Spain’s fragile government fails to pass key bills as partners vote against them

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) – In the first major vote since Spain formed a government in November, the country’s leadership failed to pass two key bills in parliament on Wednesday.

The political failure raises questions about how effective the minority coalition government will be and how long it will last.

“All of Spain is watching the agonizing government of Sanchez in action today,” said conservative opposition politician Cuca Gamarra.

The defeat of Pedro Sanchez’s government came at the hands of the far-left Podemos party, which split with the country’s ruling coalition in December.

The five Podemos politicians voted against a reform of the unemployment subsidy, saying it would harm unemployed workers older than 52.

“It is extremely irresponsible,” Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz said of Podemos in an interview with broadcaster Onda Cero. “They voted with the far-right. They voted no to breastfeeding leaves and to increase unemployment benefits… Now, 730,000 people who were going to get around €90 ($99) more per month won’t receive it.”

Podemos had entered the ruling coalition government under the banner of Sumar, the far-left party headed by Diaz. However, Podemos split to gain more autonomy.

Meanwhile, the hardline Catalan separatists Junts Per Catalunya, which backed the formation of the left-wing government in exchange for controversial political amnesty and fiscal benefits for Catalonia, did not cast their ballots on Wednesday.

In the days and hours before the legislative vote, the party had been trying to negotiate more concessions.

The abstention of Junts allowed the government to pass one of the three bills up for a vote with 172 votes in favor and 171 against. That legislation was related to the justice system and public workers.

However, the bill relating to economic measures to combat inflation ended in a tie, which means it will have to be voted on again.

The so-called “anti-crisis” package would increase pensions, allow youth and the unemployed to continue using public transport for free, and extend a measure that eliminated sales tax on basic food products, according to government spokesperson Pilar Alegria.

The package could still be saved by the separatist group.

“We will go from agreement to agreement. If the government sits to negotiate with us… I’m convinced we could reach a deal,” the party’s spokesperson Miriam Nogueras told broadcaster Rac1 on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Minister Felix Bolanos urged the other parties to back the bills, saying they are all needed for Spain to “unlock €10 billion (from the EU), continue reinforcing the welfare state, stop prices from rising, improve unemployment benefits, keep increasing pensions and stop evictions for the most vulnerable.”

Spain’s elections in July resulted in a highly fractured parliament. After months of negotiations, Sanchez was able to find the majority support he needed, though his ruling coalition now only holds 148 of the government’s 350 seats and hinges on the support of Junts, Podemos, and other separatist parties.