Populism and Surrogacy in Spain

Abstract

The 2015 Spanish national parliamentary elections marked a new era in Spanish politics as the traditional two-party system was disrupted by the emergence of new populist parties that capitalized on a widespread frustration with the status quo. Since that landmark election, Spain’s party system continues to be fractured, demonstrating the shift away from the post-Franco era dominance of the Partido Popular (Popular Party or PP) and the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party or PSOE). The populist newcomers have positioned themselves across the political spectrum: Podemos on the left, Ciudadanos near the center, and Vox on the far right. Despite ideological differences, they all have committed themselves to the populist notion of changing establishment politics, explained by Ciudadanos as a pledge to political “regeneration” (Encarnación). These new parties have grappled with how to capture support from voters, like women, who are frustrated with traditional representation. In order to stand out, Spain’s populist parties have staked out positions on issues that have not received much attention in the past. One such issue, gestational surrogacy, is a fascinating example of how populism and women’s issues interact. Gestational surrogacy is defined as the implantation into the womb of the surrogate mother of an embryo created through in vitro fertilization with gametes from the intended parents or donors (Foret and Bolzonar 1). Ciudadanos sought to gain votes from socially liberal, family-oriented Spaniards, especially women, by including support for surrogacy in its platform, prompting Podemos and Vox to oppose lifting Spain’s current surrogacy ban. While the issue of surrogate motherhood only affects a small percentage of the population at large, Spain’s traditionally restrictive stance on surrogacy, or as detractors call it, womb rental (alquiler de vientres), makes this topic a flashpoint of debate, particularly as more Spanish couples pursue the option of surrogacy abroad. Additionally, it stands out from other feminist issues, like abortion, as it has traditionally received opposition from both the