Análisis del debate parlamentario sobre la ‘baja natalidad’ en España: la XIV Legislatura, entre la crisis demográfica y la revolución reproductiva

This article analyzes how Spain’s main political parties addressed the issue of low birth rates in parliamentary debates during the 14th Legislature (2019-2023). Drawing on agenda-setting and framing theories and employing a mixed-methods approach that combines lexicometric and content analysis of speeches by the five principal parties (PSOE, PP, Ciudadanos, UP, and VOX), the study identifies two predominant discursive frames: the demographic crisis and the reproductive revolution. The findings reveal how each party constructs narratives around birth rates, family, and gender. VOX and PP frame the issue primarily through cultural and economic lenses, emphasizing the demographic crisis, while PSOE and UP advocate for a perspective centered on gender equality and the redistribution of caregiving responsibilities. The study also uncovers hybrid discursive frames that blend elements from both approaches, illustrating the nuanced nature of the debate on birth rates in a context of growing ideological polarization. This analysis underscores the political and gendered dimensions of these discourses, highlighting the importance of addressing structural inequalities in the development of public policies concerning birth rates and reproduction in Spain.