The Spanish Parliament has elected a new President. With the socialist Francina Armengol, Prime Minister Sánchez can book a stage victory – albeit with the help of Catalan votes.
In view of the difficult talks to form a new government in Spain, the Socialists (PSOE) of Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have achieved a milestone. The socialist candidate Francina Armengol was elected the new parliamentary speaker at the inaugural session of the lower house in Madrid on Thursday, around three weeks after the parliamentary elections.
The importance of this election: The 52-year-old was elected thanks in part to the votes of the seven MPs from the Junts party of exiled Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont. Sánchez is also dependent on the votes of this party, which is considered to be particularly radical, to continue his left-wing government.
It is not known what kind of agreement the PSOE and the junts reached on the election of Armengol. Junts are likely to make more demands for support for the continuation of the left-wing government. Puigdemont has already demanded, among other things, the holding of an independence referendum, which Sánchez is likely to reject.
The crucial phase follows
After the inaugural sessions of the lower house and the senate, talks between the parties on the formation of the new government will enter the decisive phase next week. King Felipe VI will hold consultations with all parties as head of state and subsequently nominate a candidate.
Observers fear a long hanging game. In order for the candidate nominated by Felipe to be elected prime minister in the lower house, an absolute majority of at least 176 votes is required in the first round of voting. A simple majority is sufficient in a second round, but neither Sánchez nor opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo currently have sufficient support. A “grand coalition” is considered impossible.
Feijóo’s conservative People’s Party PP clearly won the election as the strongest force, but fell short of expectations with 137 seats. His possible coalition partner, the right-wing populist Vox, had also lost 19 seats and now only has 33. If neither Sánchez nor Feijóo succeed in forming a government, there will be new elections.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
