Sánchez debate gambit on women’s issues could swing 62% undecided women voters for Socialists
• Voter rolls show 1.1 million more women eligible to vote than men • Last survey before election says 62% of all…
Politics
Podemos candidate set to be elected first-ever African-born immigrant to serve in Spain’s Congress
• Rita Bosaho to become Spain’s first-ever Black Congresswoman • Immigrants comprise 15% of population, just 1% of congressional seats Regardless of…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Barcelona rallies to open, close PSOE campaign: ‘We’re the Solution. Let’s Get Rid of Rajoy’
• Party leader Pedro Sánchez to headline national campaign rallies in Barcelona • PSOE-PSC lead candidate Carme Chacón to join in Dec….
British historian John Elliott evaluates Spain’s progress on 40th anniversary of Franco’s death
• Oxford Emeritus Professor lauds Spain’s post-Franco democratic Transition • Authority on Cataluña sees various ‘nations’ within Spanish State as viable British…
Podemos-backed ‘En Comú Podem’ coalition to campaign on Catalans’ right to referendum
• En Comú Podem sets sights on referendum measure over secession • Left coalition sees negotiated plebiscite as only way forward for…
Podemos says it would extend municipal voting rights for EU citizens to Spain’s regional elections
• Left party wants legally resident foreigners to vote in regional balloting • Move would affect citizens of EU, 12 other nations…
PSOE leads field with women candidates on Dec. 20 ballot, with 50/50 top-of-list parity in all regions
• Left parties promoting equality in candidates’ lists for general election • All parties lag Socialists in male-female parity at top of…
Poll suggests Spanish voters turning toward PP & PSOE, away from Podemos & Ciudadanos parties
• Poll in wake of Paris terrorist attacks show Spaniards turning to main parties • Political unrest in Cataluña, possible terror attacks…
Greenpeace, Oxfam & Amnesty fault Spain’s political parties for foot-dragging on social rights
• NGOs want universal access to basic rights enshrined in Constitution • Political parties get poor marks in commitment to healthcare, housing…
Crusading judge resigns high-profile Noos trial to join Podemos ticket in upcoming elections
• High-profile judge takes leave of absence to run on Podemos ticket • Juan Pedro Yllanes was slated to preside over trial…
Catalonia’s Artur Mas fails second bid for regional presidency, as anti-capitalist CUP party stands firm
• Anti-capitalist CUP party keeps pledge to refuse to seat Mas as President • Back to ‘drawing boards’ for Junts pel Sí…
Constitutional court suspends independence resolution, warns Catalan leaders on further action
• Constitutional Court issues 5-month injunction against resolution • Court decision warn Catalonia’s leaders over further implementation Spain’s highest court on constitutional…
Animal rights party to field election candidates for first time in Spain’s upcoming Dec. 20 balloting
• Animal-rights group runs for Congress, Senate to publicize plight of animals • PACMA gathered necessary 7,000 signatures to place candidates on…
Catalan parliament passes independence “resolution”: What happens next?
• Catalonia’s parliament passes defiant resolution calling for independence • Constitutional Court expected to rule within week, stage set for showdown The…
Power struggles, disagreements put brakes on left coalition campaigns in Dec. 20 elections
• New-left Podemos, old-left Izquierda Unida fail to agree on national coalition • A ‘broad front’ strategy left to local regional movements…
UK MP tells Labour International meeting in Alicante: Vote to Stay in Europe
• British Labour Party MP promotes campaign to keep Britain in EU • Says Britons in Spain make up largest group of…
Latest poll shows conservative PP could win Dec. 20 election, Socialists’ & Ciudadanos’ vote share rising
• Conservative governing party seen ahead in voter-preference poll • Coalition government likely following Dec. 20th general elections A new election poll…
Podemos taps former military Chief of Staff as candidate in upcoming Dec. 20 general elections
• Anti-austerity party lures former Defense chief to election ticket • Rodríguez Fernández to campaign for Congressional seat from Zaragoza Spain’s insurgent-left…
Socialist party seeks kinder, gentler labour reforms in appeal to both workers and business
• Socialists treading fine line between labour and business • PSOE sees voter concerns over unemployment key to election victory Spain’s opposition…
Catalan support for independence waning, says Metroscopia poll
• Opinion poll shows four-point drop in backing for Cataluña independence • Post-election survey also shows growing sentiment against Artur Mas A…
Spanish nonprofit, charitable federation calls for Constitutional change to help country’s poorest
• Red Cross, Cáritas and others want right to public assistance guaranteed • Groups urge parties to enshrine basic economic, social rights…