Battle for PSOE continues, party conference distant
• After 100 days under ‘interim’ caretaker, still no date for party conference • Socialist party dissidents seek shift to left, Old…
Politics
Podemos rejects unilateral Catalan referendum
• EnComúPodem calls for new elections rather than go-it-alone plebiscite • 59pct of Catalans want accord with central gov’t over independence vote…
Progressive Spain’s Top Ten Video Posts for 2016
Following are 2016’s ‘Top Ten Videos’ posted at Progressive Spain … for your viewing pleasure over the year-end holidays … See you…
Iglesias launches Podemos leadership candidacy
• Uneasy truce between ‘Errejónistas’ & ‘Pablistas’ over Vistalegre II conference • Iglesias calls Errejón’s number-two post into question over strategy differences…
Madrid Socialists want ‘Primaries & Congress Now!’
• PSOE-Madrid president Manuel Robles backs call for Congress on March 21st • Madrid Socialists join growing national push for new party…
Podemos petition opposing Iglesias gathers steam
• 330 party leaders nationwide sign petition over voting at February congress • Íñigo Errejón takes first public stance against Iglesias in…
Socialist activists organize against Susana Díaz
• ‘Críticos’ movement forms national committee to demand party conference • Rank-and-file dissidents say they’ll rally against Díaz in Sevilla on Dec…
Iglesias wants Podemos, PP conferences to coincide
• Iglesias preference for Feb 12-14 dates to be decided by ‘Consejo Ciudadano’ • Errejón hopes Dec 17 ‘Consejo’ meeting won’t become…
PSOE deputy complains of back-room deals with PP
• Robles says Socialists in Congress kept in dark about negotiations with PP • PP-PSOE accords in Congress exclude Podemos, Ciudadanos from…
Podemos leaders agree to disagree, again and again
• Iglesias, Errejón engaged in running verbal battle over direction of party • At stake is move farther left or towards disaffected…
PP stalls gender-violence funding increase in Senate
• PP absolute majority blocks opposition move to restore funding to 2010 levels • Party says only that it will assign ‘sufficient’…
ERC deputy thrusts condoms into Congress debate
• ‘You don’t have to be afraid to use the word’, Gabriel Rufián tells PP’s Rajoy • ERC deputy urges more measures…
‘Your time is up’, Sánchez tells PSOE interim leaders
• Pedro Sánchez calls for immediate party Congress to choose new leadership • Ousted Socialist leader says interim committee’s transition period has…
Senator under corruption probe dies of heart attack
• Rita Barberá, 68, collapses just two days after Supreme Court testimony • Former Valencia mayor indicted on corruption related to Partido…
Madrid mayor balks at social spending rollback
• Manuela Carmena says she’ll not back away from 200-mn euro spending hike • Mayor reaffirms commitment to projected 21% increase in…
Andalucian Socialist leader Díaz makes her move
• Andalucian president says could serve as PSOE Gen Secretary simultaneously • Brussels trip seen as part of effort to improve image…
Podemos regions seek more autonomy from Madrid
• Andalucian leader Rodríguez calls for separate status for regional party • IU leader Garzón begins push for Unidos Podemos merger into…
PSOE’s Sánchez to launch comeback bid in Valencia
• Ousted PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez to headline social democracy roundtable • Visits to Xirivella, Sueca and other towns to kick-off leadership…
PSOE begins ‘purge’ of deputies for anti-Rajoy vote
• Socialists replace Pons, Zaragoza in EU congressional committee posts • Aragon party removes Sumelza from leadership of parliamentary group The interim…
PP’s education law first casualty in new Congress
• Controversial 2013 LOMCE law on the block after 208-133 vote in Congress • Vote marks first of several reversals seen for…
Congress set to broaden gender-violence legislation
• Measures introduced by PSOE and PP to strengthen 2004 gender-violence law • Parties seek greater protection, tougher sanctions against ‘machista’ violence…
Iglesias-backed slate wins Podemos Madrid contest
• Espinar’s ‘Juntas Podemos’ slate wins 50.27% of vote in high-turnout election • Teresa Rodríguez wins Andalucia, Podemos Aragon marks distance with…
High turnout for Podemos Madrid leadership vote
• Results in hotly contested Madrid regional leadership race expected Friday • Turnout of more than 27,000 activists nearly doubles last internal…
PSOE Balearics pact at risk over Podemos crisis
• Podemos suspends membership of parliament president, triggering crisis • Three-way pact with Podemos, Més environmentalists may face renegotiation The Balearic Islands…
‘Adelante’ appears to lead Podemos Madrid race
• Slate led by Rita Maestre, Tania Sánchez wins local party platform planks • Podemos Madrid leadership contest to be decided after…
Activists seek action on equality, gender violence
• Feminist groups demand ‘Equality Ministry’, reform of gender-violence law • Congress likely to reform law, but budget cuts leave initiatives underfunded…
Sánchez launches campaign to reclaim, rebuild PSOE
• In exclusive television interview, Sánchez denounces ‘El País’ editorial threats • Calls PSOE interim caretaker ‘shameful’, says rank-and-file must reclaim party…
PSOE abstentions enable Rajoy minority gov’t
• PP’s Mariano Rajoy wins simple 170 majority, will form new government • Fifteen Socialist deputies break ranks with party and vote…
Sánchez resigns seat rather than abstain on Rajoy
• Cites ‘profound differences’ with Socialists’ interim caretaker administration • To embark on national drive to ‘recover’ PSOE for rank-and-file membership Just…
Rajoy to postpone controversial testing of students
• Hundreds of thousands of students, teachers & parents protest LOMCE law • Acting-PM pledges postponement of ‘reválidas’ for ESO, ‘bachillerato’ students…
Street protests called for Congress vote on Rajoy
• ‘Surround Congress’ demo called by 25-S platform in repeat of 2012 protest • Interior Ministry mobilizes National Police riot squads to…