King Felipe VI and Government formations

[Duke of Marmalade]

King Felipe leaves for Cuba today facing an even worse situation than before after yesterdays elections.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a9197751.html

The result of the elections is that Spain is even more ungovernable than before.
The fourth general election within four years should have brought clarity to Spain - and a stable government. But the head of government has gambled - and lost: Instead of forming a coalition with the left-wing Podemos and securing the support of moderate regional parties after the elections in April, Sánchez preferred to push for new elections: convinced that he would become even stronger. He was wrong and all parties who did not care to take responsibility were punished.
Since yesterday it is clear that the right-wing radicals are able to establish themselves.
In addition, the Catalonia conflict destabilizes Spain. A situation not only bad for Spain but also dangerous for Europe.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

King Felipe leaves for Cuba today facing an even worse situation than before after yesterdays elections.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a9197751.html

The result of the elections is that Spain is even more ungovernable than before.
The fourth general election within four years should have brought clarity to Spain - and a stable government. But the head of government has gambled - and lost: Instead of forming a coalition with the left-wing Podemos and securing the support of moderate regional parties after the elections in April, Sánchez preferred to push for new elections: convinced that he would become even stronger. He was wrong and all parties who did not care to take responsibility were punished.
Since yesterday it is clear that the right-wing radicals are able to establish themselves.
In addition, the Catalonia conflict destabilizes Spain. A situation not only bad for Spain but also dangerous for Europe.

I think the parties should start to work together for the sake of the country and not aginst each other. It is unrealistic to hope for an avsolute majority.

[Blog Real]

I think the best solution would be a central block between PSOE and PP. It would be the best for Spain.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Blog Real

I think the best solution would be a central block between PSOE and PP. It would be the best for Spain.

I still don't understand why the King's state visit to Cuba has not been canceled in view of the political crisis in Spain.



The problem is that Spanish politics is adversarial in nature, but the new reality, following the emergence of third parties on the right and on the left and the rise of regional nationalist parties, is one of permanent hung / fragmented parliaments. Those two things of course are not compatible, i.e. you can't have fragmented multiparty parliaments as in Belgium or the Netherlands and, at the same time, have adversarial politics as in the UK, where one of the two major parties normally manages to win an overall majority alone.



A grand coalition between PSOE and PP would probably be the best solution, but I think that is politically impossible in the Spain. The most likely scenario in my opinion is still a PSOE/Podemos minority coalition government relying on the abstention of Ciudadanos and the nationalist/regional parties to secure the investiture of Pedro Sanchéz. PSOE will have to offer something tangible though to the Catalan and Basque nationalists to achieve that.



A constitutional amendment to turn Spain into a full federal state is the least I would expect, but I am still not sure if Sanchéz would go as far as offering a Madrid sanctioned independence referendum in Catalonia, which he can't actually promise as it would be unconstitutional to do so in Spain.

[An Ard Ri]

The State Visit to Cuba couldn't have come at a worse time for the king!

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

The State Visit to Cuba couldn't have come at a worse time for the king!

Wonder why it was out on the Agenda for this date. Or if could have not been cancelled why did they not the elections a week later after he has come back.

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

I still don't understand why the King's state visit to Cuba has not been canceled in view of the political crisis in Spain.



The problem is that Spanish politics is adversarial in nature, but the new reality, following the emergence of third parties on the right and on the left and the rise of regional nationalist parties, is one of permanent hung / fragmented parliaments. Those two things of course are not compatible, i.e. you can't have fragmented multiparty parliaments as in Belgium or the Netherlands and, at the same time, have adversarial politics as in the UK, where one of the two major parties normally manages to win an overall majority alone.



A grand coalition between PSOE and PP would probably be the best solution, but I think that is politically impossible in the Spain. The most likely scenario in my opinion is still a PSOE/Podemos minority coalition government relying on the abstention of Ciudadanos and the nationalist/regional parties to secure the investiture of Pedro Sanchéz. PSOE will have to offer something tangible though to the Catalan and Basque nationalists to achieve that.



A constitutional amendment to turn Spain into a full federal state is the least I would expect, but I am still not sure if Sanchéz would go as far as offering a Madrid sanctioned independence referendum in Catalonia, which he can't actually promise as it would be unconstitutional to do so in Spain.

Yes the visit to Cuba should have been canceled.

The question of Catalonia is a question that concerns me. I hope it will be resolved next year, whatever the outcome.

[Duke of Marmalade]

https://www.ft.com/content/5a93de8c-...4-fbbacad9e7dd

Spain’s Socialists strike coalition deal with far-left Podemos
Pedro Sánchez, caretaker PM, reaches agreement with Pablo Iglesias’s radical movement. They still need approval of parliament.

[Blog Real]

PSOE and Podemos together not have a majority and it is not known if this coalition will be approved in parliament.
I hope that if they can make government that will not undermine the monarchy.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

https://www.ft.com/content/5a93de8c-...4-fbbacad9e7dd

Spain’s Socialists strike coalition deal with far-left Podemos
Pedro Sánchez, caretaker PM, reaches agreement with Pablo Iglesias’s radical movement. They still need approval of parliament.

And meanwhile the king is in Cuba coming home to more political upheaval.

[HereditaryPrincess]

Spain seems to be facing rather uncertain times at the moment. It'll be interesting to see how the popularity of the royals will compare from last year when the next poll is released.

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by HereditaryPrincess

Spain seems to be facing rather uncertain times at the moment. It'll be interesting to see how the popularity of the royals will compare from last year when the next poll is released.

None of Spain's current problems have to do with the Monarchy or the Royal Family, so popularity must be the same.
Spain's current problems have to do with political instability.
Apparently the King did not want to go to Cuba now, but the prime minister wanted to keep the trip.
But Spain is going through uncertain and worrying times.

[HereditaryPrincess]

Originally Posted by Blog Real

None of Spain's current problems have to do with the Monarchy or the Royal Family, so popularity must be the same.

Spain's current problems have to do with political instability.

Apparently the King did not want to go to Cuba now, but the prime minister wanted to keep the trip.

But Spain is going through uncertain and worrying times.

I know - I’ve been keeping up with current events.
But, even if Felipe still didn’t want to go on the Cuba trip, there surely would still be some backlash given the political unrest in Spain - My post was in response mainly to An Ard Ri’s comment about the Cuba situation. Also, Leonor was in Cataluña for the Princess of Girona awards which sparked some controversy amongst the Separatists IIRC and there were protestors outside the event. Even if the SRF don’t have too much do with the unrest in Spain at the moment it would still factor their popularity and all I was wondering was if it would change somewhat; that’s all. Just a personal interest.

[Livia]

King Felipe must do whatever the president of the government wants, if he says the King has to go to Cuba the King has to go to Cuba even if he doesn't want to and Pedro Sánchez was the first who wants this State Visit and he had no intention to cancel it at any moment, it never crossed his mind to do it.

To be honest that aliance is very dangerous not only for Spain but for Europe too but I believe it's life is going to be very short, two roosters and only one chicken coop, I want to think this.

This two guys are making King Felipe stronger every day.

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by Livia

King Felipe must do whatever the president of the government wants, if he says the King has to go to Cuba the King has to go to Cuba even if he doesn't want to and Pedro Sánchez was the first who wants this State Visit and he had no intention to cancel it at any moment, it never crossed his mind to do it.

To be honest that aliance is very dangerous not only for Spain but for Europe too but I believe it's life is going to be very short, two roosters and only one chicken coop, I want to think this.

This two guys are making King Felipe stronger every day.

I also think it will be a short term government. It is not yet known if it is going ahead, as they have only signed a pre-agreement and are looking for more support. Pedro Sanchez will still meet with other political forces.
I also think that with this all the King gets even stronger, because he is the only one who is not to blame for what is happening and people know it.
Spain must urgently overcome these problems as soon as possible in order to be able to return to this country.

[iceflower]

Today, December 10, King Felipe met with representatives appointed by the political groups:


** Pic **


** casareal: Consultas de Su Majestad el Rey con los representantes designados por los grupos políticos ..**

[iceflower]

Yesterday's meetings were continued today, December 11:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** belga gallery **

[Duke of Marmalade]

Spain's Sanchez wins cliffhanger vote to form government - StarTribune.com

Sanchez will be sworn in tomorrow. We will see how long it lasts.

[An Ard Ri]

I think we'll might well have another Spanish Political Deja Vus in 2020

[iceflower]

King Felipe received Meritxell Batet Lamaña, President of the Congress of Deputies today, January 7:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 **


** casareal: Audiencia a Dª Meritxell Batet Lamaña, presidenta del Congreso de los Diputados **