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The battle for Spain

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    This keeps expanding

    https://twitter.com/AP/status/1598316277759614976?s=20&t=smO8KV55LdUUA1qAdZ9JCQ

    Comment


      I think this is good news:

      "Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday a further €10 billion package of measures to counter inflation in 2023, bringing total such aid to €45 billion since early 2022.

      Like other European countries, Spain faces a surging cost-of-living crisis exacerbated by the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy prices.

      The package includes a one-off bonus of €200 for about 4.2 million households with annual incomes up to €27,000, zero VAT (IVA) on essential food supplies, such as bread and milk, and the extension of tax cuts for energy bills into the first half of next year, Sánchez said. There will also be an extension to the free rail scheme.

      The government said it would also cut VAT on cooking oil and pasta from 10% to 5%. Fish and meat products were excluded from the tax reductions.

      Sánchez said the aim was ‘to protect the middle and working classes given the rise in the cost of living, energy and food’.

      He said the aid provided so far had helped Spain register strong economic growth this year, which he put at over 5%, above the Bank of Spain’s latest projection of 4.6%.

      During the package of measures announced, the prime minister also said that motorists will no longer receive the state subsidy of 20 euro cents for every litre of fuel in 2023, with only a few exceptions.

      The only drivers that will be able to continue claiming the fuel discount in 2023 are truck drivers, as well as those working in the agricultural, fishing and livestock sectors."

      Comment


        Regardless of the general crankiness of Jacobin as an organ, this is an excellent article on Yolanda Diaz's endeavours to reorganise the Spanish left in a new electoral vehicle, while not glossing over the intense factionalism, or indeed, her own personal failings.

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          Yes, but the left in Spain - as elsewhere - never seem to unite convincingly:

          https://www.spainenglish.com/2023/03...umar-movement/

          Comment


            No surprise Iglesias is hostile. Does he still have influence in Podemos to any extent after having "left politics"?

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              Not sure he has a big influence tbh.

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                What is this "movement" supposed to be? A collection of parties, again?

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                  Sort of a loose coalition. To prevent fracture of the left vote under the PR system here.

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                    But something different from Unidas Podemos?

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                      Maybe, not sure. The basic goals are the same but some don't want to be teammates. Very frustrating.

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                        This is more encouraging:

                        https://www.publico.es/politica/pp-a...;mm=mobile-big

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                          It's that pre-election week when polls are officially forbidden, but are then promptly published in unlikely locations, usually Andorra, but even more improbably on this occasion, Adelaide.

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                            As you can see, the Socialists and Sumar have little prospect of continued governance themselves, but have a realistic chance of denying a majority to PP and Vox.

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                              The final poll::

                              https://encuestas.adelaidereview.com...j-t5ejs7m.html

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                                Doesn't look great.

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                                  If I believed I would be praying.

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                                    And, as ever, there's a comprehensive official website, currently highlighting how many polling stations are open, before detailing voting rates later in the day, and finally the results.

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                                      The early turnout figures (1pm BST) appear to favour the right, as votes are up in areas where they've recently made gains (Madrid, Valencia, Andalucía), and down in traditional left strongholds (Basque Country, Catalunya).

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                                        Depending on which exit poll you believe, PP and Vox combined could either be on 169 seats, and thus seven short of a majority, or north of 180 seats, so probably best to wait for the official results in 40 minutes.

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                                          More info here:

                                          https://elpais.com/

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                                            Turnout appears to be particularly awful in Catalonia (down 11%), seems the pro-independence camp decided to boycott the vote in significant numbers.

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                                              https://twitter.com/lhibachi8/status/1683186726569668615?s=61&t=xvOireV8JOIS_CpbTtDBow

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                                                Things going better thsn expected, though counting in Madrid, where the right is strong, has been slow.

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                                                  Still, the left would have bitten your hand off for a dead heat with the right almost halfway through the count.

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                                                    Looks as though the climate denying fascists won't be part of the new government With 82% counted, VOX has lost 19 seats and its vote has fallen from 15% to around 12.5%


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