Greenpeace calls on political parties, Congress to halt approval of La Garoña nuclear plant re-opening
• Facility closed since 2013, regulator considering approval of re-opening • Greenpeace Spain has called on the Mesa Directiva of Spain’s new…
Spain
Podemos regional leader, allies step back from Catalan referendum, give nod to PSOE-led coalition
• Andalusia’s Teresa Rodríguez, Compromís leaders focus on social issues • Regional leaders and electoral alliance partners of new-left, anti-austerity party Podemos…
Excavation team begins Spain’s first court-ordered exhumation of Franco-era mass grave in Guadalajara
• Timoteo Mendieta believed buried at a 1939 mass gravesite in Guadalajara • It took an Argentine court order and the cooperation…
#VIDEO: Alberto Garzón says IU would support Left-coalition government [in Spanish]
• Izquierda Unida leader meets with King in talks to form new government • Garzón tells press he advised King IU will…
Socialists, Podemos lurch past first contention, Compromís exits Podemos’ parliamentary group
• PSOE, Podemos traverse first dispute, focus shifts to possible Left-coalition • Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE) and its new-left anti-austerity challenger Podemos…
Renewables associations criticize Spain’s ‘zero-cost’ auction of wind and biomass projects as untenable
• Producers’ cite unprofitability, doubt winners will actually develop projects • Two of Spain’s largest groups of renewable energy producers have sharply…
CCOO to campaign to raise 655 euro monthly minimum wage, guarantee affordable rental housing
• Focus on rise in 655 euros/month min wage, defense of pensions levels • Spain’s largest labour union, the Comisiones Obreras (Workers’…
Podemos’ new Deputy from Tenerife wants to get past ‘spectacle’ and onto serious political business
• Dreadlocked legislator ‘surprised by the lack of respect’ over appearance • As perhaps the most highly visible sign that the demographic…
#VIDEO: PACMA denounces horses forced to jump through flames in annual ‘Luminarias’ festival
• Partido Animalista documents “festival” in San Bartolomé de Pinares, Ávila • Held each year on eve of Feast of Saint Anthony,…
Podemos struggles to avoid rift with three regional coalition partners over Congressional caucus groups
• Podemos faces deadline Tuesday to sort situation with coalition partners • New-left, anti-austerity party Podemos is struggling against a deadline today…
Facebook now considers bullfights objectionable content, along with hunting, pornography & bullying
• Global social network’s move hailed by Spanish animal-rights advocates • Facebook has decided to run the risk of alienating bullfighting aficionados…
Flow of migrants and asylum seekers rescued at sea while trying to reach Spain increased 25% in 2015
• Nearly 7,000 attempted sea journey, rescued by Spanish, Moroccan crews • Nearly 7,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers braving a dangerous…
#VIDEO: Jesuit Migration Services (SJM) launches ‘Hospitalidad’ pro-refugees campaign [in Spanish]
• Spain’s Jesuits launch campaign to help counter anti-refugee prejudice • Website www.Hospitalidad.es promotes solidarity with asylum seekers ► ► CLICK ABOVE…
PSOE ‘Plan B’: Align with Ciudadanos, force Podemos to either abstain or join with PP to block government
• Option puts Podemos in difficult position, neutralising opposition to PSOE • Now faced with a virtually nil chance of negotiating a…
Oxfam Intermón says Spain income gap greatest within OECD, second-fastest growing in all Europe
• ‘Economy for the 1%’ says 13.4 mn Spaniards risk of social exclusion • A new report by Oxfam released in Spain…
Telefonica’s ‘Think Big’ program picks 310 finalists for funding of projects with positive social impact
• Annual program funds, mentors young social entrepreneurs across Spain • Spain’s Telefonica Foundation has announced the selection of 310 finalists in…
Europe’s ‘Plan B’ anti-austerity campaign is headed for Madrid, gains support from Spanish Left leaders
• Leaders of Spanish Left sign onto pan-European anti-austerity campaign • Barcelona mayor and leader of the Barcelona en Comú activist platform…
#VIDEO: Amnesty International Spain thanks public for support during 2015 [in Spanish]
• Amnesty thanks Spanish supporters who worked on 2015 rights campaigns • Highlights success cases in Mexico, Salvador, Egypt, Nigeria & other…
Hopes for broad-left coalition government dim amid confrontations in Congress between PSOE, Podemos
• Podemos & PSOE at loggerheads, could threaten left coalition to oust PP • Political confrontations on several issues in the first…
Barcelona-based Privalia and UNICEF net 600,000 euros in ‘Future for Children’ fundraising campaign
• Privalia partnership with UNICEF to benefit children worldwide • Spanish online fashion outlet Privalia and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)…
En Comú Podem’s Colau slams PSOE for ceding Senate seats to Catalan pro-independence parties
• Barcelona mayor criticizes Socialists for ‘cynicism’ of the ‘old politics’ • Barcelona’s activist mayor Ada Colau has excorciated Spain’s Socialist party…
#VIDEO: AnimaNaturalis footage of mistreatment of bulls during Correbous festivals popular in Catalonia
• Animal-rights NGO video show cruelty to bulls in Terre del Ebro region • Bulls mistreated as part of popular Correbous festivals…
Podemos under fire for alleged Iranian funding of Pablo Iglesias’ ‘Fort Apache’ talk show on HispanTV
• Venezuela, Iran said to have channeled funds to Podemos via TV program • Spain’s new-left anti-austerity party Podemos, which came in…
#VIDEO: Interview with IU leader Alberto Garzón, Las Mañanas Cuatro [in Spanish]
• IU party leader, Deputy Alberto Garzón talks about new Congress • Tells Las Mañanas Cuatro about possibilities, difficulties of broad-left alliance…
Spain has accepted just 18 of 16,000 refugees it pledged to take in EU accord, says pro-refugees NGO
• Group says Spain’s inaction ‘shameful’ in face of now-critical situation • The non-governmental refugees advocacy organisation Refugiados Extremadura has called on…
Supreme Court agrees to hear appeal filed against controversial ‘sun tax’ on self-generated solar power
• Renewable producers say ‘sun tax’ penalizes solar to benefit of fossil fuels • The Supreme Court of Spain has agreed to…
PAH anti-eviction activists call on new Congress to tackle housing crisis through emergency measures
• Group wants anti-eviction, pro-housing commitment in government talks • The nationwide anti-eviction activist Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (Platform of…
Socialists negotiate unprecedented deal to seat opposition member as Speaker of new Congress
• Former Basque regional premier Patxi López to preside over Mesa Directiva • In a sign of how unusual Spain’s current political…
Cheap coal, wind-power reduction fueled setback in de-carbonisation of Spain’s energy market in 2015
• 24% jump year-on-year pushed coal-fired power ahead of renewables • The use of coal in fueling Spain’s electric energy production spiked…
Energy companies to challenge retroactive cuts to renewables in next session of Constitutional Court
• More than 400 appeals from companies, with 1.7 billion euros at stake • Spanish renewable energy companies say they will file…
#VIDEO: Podemos Press Conf – Pablo Iglesias and Regional Coalition Representatives [in Spanish]
• Podemos, Compromís, Marea Gallega, En Comú Podem press conference • Iglesias & coalition leaders speak on need for four parliamentary groups…