Lynn R

I don't think reducing taxation is really compatible with reducing public health queues - if anything it would be likely to make them worse.

Ronnyone

Well given that Spain had/ has the lowest inflation rate in EU that is already good news. If the right get into power forget any climate/ environmental laws -Ayuso is a climate denier and PP want to actually build a luxury urbanizations in the Doñana national wild life park! Forget helping Ukraine Vox refuse to condemn Putin!! POSE ley de Vivienda will now be cancelled so I doubt any public housing will be built.

rbs_gb

Agree with Ronnyone it's a good overview. Sanchez has proved he is a political survivor, and I'm sure no-one really thinks he got up Monday morning with a hangover and called an election. PSOE will have had positions worked out for multiple different scenarios from Sunday, and the snap election would have already been considered within the inner circle of the party. They obviously think a summer election will be to their advantage and that is just one more unknown as there has never been a Summer election before. Add in the fact that the election announcement appears to have surprised both Yolanda Diaz and Podemos, so the Sumar situation is another total unknown. Finally, what will happen with Junts? They would naturally be an ally of PP in previous years, but of course they still hate PP over the fallout from the independence vote and also hate PSOE for doing all the favours for ERC. As Junts look like they are back in favour in Catalunya, they could finally hold sway on the election result with 12+ seats. That would be a powerful block vote in coalition negotiations.

So far as the election forecasts are concerned, take them all with a pinch of salt until after the 19th June at least as until then, no even knows the lists that will be presented so the uncertainty is massive at the moment.

Ronnyone

I think Laura Borras has stepped down from her seat today after getting a 4 year jail sentence so that will really militarise some of junts supporters

rbs_gb

At this rate, I'm wondering what will be left of Sumar and Podemos. For a government that has spent four years without allowing the word dimission to enter, the resignations are coming thick and fast now. Garzon gone, Colau gone, 10 senior members of Podemos gone from CyL, Canarias, Baleares, Yllanes scathing about the party leadership, a huge gulf between Montero/Diaz/Rodriguez. At this rate, Sanchez won't have a left wing left at all. Fallen apart completely in just four days.

Ronnyone

I see that the woman from Vox - Moreno - has just created her own party!. How many active parties are out there? Thousands?

One thing I do find strange is the fact that people seem to be only interested in the left- right ( black and white) debate. No one seems to be looking at things like economic markers. For instance, this May saw the largest drop in unemployment in spain ever. That surely is good news? . Surely people want that? Instead people want to talk about LGBTQ issues ( spain now is second country in the world with the highest number of people identifying with one of these groups). I know it's an important thing to augment people's rights but to be focussed so much on something that essentially effect 6% of the population seems rather superficial- but that's what modern politics seems to be about

DLC

In Catalonia, PSC came first, Junts came second, and ERC came third. In Barcelona it was Junts first, PSC second, En Comun third, and ERC fourth. If the recount had placed En Comun second then they would have entered a coalition with ERC.

If you want an example of a post-left/right party look at Junts. I still don't know how it's held together this long, there's the undead zombie Trias who's classic Catalan right-wing and believes that someone on €3k a month has trouble making ends meet and cars have nothing to do with climate change shacked up with some quite left-wing people.

DLC

PSOE has got an improving economy to show since 2018 and the other left-wing parties are all about rights and the environment and probably some of the economy too since they had some say in pandemic and inflation support after the Russian invasion.

PP and Vox want to talk about anything but an improving economy (unless it's Andalucia where the PP tumpet they've achieved a miracle improvement in a year that had nothing to do with central government) and obviously don't give a toss about the environment and are opposed to rights so that means exhumiming those old staples of ETA and Gibraltar and of course Vox are all about the forrins.

rbs_gb

Yep, Catalunya still could be the most important vote in the general election and hold the balance of power. Nowadays many people fondly remember Jordi Pujol...... corrupt as hell but life was at least peaceful and stable in those days!

rbs_gb

The actual lists will be published in the BOE after the formal date of the 19th June when the parties have to declare them. In 2019, the BOE declaration of candidates ran to 292 pages!

It's perversely entertaining just to read some of the names of the lists https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.ph...E-A-2019-14480

In Cantabria we had thirteen lists in 2019:
1. CIUDADANOS-PARTIDO DE LA CIUDADANÍA (Cs)
2. PARTIDO ANIMALISTA CONTRA EL MALTRATO ANIMAL (PACMA)
3. PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE LOS TRABAJADORES DE ESPAÑA (PCTE)
4. PARTIDO SOCIALISTA OBRERO ESPAÑOL (PSOE)
5. ESCAÑOS EN BLANCO (EB)
6. UNIDAS PODEMOS (PODEMOS-IU)
7. POR UN MUNDO MÁS JUSTO (PUM+J)
8. PARTIDO REGIONALISTA DE CANTABRIA (PRC)
9. RECORTES CERO-GRUPO VERDE (RECORTES CERO-GV)
10. VOX (VOX)
11. PARTIDO POPULAR (PP)
12. PARTIDO LIBERTARIO (P-LIB).
13. PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE LOS PUEBLOS DE ESPAÑA (PCPE)

It just need the Monster Raving Looneys to be complete One of those parties even considers itself to be the EH-Bildu of Cantabria!! It's clear why there is the need for that 3% vote cut-off before a party gets into the calculation for seats

Ronnyone

Very true. PP never talk about the economy because basically its the best in EU! Feijoo on Tuesday was saying how he would have clean respectful campaign and then the party started this "Sanchanista " slogan on Wednesday. That's it basically. Vote for a commie or vote for falangists Apparently we will worry about stuff like policies later!!!

rbs_gb

That is the shortest and most accurate summary description so far of #23J!!!!

spainrico

Isn't May typically the month when unemployment drops in Spain? (Start of mass tourism season)

I was interested to understand what changes other Expats would like to see - but no one has really listed any - and yes I understand lower taxes are unlikely to lead to improved public health care - I was just listing topics for discussion.

Anyway, I am impressed by some Expat's understanding of the system and complex political views which I admit exceed my own understanding despite my many years here.

rbs_gb

Fair comment Spainrico. There are times to speak and times to listen, and when I saw your first post, thought I'd wait and see what views came forward. Surprising silence! If you'll permit me to suggest that subsidies on Rioja and Verdejo would probably be well received in the Expat community........

Anyway, being serious.
Law and order would be top of my priorities, not necessarily to any draconian right wing level, but just to get back to a sense of justice being done.
I'd like to see the okupas legislated out of existence.
I'd like to see a genuinely balanced social housing policy while still respecting those that have worked, earned and paid for properties.
The drift towards what feels like anarchy I'd like to be stopped.
I also agree with Ronnyone that whilst minority rights should be on the agenda, they have certainly distorted priorities in the present government. More balance in that area.
I'd like to see a real, co-ordinated national water policy, balancing both CCAA and national governments.

Lastly, one that won't happen, but one which all of us as expats should take into consideration, is that there is effectively no, or very little PUBLIC adult social care in this country. Social care here is either private, or done by the family. So called public adult care is still co-payment. For many of us getting older, our British Passports may be the only salvation in old age unless you have some serious cash behind you.
Cheers
Ray

Lynn R

In my large town in Andalucia I see a LOT of older people receiving social care (in their own homes, rather than in residencias, although we have plenty of those around as well) from Junta de Andalucia employed carers under the Ley de Dependencia. They seem to spend a lot of time with their carees, not just brief visits to get people washed, dressed and given their medications. Their job description also includes cooking, shopping, cleaning, laundry, helping people to socialise (every day I see older people accompanied by their carers out for walks or just sitting on benches in the town, having a chat with people they know) and I have even seen them walking their carees' dogs. As for residential care, it seems to cost around half as much here as it does in the UK, and I would not qualify for any financial assistance if I were to return to the UK in the future so as far as I can see my resources would pay for care here, should I ever need it, for twice as long as they would in the UK.

Servicio de ayuda a domicilio - Junta de Andalucía (juntadeandalucia.es)