Spain is rudderless. And Spaniards are angry that their political parties have still not reached an agreement on forming a government after an inconclusive general election almost two months ago. The indecision can be blamed on an election verdict which delivered a deadlocked parliament, but political parties have a responsibility to rise to the occasion and make concessions in the interest of the nation.
On Thursday, Spain will complete two months without a government, and all eyes are now on the Socialist party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez who will seek parliamentary approval next month to become the next prime minister. If Sánchez fails to garner the necessary votes, the country will be forced into another election.
It will be an extremely tough ride for Sánchez. With 90 seats, he will need the support of the anti-austerity Podemos party as well as the small United Left which would give him 161 seats, still short of the 176 required for a majority. It’s a gap that can be filled by Basque and Catalan MPs, but the hurdles are too many and even if a coalition is formed, there are doubts about its life. Sanchez himself has held talks with most parties to try to garner enough support for his nomination but he is far from guaranteed success as the various groups all have conflicting agendas. The ruling Popular Party, which won the election but without an absolute majority, and whose leader Mariano Rajoy stood aside in the prime ministerial race because of a lack of support, will not back the Socialists.
Spain is going through this crisis at a particularly sensitive time for the eurozone’s fourth largest economy, when it is emerging from a severe economic crisis. The eurozone itself is in ferment over the migrant crisis which has created deep divisions and over a planned referendum in Britain which would decide the future of that country’s continuation in the European Union. Madrid needs a stable and strong government to expedite its economic recovery and articulate its views on several issues facing the bloc.
If Sanchez loses, other party candidates will have two more months to form an alternative majority before a new election would be called. If another election happens, voters will have an opportunity to give a clear verdict in favour of a single party or coalition. If another deadlock arises, the country will have to go through a prolonged period of vacuum and crisis that can have adverse consequences for the country’s future.
Some are beginning to compare the country with Belgium, which functioned just fine without a government for two years.
Spain is rudderless. And Spaniards are angry that their political parties have still not reached an agreement on forming a government after an inconclusive general election almost two months ago. The indecision can be blamed on an election verdict which delivered a deadlocked parliament, but political parties have a responsibility to rise to the occasion and make concessions in the interest of the nation.
On Thursday, Spain will complete two months without a government, and all eyes are now on the Socialist party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez who will seek parliamentary approval next month to become the next prime minister. If Sánchez fails to garner the necessary votes, the country will be forced into another election.
It will be an extremely tough ride for Sánchez. With 90 seats, he will need the support of the anti-austerity Podemos party as well as the small United Left which would give him 161 seats, still short of the 176 required for a majority. It’s a gap that can be filled by Basque and Catalan MPs, but the hurdles are too many and even if a coalition is formed, there are doubts about its life. Sanchez himself has held talks with most parties to try to garner enough support for his nomination but he is far from guaranteed success as the various groups all have conflicting agendas. The ruling Popular Party, which won the election but without an absolute majority, and whose leader Mariano Rajoy stood aside in the prime ministerial race because of a lack of support, will not back the Socialists.
Spain is going through this crisis at a particularly sensitive time for the eurozone’s fourth largest economy, when it is emerging from a severe economic crisis. The eurozone itself is in ferment over the migrant crisis which has created deep divisions and over a planned referendum in Britain which would decide the future of that country’s continuation in the European Union. Madrid needs a stable and strong government to expedite its economic recovery and articulate its views on several issues facing the bloc.
If Sanchez loses, other party candidates will have two more months to form an alternative majority before a new election would be called. If another election happens, voters will have an opportunity to give a clear verdict in favour of a single party or coalition. If another deadlock arises, the country will have to go through a prolonged period of vacuum and crisis that can have adverse consequences for the country’s future.
Some are beginning to compare the country with Belgium, which functioned just fine without a government for two years.
