Socialists gird for fight of their lives in 26-J elections
• Socialists say campaign will focus on ousting conservative PP government • Spokesman raps Podemos for leftward shift, ‘obsession’ with surpassing PSOE…
Politics
Podemos vote gives rise to Izquierda Unida divisions
• Ex-IU leader Llamazares calls vote on alliance with Podemos ‘deceitful’ • Referendum critics say militants asked to cast vote on non-existent…
Voter surveys at odds over outcome of new elections
• Abstentionism projected to help Rajoy’s PP win elections with 29% of vote • Polls differ on whether Podemos-IU pact could relegate…
PSC-PSOE’s Chacón won’t seek June re-election
• Catalan party stalwart won’t lead June slate, leaves Congress after 16 years • Chacón not leaving politics completely, stays in PSOE’s…
No candidate can form gov’t, so it’s back to the polls
• Last-minute Compromís effort for progressive coalition rejected by all parties • Congress president Patxi López confirms new national elections for June…
PSOE’s Chacón faces primary challenge in Catalonia
• Ex-Senator Carles Martí throws hat into ring to lead PSC list on June ballot • Chacon-led PSC ticket won 335k fewer…
Meet Spain’s new far-right, anti-immigrant party
• Three ultra-right parties form ‘Respeto’ to defend Spain against immigrants • German anti-Islamic ‘Pegida’ party leader lends support at ‘Respeto’ Congress…
‘Manos Limpias’ ultra-right legal agenda unravels
• Leaders of ‘Manos Limpias’ and Ausbanc face charges of extortion, blackmail • Former ultra-right activists targeted politicians, judges & Spain’s Royal…
Iglesias’ personal attack on journalist boomerangs
• Alleges reporters ‘professionally obliged’ to write negative stories on Podemos • Comments roundly condemned by news media, professional associations Podemos leader…
Podemos looks to general election alliance with IU
• Pablo Iglesias drops insistence that IU incorporate within Podemos • Parties discussing joint election campaign with separate identities intact Anti-austerity party…
Regional allies mull electoral split from Podemos
• En Marea, Compromís & En Comú Podem consider break from Podemos • Move would give regional groups separate budget, privileges in…
PSOE shrugs off Podemos vote against centrist pact
• High turnout of ‘active’ Podemos supporters rejects PSOE-Ciudadanos pact • Socialists say only conclusion is all Podemos voters against Rajoy government…
Anti-green minister resigns over offshore accounts
• José Manuel Soria forced to resign in wake of Panama Papers scandal • Career ended for opponent of renewables, proponent of…
Podemos supporters weigh-in on coalition options
• Leaders warn ‘yes’ vote to PSOE-Ciudadanos pact could trigger resignations • Concerns seen over impact of potential low turnout on referendum…
Cities in dispute over Republican flag raising
• Podemos-backed Cadiz mayor defies Madrid government by hoisting flag • Spain’s government also challenges Republican flag raising in Zaragoza • A…
As new election looms, parties look to shift blame
• Podemos says PSOE-Ciudadanos inflexible, PSOE claims deal was possible • The window of opportunity to form a progressive coalition government for…
Madrid suburb says ‘no’ to bullfighting festivals
• PSOE-led council says despite low turnout it will respect vote, ban bullfights • The PSOE-led muncipal council of the Madrid suburb…
PSOE, Ciudadanos, Podemos talks off to a bad start
• Pablo Iglesias tells PSOE, Ciudadanos their accord is ‘dead in the water’ • Podemos insists on Catalonia’s ‘right to decide’ on…
#VIDEO: Podemos again denies financing from Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez via CEPS think-tank
• Errejón says charges ‘radically false’ and welcomes challenge in court • Leaders of Spain’s anti-austerity party Podemos have denied fresh reports…
Socialists, Ciudadanos & Podemos set to begin last-ditch coalition talks on Thursday afternoon
• Tri-party talks must overcome sharp differences prior to May 2nd deadline • In what seems the start of a last-ditch effort…
Environmentalists introduce resolution in Congress to protect Iberian wolves from hunters, ranchers
• Nearly 800 native Iberian wolves are killed by hunters each year in Spain • Environmentalists are keeping up the pressure for…
#VIDEO: Sánchez, Iglesias agree tri-party talks with Ciudadanos, but major obstacles to coalition remain
• Iglesias drops Vice-President demand, won’t join gov’t with Ciudadanos • Pedro Sánchez of the Socialist party (PSOE) and Pablo Iglesias of…
Spanish Congressional committee calls for gov’t suspension of ‘fracking’ permits, pending review
• Measure would require full vote of Congress, Senate to take effect • A Spanish Congressional committe has made a first move…
#VIDEO: Podemos spokesperson Íñigo Errejón breaks two-week silence with press conference [in Spanish]
• “New elections in Spain are neither necessary nor are they expedient” • Podemos’ Congressional spokesperson Íñigo Errejón ended a two-week drought…
PSOE and Podemos leaders to meet on Wednesday, as each strives to contain internal party challenges
• Key PSOE, Podemos party councils Saturday overshadow leaders’ meeting • Socialist party leader Pedro Sánchez and Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias are…
Madrid mayor names respected former Socialist senator to lead city’s ‘Historic Memory’ commission
• New commission to seek consensus on removal of Franco-era markers • Madrid mayor Manuela Carmena has named the respected attorney and…
Conciliation vs. intransigence: Polls show voter shift to United Left, Ciudadanos as new elections loom
• IU could recapture seats from Podemos, Ciudadanos net 20 more Deputies • As Spain’s politial parties continue to seek a negotiated…
Barcelona mayor’s Tweets backpedal on criticism of Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias in just-released book
• Ada Colau critical of Iglesias’ ‘arrogance’ in Catalan journalist’s new book • Barcelona mayor Ada Colau quickly used her Twitter account…
Catalanistas or fascists? Study says stereotypes skewing Catalan voters’ views of parties’ ideologies
• New study says voter perception of Catalanismo as left-wing is distorted • A new study of voter perceptions in Spain’s northeast…
Sánchez and Iglesias agree to meet amidst renewed uncertainty over possible PSOE-Podemos agreement
• Unclear whether or not embattled Podemos now more willing to negotiate • Preliminary talks toward forming a left-of-center, progressive coalition government…
‘You’re fired!’ Podemos sacks party’s coordinator of regional organization over Madrid resignation crisis
• Sergio Pascual seen as ally of Podemos ‘number-two’ leader Íñigo Errejón • As a result of abrupt resignations within the leadership…