euro|topics - A second chance for Zapatero

Tema destacado del Martes, 11. Marzo 2008

Lamentablemente, todavía no se encuentra disponible la traducción en española de este texto, por lo tanto, solamente podemos poner a su disposición la versión inglesa.

A second chance for Zapatero

In the legislative elections held on Sunday, March 9th, the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) obtained 169 seats out of 350, ahead of the 153 obtained by the Popular Party (PP, right). The Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is about to embark upon a difficult second mandate, during which he hopes to avoid repeating the "mistakes" committed during his first one.

Diario Sur - España

The Spanish daily highlights the difficulty Zapatero will have governing with the support of Basque and Catalan autonomist parties. "With 169 PSOE deputies elected, compared to the 164 in the previous legislature, he will be able to act with greater freedom. However, after a four-year mandate, this extra room for manoeuvre doesn't seem big enough for the Socialist leader to be able to see any possibility of totally distancing himself from the PP. Zapatero is even more reluctant to strike up agreements with parties such as the CiU [Convergence and Union, right-wing Catalan party] and the PNV [Basque Nationalist Party], that could guarantee the PSOE the necessary votes for passing laws, but who are visibly not prepared to facilitate a reasonable conclusion of the regional autonomy process. This situation could lead the country back into one of the most tense episodes of the last legislature, with the confrontation of socialists and conservatives [over the question of regional autonomy]." (11/03/2008)

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Suiza

Oswald Iten discusses the role of the conservative opposition in Spain: "The conservative People's Party's tough opposition policy has not paid off politically. You can't convince informed citizens that anything that comes from the government is fundamentally bad, particularly if, when it comes to factual issues, one acted or would act in the same way. The Partido Popular would be well advised to style itself as a modern right wing party that is finally freeing itself from the legacy of the Civil War of 1936 to 1939 by examining the past self-critically and not giving the impression that its social policy is dictated by the Church hierarchy. Those who want voters to give them the mandate to govern must make their mark from the opposition. The opposition party will now have to reflect carefully on whether this is possible with two-time loser Mariano Rajoy, who liked to call the Prime Minister a liar, at its helm." (11/03/2008)

The Times - Gran Bretaña

The daily considers the economic challenges Zapatero is now faced with. "The Government must prepare for the expected economic squalls, driven by the global credit squeeze, the recent sharp rise in unemployment and the abrupt end to the construction boom. The Government is already preparing a public works programme to absorb some of the workforce laid off by the building industry, and is proposing to use the budget surplus, currently running at 2 per cent of gross domestic product, to fund the new programme. In this way, it hopes, the increased spending will keep growth at 3 per cent, down from last year's 3.8 per cent, but still enough to calm fears that Spain's long run of high growth has come to a sudden end. ... For now, the new Government must turn to the immediate issues: rising oil and food prices, the continued inflow of immigrants, improving education and competitiveness and consolidating Spain's entrepreneurial culture." (11/03/2008)

Népszabadság - Hungría

Edit Inotai sees the election victory of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as a second chance and looks somewhat enviously at conditions in Spain: "Such continuity requires on the one hand a government that works convincingly (or at least doesn't commit any major blunders), and on the other a society in which the majority doesn't believe it's necessary to change government every four years. ... But Spain's voters also have it easier: not only do they live in one of the world's richest countries, they also have the advantage that their concepts of right and left have not become hopelessly entangled. The right sees the solution of all problems in competition and privatisation, while at the same time cultivating a somewhat nationalist and xenophobic attitude. The left, on the other hand, calls for a welfare state and full employment (!) and fights for an open, liberal Spain where everyone is equal. This makes the choice of who to vote for easier." (11/03/2008)

La Stampa - Italia

Gian Enrico Rusconi, professor of political sciences in Turin, comments on the electoral success of the Spanish socialists who have managed to impose a secular vision on the state. "It is mature democracy that has won, with the serene, firm and dignified defence of the secular state. This is the lesson to be learned from Zapatero's victory. You agree or not with such or such an initiative (a new divorce law, or homosexual marriage), but there is no doubt that the socialist government has developed an efficient strategy, without letting itself be intimidated by the Catholic and ecclesiastic opposition. ... I don't know whether in Italy a hypothetical Veltroni government [centre-left Democratic Party] could propose laws unapproved by the catholic hierarchy. ... Even if he wanted to, Vetroni could never act with Zapatero's assertiveness." (11/03/2008)

» de toda la revista de prensa del Martes, 11. Marzo 2008

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