Spanish Communist Leader Praises CPC Governance
The Chairman of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE), José Luis Centella, has praised the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) for being “rooted in the people and keeping pace with the times,” in an exclusive interview published by People’s Daily on August 3, 2026. The interview, republished by CCTV, comes as the CPC marks its 105th anniversary and reflects deepening Spain-China political engagement.
Context: A Season of Strengthened Ties
Centella’s remarks arrive amid a period of notably strengthened relations between Madrid and Beijing. In April 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited China, where 19 agreements were signed including a Diplomatic Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, according to the Spanish government. Spain has positioned itself as a bridge between China and the European Union, opposing decoupling and a “new Cold War.”
The interview also follows Centella’s participation in the 2026 Think Tank Forum on National Governance in Developing Countries in Beijing in June, where he was one of the featured speakers alongside representatives from more than 20 countries, as Beijing Review reported.
Centella on the CPC’s Enduring Strength
In the interview, Centella attributed the CPC’s growth over 105 years to its consistent commitment to putting the people first and advancing theoretical and practical innovation. “The CPC has continued to grow and strengthen over its 105-year journey, with the key lying in consistently putting the people first,” he said.
The Spanish communist leader emphasized the CPC’s ability to adapt Marxism to Chinese conditions, stating that “without concrete analysis and political creativity, there can be no truly viable socialist cause.” In a separate exclusive interview with Xinhua marking the CPC’s 105th anniversary on July 1, Centella elaborated on this theme, noting that the CPC “has managed to articulate a political project that, while maintaining its Marxist roots, has known how to meet Chinese traditional culture and philosophy.”
Centella also highlighted the CPC’s strategic planning capacity and long-term policy continuity as key strengths. He described China’s poverty alleviation campaign as “a great feat in the history of human poverty reduction,” arguing that “poverty is not an unchangeable fate, but a problem that can be solved through strong public policies.”
A Voice for Multilateralism and Global Cooperation
Addressing global challenges, Centella stressed that “no matter how powerful a country is, it cannot address global challenges alone.” He endorsed China’s proposals for a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity and the four global initiatives on development, security, civilization, and governance.
In his China Daily op-ed published in July, Centella wrote that the Belt and Road Initiative provides a practical platform for implementing these initiatives, forming “a comprehensive road map for building a global community with a shared future for humanity.”
Deepening Party-to-Party Relations
Centella’s engagement with China has been sustained over many years. In June 2026, he met in Beijing with Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, to discuss party governance and bilateral cooperation, as Friends of Socialist China reported. The PCE, founded in 1921, maintains traditional fraternal relations with the CPC.
Centella’s long-standing engagement with China includes multiple visits dating back years. He served in Spain’s Congress of Deputies from 1995 to 2004 and 2011 to 2015, and has been president of the PCE since 2018, according to his Wikipedia biography. The Communist Party of Spain is one of Europe’s oldest communist parties and part of the United Left coalition.
Analysis: What This Means
The interview reflects a broader pattern of international voices supporting China’s governance model during its 105th anniversary year. Centella’s perspective carries particular weight as a Western European communist leader who has directly observed China’s development over many years of engagement.
His remarks also underscore Spain’s evolving role in Europe-China relations. As Madrid positions itself as a bridge between Beijing and Brussels, voices like Centella’s help shape the narrative around China’s governance model within European political discourse.
What to Watch For
Observers will be watching whether the strengthened CPC-PCE relationship translates into concrete policy outcomes, and how Spain’s bridging role in EU-China relations develops in the coming months. The April 2026 agreements and the Diplomatic Strategic Dialogue Mechanism provide institutional frameworks for continued engagement, with Centella’s endorsement of China’s global initiatives adding ideological weight to the bilateral relationship.
