined” support for Ukraine ahead of Spain’s six-month presidency of the EU Council on July 1 this year.

“Podemos should clarify its position, it is part of the government before the presidency of the EU Council, and I would like to ask Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to explain what the Spanish government’s opinion is about Ukraine. We cannot accept any uncertainty at this moment in history,” Weber added.

The leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, the Spanish MEP Irache Garcia gave new assurances about the commitment of the Spanish government to the defense of Ukraine and the provision of military support.

She qualified as “foolishness” the insinuation that the presidency of the EU Council in the second half of the year is subject to risks.

“Weber says that they (PPE) defend the rule of law, referring to Poland, Romania (…), but avoids talking about Greece or Italy,” MEP Idoia Villanueva, a member of Podemos, also reacted, accusing him of being the leader of the PPE. using double standards.