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Issue 632
25 nov - 01 dec 2011
PP romps to power by Jack Troughton
Makenna Tomlinson
Ghost Academy dazzles!
Makenna Tomlinson proudly shows off the certificate and medal that she received during the recent Ghost Academy ‘James Bond’ Concert. See the full story on Page 20.
MARIANO RAJOY, the new Partido Popular prime minister has warned of troubled times ahead and no miracle cures for Spain’s economic crisis. The PP swept to victory in last Sunday’s general election – trouncing the PSOE at the ballot box and winning a healthy majority in parliament. Struggling with high unemployment and unpopular austerity measures, Spaniards – expats are unable to vote – delivered a punishing verdict on almost eight years of socialist government. Voters handed the PP 186 seats in the 350-seat lower chamber compared to 154 at the last election, while PSOE tumbled from 169 seats to 110, the party’s worst ever performance since the restoration of democracy. The victors needed 176 seats for a majority and now enjoy a resounding mandate from a deeply troubled electorate. The PP also has 136 seats in the Senate to PSOE’s 48.
and Italy premiers were forced by mounting financial and economic pressures to resign, making way for interim ‘unity’ governments led by technocrats. However, it gives 56-yearold Mr Rajoy a great advantage when he takes the helm next month and the PSOE flag is hauled down in Madrid – he has the backing of the country and enjoys a freshly elected majority. As thousands of jubilant supporters celebrated in the streets and the country turned PP blue, Mr Rajoy thanked people for their support but remained in sombre mood. “It is no secret to anyone that we are going to govern in the most delicate circumstances Spain has faced in 30 years,” he said. “For me, there will be no enemies but unemployment, the deficit, excessive debt, economic stagnation, and everything else that keeps our country in these critical circumstances.
CRISIS
MIRACLE
Spain is the third southern European country in a fortnight to see its government toppled by the debt crisis rampaging through the Eurozone – in Greece
“There won’t be any miracles. We never promised any. But as we have said before, when things are done properly, the results come in.” Continued on page 4