SPANISH Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned on Tuesday against the rise of far-right political movements inside the European Union.

Mr Sanchez also called for unity to fight what he described as “the rotten seeds that Russian President Vladimir Putin has planted in our countries.”

In his speech to the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Sanchez shared his concerns about far-right political parties being able to reach institutions and to destroy the European Union from the inside.

The socialist prime minister said that he had particular concerns about “those countries where these far-right forces have the support of the main conservative parties, that are opening the doors of governments for them.”

Mr Sanchez didn’t mention any specific country or political party but parties of the far right have taken control of governments across Europe.

Poland elected a far-right government in 2015 and the following years saw the election of similar parties in Austria and Hungary.

The far-right Sweden Democrats hold the balance of power in their country and last year Italy elected the fascist Brothers of Italy party into government.

Mr Sanchez faces general elections this year and polling suggests that the main opposition would need the support of the far right to win.