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Sánchez Loses Bid to Form a Government, Prolonging Deadlock in Spain Sánchez Loses Bid to Form a Government, Prolonging Deadlock in Spain
(32 minutes later)
MADRID — The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, lost a bid to form a government on Thursday after failing to form a multiparty alliance, raising the chances that the country will be forced to hold another national election to try to break the political deadlock.MADRID — The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, lost a bid to form a government on Thursday after failing to form a multiparty alliance, raising the chances that the country will be forced to hold another national election to try to break the political deadlock.
Mr. Sánchez and his Socialist Party won a national election in April that was hailed as a victory for Europe’s embattled left but fell well short of an absolute majority in Parliament at a time of deepening fragmentation and polarization in Spanish politics. While leading a caretaker administration, Mr. Sánchez has sought the support of some smaller parties, but the most recent talks with the other major left-wing party, Unidas Podemos, broke down overnight.Mr. Sánchez and his Socialist Party won a national election in April that was hailed as a victory for Europe’s embattled left but fell well short of an absolute majority in Parliament at a time of deepening fragmentation and polarization in Spanish politics. While leading a caretaker administration, Mr. Sánchez has sought the support of some smaller parties, but the most recent talks with the other major left-wing party, Unidas Podemos, broke down overnight.
The Parliament voted 124 to 155 against him on Thursday, with 67 lawmakers abstaining. It was the second time this week that Mr. Sánchez failed to be accepted as prime minister, after losing an initial vote on Tuesday.The Parliament voted 124 to 155 against him on Thursday, with 67 lawmakers abstaining. It was the second time this week that Mr. Sánchez failed to be accepted as prime minister, after losing an initial vote on Tuesday.
The Spanish stalemate has been closely monitored by the country’s partners in the European Union, where the rise of nationalist, populist and far-right movements has strained the bonds within the bloc, weakened traditionally dominant parties and splintered political power in many nations.The Spanish stalemate has been closely monitored by the country’s partners in the European Union, where the rise of nationalist, populist and far-right movements has strained the bonds within the bloc, weakened traditionally dominant parties and splintered political power in many nations.
The fate of Mr. Sánchez is of particular interest to President Emmanuel Macron of France, who has fought the euroskeptic tide, calling for closer European integration — even as the European Union is bracing for Britain’s departure from the bloc.The fate of Mr. Sánchez is of particular interest to President Emmanuel Macron of France, who has fought the euroskeptic tide, calling for closer European integration — even as the European Union is bracing for Britain’s departure from the bloc.
Mr. Macron, a centrist, has seen Mr. Sánchez, who has emerged as the bloc’s most prominent Socialist, as a crucial ally in his pro-Europe campaign. In May, the president invited the Spanish leader to dinner in Paris, to reinforce the idea that Spain should play a stronger role in the European Union.Mr. Macron, a centrist, has seen Mr. Sánchez, who has emerged as the bloc’s most prominent Socialist, as a crucial ally in his pro-Europe campaign. In May, the president invited the Spanish leader to dinner in Paris, to reinforce the idea that Spain should play a stronger role in the European Union.
Mr. Sánchez could hold another vote in Parliament in September, after the summer recess, before being forced to call a new national election, which would be held in November. It would be Spain’s fourth general election in four years, and there is no guarantee that the result would help end the political gridlock.Mr. Sánchez could hold another vote in Parliament in September, after the summer recess, before being forced to call a new national election, which would be held in November. It would be Spain’s fourth general election in four years, and there is no guarantee that the result would help end the political gridlock.
Spain spent 10 months in political limbo in 2016, after two inconclusive elections left its politicians squabbling and unable to form a government. One of Mr. Sánchez’s recent aims has been to change the rules for government formation, to avoid the paralysis that has plagued the country.Spain spent 10 months in political limbo in 2016, after two inconclusive elections left its politicians squabbling and unable to form a government. One of Mr. Sánchez’s recent aims has been to change the rules for government formation, to avoid the paralysis that has plagued the country.
The vote on Thursday took place after a breakdown in coalition talks between the Socialists and Unidas Podemos, a left-wing party that had sought control of several ministries in the next cabinet in return for supporting Mr. Sánchez. He insisted that Unidas Podemos could not be treated as an equal partner.The vote on Thursday took place after a breakdown in coalition talks between the Socialists and Unidas Podemos, a left-wing party that had sought control of several ministries in the next cabinet in return for supporting Mr. Sánchez. He insisted that Unidas Podemos could not be treated as an equal partner.
Before teh vote on Thursday, Mr. Sánchez and Mr. Iglesias traded recriminations during the parliamentary session. Mr. Sánchez accused Mr. Iglesias of playing into the hands of right-wing parties by blocking his investiture, after presenting ministerial demands that amounted to an attempted government takeover, according to Mr. Sánchez. Mr. Iglesias and his party “wanted to enter into the goverment in order to control the government,” Mr. Sánchez said. “It made sense to have a plural goverment — but under a single, coherent leadership.” Before the vote on Thursday, Mr. Sánchez and Mr. Iglesias traded recriminations during the parliamentary session. Mr. Sánchez accused Mr. Iglesias of playing into the hands of right-wing parties by blocking his investiture, after presenting ministerial demands that amounted to an attempted government takeover, according to Mr. Sánchez. Mr. Iglesias and his party “wanted to enter into the government in order to control the government,” Mr. Sánchez said. “It made sense to have a plural government — but under a single, coherent leadership.”
In response, Mr. Iglesias said that Mr. Sánchez had failed to show his party sufficient respect as a government partner, after Unidas Podemos helped Mr. Sánchez become prime minister in 2018 “in return for nothing.”In response, Mr. Iglesias said that Mr. Sánchez had failed to show his party sufficient respect as a government partner, after Unidas Podemos helped Mr. Sánchez become prime minister in 2018 “in return for nothing.”
Several party leaders warned during their speeches in Parliament that voters would not understand how their politicians had once more spent months squabbling to no avail over how to form a government. Pablo Casado, the leader of the Popular Party, told Parliament that Mr. Sánchez’s failed coalition negotiations amounted to “one of the most lamentable pages in the recent history of Spanish democracy.” He said Mr. Sánchez and his possible allies had submitted Spaniards to “a shameful spectacle,” in which personal vanity prevailed over statesmanship.Several party leaders warned during their speeches in Parliament that voters would not understand how their politicians had once more spent months squabbling to no avail over how to form a government. Pablo Casado, the leader of the Popular Party, told Parliament that Mr. Sánchez’s failed coalition negotiations amounted to “one of the most lamentable pages in the recent history of Spanish democracy.” He said Mr. Sánchez and his possible allies had submitted Spaniards to “a shameful spectacle,” in which personal vanity prevailed over statesmanship.
To have a realistic chance of winning Parliament’s support in September, Mr. Sánchez would need a major breakthrough, winning the cooperation of Podemos and some lawmakers from other parties. Mr. Iglesias told Mr. Sánchez on Thursday that he was willing to hold further talks: “Don’t let Spaniards into other elections,” he said.To have a realistic chance of winning Parliament’s support in September, Mr. Sánchez would need a major breakthrough, winning the cooperation of Podemos and some lawmakers from other parties. Mr. Iglesias told Mr. Sánchez on Thursday that he was willing to hold further talks: “Don’t let Spaniards into other elections,” he said.
In the April election, the Socialists won 123 of the 350 seats in Parliament, nearly twice as many as any other party, but also far short of a majority. Unidas Podemos won 42.In the April election, the Socialists won 123 of the 350 seats in Parliament, nearly twice as many as any other party, but also far short of a majority. Unidas Podemos won 42.
The conservative Popular Party, which led the government from 2011 to 2018, placed second, with 66 seats.The conservative Popular Party, which led the government from 2011 to 2018, placed second, with 66 seats.