Rajoy expected to make first try at forming gov’t, Sánchez waits in wings with progressive coalition
• Rajoy to be offered first attempt, despite admission PP lacks enough votes • If protocol is followed by Spain’s head of…
Politics
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…
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…
#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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
#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…
Catalan Parliament selects new president, setting stage for showdown with Madrid over independence
• Artur Mas steps aside in last-minute deal with anti-capitalist CUP party • After cliffhanger negotiations terminating in a last-minute deal late…
Podemos request for four-way split of 69 Congress seats would quadruple stipend, presence in debates
• Unprecedented request widely opposed, could stall new Congress formation • Anti-austerity party Podemos has announced it wants its 69 Congressional seats…
Socialists’ Pedro Sánchez meets with Portuguese PM for advice on constructing broad-left coalition
• PSOE leader wants Portugal-style coalition to oust Spain’s Partido Popular • The leader of Spain’s Socialist party (PSOE), Pedro Sánchez, traveled…
Colau’s BComú movement nixes talk of her leading broad-left coalition in re-run of Catalan regional vote
• Hints that Colau could lead En Comú Podem to Generalitat victory dismissed • Barcelona’s activist mayor Ada Colau has seemingly scuppered…
CUP refuses to vote for Artur Mas presidency, sets stage for new Catalan regional elections in March
• Anti-capitalist party leadership votes 36-30 against Mas bid for presidency • Independence momentum stalls, parliamentary elections rerun almost certain Catalonia’s small…
Compromís-Podemos coalition win in Valencia may place Monica Oltra in line for Valencia presidency
• Compromís-Podemos coalition came in 2nd in general elections in Valencia • Coalition now wants to renegotiate terms of its agreement with…
Valencian Socialist leader Ximo Puig sees March
re-run of general elections as most likely scenario
• Valencian president says PSOE does not have votes for coalition government • Puig says Podemos demands on Catalonia nixed chance for…
PSOE internal divisions surface amid Sánchez bid to piece together ruling coalition or face new elections
• Under pressure, party leader says ‘No’ to Podemos over Catalonia vote • Regional leaders push for annual party conference, possible primary…
CUP assembly deadlocks, party leadership now to decide approval of Artur Mas as Catalan president
• Ballot deadlock after three rounds of voting sends issue to party leadership • If no decision before Jan. 10th, new regional…
Oxfam Intermón calls on Spain’s next government to make poverty alleviation, overseas aid top priorities
• NGO says overseas aid alleviates root causes of refugees, economic migration • Fight against poverty, inequality at home should be government’s…
Voters elect record number of women deputies to national Congress in historic general election vote
• Women win 140 seats in 350-member Congress, but fall short of ‘parity’ • Nearly half of Podemos’ 69 seats & PSOE’s…
Fledgling animal-rights party gets more votes than other parties, but no seats in Congress of Deputies
• PACMA nets more votes for Congress than either BILDU or Canary Coalition • Animal-rights campaigners gather more than 1 million votes…
PP loses majority, PSOE falls short, Podemos finish strong in realignment of Spain’s political landscape
• PP & PSOE both fall far short of 176-seat needed for absolute majority • Podemos surge nets 69 seats, Ciudadanos falters…
Guides to the parties, the candidates & what’s at stake in Spain’s 2015 general elections on Sunday
• PP, PSOE, Ciudadanos & Podemos lineup for the final countdown • General elections to decide who governs Spain in 2016 and…
#VIDEO: Richard Gere steps into Spanish election campaign, calls on next PM to remember homeless
• Actor releases YouTube video message on behalf of Spain’s RAIS foundation • Asks whoever elected Dec. 20th not to forget Spain’s…