Forty days after the election, Spain still without a Government on the horizon

USPA NEWS - Forty days after the legislative elections held on December 20, 2015, Spain remains mired in political uncertainty and without a Government on the horizon. King Philip VI completed its second round of consultations with the leaders of parties represented in Parliament next Tuesday.

So far, the positions have not changed in relation to the first round of consultations held by the monarch. Had changes are expected next Tuesday, when Philip VI receive the General Secretary of the Socialist Party, Pedro Sanchez, and acting Prime Minister and leader of the conservative Popular Party, Mariano Rajoy. The Socialists held Saturday a Federal Committee to decide the policy of pacts, a matter about which are divided between the General Secretary, in favor of a pact with the extreme left populist displayed in Podemos, and the former socialist leaders and some regional leaders, warning of the dangers of the alliance.

The former Socialist leaders believe that Podemos only look for "engulf" the Socialist Party, making it disappear from the political map to erect Spanish solo and only reference to the left. Even former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez believes that "neither the Popular Party nor the Socialist Party should keep the other rule, if they have a sufficient majority." But the current Socialist General Secretary, Pedro Sanchez, will not listen to the warnings and remains determined to agree with the populist extreme left.

To the decision of the Socialist Federal Committee on Saturday it will depend the position taken by the party. If next Tuesday, King asks Pedro Sanchez to undergo the investiture session, the Socialist leader will accept. What to do if, on the contrary, Philip VI returns to ask Mariano Rajoy to submit to the investiture, will depend on the decision of the Socialist Party on Saturday. Conservatives are negotiating with the centrist Citizens vote in favor of his 40 deputies and a Socialist abstention enough to leave Rajoy reelected in second vote.

The problem is that if no candidate consents to the investiture session, the Spanish policy would be in limbo that could last throughout the XI Legislature. Because so they can call new elections it is essential to hold a plenary investiture in Parliament. Under Spanish law, if two months after the first ballot has not been elected Prime Minister, elections are automatically called. But it is necessary that such voting is held. Otherwise, Spain can be installed in limbo.