Naveed Aman Khan
These days its very cold in Madrid,
Barcelona, Toledo, Valencia, Granada and Cordoba the fascinating cities of Spain. The temperature outside is very low but Spanish political temperature inside is pretty high throughout the country. Spain is a wonderful worth visiting country with ancient civilization, delicious food and diverse cultures. Spanish architecture is marvelous. Different nations are living with great harmony in this beautiful country. Different civilizations and cultures have never been creating issues here. During the last hundred years Spain has made remarkable progress. The level of development seen here is unmatched and unbelievable. Spanish people are very polite, hospitable, groomed and pleasantly featured. Recently in Spain Socialist Party won election, but poll fails to ease political impasse.
The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, led by the acting Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, won 120 seats, three fewer than in April’s inconclusive election. Spain’s ruling Socialist Party has won the country’s fourth general election in as many years but once again failed to secure a majority in a vote in which the far-right Vox Party vaulted into third place and the centre-right Citizens party suffered a humiliating defeat. The Conservative People’s Party rallied after its dismal showing last time, winning 87 seats, while Vox finished third as its seat count more than doubled from 24 to 52. The anti-austerity Unidas Podemos came fourth with 35 seats, followed by the pro-independence Catalan Republican Left with 13 seats. Citizens slumped to sixth place as the 57 seats it picked up seven months ago dwindled to just 10. Frustration and apathy appeared to have affected turnout, with participation dropping from 75.5 percent in April to 69.9 percent. The result suggests Spain is no closer to ending its impasse and is again bound for months of negotiations and horse trading to try to assemble a government at a time of unprecedented political fragmentation. Sanchez said that he intended to form a progressive government and urged his political rivals and opponents not to stand in his way. “I’d like to make a call for the rest of the political parties to act generously and responsibly to unblock the political situation in Spain. The PSOE will also act generously and responsibly to unblock it, he said. The PP leader, Pablo Casado, said the ball was now firmly in Sanchez’s court. What Pedro Sanchez suggests will be seen latter. Casado uttered that they ’ll fulfil their responsibility because Spain can’t carry on being deadlocked.
Vox’s leader, Santiago Abascal, has told jubilant supporters that his anti-immigrant party would not let them down. Santiago has led a cultural and political change because his party has opened up all the forbidden debates and told the left that the story isn’t over yet and they don’t have any moral superiority. He was swiftly congratulated by fellow far-right European politicians including France’s Marine Le Pen, Italy’s Matteo Salvini and the Netherlands’ Geert Wilders. Pablo Iglesias, the leader of Unidas Podemos, who has offered to help Sanchez back into office, said that the repeat election had served to reinforce the right and to give one of the most powerful extreme right in Europe.
Albert Rivera, the Citizens leader once touted as the poster boy of centrist Spanish politics, hinted that he might step down following his party’s pitiful results. “I want to be honest with the Spanish people,” he uttered. “There’s no excuse and no way to soften the bad result we had today.” He said that he would hold a meeting with the party’s executive committee. Rationally heads of all the political parties have accepted the results with open heart.
Only Inigo Errejon, the former Podemo’s politician who now leads the new party Mas Pais, said that a progressive government was a moral obligation as the party has won three seats in congress. This repeat election is a warning about what happens when personal interests are put before national interests. Election was triggered when the PSOE failed to find viable support for a new administration after its victory in April. The Socialists were unable to reach an agreement with Unidas Podemos, while Rivera flatly refused to do anything to facilitate Sanchez’s return to power. The poll results came against a backdrop of renewed tensions between the central government and the separatist regional government of Catalonia, as well as growing concern over the economy. Spain’s unemployment figures are less than ten thousand by 2019 and the European commission has revised the country’s growth forecast more positive for the year 2020.
During casting of votes voters come to the poling booths along with young ones to educate them about the importance of vote and rule of law. Mostly the voters ask the kids to cast vote for them to practically trained them. No hustle and bustle is seen in the entire country during voting. Turn out is always very high during poling day. Political candidates behave in a civilized manner. During election campaign candidates try their level best to convince the voters with party policy and manifesto. Personal life and character of the opponent is never discussed. Loyalty with country and the nation is prime objective of the candidates. Candidates don’t tell a lie. Their is no concept of cheating or deceiving the voters. Spanish candidates no matter who is who never take U Terns because they believe that it is immoral. Spanish nation rejects candidates who believe in taking U Terns. On voting day armed forces are not seen any where in the country. Voting continues in the presence of civilian government officials. Voting in the presence of armed forces is never demanded by any political party. It reflects that nation has full confidence in civilian set up. Civilian government officials are, honest, responsible and very well trained. Corruption cases are very rarely found in the country. Corruption is not tolerated at all. There is no concept of rigging the election and stealing the mandate.
— The writer is book ambassador, columnist, political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.
