The far left anti-establishment Podemos (‘We can’) is not the only party that is challenging Spain’s discredited two-party system that has given the country stable governments for more than 30 years.
The centrist Ciudadanos (Citizens’ Party) is rapidly gaining support outside of its Catalan base.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-ciudadanos-gains-ground-in-spains-new-political-landscape#.VP4C7WTF-ib

Spain’s merchandise exports rose for the fifth consecutive year in 2014 and set a new record, but their growth was the slowest since 2008. With the economy now firmly recovering, thanks to stronger domestic demand, this slowdown raises the question of whether the export success will tail off.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/commentary-chislett-spains-merchandise-exports-continue-to-flourish-but-lose-steam#.VPFyG7PF-iY

Spain presses for dialogue over the Ukraine, not military aid. Podemos consolidates itself as the leading party, Ciudadanos rises. Spain’s foreign population, second largest in European Union. Spain’s growth set to accelerate. Airport operator AENA in Europe’s largest initial public offering.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/ad4c1400476d2ec6b1baf5a6f6757d0d/114_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ad4c1400476d2ec6b1baf5a6f6757d0d

The Spanish economy is gaining momentum at a faster pace than expected, as evidenced by the constant upgrading of the GDP growth forecasts for the country by the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.
Click on the title for the link.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Felcano%2Felcano_in%2Fzonas_in%2Fcommentary-chislett-why-is-spain-recovering-faster-than-expected#.VOdHXLDF-ib

Spain takes up seat on UN Security Council. Madrid and Washington to negotiate stationing permanent US Marines Africa force in Spain. The year 2015 will be replete with elections and corruption cases in the courts. Spain to grow faster in 2015 than the other big euro-zone economies. China’s Dalian Wanda takes 20% stake in Atlético de Madrid.
http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/wcm/connect/d7d15b004719ae8ab74cbf9f829e4464/113_InsideSpain_ElcanoNewsletter.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=d7d15b004719ae8ab74cbf9f829e4464