As the United Kingdom prepares for a crucial election, British residents in Spain are trying to recover from the aftermath of Brexit. Despite the challenges of achieving residency in Spain and facing an uncertain future, many have settled into disappointment and frustration.
The day starts slowly in Rojales, in the White shore. It’s time to take a walk on the golf course or enjoy a coffee. This is how the lives of the 300,000 go british citizensmost of them retired, who have chosen Spain as their place of residence.
“We have worked all our lives, so what we want to enjoy“says a British resident who is spending early retirement with his wife in the center of Ciudad Quesada, an urbanization in Rojales inhabited almost exclusively by British citizens.
In the cafes, people read the English pressfull of news about places that feel distant from here.
Brexit has complicated their lives
Spain is hecountry with the largest British population in Europe. Here in Rojales, they outnumber the local population. They feel at home here, but the Brexit It has complicated their lives.
The exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union has forced many Britons to return to their country every three months. Many who have not secured permanent residency have sold their homes.
“A disaster. They had no idea what they were in voting“, comments a Scottish pensioner, while having a coffee in a bar in the municipality with his wife.
Las 4th of july elections could change The political landscape in the United Kingdomwhose economy continues to be limited by the consequences of Brexit.
“It is curious that Brexit is not talked about in the election campaign. It’s like the elephant in the room. If the Labor Party wins, there will probably be a greater rapprochement with Brussels and the European community,” he explains. Millan Requenaprofessor of International Law at the University of Alicante.
Between apathy and the effects of Brexit
Despite the importance of these elections, the majority of British people living in Rojales say they will not vote. “Political step,” says one of the expatriates. “It’s not worth the effort,” says another resident of the Alicante town.
For those who wanted to vote, things have not been easy either.** The few antedationwith which this electoral appointment was announced has prevented them from registering.
“I have tried to vote. And once again, because I am in Spain, it has been very, very complicated and I have to vote by proxy. I have to get someone in the UK to vote for me. But I have already passed the time to organize it,” laments a British woman, she moved to Spain three years ago.
Ad prime minister surprise Rishi Sunak over the July 4 election has added further uncertainty to the British political landscape. Sunak, tarnished by the numerousscandalsthat shake his party at its lowest moments of popularity, has placed his campaign on the promise of economic stability.
Meanwhile, the Labor Party, led by Keir Starmeris the favorite to win the elections after fourteen years of conservative governments.
Despite the importance of the elections, British citizens living in Spain they don’t feel that the results will have any real impact In their lifes.
“I would particularly like the Government to address the freedom of movementbut that is linked to the immigration. But I think people are so obsessed with immigration, which is why we actually ended up having Brexit,” laments one British expat.
A possible rapprochement with the EU
Millán Requena, professor of International Law at the University of Alicante, offers a deeper insight into the situation. “Here in Spain, especially along the Levante coast and in the province of Alicante, there are many who are returning to the UKmainly due to visa problems and the need to leave Spain every 90 days,” he explains.
Requena highlights the bureaucratic obstacles which many Britons did not manage to overcome in time. “They had to demonstrate continuous residency for a minimum of five years. Many did not do so, either out of complacency or for believing that the United Kingdom would never leave the EU. As a result, many have not obtained permanent residence,” says the professor at the University of Alicante.
If the Labor Party finally wins the elections, Requena points to the possibility of some renegotiations. trade agreements to alleviate the UK’s current problems. “A Labor government could look to review some aspects, potentially aligning itself more with models like those from Norway or Switzerlandwhich enjoy more fluid trade relations with the EU,” explained the professor.
