The authors of the book "Populism - The revolt against liberal democracy" draw parallels between Portugal and Spain and consider that corruption is one of the most worrying points - in terms of increasing the power of national populist political movements and parties in both countries.

Roger Eatweel recalled that the Spanish Partido Popular (People's Party) faced a serious political crisis in 2018 "due to problems of corruption" and that in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia, the socialists of the PSOE were affected by problems of corruption.

Corruption has been one of the major factors exploited by the national populist movements and that is used "to confer legitimacy" on them.

"National populist discourse is against corrupt elites who do not care about the working class and who are only interested in their own interests. Thus, if the former prime minister (José Sócrates) is found guilty, and it seems that there are strong indications, the case will be taken advantage of. Even if he is not convicted, it will be a very important factor," he says.

In addition to the alleged corruption processes, the author highlights the Portuguese economic situation, warning that the country's structure is very weak and that there are many cleavages and inequalities in sectors linked to work, despite the recovery from the 2008.

For Roger Eatwell it is also necessary to "look" at Vox in Spain - which won 10% of the votes in elections in Andalusia - and in the Portuguese case the recent election of a deputy from the Chega party.

The authors point out that in Spain, and specifically in Andalusia, emigration was also one of the important factors for the "rise of Vox" because the country is historically an important route of (irregular) immigration between North Africa and Europe.

For the two British academics, immigrant routes may increase in the Iberian Peninsula as the restrictions imposed by Italy on the entry of citizens from North Africa are noted.

Cases of corruption involving politicians, a weak economic situation and immigration may be decisive in changing political logics in countries such as Portugal and Spain.