<p>Spain's People's Party (PP) emerged victorious in local and regional elections, with only three out of twelve regions narrowly maintaining Socialist dominance. The remaining regions are expected to shift to the conservative People's Party, either through coalitions or informal support agreements with the far-right Vox party. AFP quoting political science professor Ignacio Jurado from Carlos III University said this electoral shift is a significant boost for the PP and its new leader, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, leading up to the upcoming year-end elections.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mysterious-venice-canal-stuns-locals-as-patch-takes-on-fluorescent-green-hue-597632">Mysterious! Venice canal stuns locals as patch takes on fluorescent green hue</a></p>

<p>In the local vote, PP secured a significant win, garnering 31.5% of the votes. Meanwhile, the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), which currently leads the government, maintained a narrow dominance with 28.2% of the votes. These results, based on more than 97% of votes counted, were revealed by the Interior Ministry.</p>

<p>Although the PSOE experienced a slight decline of 1.2 percentage points compared to the 2019 elections, the PP witnessed an impressive surge of nearly 9 points.&nbsp;The regional elections showcased a significant political shift as the People's Party celebrated its victory, gaining momentum and support. However, the Socialist Party managed to hold onto their slim lead, ensuring their continued prominence in the Spanish political scene.</p>

<h2><strong>What do gains represent?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The strides made by the People's Party indicate the potential to unseat the current left-wing coalition led by the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) if they can maintain this performance in the national elections scheduled for December.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-secures-approval-for-second-hydropower-project-in-nepal-strengthening-bilateral-energy-cooperation-597637">India secures approval for second hydropower project in Nepal, strengthening bilateral energy cooperation</a></p>

<p>Although there were few clear majorities, regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the PP appeared poised to win re-election with an absolute majority in the Madrid region. "In votes the right-wing bloc expands but not dramatically. But that swing is enough to shift the centre of gravity from the left to the right," Jurado explained.</p>

<h2><strong>Conservative 'tsunami'</strong></h2>

<p>The Socialists faced significant setbacks with losses in the Valencia, Aragon, and Balearic Island regions, as well as in the traditionally Socialist stronghold of Extremadura in southwestern Spain. Javier Lamban, the outgoing Socialist president of Aragon, acknowledged defeat during a press conference, describing the election results as a "tsunami" that had swept through all Spanish regions.</p>

<h2><strong>Canary Islands, Valencia and Seville</strong></h2>

<p>Leadership in the Canary Islands will be determined through alliances, but the PSOE has limited chances of retaining power. PSOE spokesperson Pilar Alegria expressed disappointment during a press conference, stating that the results were not in line with their hopes.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Turkey Elections 2023: Erdogan back for another five years</strong></p>

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<p>In major cities such as Valencia and Seville, where mayoral elections also took place, the PP emerged as the favoured party. The PP also secured an absolute majority in the city of Madrid.</p>

<h2><strong>Barcelona, an exception&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Barcelona stood as an exception among major cities, with a pro-independence party narrowly winning the most votes. To unseat the current mayor, the far-left Ada Colau, an agreement with the Socialists will be required.&nbsp;People's Party (Partido Popular or PP) is not Spain's pro-independence party and is known for its strong stance against regional independence movements, particularly in regions like Catalonia.</p>

<h2><strong>Spain election controversies</strong></h2>

<p>The electoral campaign was marked by various controversies, including allegations of voter fraud in small towns and an unprecedented kidnapping case. The election results indicate a return to a two-party system dominated by the PSOE and PP, following a decade of increased participation by smaller parties like the left-wing Podemos and the centrist Ciudadanos, which appear to have lost significant ground to the PP.</p>

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Spain's People's Party (PP) emerged victorious in local and regional elections, with only three out of twelve regions narrowly maintaining Socialist dominance. The remaining regions are expected to shift to the conservative People's Party, either through coalitions or informal support agreements with the far-right Vox party.

Spain's People's Party (PP) emerged victorious in local and regional elections, with only three out of twelve regions narrowly maintaining Socialist dominance. The remaining regions are expected to shift to the conservative People's Party, either through coalitions or informal support agreements with the far-right Vox party. AFP quoting political science professor Ignacio Jurado from Carlos III University said this electoral shift is a significant boost for the PP and its new leader, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, leading up to the upcoming year-end elections. Also Read | Mysterious! Venice canal stuns locals as patch takes on fluorescent green hue In the local vote, PP secured a significant win, garnering 31.5% of the votes. Meanwhile, the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), which currently leads the government, maintained a narrow dominance with 28.2% of the votes. These results, based on more than 97% of votes counted, were revealed by the Interior Ministry. Although the PSOE experienced a slight decline of 1.2 percentage points compared to the 2019 elections, the PP witnessed an impressive surge of nearly 9 points. The regional elections showcased a significant political shift as the People's Party celebrated its victory, gaining momentum and support. However, the Socialist Party managed to hold onto their slim lead, ensuring their continued prominence in the Spanish political scene. What do gains represent? The strides made by the People's Party indicate the potential to unseat the current left-wing coalition led by the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) if they can maintain this performance in the national elections scheduled for December. Also Read | India secures approval for second hydropower project in Nepal, strengthening bilateral energy cooperation Although there were few clear majorities, regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the PP appeared poised to win re-election with an absolute majority in the Madrid region. "In votes the right-wing bloc expands but not dramatically. But that swing is enough to shift the centre of gravity from the left to the right," Jurado explained. Conservative 'tsunami' The Socialists faced significant setbacks with losses in the Valencia, Aragon, and Balearic Island regions, as well as in the traditionally Socialist stronghold of Extremadura in southwestern Spain. Javier Lamban, the outgoing Socialist president of Aragon, acknowledged defeat during a press conference, describing the election results as a "tsunami" that had swept through all Spanish regions. Canary Islands, Valencia and Seville Leadership in the Canary Islands will be determined through alliances, but the PSOE has limited chances of retaining power. PSOE spokesperson Pilar Alegria expressed disappointment during a press conference, stating that the results were not in line with their hopes. Watch | Turkey Elections 2023: Erdogan back for another five years × In major cities such as Valencia and Seville, where mayoral elections also took place, the PP emerged as the favoured party. The PP also secured an absolute majority in the city of Madrid. Barcelona, an exception Barcelona stood as an exception among major cities, with a pro-independence party narrowly winning the most votes. To unseat the current mayor, the far-left Ada Colau, an agreement with the Socialists will be required. People's Party (Partido Popular or PP) is not Spain's pro-independence party and is known for its strong stance against regional independence movements, particularly in regions like Catalonia. Spain election controversies The electoral campaign was marked by various controversies, including allegations of voter fraud in small towns and an unprecedented kidnapping case. The election results indicate a return to a two-party system dominated by the PSOE and PP, following a decade of increased participation by smaller parties like the left-wing Podemos and the centrist Ciudadanos, which appear to have lost significant ground to the PP. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Spain's conservative party triumphs in regional elections, Socialists maintain slim dominance

<p>Venezuelan opposition leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-guaido-pushes-past-troops-to-enter-congress-after-socialist-takeover-272820">Juan&nbsp;Guaido</a>&nbsp;on Saturday called for&nbsp;more&nbsp;protests&nbsp;against&nbsp;the government of President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-opposition-calls-on-us-to-step-up-pressure-on-maduro-ally-russia-273498">Nicolas&nbsp;Maduro</a>&nbsp;in the wake of a failed attempt by the ruling Socialist Party to install allied leadership in congress.</p>

<p>Guaido&nbsp;held his first rally since troops six days ago blocked his access to congress long enough for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-ruling-socialists-seize-congress-defiant-opposition-re-elects-guaido-272587">Socialist Party</a> to declare an allied legislator as head of parliament.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Estamos realizando cientos de asambleas y cabildos a nivel nacional porque tenemos que ir todos juntos en una misma dirección, organizados y con fuerza, a empujar en toda Venezuela, para salir de esta miserable emergencia y lograr la Libertad y la Democracia. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GranCabildoPorVzla?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GranCabildoPorVzla</a> <a href="https://t.co/ibHzpSXp2C">pic.twitter.com/ibHzpSXp2C</a></p>
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<p>Opposition legislators in a separate session on January&nbsp;5 re-elected him anyway, and they later returned to the legislative palace to hold session.</p>

<p>"We have to go into the streets to protest and make demands, we have to push together,"&nbsp;Guaido&nbsp;said on Saturday at a sparsely attended rally in the Montalban neighbourhood of western Caracas that brought out several hundred people.</p>

<p>"Nobody can stay in their house. Nobody can kneel before the dictatorship."</p>

<p>Guaido, who has been recognised by&nbsp;more&nbsp;than 50 countries as&nbsp;Venezuela's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/guaido-parra-claim-victory-in-venezuelas-parliament-speaker-vote-272404">legitimate president</a>, has since November sought to revive the groundswell mobilizations of early 2019 that galvanized the opposition.</p>

<p>But rallies have consistently been smaller than last year, with many Venezuelans expressing weariness with the ongoing political standoff and frustration that&nbsp;Maduro&nbsp;remains in power despite an economic crisis and US&nbsp;sanctions.</p>

<p>Guaido&nbsp;had called on supporters on Tuesday to march to the headquarters of parliament to hold session, but Socialist Party leaders on Saturday called in sympathizers to surround Congress.</p>

<p><img alt="Juan Guaido sharing his views with supporters during citizen assembly in Caracas, Venezuela" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7fb97244-985e-402d-8522-1cb1e067f1a6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2837%29_0.jpg" /><br />
[ <em>Juan&nbsp;Guaido sharing his views with supporters during&nbsp;citizen assembly in Caracas, Venezuela (Courtesy: Reuters) </em>]</p>

<p>At Saturday's rally,&nbsp;Guaido&nbsp;noted that congress can hold session where and when it chooses, signalling he may avoid a confrontation. After being blocked from congress, legislators held session at the headquarters of opposition-linked newspaper El Nacional.</p>

<p>Guaido's press team on Friday said that a representative of the Norwegian government would visit <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-suspends-over-a-dozen-venezuelan-government-military-accounts-273072">Venezuela</a>, but that the opposition would not participate in any efforts by Norway to mediate conversations with the government.</p>

<p>The two sides in 2019 participated in talks brokered by Norway that were meant to ease the political deadlock, but the opposition walked away from the meetings because it contended the government was using them to buy time.</p>


Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday called for more protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in the wake of a failed attempt by the ruling Socialist Party to install allied leadership in congress.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Saturday called for more protests against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in the wake of a failed attempt by the ruling Socialist Party to install allied leadership in congress. Guaido held his first rally since troops six days ago blocked his access to congress long enough for the Socialist Party to declare an allied legislator as head of parliament. Estamos realizando cientos de asambleas y cabildos a nivel nacional porque tenemos que ir todos juntos en una misma dirección, organizados y con fuerza, a empujar en toda Venezuela, para salir de esta miserable emergencia y lograr la Libertad y la Democracia. #GranCabildoPorVzla pic.twitter.com/ibHzpSXp2C — Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) January 11, 2020 × Opposition legislators in a separate session on January 5 re-elected him anyway, and they later returned to the legislative palace to hold session. "We have to go into the streets to protest and make demands, we have to push together," Guaido said on Saturday at a sparsely attended rally in the Montalban neighbourhood of western Caracas that brought out several hundred people. "Nobody can stay in their house. Nobody can kneel before the dictatorship." Guaido, who has been recognised by more than 50 countries as Venezuela's legitimate president, has since November sought to revive the groundswell mobilizations of early 2019 that galvanized the opposition. But rallies have consistently been smaller than last year, with many Venezuelans expressing weariness with the ongoing political standoff and frustration that Maduro remains in power despite an economic crisis and US sanctions. Guaido had called on supporters on Tuesday to march to the headquarters of parliament to hold session, but Socialist Party leaders on Saturday called in sympathizers to surround Congress. [ Juan Guaido sharing his views with supporters during citizen assembly in Caracas, Venezuela (Courtesy: Reuters) ] At Saturday's rally, Guaido noted that congress can hold session where and when it chooses, signalling he may avoid a confrontation. After being blocked from congress, legislators held session at the headquarters of opposition-linked newspaper El Nacional. Guaido's press team on Friday said that a representative of the Norwegian government would visit Venezuela, but that the opposition would not participate in any efforts by Norway to mediate conversations with the government. The two sides in 2019 participated in talks brokered by Norway that were meant to ease the political deadlock, but the opposition walked away from the meetings because it contended the government was using them to buy time.

Venezuela's Guaido calls for more protests against Maduro

<p>A day after the chairman of the Socialist Party, Upendra Yadav, resigned from the post of deputy prime minister, the Madhesi party on Wednesday withdrew its support from -led government dragging it down to a simple majority government from a two-third majority in the Parliament.</p>

<p>The angst Socialist Party-Nepal decided to withdraw its support accusing Prime Minister Oli of failing to keep the pre-alliance agreement of the constitution amendment.</p>

<p>The ruling, Nepal Communist Party is now left with 174 seats, nine short of two-third majority. With the support of the Socialist Party, which has 17 MPs, the incumbent government had a clear-cut two-third majority with 191 MPs.</p>

<p>Out of a total of 275 members, a party requires a total of 183 to have the two-third majority in the Parliament.</p>

<p>"We were on board with the government over the issue of a constitutional amendment; that is not going to be fulfilled, you all very well know that our two ministers who were on board have already resigned. Today our party's central working committee has decided to withdraw support extended to the incumbent government under the leadership of Nepal Communist Party, KP Sharma Oli-led government. Now our party, the Socialist Party- Nepal will act as opposition and would act accordingly," Upendra Yadav, Chairperson of Socialist Party- Nepal who resigned from the post of Deputy Prime Minister as well as law minister told reporters on Wednesday.</p>

<p>A day earlier, Yadav along with another sitting minister from his party had tendered resignation to Oli over dissatisfaction for not taking the amendment proposal forward as per the agreement.</p>

<p>In the press meeting, Yadav claimed that the party wouldn't give up the issue of the constitutional amendment but would fight for it from the Parliament as well as the road in the coming days.</p>

<p>"Measures to build pressure for Constitution amendment would be parliamentary measures and going to the people or fight along with them to revise the constitution, the attempt would be peaceful, far from violence in the parliament and road, discussions in between and other means to complete it. Make the constitution acceptable for all, this movement would continue further," Yadav further clarified.</p>

<p>As the Socialist Party walks out of government and withdraws it's support from the KP Sharma Oli-led cabinet, a question has arisen whether the prime minister would face a vote of confidence.</p>

<p>As per the Clause 100 (2) which has provision regarding vote of confidence and Motion of No-Confidence states, "If the political party which the Prime Minister represents is divided or a political party in coalition government withdraws its support, the Prime Minister shall table a motion in the House of Representatives for a vote of confidence within thirty days."</p>

<p>Though, the Rashtriya Janata Party- Nepal (RJP-N) who also had withdrawn support for Oli government and no vote of confidence took place because there was no representation on board from its side.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A day after the chairman of the Socialist Party, Upendra Yadav, resigned from the post of deputy prime minister, the Madhesi party on Wednesday withdrew its support from -led government dragging it down to a simple majority government from a two-third majority in the Parliament.

A day after the chairman of the Socialist Party, Upendra Yadav, resigned from the post of deputy prime minister, the Madhesi party on Wednesday withdrew its support from -led government dragging it down to a simple majority government from a two-third majority in the Parliament. The angst Socialist Party-Nepal decided to withdraw its support accusing Prime Minister Oli of failing to keep the pre-alliance agreement of the constitution amendment. The ruling, Nepal Communist Party is now left with 174 seats, nine short of two-third majority. With the support of the Socialist Party, which has 17 MPs, the incumbent government had a clear-cut two-third majority with 191 MPs. Out of a total of 275 members, a party requires a total of 183 to have the two-third majority in the Parliament. "We were on board with the government over the issue of a constitutional amendment; that is not going to be fulfilled, you all very well know that our two ministers who were on board have already resigned. Today our party's central working committee has decided to withdraw support extended to the incumbent government under the leadership of Nepal Communist Party, KP Sharma Oli-led government. Now our party, the Socialist Party- Nepal will act as opposition and would act accordingly," Upendra Yadav, Chairperson of Socialist Party- Nepal who resigned from the post of Deputy Prime Minister as well as law minister told reporters on Wednesday. A day earlier, Yadav along with another sitting minister from his party had tendered resignation to Oli over dissatisfaction for not taking the amendment proposal forward as per the agreement. In the press meeting, Yadav claimed that the party wouldn't give up the issue of the constitutional amendment but would fight for it from the Parliament as well as the road in the coming days. "Measures to build pressure for Constitution amendment would be parliamentary measures and going to the people or fight along with them to revise the constitution, the attempt would be peaceful, far from violence in the parliament and road, discussions in between and other means to complete it. Make the constitution acceptable for all, this movement would continue further," Yadav further clarified. As the Socialist Party walks out of government and withdraws it's support from the KP Sharma Oli-led cabinet, a question has arisen whether the prime minister would face a vote of confidence. As per the Clause 100 (2) which has provision regarding vote of confidence and Motion of No-Confidence states, "If the political party which the Prime Minister represents is divided or a political party in coalition government withdraws its support, the Prime Minister shall table a motion in the House of Representatives for a vote of confidence within thirty days." Though, the Rashtriya Janata Party- Nepal (RJP-N) who also had withdrawn support for Oli government and no vote of confidence took place because there was no representation on board from its side.

Nepal: Oli-led government loses two-third majority, Socialist Party withdraws support

Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Tuesday (December 17) approved a measure allowing lawmakers to vote on legislation without being present, a response to a government crackdown that has left dozens of legislators in hiding or in exile.

Venezuela congress allows remote voting to thwart government pressure on opposition

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pedro-says-no-independence-for-catalonia-208738">Spain's new parliament</a> will vote on whether to grant socialist leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-pm-pedro-sanchez-win-snap-polls-marked-by-far-right-gains-214244">Pedro Sanchez</a> a second term as prime minister on July 23, the speaker of the chamber announced Tuesday.</p>

<p>Parliamentary speaker Meritxell Batet told reporters the debate over Sanchez's candidacy would begin on July 22 and the vote would take place the following day.</p>

<p>If Sanchez fails to get an absolute majority &nbsp;176 votes or more he will only require a simple majority more "yes" than "no" votes in a second vote two days later, she added.</p>

<p>"<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/big-turnout-for-spains-early-election-marked-by-far-right-emergence-214232">Spain</a> needs a Government as soon as possible to continue advancing towards equality," Sanchez tweeted in response to the announcement.</p>

<p>With no parliamentary majority, outgoing premier Sanchez may struggle to find the support he needs in the first vote.</p>

<p>Although his Socialist Party won the most seats in the April 28 election, that was just 123 seats in the 350-seat assembly.</p>

<p>To be sworn in again as prime minister Sanchez will need the support of far-left Podemos which has 42 seats and several other smaller, regional parties.</p>

<p>But Podemos wants to be part of a ruling coalition, a condition Sanchez has refused.</p>

<p>The simple majority required in the second vote means Sanchez could be voted prime minister if the main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) and centre-right Ciudadanos simply abstained from voting.</p>

<p>But the two parties have so far refused to abstain from voting to make it easier for Sanchez to be sworn in.</p>

<p>Sanchez wants to avoid relying on the abstention of the Catalan separatist parties, as the right routinely accuses him of being held hostage by the separatists.</p>

<p>Sanchez came to power in June 2018 with the help of the separatists by ousting conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy in a no-confidence vote.</p>

<p>But it was the Catalan separatists who triggered the snap polls in April by refusing to back his 2019 budget.</p>

<p>If Sanchez is not sworn in within two months of the first investiture vote, fresh elections must be called in November and Spain has already held three national elections in the past three and a half years.</p>

<p>Spain has never had a coalition government since it returned to democracy following the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.</p>


Spain's new parliament will vote on whether to grant socialist leader Pedro Sanchez a second term as prime minister on July 23, the speaker of the chamber announced Tuesday.

Spain's new parliament will vote on whether to grant socialist leader Pedro Sanchez a second term as prime minister on July 23, the speaker of the chamber announced Tuesday. Parliamentary speaker Meritxell Batet told reporters the debate over Sanchez's candidacy would begin on July 22 and the vote would take place the following day. If Sanchez fails to get an absolute majority 176 votes or more he will only require a simple majority more "yes" than "no" votes in a second vote two days later, she added. "Spain needs a Government as soon as possible to continue advancing towards equality," Sanchez tweeted in response to the announcement. With no parliamentary majority, outgoing premier Sanchez may struggle to find the support he needs in the first vote. Although his Socialist Party won the most seats in the April 28 election, that was just 123 seats in the 350-seat assembly. To be sworn in again as prime minister Sanchez will need the support of far-left Podemos which has 42 seats and several other smaller, regional parties. But Podemos wants to be part of a ruling coalition, a condition Sanchez has refused. The simple majority required in the second vote means Sanchez could be voted prime minister if the main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) and centre-right Ciudadanos simply abstained from voting. But the two parties have so far refused to abstain from voting to make it easier for Sanchez to be sworn in. Sanchez wants to avoid relying on the abstention of the Catalan separatist parties, as the right routinely accuses him of being held hostage by the separatists. Sanchez came to power in June 2018 with the help of the separatists by ousting conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy in a no-confidence vote. But it was the Catalan separatists who triggered the snap polls in April by refusing to back his 2019 budget. If Sanchez is not sworn in within two months of the first investiture vote, fresh elections must be called in November and Spain has already held three national elections in the past three and a half years. Spain has never had a coalition government since it returned to democracy following the death of longtime dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

Spain's Pedro Sanchez to seek second term as Prime Minister in July 23 parliament vote

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday security forces had foiled an opposition coup attempt that included plans to assassinate him and other top political figures and install a jailed former military officer as president.

Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro claims his govt foiled opposition's coup plot

<p>A close aide to new Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday rejected any prospect of early elections, despite his Socialist party being well short of a majority in parliament.</p>

<p>Sanchez, whose party holds just 84 of 350 seats, was propelled to head of government on Friday after convincing an unlikely alliance of anti-austerity and nationalist parties to oust the conservatives over a corruption scandal.</p>

<p>"It's clearly unusual to govern with 84 lawmakers but the political situation remains very fragmented and everything suggests a new election wouldn't fix that," Jose Luis Abalos, often described as Sanchez's right-hand man, told COPE radio.</p>

<p>Socialist Pedro Sanchez's arrival to power in Spain has brought a glimmer of hope that icy ties will thaw between Madrid and Catalan separatists, who are wary of the new leader but happy that veteran conservative Mariano Rajoy has gone.</p>

<p>It was Catalan separatist lawmakers -- along with Basque nationalists -- who swung the balance in favour of a no-confidence vote brought Friday against Rajoy due to corruption woes afflicting his party.</p>

<p>As opposition leader, 46-year-old economist Sanchez was deeply critical of Catalonia's secession bid last October.</p>

<p>He backed Rajoy's imposition of direct rule on the region after separatist leaders declared Catalan independence.</p>

<p>But he softened his tone as Catalan separatist lawmakers in the national parliament backed his no-confidence motion. He has said he wants to "build bridges" with the new regional separatist government.</p>


Sanchez, whose party holds just 84 of 350 seats, was propelled to head of government on Friday after convincing an unlikely alliance of anti-austerity and nationalist parties to oust the conservatives over a corruption scandal

A close aide to new Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday rejected any prospect of early elections, despite his Socialist party being well short of a majority in parliament. Sanchez, whose party holds just 84 of 350 seats, was propelled to head of government on Friday after convincing an unlikely alliance of anti-austerity and nationalist parties to oust the conservatives over a corruption scandal. "It's clearly unusual to govern with 84 lawmakers but the political situation remains very fragmented and everything suggests a new election wouldn't fix that," Jose Luis Abalos, often described as Sanchez's right-hand man, told COPE radio. Socialist Pedro Sanchez's arrival to power in Spain has brought a glimmer of hope that icy ties will thaw between Madrid and Catalan separatists, who are wary of the new leader but happy that veteran conservative Mariano Rajoy has gone. It was Catalan separatist lawmakers -- along with Basque nationalists -- who swung the balance in favour of a no-confidence vote brought Friday against Rajoy due to corruption woes afflicting his party. As opposition leader, 46-year-old economist Sanchez was deeply critical of Catalonia's secession bid last October. He backed Rajoy's imposition of direct rule on the region after separatist leaders declared Catalan independence. But he softened his tone as Catalan separatist lawmakers in the national parliament backed his no-confidence motion. He has said he wants to "build bridges" with the new regional separatist government.

No early elections in Spain, aide to new PM says

<p>Spain's Socialist Party on Saturday pledged to hold new elections within months if its attempt to unseat Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy with a parliamentary no-confidence vote succeeds.</p>

<p>The country's biggest opposition party, led by Pedro Sanchez, filed the motion seeking Rajoy's ouster in the 350-seat lower house of parliament on Friday.</p>

<p>No date has been set for the vote, but the bid is being taken seriously in Madrid where a legislative election is not due for another two years.</p>

<p>The surprise move came a day after Rajoy's Popular Party (PP) was found guilty of benefiting from illegal funds in a massive graft trial.</p>

<p>"The PP leadership is concerned and does not totally rule out that the number of votes needed to overturn the government could be found," the La Razon newspaper, considered close to the PP, said on Saturday.</p>

<p>The Socialists also clarified their strategy on Saturday.</p>

<p>If Sanchez can get the absolute majority required in parliament and replace Rajoy, the party intends "to govern for the amount of time it considers appropriate (and) then call an election" after "some months", said one of his spokespeople, the former culture minister Carmen Calvo.&nbsp</p>

<p>The Socialists can already count on the support of anti-establishment Podemos but would need to convince Catalan separatists and Basque nationalists -- or the liberal Ciudadanos party -- to ensure a majority.</p>

<p>Rajoy's allies Ciudadanos, who have overtaken the PP in some recent polls thanks to a hard line on Catalan separatism, immediately said it would oppose the no-confidence motion and instead called for snap polls.</p>

<p>Ciudadanos number two Jose Manuel Villegas said Saturday that he was ready to talk to the Socialists about "another way of calling elections immediately".</p>

<p>Analysts said Ciudadanos has no reason to support a no-confidence motion that could lead to an alternative leftwing government headed by the Socialists.</p>

<p><strong>Judas of Spanish politics</strong></p>

<p>The Basque Nationalist Party has promised to "study the proposal", its president Andoni Ortuzar said Saturday, questioning if the no-confidence move was "serious and viable" or just electioneering.</p>

<p>Rajoy, a devoted Real Madrid fan, cancelled his trip to the Champions League final in Kiev to deal with the crisis and his lieutenants counter-attacked in the media.</p>

<p>"Pedro Sanchez will go down in history like the Judas of Spanish politics," said PP's Fernando Martinez-Maillo, accusing the Socialist leader of seeking power on the back of "separatists who want to destroy Spain".</p>

<p>Spain's National Court said Thursday it had uncovered a vast system of bribes given to former PP officials in exchange for lucrative public contracts between 1999 and 2005.</p>

<p>The court sentenced 29 people to jail for a total of 351 years for corruption, embezzlement and money laundering in the so-called Gurtel trial.</p>

<p>The PP itself was not on trial for direct involvement in the scheme but was found to have benefited from funds obtained illegally through "an authentic and efficient system of institutional corruption" including a slush fund. It was ordered to pay back 245,000 euros ($290,000).</p>


The country's biggest opposition party, led by Pedro Sanchez, filed the motion seeking Rajoy's ouster in the 350-seat lower house of parliament on Friday

Spain's Socialist Party on Saturday pledged to hold new elections within months if its attempt to unseat Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy with a parliamentary no-confidence vote succeeds. The country's biggest opposition party, led by Pedro Sanchez, filed the motion seeking Rajoy's ouster in the 350-seat lower house of parliament on Friday. No date has been set for the vote, but the bid is being taken seriously in Madrid where a legislative election is not due for another two years. The surprise move came a day after Rajoy's Popular Party (PP) was found guilty of benefiting from illegal funds in a massive graft trial. "The PP leadership is concerned and does not totally rule out that the number of votes needed to overturn the government could be found," the La Razon newspaper, considered close to the PP, said on Saturday. The Socialists also clarified their strategy on Saturday. If Sanchez can get the absolute majority required in parliament and replace Rajoy, the party intends "to govern for the amount of time it considers appropriate (and) then call an election" after "some months", said one of his spokespeople, the former culture minister Carmen Calvo. The Socialists can already count on the support of anti-establishment Podemos but would need to convince Catalan separatists and Basque nationalists -- or the liberal Ciudadanos party -- to ensure a majority. Rajoy's allies Ciudadanos, who have overtaken the PP in some recent polls thanks to a hard line on Catalan separatism, immediately said it would oppose the no-confidence motion and instead called for snap polls. Ciudadanos number two Jose Manuel Villegas said Saturday that he was ready to talk to the Socialists about "another way of calling elections immediately". Analysts said Ciudadanos has no reason to support a no-confidence motion that could lead to an alternative leftwing government headed by the Socialists. Judas of Spanish politics The Basque Nationalist Party has promised to "study the proposal", its president Andoni Ortuzar said Saturday, questioning if the no-confidence move was "serious and viable" or just electioneering. Rajoy, a devoted Real Madrid fan, cancelled his trip to the Champions League final in Kiev to deal with the crisis and his lieutenants counter-attacked in the media. "Pedro Sanchez will go down in history like the Judas of Spanish politics," said PP's Fernando Martinez-Maillo, accusing the Socialist leader of seeking power on the back of "separatists who want to destroy Spain". Spain's National Court said Thursday it had uncovered a vast system of bribes given to former PP officials in exchange for lucrative public contracts between 1999 and 2005. The court sentenced 29 people to jail for a total of 351 years for corruption, embezzlement and money laundering in the so-called Gurtel trial. The PP itself was not on trial for direct involvement in the scheme but was found to have benefited from funds obtained illegally through "an authentic and efficient system of institutional corruption" including a slush fund. It was ordered to pay back 245,000 euros ($290,000).

Spain's Socialists vow election in months if PM loses no-confidence vote

<p>In the cobbled streets of Rennes, there is scant affection for Emmanuel Macron among the voters who propelled France's mould-breaking president to power, though hopes for a socialist revival in this bastion of left-wing support are muted.</p>

<p>Nearly nine in every ten voters here backed Macron in his run-off race against Marine Le Pen a year ago, but most did so to keep a far-right populist leader out of the Elysee Palace rather than open the door to a former investment banker promising to create jobs and improve workers' lives by rebooting the economy.</p>

<p>A year on, Macron, who pitched himself as 'neither of the left nor right', faces simmering discontent over economic policies perceived as favouring the wealthy, as well as accusations of a controlling leadership style and intolerance for dissent.</p>

<p>"He's too much of a neo-liberal for me," said administrator Herve Garnier, a longtime supporter of the centre-left Socialist Party who voted for Macron last May's second round.</p>

<p>"His government doesn't listen, it imposes what it wants. But you've got to listen to the street," the 50-year-added, a reference to the protests by public workers, students, pensioners and railworkers confronting Macron.</p>

<p>Macron has so far ignored voter anger and a precipitous decline in popularity, pressing ahead with policy to liberalise the heavily-regulated economy and confronting head-on labour unions and other vested interests he believes have choked growth in the past.</p>

<p>Some 58 percent of French consider his economic reforms "too radical", an Odoxa poll showed this week, but Macron says he will not be distracted from his chance to reshape France.</p>

<p>Unions complain Macron has eroded workers' rights to the benefit of big business, while left-wing opponents have dubbed him the "president of the rich".</p>

<p>"You can hope some bankers will be human beings. Now we realise he's shown his true colours, he's a true banker," said retired history teacher Luis Guasco, a supporter of the far-left France Unbowed party.</p>

<p>Guasco is bitter about Macron's move to increase a tax on pensioners while scrapping a wealth tax, and the lack of debate in a parliament where Macron's Republic on the Move party holds a commanding majority.</p>

<p>"It's a sham democracy," he said.</p>

<p><strong>Political earthquake</strong></p>

<p>Macron's stunning sweep to power all but wiped the traditional parties off the French political landscape. Twelve months on both the Socialist Party and centre-right party The Republicans are still searching for a response.</p>

<p>"For now there is no opposition in the making, quite simply because there is no credible alternative project. It's either chaos with the National Front and France Unbowed, or a complete lack of ideas," said Laurent Bigorgne, director of the Institut Montaigne think-tank.</p>

<p>An Elabe opinion poll this week showed almost half of all respondents saw no credible opposition to Macron. Just 4 percent considered the Socialist Party as a real opposition force, underscoring the scale of the former ruling party's demise.</p>

<p>Macron and his party have, however, discovered early on that enacting broad social and economic reforms without a traditional power base can have its price, losing two by-elections in February.</p>

<p>Analysts say the Socialist Party will need to rebuild from local power bases in cities like Rennes, nearby Nantes and the northeast industrial city of Lille, where the party still holds control of the town halls.</p>

<p>"The socialists were hounded out on a national level, now they will hope to re-enter on the local stage," said Pascal Perrineau, a political science professor at Sciences Po.</p>

<p>Municipal elections and then regional votes in 2020 will be a test of both Macron's ability to extend his barely two-year old political movement into local communes and departments and of the mainstream parties ability to recover.</p>

<p>"If Macron's movement at the national level doesn't connect with grassroot-level politics then it will be a fragile force," Perrineau said.</p>


In the cobbled streets of Rennes, there is scant affection for Emmanuel Macron among the voters who propelled France's mould-breaking president to power, though hopes for a socialist revival in this bastion of left-wing support are muted

In the cobbled streets of Rennes, there is scant affection for Emmanuel Macron among the voters who propelled France's mould-breaking president to power, though hopes for a socialist revival in this bastion of left-wing support are muted. Nearly nine in every ten voters here backed Macron in his run-off race against Marine Le Pen a year ago, but most did so to keep a far-right populist leader out of the Elysee Palace rather than open the door to a former investment banker promising to create jobs and improve workers' lives by rebooting the economy. A year on, Macron, who pitched himself as 'neither of the left nor right', faces simmering discontent over economic policies perceived as favouring the wealthy, as well as accusations of a controlling leadership style and intolerance for dissent. "He's too much of a neo-liberal for me," said administrator Herve Garnier, a longtime supporter of the centre-left Socialist Party who voted for Macron last May's second round. "His government doesn't listen, it imposes what it wants. But you've got to listen to the street," the 50-year-added, a reference to the protests by public workers, students, pensioners and railworkers confronting Macron. Macron has so far ignored voter anger and a precipitous decline in popularity, pressing ahead with policy to liberalise the heavily-regulated economy and confronting head-on labour unions and other vested interests he believes have choked growth in the past. Some 58 percent of French consider his economic reforms "too radical", an Odoxa poll showed this week, but Macron says he will not be distracted from his chance to reshape France. Unions complain Macron has eroded workers' rights to the benefit of big business, while left-wing opponents have dubbed him the "president of the rich". "You can hope some bankers will be human beings. Now we realise he's shown his true colours, he's a true banker," said retired history teacher Luis Guasco, a supporter of the far-left France Unbowed party. Guasco is bitter about Macron's move to increase a tax on pensioners while scrapping a wealth tax, and the lack of debate in a parliament where Macron's Republic on the Move party holds a commanding majority. "It's a sham democracy," he said. Political earthquake Macron's stunning sweep to power all but wiped the traditional parties off the French political landscape. Twelve months on both the Socialist Party and centre-right party The Republicans are still searching for a response. "For now there is no opposition in the making, quite simply because there is no credible alternative project. It's either chaos with the National Front and France Unbowed, or a complete lack of ideas," said Laurent Bigorgne, director of the Institut Montaigne think-tank. An Elabe opinion poll this week showed almost half of all respondents saw no credible opposition to Macron. Just 4 percent considered the Socialist Party as a real opposition force, underscoring the scale of the former ruling party's demise. Macron and his party have, however, discovered early on that enacting broad social and economic reforms without a traditional power base can have its price, losing two by-elections in February. Analysts say the Socialist Party will need to rebuild from local power bases in cities like Rennes, nearby Nantes and the northeast industrial city of Lille, where the party still holds control of the town halls. "The socialists were hounded out on a national level, now they will hope to re-enter on the local stage," said Pascal Perrineau, a political science professor at Sciences Po. Municipal elections and then regional votes in 2020 will be a test of both Macron's ability to extend his barely two-year old political movement into local communes and departments and of the mainstream parties ability to recover. "If Macron's movement at the national level doesn't connect with grassroot-level politics then it will be a fragile force," Perrineau said.

Little love for France's Macron in longtime socialist stronghold

<p>President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s government won a landslide victory in closely-watched regional elections in Venezuela on Sunday, according to official results that the opposition said were &quot;suspicious.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maduro&#39;s socialist party won governorships of 17 of the 23 states with the Opposition Democratic Union Roundtable (MUD) coalition taking only five, according to the results announced by the National Elections Council.</p>

<p>The official turnout was 61.14 per cent.</p>

<p>Maduro said his government had scored an &quot;emphatic victory&quot; over its rivals.</p>

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<p>&quot;The Opposition has five,&quot; Maduro underscored in a speech to supporters, adding that his party could win one further state where the results were still in dispute.</p>

<p>Public opinion surveys had predicted that the opposition would win a majority of state governorships despite alleged government dirty tricks to suppress a high turnout.</p>

<p>Sunday&#39;s vote came against the backdrop of an International Monetary Fund report in which it sees Venezuela&#39;s economic downturn, and the suffering of its population, continuing.</p>

<p>Venezuela &quot;remains in a full-blown economic, humanitarian, and political crisis with no end in sight,&quot; the Fund said in a report on Latin American economies.</p>

<p>International powers accuse Maduro of dismantling democracy by taking over state institutions in the wake of an economic collapse caused by a fall in the price of oil, its main source of revenue.</p>

<p>Sunday&#39;s polls were the first contested by the opposition since legislative elections in 2015 that gave it a majority in the National Assembly.</p>

<p>The MUD has seen Maduro&#39;s hand strengthened after he faced down four months of protests that killed 125 people, forming a Constituent Assembly packed with his own allies and wresting legislative power from the opposition-dominated National Assembly.</p>

<p>For Maduro, the polls were an opportunity to counter allegations of dictatorship levelled at him at home and abroad after forming the Constituent Assembly.</p>


Maduro's socialist party won governorships of 17 of the 23 states with the Opposition Democratic Union Roundtable coalition taking only five

President Nicolas Maduro's government won a landslide victory in closely-watched regional elections in Venezuela on Sunday, according to official results that the opposition said were "suspicious." Maduro's socialist party won governorships of 17 of the 23 states with the Opposition Democratic Union Roundtable (MUD) coalition taking only five, according to the results announced by the National Elections Council. The official turnout was 61.14 per cent. Maduro said his government had scored an "emphatic victory" over its rivals. The Opposition has five,' Maduro underscored in a speech to supporters, adding that his party could win one further state where the results were still in dispute × "The Opposition has five," Maduro underscored in a speech to supporters, adding that his party could win one further state where the results were still in dispute. Public opinion surveys had predicted that the opposition would win a majority of state governorships despite alleged government dirty tricks to suppress a high turnout. Sunday's vote came against the backdrop of an International Monetary Fund report in which it sees Venezuela's economic downturn, and the suffering of its population, continuing. Venezuela "remains in a full-blown economic, humanitarian, and political crisis with no end in sight," the Fund said in a report on Latin American economies. International powers accuse Maduro of dismantling democracy by taking over state institutions in the wake of an economic collapse caused by a fall in the price of oil, its main source of revenue. Sunday's polls were the first contested by the opposition since legislative elections in 2015 that gave it a majority in the National Assembly. The MUD has seen Maduro's hand strengthened after he faced down four months of protests that killed 125 people, forming a Constituent Assembly packed with his own allies and wresting legislative power from the opposition-dominated National Assembly. For Maduro, the polls were an opportunity to counter allegations of dictatorship levelled at him at home and abroad after forming the Constituent Assembly.

Maduro claims landslide win in Venezuela state elections

<p>Among those radicals associated with the Left Wing of the Congress Party during the decades prior to independence, there was probably no one who could rival Ram Manohar Lohia in genius and originality of thought.</p>

<p>Lohia was a truly novel thinker, a fierce polemist and a ruthless critic. His ideas on power, inequality, freedom and the role of the state drew upon and contended with those of contemporary figures like Jayaprakash Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru and Ashoka Mehta, as well as upon the thought of Marx and Gandhi, but were always tinged by his own personal views and highly critical intelligence.</p>

<p>Following the transfer of power, Lohia arose as the most important and visible figure in the ranks of the new Socialist Party. Along with many socialists around the world during the 1950s and 60s, Lohia identified socialism with the possibility of a radical transformation of society and, through it, the coming of a new civilisation. He developed an open-ended conception of socialism based on an impetuous vernacular and anti-elitist stance regarding political power and the role and management of the state.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Lohia openly attacked the elitism of the Nehruvian statist project of modernisation, as well as the potentially violent programme of communists in India</h5>
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<p>In his view, socialism could not mean a mere revival of cottage industries and a return to the village. Indeed, he described the latter as spaces of arbitrary power, embodied in the trinity formed by &ldquo;vested interests, the police and village goondas.&rdquo; At the same time, however, he refused to adhere to a teleological version of Marxism, a doctrine he denounced as Eurocentric and unable to account for the link between capitalist accumulation and colonialism. Moreover, he openly attacked the elitism of the Nehruvian statist project of modernisation, as well as the potentially violent programme of communists in India.</p>

<p>During the 1950s and early 60s, Lohia emerged as the most vocal representative of anti-Congressism and a virulent critic of what he termed &ldquo;the Nehru myth.&rdquo; In his view, the revolutionary potential of the freedom movement was being arrested by the project of modernisation defended by the elites of independent India, in which &ldquo;criminal luxury and waste were concealed under the deceptive slogans of national dignity and needs of representation.&rdquo; He extended his sharp criticism of the prime minister to the &ldquo;leadership of sterile Marxists&rdquo; in other recently decolonised countries, a group in which he included Nehru&acute;s fellow champions of Non-Alignment during the late 1950s, Nkrumah and Sukarno.</p>

<p>Lohia denounced Nehru as the leader and main promoter of this harmful project, and consequently directed some of his most virulent attacks against the figure of the prime minister. This strategy, coupled with a similar dismissive and aggressive approach towards communists, would contribute to Lohia&acute;s gradual political marginalisation during the first two decades of independent life in India</p>

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<p>More than any other socialist leader of his time, Lohia&nbsp;reflected upon issues of caste, gender, language diversity and vernacular knowledge in the course of his intellectual development. His rise to prominence as a party leader coincided with a period of intense debate around the issue of caste-based reservations. Even before the appearance of the First Report of the Backward Classes Commission, written in 1953 and published in 1955, Lohia has advanced his interest in involving members of the lower castes in the ranks and leadership of the Socialist Party, and had begun his active campaign for the application of preferential opportunities for the backward sections of society.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the second half of the 1950s, Lohia made significant efforts to contact the leaders of the most important anti-caste movements, as well as major leaders of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Between 1955 and 1956, he maintained a correspondence with B. R. Ambedkar, inviting him to attend the 1955 Conference of the Socialist Party, and, in 1957, the Lohia-led SP merged with the Indian National Backward Classes Federation. Moreover, Lohia extended Ambedkar&acute;s demands and advocated for extending the scope of the Backward Classes label to include other sections of the population, notably depressed Muslims, Adivasis and women.</p>

<p>His focus on the specificities and concrete needs of Indian society, however, did not prevent him from taking into consideration the contingencies of the international arena and devising a plan for a global parliament. His open-ended vision of socialism was shaped by an awareness of international events, as well as by the deeply felt need to go beyond Eurocentrism and promote indigenous and independent models of socio-political development.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Lohia was a fierce critic, a combative thinker, and a tireless organiser</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lohia was a fierce critic, a combative thinker, and a tireless organiser. The boldness and potency of his intellectual project, however, was contrasted by the dismal political failure of his politics in electoral terms. During the 1950s and early 60s, he presided over the SP, the Praja Socialist Party and the Samyukta Socialist Party, all of which remained unable to challenge the potency of the Congress or the communists in electoral terms until his death in 1967.</p>

<p>Despite the fact that it did not materialise in any significant institutional gains, Lohia&acute;s political project made a crucial contribution to the emergence of original conceptions of socialism that were wholly unrelated to anything known elsewhere by that name. It also opened up a space for political trajectories that are still being played out in the horizon of contemporary Indian politics.</p>

<p>But perhaps the greatest legacy of his politics can be found in his constant effort to question established dogmas and re-think the seemingly obvious. Despite the fact that it entailed his marginalisation from the mainstream of national politics, Lohia was never one to compromise. He spoke of the importance of fighting the entrenched injustices of Indian society in a time of nationalist triumphalism. He defended the role of the state in a time of growing Gandhian anti-statism.</p>

<p>Further, he dreamt of an alternative economic system based on the creation of &ldquo;small machines&rdquo; in an epoch infatuated with the prospect of big-scale industrialisation. In a time, such as ours, in which there seems to be an increasingly narrow window for dissent and rational thought in global politics, Lohia&acute;s fiery adherence to debate and critical thought is a legacy to be cherished and taken seriously once more.</p>


Lohia spoke of the importance of fighting entrenched injustices of Indian society in a time of nationalist triumphalism

Among those radicals associated with the Left Wing of the Congress Party during the decades prior to independence, there was probably no one who could rival Ram Manohar Lohia in genius and originality of thought. Lohia was a truly novel thinker, a fierce polemist and a ruthless critic. His ideas on power, inequality, freedom and the role of the state drew upon and contended with those of contemporary figures like Jayaprakash Narayan, Jawaharlal Nehru and Ashoka Mehta, as well as upon the thought of Marx and Gandhi, but were always tinged by his own personal views and highly critical intelligence. Following the transfer of power, Lohia arose as the most important and visible figure in the ranks of the new Socialist Party. Along with many socialists around the world during the 1950s and 60s, Lohia identified socialism with the possibility of a radical transformation of society and, through it, the coming of a new civilisation. He developed an open-ended conception of socialism based on an impetuous vernacular and anti-elitist stance regarding political power and the role and management of the state. Lohia openly attacked the elitism of the Nehruvian statist project of modernisation, as well as the potentially violent programme of communists in India × In his view, socialism could not mean a mere revival of cottage industries and a return to the village. Indeed, he described the latter as spaces of arbitrary power, embodied in the trinity formed by “vested interests, the police and village goondas.” At the same time, however, he refused to adhere to a teleological version of Marxism, a doctrine he denounced as Eurocentric and unable to account for the link between capitalist accumulation and colonialism. Moreover, he openly attacked the elitism of the Nehruvian statist project of modernisation, as well as the potentially violent programme of communists in India. During the 1950s and early 60s, Lohia emerged as the most vocal representative of anti-Congressism and a virulent critic of what he termed “the Nehru myth.” In his view, the revolutionary potential of the freedom movement was being arrested by the project of modernisation defended by the elites of independent India, in which “criminal luxury and waste were concealed under the deceptive slogans of national dignity and needs of representation.” He extended his sharp criticism of the prime minister to the “leadership of sterile Marxists” in other recently decolonised countries, a group in which he included Nehru´s fellow champions of Non-Alignment during the late 1950s, Nkrumah and Sukarno. Lohia denounced Nehru as the leader and main promoter of this harmful project, and consequently directed some of his most virulent attacks against the figure of the prime minister. This strategy, coupled with a similar dismissive and aggressive approach towards communists, would contribute to Lohia´s gradual political marginalisation during the first two decades of independent life in India More than any other socialist leader of his time, Lohia reflected upon issues of caste, gender, language diversity and vernacular knowledge × More than any other socialist leader of his time, Lohia reflected upon issues of caste, gender, language diversity and vernacular knowledge in the course of his intellectual development. His rise to prominence as a party leader coincided with a period of intense debate around the issue of caste-based reservations. Even before the appearance of the First Report of the Backward Classes Commission, written in 1953 and published in 1955, Lohia has advanced his interest in involving members of the lower castes in the ranks and leadership of the Socialist Party, and had begun his active campaign for the application of preferential opportunities for the backward sections of society. During the second half of the 1950s, Lohia made significant efforts to contact the leaders of the most important anti-caste movements, as well as major leaders of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. Between 1955 and 1956, he maintained a correspondence with B. R. Ambedkar, inviting him to attend the 1955 Conference of the Socialist Party, and, in 1957, the Lohia-led SP merged with the Indian National Backward Classes Federation. Moreover, Lohia extended Ambedkar´s demands and advocated for extending the scope of the Backward Classes label to include other sections of the population, notably depressed Muslims, Adivasis and women. His focus on the specificities and concrete needs of Indian society, however, did not prevent him from taking into consideration the contingencies of the international arena and devising a plan for a global parliament. His open-ended vision of socialism was shaped by an awareness of international events, as well as by the deeply felt need to go beyond Eurocentrism and promote indigenous and independent models of socio-political development. Lohia was a fierce critic, a combative thinker, and a tireless organiser × Lohia was a fierce critic, a combative thinker, and a tireless organiser. The boldness and potency of his intellectual project, however, was contrasted by the dismal political failure of his politics in electoral terms. During the 1950s and early 60s, he presided over the SP, the Praja Socialist Party and the Samyukta Socialist Party, all of which remained unable to challenge the potency of the Congress or the communists in electoral terms until his death in 1967. Despite the fact that it did not materialise in any significant institutional gains, Lohia´s political project made a crucial contribution to the emergence of original conceptions of socialism that were wholly unrelated to anything known elsewhere by that name. It also opened up a space for political trajectories that are still being played out in the horizon of contemporary Indian politics. But perhaps the greatest legacy of his politics can be found in his constant effort to question established dogmas and re-think the seemingly obvious. Despite the fact that it entailed his marginalisation from the mainstream of national politics, Lohia was never one to compromise. He spoke of the importance of fighting the entrenched injustices of Indian society in a time of nationalist triumphalism. He defended the role of the state in a time of growing Gandhian anti-statism. Further, he dreamt of an alternative economic system based on the creation of “small machines” in an epoch infatuated with the prospect of big-scale industrialisation. In a time, such as ours, in which there seems to be an increasingly narrow window for dissent and rational thought in global politics, Lohia´s fiery adherence to debate and critical thought is a legacy to be cherished and taken seriously once more.

Ram Manohar Lohia: The fiery critic of Nehru

<p>French President Francois Hollande announced Thursday he would not seek re-election next year as he bowed to historically low approval ratings after a troubled five years in power.</p>

<p>The 62-year-old Socialist leader put a decisive end to speculation in a solemn televised statement from the Elysee Palace in Paris.</p>

<p>&quot;I have decided that I will not be a candidate,&quot; Hollande said.</p>

<p>&quot;In the months to come, my only duty will be to continue to lead my country.&quot;</p>

<p>Hollande&#39;s popularity had hit rock bottom after a term in office marked by U-turns on major policies, terror attacks, high unemployment and embarrassing revelations about his private life.</p>

<p>A new poll on Wednesday predicted he would win just 7.0 per cent of votes in the first round of next year&#39;s election in April -- strengthening critics in the Socialist party who view him as a lame duck.</p>

<p>Voter surveys currently tip rightwing Republicans party candidate Francois Fillon to win the election, with the far-right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen seen as his closest challenger.</p>

<p>But with the full range of candidates still unknown and the role of independents such as 38-year-old ex-minister Emmanuel Macron difficult to predict, analysts urge caution about the forecasts.</p>

<p><strong>Divided Socialists</strong></p>

<p>Hollande&#39;s withdrawal leads the field open for France&#39;s divided ruling Socialist party which began accepting candidates on Thursday for a party primary race due on January 22 and 29.</p>

<p>Arnaud Montebourg, a leftist former economy minister, has already submitted his name while ambitious Prime Minister Manuel Valls would also be expected to run.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hollande, who has some of the lowest approval ratings for a French president since World War II, came to power after defeating rightwing president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.</p>

<p>He took office promising to be &quot;Mr Normal&quot; after what were seen as the excesses of the years under Sarkozy, who married supermodel Carla Bruni and was often pictured with millionaire friends.</p>

<p>But his presidency has been anything but normal.</p>

<p>France has faced three major Islamist-inspired terror attacks since January 2015 -- firstly against the Charlie Hebdo magazine, then in Paris in November and in Nice in July.</p>

<p>On economics, Hollande started with a leftist programme that included a wealth super-tax of 75 percent on top-earners but he shifted course mid-way through his term to embrace pro-business reforms.</p>

<p>And his colourful personal life has never been far from the headlines, leading his opponents to claim he has demeaned one of the most powerful political offices in Europe.</p>

<p>In January 2014, celebrity magazine Closer published pictures of him arriving on a scooter at an apartment near his official residence for secret trysts with a French actress, Julie Gayet.</p>

<p>The revelations led to the break-up of Hollande&#39;s relationship with partner Valerie Trierweiler, who went on to write an eviscerating book which claimed the president mocked poor people as &quot;the toothless&quot;.</p>

<p>The left-leaning Le Monde newspaper had more harsh words on Thursday for the president, whose leadership was described as &quot;pathetic&quot; by Republicans&#39; candidate Fillon at the weekend.</p>

<p>Le Monde wrote in an editorial that the Socialists risked tearing themselves apart ahead of the presidential election in April and May and parliamentary polls in June.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The person who is most responsable is Francois Hollande, who has not given a meaning to his time in office, occupied the job with authority or imposed himself as the legitimate candidate for his party,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>And there could be more bad news to come.</p>

<p>Hollande&#39;s embittered former aide Aquilino Morelle has announced a tell-all book to be published around the same time as the primary about the president&#39;s first few years in power.</p>

<p>Its title? &quot;The Abdication&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


Hollande's popularity had hit rock bottom after a term in office marked by U-turns on major policies, terror attacks, high unemployment

French President Francois Hollande announced Thursday he would not seek re-election next year as he bowed to historically low approval ratings after a troubled five years in power. The 62-year-old Socialist leader put a decisive end to speculation in a solemn televised statement from the Elysee Palace in Paris. "I have decided that I will not be a candidate," Hollande said. "In the months to come, my only duty will be to continue to lead my country." Hollande's popularity had hit rock bottom after a term in office marked by U-turns on major policies, terror attacks, high unemployment and embarrassing revelations about his private life. A new poll on Wednesday predicted he would win just 7.0 per cent of votes in the first round of next year's election in April -- strengthening critics in the Socialist party who view him as a lame duck. Voter surveys currently tip rightwing Republicans party candidate Francois Fillon to win the election, with the far-right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen seen as his closest challenger. But with the full range of candidates still unknown and the role of independents such as 38-year-old ex-minister Emmanuel Macron difficult to predict, analysts urge caution about the forecasts. Divided Socialists Hollande's withdrawal leads the field open for France's divided ruling Socialist party which began accepting candidates on Thursday for a party primary race due on January 22 and 29. Arnaud Montebourg, a leftist former economy minister, has already submitted his name while ambitious Prime Minister Manuel Valls would also be expected to run. Hollande, who has some of the lowest approval ratings for a French president since World War II, came to power after defeating rightwing president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012. He took office promising to be "Mr Normal" after what were seen as the excesses of the years under Sarkozy, who married supermodel Carla Bruni and was often pictured with millionaire friends. But his presidency has been anything but normal. France has faced three major Islamist-inspired terror attacks since January 2015 -- firstly against the Charlie Hebdo magazine, then in Paris in November and in Nice in July. On economics, Hollande started with a leftist programme that included a wealth super-tax of 75 percent on top-earners but he shifted course mid-way through his term to embrace pro-business reforms. And his colourful personal life has never been far from the headlines, leading his opponents to claim he has demeaned one of the most powerful political offices in Europe. In January 2014, celebrity magazine Closer published pictures of him arriving on a scooter at an apartment near his official residence for secret trysts with a French actress, Julie Gayet. The revelations led to the break-up of Hollande's relationship with partner Valerie Trierweiler, who went on to write an eviscerating book which claimed the president mocked poor people as "the toothless". The left-leaning Le Monde newspaper had more harsh words on Thursday for the president, whose leadership was described as "pathetic" by Republicans' candidate Fillon at the weekend. Le Monde wrote in an editorial that the Socialists risked tearing themselves apart ahead of the presidential election in April and May and parliamentary polls in June. "The person who is most responsable is Francois Hollande, who has not given a meaning to his time in office, occupied the job with authority or imposed himself as the legitimate candidate for his party," it said. And there could be more bad news to come. Hollande's embittered former aide Aquilino Morelle has announced a tell-all book to be published around the same time as the primary about the president's first few years in power. Its title? "The Abdication". (AFP)

French President Hollande will not seek re-election

Spanish elections delivered a hung parliament for the second time in six months on Sunday, adding to political uncertainty in Europe after last week&#39;s shock Brexit vote and piling intense pressure on Spain&#39;s warring politicians to form a government.<br />
<br />
Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy&#39;s centre-right People&#39;s Party (PP) again emerged with the single biggest bloc of seats but fell short of a majority, leaving the euro zone&#39;s fourth-largest economy at risk of another lengthy political stalemate or even of a third general election.<br />
<br />
The PP was the only major party to increase its share of seats from December&#39;s inconclusive poll, sapping the power of a wave of new parties which had fed on years of deep recession and public anger over corruption scandals within the major parties.<br />
<br />
&quot;We have won the elections,&quot; Rajoy told hundreds of cheering supporters outside PP headquarters in Madrid late on Sunday.<br />
<br />
&quot;We claim our right to govern.&quot;<br />
<br />
The PP won 137 seats, up from 123 in December but short of the 176 needed for an outright majority.<br />
<br />
Spain now enters another round of backroom talks to see which parties can form a governing coalition, a task that eluded them despite months of negotiations following the December vote.<br />
<br />
It was unclear whether Britain&#39;s vote to leave the EU, which hit financial markets in indebted Spain particularly hard, led more people to vote for the conservative PP. However, the uncertainty and confusion sweeping Europe in the wake of Brexit will pressure politicians to reach a deal quickly.<br />
<br />
Among the hundreds of people cheering Rajoy and other party leaders on Sunday, waving blue party flags and red and yellow Spanish flags, there were some more cautious PP supporters.<br />
<br />
&quot;Whether we have a government or not will depend on what the left wants. Without a majority it&#39;s hard to do anything,&quot; said Raul Quintana, a 42-year-old concierge from Toledo.<br />
<br />
Options to form a government include a centre-right pact between the PP and liberal newcomer Ciudadanos, a German-style grand coalition between the PP and the Socialists, or even a minority PP administration.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Complex negotiations</strong><br />
Upstart liberal party Ciudadanos, which saw its support fall on Sunday, said it was ready to immediately open talks with the PP to explore the formation of a government.<br />
<br />
The two combined would fall just seven seats short of a majority, putting pressure on the Socialists to drop their opposition to a PP-led government.<br />
<br />
Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez said he would put his party &quot;at the service of the general interest&quot; but an agreement with the PP might not be easily reached.<br />
<br />
&quot;We are heading for more rounds of complex negotiations, whose least bad outcome could be a weak government,&quot; said Vincenzo Scarpetta, political analyst at Open Europe in London.<br />
<br />
&quot;The pressure on the Socialists to let Rajoy at least form a minority government and get on with business will be enormous.&quot;<br />
<br />
The main surprise was the disappointing result for anti-austerity Unidos Podemos (&quot;Together We Can&quot;), a grouping of several leftist parties led by anti-austerity movement Podemos.<br />
<br />
Podemos had been forecast to increase its vote and play a central role in forming government but it ended up with 71 seats, unchanged from December.<br />
<br />
&quot;Tonight&#39;s results have not been satisfactory for us, we expected more,&quot; Pablo Iglesias, the pony-tailed academic who leads Podemos, told a sombre crowd of supporters.<br />
<br />
Polls ahead of the vote had forecast his party would surge in support and overtake the 137-year-old Socialist party as the main left-wing force. The Socialists won 85 seats, down from the 90 they had in the December election.<br />
<br />
Spain&#39;s biggest-selling newspaper, El Pais, on Sunday also urged politicians to put aside their differences and form a government quickly given increased global uncertainty in the wake of Britain&#39;s referendum vote.<br />
<br />
&quot;Now is not the time for messing about or egotism,&quot; the paper wrote in an editorial. &quot;The only priority should be the urgent need to form a government with the ability to govern.&quot;<br />
<br />
(Reuters)<br />
&nbsp;

Acting PM Rajoy's centre-right People's Party again emerges with the single biggest bloc of seats but falls short of a majority

Spanish elections delivered a hung parliament for the second time in six months on Sunday, adding to political uncertainty in Europe after last week's shock Brexit vote and piling intense pressure on Spain's warring politicians to form a government. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's centre-right People's Party (PP) again emerged with the single biggest bloc of seats but fell short of a majority, leaving the euro zone's fourth-largest economy at risk of another lengthy political stalemate or even of a third general election. The PP was the only major party to increase its share of seats from December's inconclusive poll, sapping the power of a wave of new parties which had fed on years of deep recession and public anger over corruption scandals within the major parties. "We have won the elections," Rajoy told hundreds of cheering supporters outside PP headquarters in Madrid late on Sunday. "We claim our right to govern." The PP won 137 seats, up from 123 in December but short of the 176 needed for an outright majority. Spain now enters another round of backroom talks to see which parties can form a governing coalition, a task that eluded them despite months of negotiations following the December vote. It was unclear whether Britain's vote to leave the EU, which hit financial markets in indebted Spain particularly hard, led more people to vote for the conservative PP. However, the uncertainty and confusion sweeping Europe in the wake of Brexit will pressure politicians to reach a deal quickly. Among the hundreds of people cheering Rajoy and other party leaders on Sunday, waving blue party flags and red and yellow Spanish flags, there were some more cautious PP supporters. "Whether we have a government or not will depend on what the left wants. Without a majority it's hard to do anything," said Raul Quintana, a 42-year-old concierge from Toledo. Options to form a government include a centre-right pact between the PP and liberal newcomer Ciudadanos, a German-style grand coalition between the PP and the Socialists, or even a minority PP administration. Complex negotiations Upstart liberal party Ciudadanos, which saw its support fall on Sunday, said it was ready to immediately open talks with the PP to explore the formation of a government. The two combined would fall just seven seats short of a majority, putting pressure on the Socialists to drop their opposition to a PP-led government. Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez said he would put his party "at the service of the general interest" but an agreement with the PP might not be easily reached. "We are heading for more rounds of complex negotiations, whose least bad outcome could be a weak government," said Vincenzo Scarpetta, political analyst at Open Europe in London. "The pressure on the Socialists to let Rajoy at least form a minority government and get on with business will be enormous." The main surprise was the disappointing result for anti-austerity Unidos Podemos ("Together We Can"), a grouping of several leftist parties led by anti-austerity movement Podemos. Podemos had been forecast to increase its vote and play a central role in forming government but it ended up with 71 seats, unchanged from December. "Tonight's results have not been satisfactory for us, we expected more," Pablo Iglesias, the pony-tailed academic who leads Podemos, told a sombre crowd of supporters. Polls ahead of the vote had forecast his party would surge in support and overtake the 137-year-old Socialist party as the main left-wing force. The Socialists won 85 seats, down from the 90 they had in the December election. Spain's biggest-selling newspaper, El Pais, on Sunday also urged politicians to put aside their differences and form a government quickly given increased global uncertainty in the wake of Britain's referendum vote. "Now is not the time for messing about or egotism," the paper wrote in an editorial. "The only priority should be the urgent need to form a government with the ability to govern." (Reuters)

Conservatives win Spanish election, but deadlock remains

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