More elections on the horizon

JUNE will see Spaniards set off to the polling booths once more, not long after voting in elections a few months back. 

Over the last few months, a political stalemate has arisen, with parties continually trying to form a coalition government without any success. 

The December elections saw a hung parliament, with four main parties battling it out, although none of them had enough seats to create a government alone. 

King Felipe VI is to hold emergency talks with the party leaders, as he urges them to make coalitions and form a government. If nothing can be done, which looks likely, then the elections are sure to take place on June 26, as the time in which a new coalition government needs to be formed runs out. 

Acting Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy this week paid a visit to a remote village in the dry La Mancha region, and was surrounded by a crowd of around 60 residents, who asked him about the plans. He stated that Spain’s rural and ageing population, who are generally key supporters of his conservative Popular Party (PP), had “the same rights” as city dwellers.

In a light-hearted gesture, amongst the seriousness of politics, far left-party Podemos, who came third in the polls, said that it was organising a spring party in a Madrid Park on Sunday 24 April “with activities for kids, concerts, cycling, a picnic and a load of surprises.”  

The polls predict that any new election results would be very similar to those held in December. Although perhaps with Podemos losing out the most due to the electorate accusing them of blocking the way for a left-wing government to form. 

The PP’s candidate is due to remain as Rajoy despite a series of scandals that have hit his party recently, with people even calling for his resignation.