Congress commission challenges PP on abortion rights
► Podemos resolution starts process to overturn restrictive 2015 legislation ► A key commission in Spain’s Congress of Deputies approved a resolution…
Articles by Progressive Spain
Animals now ‘living beings’, no longer owner’s ‘property’
► Congress approves reform, freeing animals from status of private property ► Spain’s Congress unanimously approved legislation on Tuesday that legally recognizes…
Surveys show ‘dead heat’ in Catalan regional elections
► Failure of either bloc to win majority of seats could lead to hung parliament ► The four most recent surveys of…
Corte Inglés to drop eggs from battery hens by 2025
► Spanish retailer to remove from stores own-brand eggs laid by caged hens ► Spanish department store and supermarket mega-chain El Corte…
Socialists push ambitious Historical Memory Law reform
► Proposal includes creation of Truth Commission, victims census & DNA bank ► Pedro Sánchez, general secretary of Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE),…
Spanish youth ranked near top of 2017 ‘Wellbeing Index’
► But jobless rate, low education spending seen as drag on youth’s futures ► Young people in Spain find themselves ranked relatively…
PSOE seeks Constitutional guarantee for social rights
► PSOE prioritizes LGBTI rights, church-state separation, death with dignity ► Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE) has released a working paper on a…
NGOs launch holiday toy drives with social conscience
► Groups seek toys that shun violence and sexism, improve lives of children ► Non-governmental organizations in Spain have launched toy drives…
Activists to commemorate Internat’l Animal Rights Day
► Igualdad Animal to mark IARD 2017, raising awareness over animal cruelty ► Hundreds of animal-rights activists are slated to gather in…
Andalucía tops local gov’t spending on social services
► Study ranks 25 best and 41 worst municipalities on social-services spending ► A newly released study on the provision of social…
Supreme Court releases six Catalan leaders, holds four
• Judge frees six ex-ministers on bail; Junqueras, Forn, two ‘Jordis’ still held A Spanish Supreme Court judge on Monday ordered the…
High Court orders protection for minors facing eviction
• Court ruling on Madrid case sets precedent for Spanish families facing eviction • NGOs say 80% of court-ordered evictions involve parents…
Taxis threaten further strike action over Uber, Cabify
• Protests over Supreme Court go-ahead to thousands of so-called VTC licenses • Taxis claim unfair competition from excessive number of Uber,…
Congress committee proposes seizure of Franco estate
• Franco foundation said to use Pazo de Meirás to glorify ex-dictator’s legacy • Activists say local population forced to pay for…
Spain to cut ‘dysphoria’ diagnosis from transgender law
• PSOE presents amendment dropping ‘disorder’ diagnosis, required treatment • Change lets 16-yr-olds legally change sexual identity without parental consent Spain’s Congress…
Puigdemont suggests EU exit referendum for Catalonia
• ‘CATexit’ vote comments generate criticism from political Left and Right • Remarks appear to reflect shift toward Euro-sceptic parties’ positions on…
Use of prison to house migrants sparks controversy
• Vatican joins NGOS, political parties critical of use of new prison near Malaga • Gov’t says recent wave of ‘boat people’…
PSOE pressure frees €200mn against gender violence
• Rajoy bends to Socialist-introduced measure, agrees to unfreeze funding • 200mn euros first tranche of five-year budget to combat gender violence…
Activist groups reveal ‘Truth About Hunting’ in Catalonia
• Environmental, animal-rights groups denounce hunting lobby’s influence • Groups say hunting across 90% of Catalonia harmful to wildlife, ecosystems A coalition…
Reports show difficulties in combating gender violence
• Unmployment, fear of reprisal, shame deter victims from reporting violence • More than 1/4 Spanish youth surveyed say violence ‘normal’ in…
Political asylum applications to Spain soaring in 2017
• Venezuelan applicants jump sharply to 7,400, 32% of total through September • 23,200 petitions in first 9 months compares to 16,554…
Leftwing, regional parties split on Franco-era measures
• Catalans, Basques fail to join PSOE, Podemos to halt ‘Valley of Fallen’ funding • PSOE balks at supporting Podemos-backed challenge to…
Spain releases millions in funding for Catalan NGOs
• Central gov’t says NGOs to receive 10.2 mn in frozen social services funding • Funds part of Catalan gov’t budget said…
Spain ready for new climate law, more emissions curbs
• Climate change official sees new law in 2018, backs greater EU restrictions • More renewable energy possible, pending regional, bilateral electricity…
Catalan ‘political prisoners’ claims untrue, says Amnesty
• Neither jailed activists nor former Catalan ministers are ‘political prisoners’ • Secessionists, supporters continue making claim, despite Amnesty clarification Despite claims…
Activists laud jail term over pet shelter exterminations
• More than 2,000 healthy dogs, cats died agonizing deaths to cut costs • Jail sentence first of its kind under Spain’s…
Truth vs post-Truth in Catalonia’s referendum debate
In the morass of charges and counter-charges flying over the push toward secession from Spain being fomented by the leadership of the…
Police move against Catalan gov’t over referendum
• Judges order searches, detentions of officials linked to independence vote • More than 6mn ballots confiscated, 14 officials arrested in coordinated…
Podemos internal democracy crisis over statute changes
• Crisis over statute changes aiming to limit debate, increase central control • Dispute pits Iglesias and allies vs Democratic Guarantees ombudswoman…
‘Sanchista’ loyalist chosen to lead PSOE-FSA in Asturias
• 38-yr-old mayor of Laviana takes over from outgoing Javier Fernández • Pro-Sanchez leaders expected to continue winning streak in other regions…
Oxfam files suit against Spain in Brussels over refugees
• Oxfam Intermón asks EC to make Spain comply with refugee commitment • NGO says Spanish gov’t has resettled just 13.7% of…