Spain Notes, Nov 16: Sánchez, Prime Minister

Spain, divided.

1/ Sánchez reappointed Prime Minister of Spain, in 179-171 vote.

2/ In favour: PSOE (121), Sumar (31), Esquerra (7), Junts (7), PNV (5), Bildu (6), BNG (1), Coalición Canaria (1)

3/ Against: PP (137), Vox (33), UPN (1)

4/ Junts (Puigdemont), speaking last night, was annoyed with Sánchez over him mentioning “forgiveness” in his remarks on the amnesty deal. No so, from the separatists’ point of view. “Do not push your luck”, spokeswoman Nogueras warned him.

5/ Twelve were arrested and nine slightly injured in the protest outside PSOE HQ in Madrid last night. Police charged some 2,000 protestors again.

6/ This morning, Aizpurua (Bildu) talked about wanting Sánchez to fix “the deep state” in Spain, and undertake a “deep democratisation” of the whole system, media, business, police and the monarchy included.

7/ Aizpurua (Bildu) on Gaza: “What is happening is not a war, it’s a genocide. Israel is committing war crimes”.

8/ Vox MPs only turned up to vote, after leaving the chamber yesterday in protest over the amnesty deal and the Speaker reprimanding Abascal.

Read: What happens next in Spain? 4 scenarios

9/ Sánchez said he wanted to see an international peace conference for the Israel-Gaza conflict as soon as possible. He called the Israeli response “disproportionate”.

10/ The First Minister of Madrid, Ayuso (PP), in the visitors gallery yesterday, was caught mouthing “hijo de puta” at Sánchez, which might be translated as “son of a bitch”, “bastard” or “fucker”, depening on your tastes. Sánchez had made reference to a corruption case involving her brother.

11/ Esteban (PNV) also condemend the Hamas attack but said “that cannot justify Israeli attacks on civilian targets in the Gaza Strip”.

12/ Esteban (PNV) wondered what all this business on the right was “trying to win with street protests what they did win at the ballot box”. If anything is putting the Constitution in danger, he added, “it’s not the amnesty but a lack of constitutional respect”.

13/ Rego (BNG, Galician nationalists): "We support the vote for two reasons: to defend Galicia above all things and to act as a retaining wall against the retrograde, anti-Galician right and far-right”.

14/ Valido (Canary Islands Coalition): "We don’t share support for the amnesty law, we have asked that our opposition be recorded in the agreement…”, but they have done a deal to get some regional things for the Canary Islands.

15/ Catalán (UPN, Navarra): "We have a prime minister with no credibility who uses deceit as his way of doing politics”.

16/ “We must all read Maquivelli more”, said Sánchez.

17/ El Mundo: “A Prime Minister against half the country”.

18/ ABC: “Sánchez increases division”.

19/ The PP, said Sánchez, “does not have a positive project for Spain”.

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