January employment figures buoyed by short-term contracts, unions say labour market still precarious
• Low increase in unemployed in January, but Spain’s jobless rate still 20.8% • Relatively positive unemployment figures for January released by…
Spain
Fair Trade activists celebrate 30th anniversary of 1986 launch of first ‘Comercio Justo’ shops in Spain
• First Fair Trade shops opened in Cordoba, Donostia-San Sebastián in 1986 • Spain’s National Fair Trade Coordinating Council (Coordinadora Estatal de…
Five NGOs press Sánchez to push sustainability, social justice to forefront of coalition negotiations
• Major ‘green’ NGOs press for commitment from parties on environment • As Pedro Sánchez of the Socialist party (PSOE) continues with…
#VIDEO: Pedro Sánchez press conference on meeting with Ciudadanos’ Albert Rivera [in Spanish]
• PSOE’s Sánchez puts positive spin on initial meeting with Rivera • Stresses discussion focused on points that unite, not divide two…
PSOE, Ciudadanos agree to talks in five key policy areas, Rivera vetoes coalition pact with Podemos
• Rivera says PP’s 123 seats in Congress must be taken into account • Political leaders Pedro Sánchez of the Socialist party…
#VIDEO: Interview with IU leader Alberto Garzón on negotiations to form progressive gov’t [in Spanish]
• Garzón says reaching consensus on progressive program most important • Says one month for PSOE’s Pedro Sánchez to form coalition is…
Removal of Franco-era monuments in Madrid sparks controversy and challenge from regional government
• Monuments honor military, civilians & politicians killed by Republicans • A precipitous move by the Culture Secretary of the municipality of…
Wildlife group uses GPS to track extraordinary saga of native Iberian lynx reintroduced into Spain’s wild
• Near-extinct native species thriving on epic journeys following re-insertion • An Iberian lynx named Kentaro that was released in Toledo in…
The long and winding road: Spain’s tortuous path to a new coalition government or new general elections
• Sánchez has just 30 days, before clock starts ticking toward new elections • Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez has been granted 3-4…
Electric vehicle sales jump nearly 200% in January, buyers seeing hybrids & electrics as real alternative
• Hybrid sales up 45% in same period, says ANFAC industry association • The number of electric vehicles sold in Spain during…
#VIDEO: Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez accepts King’s request to attempt to form new government
• PSOE leader says he will begin negotiations to form coalition immediately Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez has accepted the request by Spain’s…
Podemos, Ciudadanos narrow Sánchez’s room for maneuver, saying ‘no way’ to tripartite coalition
• PSOE leader’s chances to secure enough votes for coalition gov’t dwindling • Efforts by the leader of Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE),…
#VIDEO: Pablo Iglesias press conference after second meeting with King Felipe [in Spanish]
• Podemos leader says he’s been ‘more than generous’ in offer to Socialists • A PSOE-led tripartite coalition with Podemos & Ciudadanos…
Oxfam Intermón slams Spain over contribution to Syria refugee effort on eve of global donor summit
• NGO says Spain has only met 30% of expected $185 mn relief contribution • Oxfam Intermón, the Spanish affiliate of international…
#VIDEO: Activists to gather Feb. 7th in 15 Spanish cities to protest brutal mistreatment of greyhounds
• Greyhound used to hunt wild hares mistreated, tortured at end of season • Thousands of dogs killed, maimed, left for dead…
Pedro Sánchez says coalition pact could include centre-right Ciudadanos or anti-austerity Podemos
• PSOE leader says he will look to political right and left for coalition support • Facing repeated denials by the conservative Popular…
Eight women killed in gender violence in January, highest number for first month of year since 2012
• In wake of 17-month-old baby’s death, petition nets 20,000 signatures • Eight women were killed by their partners or ex-partners during…
Amnesty files lawsuit in Mexico over rights abuses, ‘crimes against humanity’ during Spanish Civil War
• Lawsuit on behalf of family of Spanish railway worker disappeared in 1936 • Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have…
Felipe González tells parties: move past narrow interests, reach deal to move forward with reforms
• Former PM warns PSOE to avoid coalition with “Leninism 3.0” of Podemos • Former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez has called on…
Wind-energy group: 2015 worst year for wind since 1980s, not one single MW of new installed capacity
• Wind power met 19.4% of energy demand in 2015, with production falling • Spain’s Asociacion Empresarial Eolica (Wind Energy Association, or…
Barcelona, Madrid still awaiting refugees’ arrival, with food, shelter and budget set aside for months
• Officials blame Spanish government for ongoing delays in refugees’ arrival • Officials in the Spanish capital of Madrid and in the…
Ian Gibson reflects on García Lorca, eight decades since the poet’s 1936 execution by Franco’s police
• Re-release of Gibson’s full works on Lorca to coincide anniversary of death • The world’s foremost scholar on the poet Federico…
Socialist leaders hostile to pact with Podemos, as parties jockey for position to form new government
• PSOE’s Felipe González wants Sánchez to step away from Podemos deal • As Spain’s political parties jockey for position in their…
PSOE tells Rajoy to step up to form gov’t or step down, parties head for 2nd round of talks with King
• PSOE pressured by PP on right, Podemos on left in crucial week of talks • Following Friday’s surprise announcement by conservative…
Majority of Socialist, Podemos voters support coalition pact, according to latest Metroscopia poll
• Rank-and-file support coalition, King begins Round 2 of talks with parties • A majority of voters who supported the Socialists (PSOE)…
Ipsos-Mori poll says support for bullfighting among Spaniards falls from 30% to 19% in last three years
• 84% of youth are not proud to live in a country associated with bullfighting • Support for bullfighting has dropped sharply…
#VIDEO: Rajoy surprise move, declines King’s request to form new government [in Spanish]
• Acting Prime Minister says he does not have sufficient number of votes • First time in 40 years since Franco that…
#VIDEO: Pedro Sanchez press conference, response to Podemos coalition offer [in Spanish]
• PSOE leader raps Podemos for first seeking ministerial posts • Says ready to talk with Pablo Iglesias about forming progressive coalition…
#VIDEO: Podemos press conference outlining coalition proposal with PSOE [in Spanish]
• Pablo Iglesias told King he wants to be Vice-President in PSOE-led gov’t • Podemos demands six ministerial cabinets in progressive-left coalition…
Rajoy expected to make first try at forming gov’t, Sánchez waits in wings with progressive coalition
• Rajoy to be offered first attempt, despite admission PP lacks enough votes • If protocol is followed by Spain’s head of…
‘City of Refuge’ awaits Syrians, but 2,000 Valencia volunteers wondering when EU will send refugees
• More than 2,000 Valencians volunteered to help refugees yet to arrive • A Valencia city councillor in charge of Development Aid…