Spain’s leftist government in jeopardy after PM backtracks on cancellation of Israeli bullets order
Smaller partners of minority government accuse Pedro Sanchez of ‘breach of contract’ after he includes already agreed upon 6 million-euro bullet purchase in defense spending boost
A decision by Spain’s Socialist government to backtrack on a promise to cancel a contract to buy bullets from an Israeli firm drew a rebuke on Wednesday from its junior coalition partners, with some allies threatening to withdraw support.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s minority government has struggled to pass legislation since securing a new term by cobbling together an alliance of left-wing and regional separatist parties in 2023.
On Tuesday, Sanchez angered far-left junior partner Sumar after unveiling a plan to boost defense spending.
Spain is a long-time critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and has outraged Jerusalem by recognizing Palestinian statehood last May, along with Norway and Ireland.
Sanchez’s government pledged to stop selling arms to Israel shortly after October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza. Last year, the government widened that commitment to include weapons purchases from Israel.
Sumar, a platform of left-wing parties that controls five ministries led by deputy premier Yolanda Diaz, said Wednesday that the decision to go forward with the arms purchase was “a flagrant violation” of the alliance’s coalition agreement with Sanchez’s Socialists.
“We demand the immediate rectification of this contract,” Sumar said in a statement.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said last October it was canceling a contract worth 6.6 million euros ($7.53 million) to buy more than 15 million 9-millimeter rounds from Guardian LTD Israel.
On Wednesday, the ministry said it had been advised by Spain’s state attorney that breaking the contract would have meant paying the full amount without receiving the shipment.
Guardian LTD Israel did not immediately comment on the decision.
Izquierda Unida (United Left) lawmaker Enrique Santiago, whose party is part of Sumar, suggested there were legal grounds to cancel the contract without paying, but that even “a breach of contract of only about six million [euros] will be applauded by the whole country.”
Si hay responsables técnicos o políticos incapaces de cumplir los acuerdos del Consejo de Ministros, que se aparten y dejen paso a otros.
El contrato de venta de armas a Israel debe ser resuelto.@IzquierdaUnida no va a tolerar ninguna complicidad con el genocidio. pic.twitter.com/Lvzm3GNxE9
— Enrique Santiago (@EnriqueSantiago) April 23, 2025
Asked if IU could abandon the coalition government, he told reporters: “We are currently considering all scenarios.”
Before the news of the ammunition contract broke, Diaz had said her group disagreed with the increase in defense spending, particularly a plan to procure more weapons, but that the coalition was in good health and would see out the legislative term ending in 2027.
The Times of Israel Community.