National

Sánchez sets date for snap general election: 28 April

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap general election for 28 April. Sánchez failed to get enough votes in the Congreso in support of Spain’s delayed 2019 budget this week and the country went immediately onto general election ... regional elections on 26 May. While a few called for a super-Sunday vote in May, Sánchez was believed to feel it is in the interests of his Socialist PSOE party to keep the general election separate. Opinion poll trackers show that Sánchez’s party is ... negotiations. How well the controversial far-right party Vox may do was set to be one of the main factors in a lead-up to the likely election. Fate sealed when PM said 'no' Last weekend, Pedro Sánchez had formally broken off behind-the-scenes negotiations

National

Budget defeat at hands of Catalan nationalists signals spring general election

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Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez failed to get enough votes in the Congreso in support of Spain’s delayed 2019 budget yesterday and the country went immediately onto general election standby. The PMneeded the votes of Catalan separatist MPs in the ... date of a general election on Friday morning. While various dates were being suggested on Thursday, the most likely was Sunday 28 April. This had the advantage of fitting with the legal timetable for calling elections while avoiding Easter. Also it ... steers clear of European, municipal and some regional elections on 26 May. While a few called for a super-Sunday vote in May, Sánchez was believed to feel it is in the interests of his Socialist PSOE party to keep the general election separate. Opinion

Opinion

Nobody wins

Mark Nayler

After the failure of Pedro Sánchez's proposed 2019 budget this week, Spain is heading for an early general election. It will be the third such vote in five years, a period that has been marked by political uncertainty and the increasingly toxic ... issue of Catalonia. But despite its necessity - Sánchez's government's minority status in congress has become untenable - this election is another reminder of how the Catalan independence movement is impacting negatively on the rest of Spain. Sánchez's ... offering Catalonia independence, or at least a legal referendum on self-determination, his efforts have come to nothing. The early election this spring comes at a difficult time for Spain's embattled prime minister. Although Sánchez's Socialists are

National

Pedro Sánchez picks former basketball coach as candidate for Madrid mayor

SUR

...primary election held in Madrid, was named by Sánchez after several ministers, former ministers and top officials turned down the role. His squeaky-clean image was tarred on Thursday when it emerged that Hernández created a firm to manage properties and

National

Regional election shifts Andalucía to the right

SUR

None of the opinion polls had predicted the historic regional election result in Andalucía last Sunday night. A sharp decline in support for the ruling PSOE Socialist party and a drop-off in votes for the left in general gave parties to the right a ... the PSOE in the region after four decades. Party backs Díaz for now Susana Díaz's future was still unclear this week, although after hesitation, her national party backed her. Díaz had called the early election after Ciudadanos withdrew its ... Díaz is comforted by her deputy Manuel Jiménez Barrios on election night.EFE The total of MPs for the PP (26), C's (21) and Vox (12) is 59 and a sufficient majority to keep out the PSOE. But a pact needs to be negotiated ahead of a parliamentary

National

Catalan threat set to torpedo the 2019 national budget

SUR

...say no to the national government's budget. If no budget is agreed, a general election is likely to be called.

Local

Recruits have their work cut out, taking over a long list of unfinished projects

A. M. ROMERO

The army of recruits summoned by the new regional government to control its departments and delegations has its work cut out. Weighing over the Junta's head are the promises the PP made before the regional election (271 in the case of the province

National

High-profile trial starts of former Catalan leaders who were held after failed independence bid

SUR

...historic trial will continue to run throughout a likely general election this spring, influencing voting decisions in Catalonia and across Spain.

Local

On the final straight of the campaign trail

Rachel Haynes

It's been smiles all round on these last few days of the campaign trail as the candidates for seats on the Andalusian parliament aim to round up last-minute support from voters. The regional election takes place on Sunday when 6,541,722 citizens of ... Andalucía are called to cast their vote. ELECTIONS IN FIGURES 6.5m citizens of Andalucía have the right to vote in Sunday's regional election. 109 is the number of seats in the Andalusian parliament. 55 is the number of seats needed for an overall

Local

New faces at the Junta de Andalucía force reshuffles at local authorities

ANTONIO M. ROMERO

...hall on Wednesday, Fernández, who had already ruled out standing for election again in May, officially gave up his post. He will be replaced by Francisco Santos until the elections. "Being mayor of Coín is the best thing to have happened to me in my