Can Spain make immigration a vote-winner? – podcast | Spain

When the Guardian’s European group affairs correspondent, Ashifa Kassam, first moved to Spain 14 years in the past, the nation was nonetheless reeling from the 2008 monetary disaster. “All they talked about was la disaster, la disaster. They couldn’t see a means out. There was simply no gentle on the finish of the tunnel.”

In the present day, issues are very totally different – companies are opening up, eating places are packed, and in Madrid “there’s only a buzz to the town that wasn’t there earlier than”.

Spain is now the fastest-growing economic system in Europe and Ashifa tells Helen Pidd that whereas a lot of the continent is popping in opposition to immigration, Spain’s socialist authorities is transferring in a special route. She explains the insurance policies put in place to encourage individuals emigrate, the sorts of individuals coming, and the roles they’re filling – in addition to different elements at play which can be driving Spain’s financial progress.

As many international locations throughout Europe battle to reconcile declining start charges, ageing populations and faltering economies, can Spain make immigration a vote-winner?

To see what your European nation will appear to be with out immigration, head to ‘Visualised: Europe’s inhabitants disaster’ right here.