Ciudadanos keeps the initiative in talks to form government

Talks on Wednesday could leave Socialists marginalized by refusal to talk with interim PM

Albert Rivera, the leader of the minority Ciudadanos party, has said he will negotiate with his 32 deputies in Congress to support Mariano Rajoy´s bid to form a government if the interim Prime Minister is prepared to accept six “essential” measures and one condition.

Nearly six weeks after Spain held a repeat election to pull out of a protracted deadlock produced by the previous election in December, both of which were won by Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP), the interim PM has been accused by Ciudadanos and the Socialists (PSOE) of refusing to yield on any significant issue that might secure him some support.

Rivera and Rajoy meet on Wednesday to discuss Ciudadanos’ demands: Rajoy must set a date for his investiture debate in Congress, expel party officials targeted in corruption investigations, end judicial privileges for elected officials, change the electoral law, end amnesties and pardons in corruption cases, limit the prime minister’s mandate, and create a parliamentary commission to look into the so-called Barcenas case involving illegal cash payments to PP officials.

Even if Rajoy agrees to these conditions, he will still need the support of the Socialists and the regional parties to form a government.

Rajoy, whose PP obtained 137 seats at the repeat election of June 26, needs 176 for a congressional majority. If he bids for reinstatement and fails to obtain this figure, there would be a run-off in which the PP would only need more yes votes than no votes. In this event, an abstention from other parties would be sufficient.

Meanwhile, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez risks being left on the sidelines as Rivera takes the political initiative. Former Socialist premier Felipe González, who served four successive mandates between 1982 and 1996, has called on his party to allow Rajoy to form a government.

The 36-year-old Rivera, a former member of the PP and who has led Ciudadanos since it was set up in 2006, has described Sánchez as having “turned his back on Spain” and who has “disappeared politically”, and who “cannot be counted on regarding affairs of state.”

Both Rivera and Rajoy have called on Sánchez to agree to abstain at an investiture debate.

“If the PSOE doesn’t want to play its role in affairs of state, then we will. We prefer to be useful than to see ourselves as important. At this time, it is more useful to be at the service of the Spanish people and to unblock things than to insist simply on saying no,” said Rivera, who during the election campaign had repeatedly said he wanted Rajoy to stand down as leader of the PP.

While Ciudadanos walks back from its electoral strategy and moves closer to the PP, the Socialists are insisting they will not support Rajoy’s efforts to form a government. Even with Ciudadanos’ support, Rajoy would still be seven seats short of the majority he would need in the first round of voting at an investiture debate, and a simple majority in the second round. He wants the Socialists’s support in that second round, and believes that the party would be unable to resist the pressure to do so if he already has Ciudadanos’ backing.

Last week, Rajoy described his meeting with Rivera as “the first step on a long walk”. Today he has the opportunity to make a decisive move. If he accepts Rivera’s conditions, then a government could at last be in sight for Spain.

Peter Blonde

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Spain’s political instability threatens investment, says Moody’s Analytics

Mariano Rajoy de vacaciones en Pontevedra

Economic research group highlights international concerns about ongoing political limbo.

The absence of a government after two elections witinn eight months  – and the possibility of a third poll – along with mounting pressure from separatists in Catalonia and the UK’s exit from the EU are threatening to further reduce consumer spending and foreign investment, and holding back the recovery of the Spanish economy, says Moody’s Analytics.

The economic research group says in a new report says that internal and external political factors will slow down investment in the short term, hitting confidence and “partially eclipsing the benefits of domestic structural reforms,” and adding: “The UK’s decision has strengthened separatist feeling in an already politically complicated Spain,” says Efua Afful, the report’s author, referring to the Catalan regional parliament’s decision to approve a plan setting out steps toward independence.

Moody’s highlights that Spain is still being run by an interim government despite having held two general elections, and that the main political parties are showing little sign of being able to reach agreement on setting up a new government.

Moody’s Analytics points out that interim Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of the Popular Party (PP) has failed to win the support of the Socialist Party (PSOE), and that it is “unlikely” that the left-leaning Podemos will support a PP administration, adding that the Socialists and Podemos differ over Catalonia’s independence demands, preventing them from forming a broad left coalition.

“Thus, Spain could remain without a functioning government for longer than expected,” warns Moody’s Analytics, adding: “As confidence deteriorates, investment growth will slow down to 3.9% in 2016 and to 2.5% in 2017.” That said, Moody’s says that implementing structural reforms will support the ongoing growth of the Spanish economy. 

Peter Blonde

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Publicidad

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Spanish economy set to grow 3.1% this year, but will fall to 2.3% in 2017

BBVA bank blames Brexit fallout and uncertainty over polices for slowdown next year.

Spain’s economy will register growth of more than 3.1% for 2016, but will manage only 2.3% for next year, largely due to the impact of Brexit and the government’s fiscal policy, says the latest report from BBVA Research.

The forecast for this year is more optimistic than the OECD’s, which predicts 2.8%, while the government’s figure is 2.9%, the same as the Fitch rating agency. Economic think tank Funcas goes for 3%, while the IMF is gloomiest  with 2.6%.

Household spending will continue to drive growth, says the BBVA, fed in part by “improvements to the labor market and borrowing, as well as an expansive fiscal policy and progress in correcting internal imbalances.”

At the same time, the bank points out that Spain will continue to benefit from the European Central Bank’s bond purchases, and while oil prices are rising, they are still relatively low, all of which will give Spain similar growth rates to 2015, among the highest in the EU.

“If the tendency in the second half of the year continues as expected, growth could reach 3.2%", says Rafael Doménech, BBVA’s head of research at its Developed Economies unit.

But BBVA says that Spain will not be able to sustain growth above 3% for a third year running, and that 2017 will see a slowdown.

“The atmosphere of extreme doubt about economic policies will continue,” warns the BBVA, noting that although the country has not been fined by the EU for failing to meet its deficit target, it must still press ahead with further adjustments this year and the next, as well as implementing changes to fiscal policy.

“It is particularly important to resolve this given the commitment to reduce the deficit to levels of around 3% of GDP by the end of next year,” says BBVA. “It is becoming necessary to have some certainty as soon as possible about the policies to be implemented in the coming years,” its researchers warn.

This uncertainty about further adjustments will make itself felt in 2017, continues BBVA. “The deficit for 2016 will be reduced by just 0.6 percentage points to 4.4% of GDP, slightly below the new stability objective (4.6%). For 2017, it is expected that the economic cycle will continue to correct the deterioration in public accounts, but within a scenario where there have been no changes to fiscal policy, the deficit will only be reduced to 3.6% of GDP, and will exceed the budget goal of 3.1%,” it adds.

Add to this the fallout from the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and the worsening export outlook, the Spanish economy will be decidedly weaker next year than this.

Peter Blonde

Publicidad

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NOTICIAS DE MADRID

Alcalá de Henares es una ciudad española perteneciente a la Comunidad de Madrid. Su término se extiende sobre la comarca natural de La Campiña aunque parte de este se extiende sobre La Alcarria.

Programa "Abierto por Obras" en el Monasterio Cisterciense de San Bernardo

La tercera edición del programa de visitas guiadas a inmuebles en proceso de restauración, Abierto por Obras, abre este verano las puertas del Monasterio Cisterciense de San Bernardo, uno de los edificios más singulares del primer barroco madrileño. Coordinado por la Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural, el programa arrancó el pasado 4 de julio con un total de 4.900 plazas. *Durante los meses de julio y agosto, las visitas se realizan de lunes a viernes.

Las aerolíneas deben devolver el billete por retrasos de 5 horasMiguelS en es por madrid - Hace 1 día

La Comunidad, a través de la Dirección General de Comercio y Consumo, ofrece recomendaciones y recuerda los derechos del consumidor en la contratación de viajes aéreos, en tren y por carretera durante el período vacacional, entre los que se encuentran los referidos a retrasos y cancelaciones de vuelos por parte de las compañías aéreas y las contrapartidas que deben ofrecer a los clientes afectados. Si un vuelo sufre retrasos superiores a cinco horas, el consumidor tiene derecho a la devolución del importe del billete.

Guía de lectura fácil del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama

La presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Cristina Cifuentes, acompañada por el consejero de Medio Ambiente, Administración Local y Ordenación del Territorio, Jaime González Taboada, ha presentado la Guía de lectura fácil del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama (en PDF), *para que también las personas con problemas de comprensión y déficits cognitivos puedan tener acceso a la información que genera este espacio protegido. * *“Queremos un Parque Nacional para todos* –ha indicado Cifuentes-*,

Nueva sala de Lactancia del Hospital de El Escorial

El consejero de Sanidad, Jesús Sánchez Martos, ha inaugurado la primera sala de lactancia del Hospital Universitario de El Escorial. Este recurso es muy solicitado por las mujeres que acuden con sus bebés a consultas externas o urgencias y buscan un entorno más amable para dar de mamar a sus hijos. También está pensado para aquellas cuyos hijos están ingresados en la Unidad de Neonatología, dándoles así una zona de descanso y confort. 

Reforma de las residencias de mayores San José en Usera y Doctor González Bueno en Fuencarral

La Comunidad de Madrid ha aprobado una inversión de 3.233.880 euros para reformar las residencias de mayores* San José, situada en el distrito de Usera, y Doctor González Bueno, ubicada en el distrito de Fuencarral*, y ofrecer así unas instalaciones mejoradas a los madrileños que viven en ellas. Son trabajos que están contemplados en el Plan Estratégico de la Agencia Madrileña de Atención Social. 

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SPAIN THIS WEEK

Monday, 8 August 2016

02/08/2016 ​Mariano Rajoy says July unemployment data are an "encouragement for us to continue working hard in the future" At the opening ceremony of the new headquarters of the Social Security Technology Management Department in Madrid, the acting President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, said that Spain has "one of the most advanced welfare systems" and is "one of the most supportive countries in the world".

05/08/2016 Government approves Annual Employment Policy Plan 2016 The plan, with a total provision of 5.27 billion euros, seeks to improve the training and employability of the unemployed, tie in active and passive employment policies and boost entrepreneurship. The government will also allocate close on 140 million euros to recruiting young researchers and for centres of excellence.

02/08/2016	Number of unemployed falls by 83,993 in July
02/08/2016	Number of National Insurance contributors rises by 84,721 in July
01/08/2016	Galician criminal organisation specialising in hashish transportation by yacht and speedboat shut down, with 8,000 kilos of hashish seized

NOTICIAS DE MADRID

Fiestas en Madrid

La Cibeles en obras de conservación y mantenimiento

En La Cibeles, la diosa que es el símbolo de la tierra, la agricultura y la fertilidad y un icono de Madrid, se está interviniendo para mejorar y mantener su imagen. No se hacía desde el 2002, año en el que se reparó su mano izquierda que desapareció como consecuencia de un acto vandálico. Las obras de mantenimiento y consolidación de todo el conjunto escultórico han comenzado hoy miércoles 27 de julio y *durarán entre seis y ocho semanas*. El Área de Cultura y Deportes, presidido por Celia Mayer, invertirá 59.724 euros. 

Los 3 ganadores del concurso 'Bancos para compartir'

Tres son los diseños ganadores del concurso internacional de ideas “Bancos para compartir”, convocado por el Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Las piezas ganadoras han sido dadas a conocer por el jurado del certamen, tras la reunión celebrada en el colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid. Los modelos elegidos han sido los presentados por Marcos Palazuelo, bajo el lema “Yo tenía tres sillas en mi casa”; el presentado por Pablo Bris Marino, bajo el lema “Arco”; y el propuesto por Leandro Lattes Recchini.

Certificados de profesionalidad para acceder al mercado laboral

El Consejo de Gobierno de la Comunidad ha acordado destinar un total de* 80 millones de euros para que los madrileños, sobre todo los que se encuentran en desempleo, y especialmente los jóvenes*, puedan obtener certificados de profesionalidad que les sirvan para acceder al mercado laboral. El objetivo es aumentar su empleabilidad mejorando su cualificación profesional, y contribuir a mejorar sus oportunidades de empleo y desarrollo personal y profesional. 

Programación de las fiestas de San Cayetano, San Lorenzo y La Paloma 2016

 “Libres de actitudes violentas, homófobas y machistas”, así reza el lema de las fiestas de San Cayetano, San Lorenzo y La Paloma en su edición de 2016. *“Queremos hacer hincapié en que éstas son unas fiestas para el disfrute de todas las personas, en las que nadie se sienta agredido por su condición u orientación”*, señala Jorge García Castaño, concejal presidente del distrito de Centro. *“Hemos elaborado un amplio programa para todos los públicos, con actividades novedosas y mucha participación vecinal"

Autobuses EMT que sustituyen a Cercanías Renfe entre Atocha y Recoletos

La Empresa Municipal de Transportes va a establecer una línea especial de autobuses para cubrir el servicio de trenes de Cercanías entre las estaciones de Atocha-Renfe y Recoletos. Este tramo permanecerá cerrado al tránsito ferroviario desde el sábado 30 de julio, y el lunes 5 de septiembre debido a las obras de infraestructura que ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias) va a realizar en el túnel. Este Servicio Especial de la EMT, *totalmente gratuito para los usuarios de Cercanías Renfe*

Venta de 26 viviendas EMVS de la Colonia Nuestra Señora de Las Victorias

La EMVS ha iniciado el proceso de enajenación de las primeras viviendas de la Colonia Municipal Nuestra Señora de Las Victorias*. De esta forma da cumplimiento a la sentencia judicial que determinó que la venta de las casas por parte de la EMVS a los vecinos debía hacerse en los mismos términos y condiciones que se aplicaron en el año 2001 para los inquilinos de la *colonia Girón, en el distrito de Latina.* 

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SPAIN THIS WEEK

Monday, 1 August 2016

28/07/2016 Mariano Rajoy accepts Royal Commission to attempt to form a government The acting President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, responded to the monarch that although he does not have sufficient parliamentary support to do so, he will look for the necessary support within a reasonable period.

28/07/2016 Mariano Rajoy stresses that Spain "is a great nation" and "a great sporting powerhouse" The acting President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, hosted a reception at Moncloa Palace for the athletes that will represent Spain at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which is due to start on 5 August. The President of the Government encouraged them to win many medals and diplomas and reminded them that "your successes are also ours".

27/07/2016 Statement by Government of Spain on resolution adopted by Regional Parliament of Catalonia on Wednesday The acting President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, informed the leaders of the main political parties that the Council of Ministers to be held on Friday, 29 July, will approve an agreement authorising the State Attorney's Office to file a ruling enforcement application with the Constitutional Court against the resolution adopted by the Regional Parliament of Catalonia on Wednesday.

29/07/2016 Government raises growth forecast for 2016 to 2.9% and anticipates creation of 900,000 jobs before end of 2017 The Council of Ministers also agreed to propose a ruling enforcement petition before the Constitutional Court against a resolution adopted by the Regional Parliament of Catalonia that approved the conclusions of the Constituent Process Study Commission.

29/07/2016	​Eight of EU's most wanted criminals arrested thanks to general public
28/07/2016	Spanish economy creates 434,000 jobs in last year and unemployment rate drops to 20%
27/07/2016	Guardia Civil arrest two individuals in Gerona accused of collaborating with a permanent structure to finance DAESH
27/07/2016	The oceanographic vessel 'Vizconde de Eza' launches the "Black Halibut 3L 2016" campaign in the NAFO regulatory area
26/07/2016	11th political consultations with South Korea
26/07/2016	State reduces its deficit to 1.9% of GDP in first half of year
26/07/2016	​155 Syrian refugees arrive on Tuesday from Lebanon
26/07/2016	Contributory pensions amount to 8.52 billion euros in July