Europe May 26, 2021 SPAIN: Playing for time in Catalonia (and Madrid) Politics, Spain Catalonia Antonio Barroso Following a deal between two secessionist parties, a new government was sworn in last week in the region of Catalonia. Despite the hardline rhetoric of new regional Prime Minister Pere Aragones, another unilateral push for independence remains unlikely. Rather,... Read More...
Europe March 15, 2021 SPAIN: Implications of Iglesias’s departure Politics, Spain Podemos, editorial Antonio Barroso Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias announced on 15 March that he would resign as Vice Prime Minister to run in the regional election that will take place in Madrid on 4 May. His departure is unlikely to threaten the... Read More...
Europe March 11, 2021 SPAIN: National consequences of regional political earthquake Politics, Spain Podemos, editorial Antonio Barroso Ciudadanos’ decision to file a motion of no confidence against the People’s Party (PP)-led government in the Murcia region on 10 March has triggered political ripples across the country. Shortly after the move, Madrid region President Isabel Diaz Ayuso... Read More...
Europe February 24, 2021 SPAIN: PSOE-Podemos coalition unlikely to break up Politics, Spain editorial Antonio Barroso The infighting between the ruling center-left Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and far-left Unidas Podemos has intensified in the last few days. While the most recent rift is allegedly due to differences over policy issues, the divisions result from PSOE’s... Read More...
Europe February 15, 2021 SPAIN: Sanchez the biggest winner after Catalan election Politics, Spain editorial Antonio Barroso The Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) is poised to lead the next Catalan government despite the victory of the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) in the 14 February regional poll. An ERC-led government is less likely to push for unilateral... Read More...
Europe February 10, 2021 SPAIN: What to watch after the Catalan election Politics, Spain editorial Antonio Barroso The regional election taking place in Catalonia this Sunday, 14 February, will determine whether the new Catalan government develops a more confrontational stance towards Madrid on the secession issue. On the national level, the vote could complicate cooperation between... Read More...
Europe January 27, 2021 SPAIN: Catalan elections and coalition infighting still main risks to watch Politics, Spain editorial Antonio Barroso Assuming the 14 February Catalan elections take place (a court must still confirm that the vote can be held), its results are likely to have an important bearing on national politics. A defeat of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)... Read More...
Europe November 3, 2020 SPAIN: The political logic of delaying a second lockdown Politics, Spain editorial, covid-19 Antonio Barroso With the seven-day rolling average of Covid-19 cases above 20,000 and 55,000 new cases registered over the weekend, Spain remains one of the few countries in Western Europe not to have introduced some sort of nationwide lockdown. Given the... Read More...
Europe October 21, 2020 SPAIN: A motion to divide the PP Politics, Spain VOX Antonio Barroso Tomorrow, 22 October, the Congress of Deputies will vote down a motion of no confidence filed by far-right party VOX against the coalition government of the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Unidas Podemos. Rather than dislodging Prime Minister Pedro... Read More...
Europe October 9, 2020 SPAIN: Politics Continue to Complicate Response to the Pandemic Politics, Spain Antonio Barroso Yesterday, 8 October, a regional court ruled against the recent restrictions introduced in the Madrid region to contain the resurgence in Covid-19 cases. As a result, the central government has declared today the state of emergency for the region.... Read More...
