Edition 223
www.thecourier.es
Friday 29th May 2015
PARTIDO UNPOPULAR PP GETS A SUNDAY ROASTING
ALEX TRELINSKI
T
he nationally governing Partido Popular suffered their worst regional and local election results in 20 years last Sunday, including losing power in the Valencian government, whilst they will need support from a minor party to stay in charge in Murcia. In the town halls locally, the PP lost the upper hand in many councils which included losing overall control of Torrevieja for the first time in 24 years, after their worst ever results in the city. The PP did have the consolation of being the biggest single party in Orihuela, which saw the independent Claro party lose their only seat, previously held by their leader Bob Houliston. The socialist PSOE boosted their position locally, and only lost one council, that being Bigastro to the PP, where the Mayor is facing corruption charges. The impact of new parties Podemus and Ciudadanos
was comparatively unspectacular in areas of the Vega Baja where they stood, compared to Elche and Alicante in the north, or Murcia to the south. In Murcia, the PP lost overall control of San Javier, but kept their grip on San Pedro del Pinatar, with nobody having a majority in Los Alcazares and Torre Pacheco. Nationally, the leader of the leftist Podemus party, Pablo Iglesias, claimed the results spelt the end of traditional politics in Spain, which has been dominated by the PP and the PSOE. Podemosbacked candidates in Barcelona and Madrid both fared strongly, with the PP suffering heavy losses, amid voter discontent over economic policy and corruption. The PP led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy won the most votes nationwide – 27 percent. Its traditional rival, the PSOE, came second, but the two parties fell short of overall majorities in many areas
CHARITY DONATION
>>PUIG IN
that they have governed, losing ground to Podemos and to Ciudadanos, which campaigned on a pro-business platform. Last Sunday was seen as a major test before the General Election which is expected in November. Mariano Rajoy said that “Evidently the results weren’t those that we would have liked to have had. It is also evident that we didn’t reach the majorities that the citizens trusted us with four years ago.” The party lost about 2.5 million votes compared with the previous local elections in 2011, with some senior figures beginning to question whether Rajoy should stay at the helm. It’s all change for the Valencia Government, with Alberto Fabra’s PP administration ousted after 20 years in charge, with a left of centre coalition being put together by PSOE’s presidential candidate, Ximo Puig. His main
option is to do a deal with the Compromis party, and they have scheduled a meeting for Monday. The PP are likely
Shelley Anne Starkey, donated her 50 euro winnings from the Who’s on TKO Mystery Voice to Impact Charity, which will go some way to help the work that the group does in rescuing and re-homing abandoned cats and kittens, not only in Span but also the UK.
Courier TV Pullout 29th May - 4th June
Starts page 19
>> FABRA OUT to continue to stay in charge of their Murcia region stronghold under Alberto Garre, despite their worst ever result there which saw them lose their overall majority. It’s likely they may do a deal with Ciudadanos who saw four members elected in their first election, whilst Podemos got six seats. Contiued on page 2 .....