New polls show voters prefer PSOE-Ciudadanos pact, as support for PSOE-Podemos coalition on the wane
• PSOE-Ciudadanos only combo viewed positively in latest Metroscopia poll • Results of two opinion polls just released show a clear preference…
Podemos undermines progressive coalition talks, demands PSOE drop Ciudadanos from negotiations
• PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez rejects Podemos’ bid for exclusive negotiations • Dialogue between Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE) and anti-austerity party Podemos…
#VIDEO: Pedro Sánchez press conference Feb. 5th, following meeting with Pablo Iglesias [in Spanish]
• PSOE leader rejects demand for ‘exclusive’ negotiations with Podemos • Sánchez leaves door open to inclusive, multi-party dialogue on policy issues…
#VIDEO: Pablo Iglesias press conference Feb. 5th, following meeting with Pedro Sánchez [in Spanish]
• Podemos won’t negotiate with PSOE if talks with Ciudadanos continue • Iglesias told Sánchez Socialists must choose either Podemos or Ciudadanos…
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…
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…
Catalan secessionists move forward with creation of three new laws in challenge to Constitutional Court
• Laws stem from pro-independence resolution declared ‘unconstitutional’ • Members of the Catalonia’s small anti-capitalist CUP party voted with the pro-independence Junts…
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…
Andalusia public health study demonstrates clear link between housing evictions and health problems
• Women evicted more likely than men to suffer illness, heart problems • A new study in Andalusia has shown that people…
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…
Madrid to drop Franco-era names of streets and plazas, honoring victims of terrorism, rights abuses
• Conservative PP only party against move to turn page on Franco era • The Madrid municipal council has voted to approve…
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…
San Sebastian focuses on peace, diversity themes for European Capital of Culture 2016 celebrations
• Major ‘war and peace’ art show planned, with works by Picasso, Goya • Spain’s northern city of San Sebastian has kicked…
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…