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.
Una calle en Lavapiés para Arturo Barea
Una empleada de Barajas y un ex corresponsal británico recogen firmas para pedir una vía pública dedicada al autor de ‘La forja de un rebelde’.
http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2016/01/14/madrid/1452802062_635659.html
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.
Inside Spain (17 November-16 December)
Seven killed in Taliban attack on Spanish embassy in Kabul.
Popular Party forecast to win the election but far from an absolute majority.
Constitutional Court strikes down Catalan independence resolution.
Ten takeaways from the European Commission’s surveillance report.
Abengoa struggles to stave off bankruptcy.
Spain 80 years after the start of its Civil War: change of a nation
Talk to be given at the Oxford Literary Festival on April 10.
http://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2016/april-10/spain-80-years-after-start-of-civil-war-change-of-a-nation
Should Turkey join the European Union?
Talk to be given at the Oxford Literary Festival on April 9.
http://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2016/april-9
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/
Spain 40 years after Franco
My post for Oxford University Press, tied to my book.
http://blog.oup.com/2015/11/spain-40-years-general-franco/
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
William Chislett 