Socialists' efforts to form Spanish coalition stumble

By Alyssa McMurtry

MADRID

Spain’s Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez faced attacks from the left and right Wednesday as he attempted to form a coalition government.

In fierce parliamentary debate ahead of a vote on Sanchez’s proposal to join forces with the new Ciudadanos party, the Socialists’ plan was criticized by acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Pablo Iglesias, head of the anti-austerity Podemos party.

Both made it clear they would not support his bid to form a government and end the political stalemate that has gripped Spain since the December election.

“You come here without a government and without support because you’re thinking only about your own survival,” Rajoy told Sanchez, ridiculing the proposal as a “bluff”.

Without the support of Rajoy’s center-right Popular Party or Podemos, the Socialist government has no chance of gaining a majority in Wednesday night’s vote.

The Socialists were runners-up behind the Popular Party in the Dec. 20 ballot and Sanchez needs an absolute majority of at least 176 votes to be elected prime minister.

If he fails, the parties have two months to negotiate a parliamentary majority before a fresh election is called.

Sanchez is seeking to gain Podemos’ support to create a “progressive and reformist” government.

In the debate, Sanchez sharply criticized Rajoy for not trying to form a government, calling it his “biggest failure” and accusing him of disrespecting Spaniards who voted for the Popular Party, which won the most votes in December’s poll.

Podemos opposes the Socialist proposal for a pact with the progressive but economically liberal Ciudadanos. Like Podemos, Ciudadanos came to parliament on a wave of support for new parties untainted by claims of corruption and economic mismanagement.

“You represent the worst of the Spanish traditions - that which latches on to power,” Iglesias told Cuidadanos leader Albert Rivera. “Today it’s the Podemos of the right that some banker asked for. But you aren’t right-wing, you are with whoever is in control.”

Iglesias is demanding a left-wing coalition supported by separatist parties, who would receive a referendum on Catalonian independence in return.

“There’s nothing I’d like more than a left-wing government but we don’t have the numbers,” Sanchez said. “I’m not going to permit that the governance of Spain rests on separatist parties.”

Rivera called for lawmakers to put aside their differences to form a government.

If Sanchez fails to gain an absolute majority, a second round of voting will take place on Friday, when only a simple majority will be needed to form a government. However, this, too, is unlikely as the Popular Party and Podemos control 192 seats between them.

That means Spain is likely to face another general election in June.