British News Agency

Speaking on Wednesday in Madrid, as Spain prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of the country's transition to democracy following General Franco's death in November, Sanchez emphasized that hard-earned fundamental freedoms must not be taken for granted or neglected.

Sanchez said, "When you live under its protective cover, it is easy to forget the tremendous powers of democracy and allow those who promise order, security, and wealth to steal from us the most valuable thing a human can have: the ability to choose our own destiny."

The socialist leader pointed out that autocratic regimes and values from the past century are resurging globally, particularly in the form of Musk and people like him.

The Spanish Prime Minister said, "The fascism we thought we had left behind is now Europe's third-largest political force. And as French President Macron said just days ago, the international reactionary movement, or the far-right movement we have warned about in Spain for years, is now led by the richest man on the planet, who openly attacks our institutions, incites hatred, and publicly calls on people to support the heirs of Nazism in the upcoming elections in Europe's most important economy, Germany."

Sanchez highlighted that history teaches us that "freedom is never permanently won," warning that democracy could again fade in some parts of the world.

Sanchez stressed that the best way to defend and strengthen Spanish democracy is by building a "more prosperous, harmonious, free, and tolerant society" and combating lies and fake news. "Lies and disinformation are the primary weapons of the enemies of democracy," he said.

Sanchez became the latest European leader to speak out against Musk's attempts to influence the continent's political direction.

Announcing a year-long program of events to commemorate the start of Spain's transition to democracy, Sanchez said the idea is to celebrate the country's transformation over the past fifty years, honor those who made it possible, and teach young people the importance of democracy.