Spain to contribute €153 million to migration fund for Turkey.
Countdown to the investiture of a Socialist Prime Minister.
Spain records its worst score in corruption index, Popular Party hit by more scandals.
New government, whenever there is one, faces big budget hole.
CAF wins £490 million rolling-stock contract in UK.
Category: Elcano Royal Institute
A New Course for Spain: Beyond the Crisis
Will Spain’s political stalemate damage its economic recovery?
The Spanish economy had a good year in 2015, but it ended with an inconclusive election on 20 December that produced a fragmented parliament. Almost two months later there is still no sign of a new government, and the potential impact on the economy’s recovery after a long recession is beginning to cause concern.
http://www.blog.rielcano.org/en/will-spains-political-stalemate-damage-its-economic-recovery/
Inside Spain (16 December-20 January)
Fresh election on the cards as parties fail to bury differences and form new government.
Catalan acting Prime Minister Artur Mas quits to avert new elections.
King Felipe’s sister the Infanta Cristina on trial for tax fraud.
Registered jobless drops to lowest level since 2010.
Santander acquires Portugal’s Banco Banif.
Spain in uncharted territory after inconclusive general election
The two upstart parties, the centrist Ciudadanos (‘Citizens’) and the anti-austerity Podemos (‘We Can’), broke the hegemony of the conservative Popular Party (PP) and the centre-left Socialists, the two mainstream parties that have alternated in power since 1982, but produced a very fragmented parliament that makes the creation of a stable government fraught with difficulties.
EU in marriage of convenience with Turkey over migrants
Turkey and the EU struck a bargain under which the country whose European Union accession process has virtually ground to a halt will stem migrant flows to Europe in return for €3 billion in aid, fast-tracked visa privileges and the prospect of revived EU talks.
http://www.blog.rielcano.org/en/eu-in-marriage-of-convenience-with-turkey-over-migrants/
Inside Spain (19 October-17 November)
Troops complete withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Catalan parliament defies Constitutional Court order to halt secession process.
Brussels warns on budget deficit targets.
Unemployment drops below 5 million for first time in four years.
Ibex 35 companies lift profits 22% in first nine months.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/c549ad804a9cfe35845f8e207baccc4c/122_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=c549ad804a9cfe35845f8e207baccc4c
Spain 40 years after General Franco: change of a nation
Spain has changed beyond recognition since General Franco died 40 years ago. The country telescoped its political, economic and social modernisation into a much shorter period than any other European country.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/ari66-2015-chislett-spain-40-years-after-franco-change-nation
Erdoğan’s snap Turkey election gamble pays off: ruling AK regains absolute majority
The ruling neo-Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recovered the absolute majority in Turkey’s snap parliamentary election that it lost in June, but with not enough seats to push through constitutional reforms to enable him to become an executive president.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-erdogan-snap-turkey-election-gamble-akp-absolute-majority
Inside Spain (21 September-19 October)
Rajoy presides over UN Security Council session, adopts resolution on women and peace.
Catalan Prime Minister Mas in court for organising independence vote.
Brussels deals blow to Madrid and orders re-write of 2016 budget.
Acciona and Germany’s Nordex to create global wind-energy player.
VW ‘guarantees’ €4.2 billion investment in Spanish plants.
William Chislett 