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Right wing parties strike deal in Andalusia as Bosquet elected parliament president

The Ciudadanos party's candidate was elected with 59 votes on the afternoon of December 27th.

Published: 27 December 2018 15:48 CET
Right wing parties strike deal in Andalusia as Bosquet elected parliament president
PP candidate Juan Manuel Moreno is expected to be elected president of the region as part of a coalition deal. Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP.

Marta Bosquet, an MP for Almeriá, was elected president of the Andalusian Parliament – one of three arms of the 'junta,' the regional administrative body – with the support of delegates from her own party, the People's Party and the far-right VOX party.

Spanish media reported that a deal had been struck by the the People's Party (PP) and Ciudadanos: the latter's candidate Marta Bosquet will preside over the parliament, while Juan Manuel Moreno, the PP's regional leader, will seek election as president of the Andalusian Junta, the effective President of Andalusia, in the coming weeks – according to media reports. 

It is the first time in 36 years that the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) has been voted out in the southern Spanish region and replaced by a rightwing coalition. 

It is also the first time the far-right VOX party has been elected to a Spanish administration. 

READ ALSO: Spanish politics rocked by far-right win in Andalusia

READ ALSO: ANALYSIS: After the elections in Andalusia, expect a lot more Vox in Spanish politics

The far-right VOX party in Andalusia secured 12 seats in regional elections in December 2018 in a clear swing to the right from the electorate. 

READ MORE: ANALYSIS: Gains for Spain's far-right Vox party in Andalusia fuelled by tough opposition to Catalan independence

 

 

 

POLITICS

Spain demands Israel comply with UN court ruling on Rafah

The Spanish government demanded on Saturday that Israel comply with an order by the top UN court to immediately stop its bombardment and ground assault on the Gazan city of Rafah.

Published: 25 May 2024 13:38 CEST
Spain demands Israel comply with UN court ruling on Rafah

It stressed that the ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was legally binding.

“The precautionary measures set out by the ICJ, including that Israel should cease its military offensive in Rafah, are compulsory. Israel must comply with them,” Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares wrote on X.

“The same goes for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages and access for humanitarian aid (to Gaza),” he said.

“The suffering of the people of Gaza and the violence must end.”

In a case brought by South Africa alleging the Israeli assault on Gaza amounts to “genocide”, the ICJ ordered Israel on Friday to “immediately halt” the ground and air offensive in Rafah.

The operations began on May 7 despite international fears for the safety of the 1.4 million civilians trapped in the city.

The Hague-based ICJ, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ruled that Israel must keep open the key Rafah crossing with Egypt to allow “unhindered” humanitarian aid into Gaza.

And it urged the “unconditional” release of hostages taken by Hamas fighters during their October 7 attack in Israel.

Israel responded on Saturday by bombing Rafah and other parts of the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Spain is one of the European countries to have been most critical of Israel over the war in Gaza.

On Wednesday, Spain, Ireland and Norway said their governments would recognise a Palestinian state from next week.

Israel summoned their envoys to “reprimand” them for the decision and on Friday said it would ban Spain’s consulate in Jerusalem from helping Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Some 252 people were taken hostage, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the Israeli army says are dead.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,857 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to data from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

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