PSOE leader Sánchez tackles PP’s Rajoy on corruption, social spending cuts during TV debate
• Sánchez goes after Rajoy in bid to close gap in opinion polls • Corruption, social spending cuts dominate harsh tone of…
Civil Guard break up sex-slavery ring in Alicante’s Marina Alta, free women forced into prostitution
• Six Bulgarians and one Spaniard arrested in raids by Civil Guard • Women victims forced into prostitution along Marina Alta highways…
Final pre-election polls put conservative PP in front, PSOE second, Ciudadanos & Podemos in hot pursuit
• The PP expected to net 25% of the vote, far short of absolute majority • PSOE, Ciudadanos and/or Podemos in coalition…
Animal rights group denounces local government permits to shoot greyhounds abandoned by owners
• Authorities in Ávila encourage hunters to kill stray animals • Group says abandoned dogs should be trapped, not shot by hunters…
Carmena administration reduces Madrid’s controversial anti-riot police unit by 50 percent
• Police unit used to dislodge 15-M protesters cut to 80 officers • Police reassigned to other duties in line with city…
Rights activists, attorneys, journalists call on European court to overturn Spain’s anti-protest law
• Lawsuit filed over law’s restrictions on free speech and assembly • Fines under Spain’s so-called ‘gag law’ range from 600 to…
Podemos leader says technology, social media increasingly important to democracy in Spain
• Iglesias says younger voters’ use of social media key to Podemos campaign • Investment in renewables could create more than 300,000…
Spanish NGOs seek to raise awareness on fair trade, rights & environment with holiday selfies campaign
• CECJ promotes fair-trade holiday gifts with #MejorconComercioJusto contest • Campaign to highlight value of fair trade, rights & environmental protection A…
Ciudadanos leader stirs backlash with claim longer jail time for men in domestic violence cases unfair
• Citizens’ leader Albert Rivera says men, women should face equal sentences • Party claims extra jail time for aggravated assault is…
Amnesty International says Spain has backtracked on freedoms of expression and assembly for citizens
• AI Spain director says political parties should do more to protect rights • Esteban Beltran says police power expanded, protection of…
Podemos-led measure reassigns Madrid regional bullfighting budget to help domestic abuse victims
• One-third of Madrid region’s funding of bullfighting activities cut • Opposition shifts 414,000 euros to support victims of gender violence An…
Environmental NGO says climate change could snatch quarter of Spain’s water reserves by 2020
• ‘Ecologistas en Acción’ sees possible ‘water collapse’ within 5 years • Less rainfall, high temps & increased irrigation demands at fault,…
Spain’s Ombudswoman warns of human trafficking rings targeting refugee women fleeing to Europe
• ‘Defensora del Pueblo’ said refugee women risk victimization twice over • Soledad Becerril called for ‘more generosity’ from Spain in granting…
Survey of homeless across Basque Country shows few receive significant government assistance
• 1,200 interviewees said to receive on average just 375 euros per month • Six out of 10 homeless said they rely…
Regional coalition strategies may pit Podemos, IU parties against each other in election aftermath
• Podemos & Izquierda Unida in coalition campaigns in Catalonia, Galicia • Parties may face struggle over rules for voting caucus formation…
Animal-rights activists bare bodies in chilly Barcelona protest over leather luxury apparel
• Annual AnimaNaturalis protest staged in downtown Placa de Catalunya • Protesters draw attention to use of animal skins in leather fashion…
Sub-Saharan asylum seekers continue dangerous boat journeys to reach Spain via Canaries, Melilla
• Spanish hospital ship rescues 51 immigrants at sea near Gran Canaria • Migrants stranded on island off Melilla returned to Moroccan…
Gov’t, unions worry about impact of Abengoa bankrupcty on Spanish economy, labour market
• Creditors say solar, wind powerhouse’s debt level exceeds 9 bn euros • Spanish renewables giant employs 7,000 in Spain and 28,000…
Torture, police brutality and abuse on the rise in Spain, says rights-monitoring federation of NGOs
• CDPT federation cites 194 cases, affecting 960 individuals in 2014 • Abuse occurs during police actions against protesters, raids & detention…
Opinion polls indicate no absolute majority in Dec. 20th general elections will force coalition gov’t
• Governing conservative PP will fall far short of absolute majority • PSOE, Ciudadanos neck-and-neck in two surveys, Podemos lagging in fourth…
Madrid air pollution tops acceptable EU limits for third day, prompting city-centre parking restrictions
• Air quality hits 200 mcg of NO2 for third consecutive day • Carmena administration first to enact measures to combat pollution…
Basque NGOs denounce cutbacks in regional government’s support for international aid projects
• Federation of 80 non-governmental agencies rallies in Vitoria • Groups say 2015 gov’t commitment falls far short of agreed funding A…
Spain’s Constitutional Court rules Cataluña Independence resolution in violation of Constitution
• Unanimous decision says resolution in ‘absolute contradiction’ to Constitution • Catalan secessionists now risk prosecution if they choose to defy court…
‘Funding for education, not for religion’: Groups call for secular schools, end to religion in classrooms
• Demands include end to religion courses and 1979 agreement with Vatican • Unions, teachers’ associations join call for ‘Electoral Pledge’ from…
Anti-eviction activists in Barcelona criticize mayor Ada Colau in letter protesting continued evictions
• PAH says Colau falls short of pledge to stop evictions • Group demands greater effort to turn vacant flats into emergency…
Spain’s slow economic recovery falls 25,000 jobs short of employment levels when Rajoy took office
• November jobless figures show year-on-year improvement • But, numbers still shy of replacing 1.5 mn jobs lost since Rajoy took office…
Parties overcome PP objection, Madrid plaza renamed in memory of LGBT activist Pedro Zerolo
• PSOE, Ahora Madrid & Ciudadanos unite to overcome PP opposition • Zerolo led FELGTB federation during difficult years of Aznar administration…
Spanish PM Rajoy a ‘no-show’ for El País-sponsored televised debate in Dec. 20th general election race
• PSOE, Ciudadanos and Podemos candidates take on issues, each other • Rajoy falted by opponents for absence, PP’s ongoing corruption woes…
Socialists pledge municipal voting rights to all foreign citizens legally resident for five years
• Move would enable some 1.5 million legally resident immigrants to vote • Moroccans, Chinese, Ukrainians & other disenfranchised groups to benefit…
CUP party militants vote to block Artur Mas in Cataluña, but compromise deal still not ruled out
• CUP rank-and-file rejects Mas, citing cutbacks and corruption charges • If stalemate continues to Jan. 10th, new elections must be held…
Madrid demonstrators oppose Syria bombing, polls show public divided about going to war in Syria
• Protesters gather to chant ‘No to War!’ in front of Reina Sofia museum • Poll shows Spaniards split as to whether…