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Europe
Spain |
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Last reviewed : 12 September 2008 |
Country information
POLITICS
The Spanish Government is a constitutional monarchy. The current Head of State is King Juan Carlos. The role is largely ceremonial and policy is dictated, as in the UK, by a democratically elected Prime Minister (known in Spanish as Presidente del Gobierno). The Prime Minister resides over a bicameral parliament, which is separated in to two houses - the Lower House Congreso de los Diputados, and the Senate, Senado. The Congreso is primarily responsible for legislative matters and is very much the centre of political attention. The Congress has 350 deputies elected at least every four years by proportional representation and the Senateis a mix of 208 members elected by provinces in parallel with the Congreso (elections are simultaneous) and 48 selected by Autonomous Communities according to population.
Political parties participate in Parliament as parliamentary groups. Each party has a spokesman, portavoz, appointed according to each party's rules. The spokesman acts both as manager of the group, and speaks for the party at major debates.
There are two concurrent annual sessions for both chambers - September to December and February to June. Plenary sessions are public and are often carried on the media.
Recent Political Developments
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, leader of the centre-left PSOE party, was elected Prime Minister on 14 March 2004. He was re-elected on 9 March 2008, again without an overall majority.
General elections 2008
|
Party |
Votes |
% |
Difference from 2004 |
Seats |
% Seats. |
Difference from 2004 |
|
(PSOE) |
11288698 |
43.87 |
+1.28 |
169 |
48.29 |
+5 |
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|
(PP) |
10277809 |
39.94 |
+2.23 |
154 |
44 |
+6 |
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|
(CiU) |
779425 |
3.03 |
-0.20 |
10 |
2.86 |
= |
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(EAJ/PNV) |
306128 |
1.19 |
-0.44 |
6 |
1.71 |
-1 |
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(ERC) |
298139 |
1.16 |
-1.36 |
3 |
0.86 |
-5 |
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(IU) |
969871 |
3.77 |
-1.19 |
2 |
0.57 |
-3 |
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(BNG) |
212543 |
0.83 |
+0.02 |
2 |
0.57 |
= |
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(CC) |
174629 |
0.68 |
-0.23 |
2 |
0.57 |
-1 |
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(UPyD) |
306078 |
1.19 |
n/a |
1 |
0.29 |
+1 |
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(Na-Bai) |
62398 |
0.24 |
= |
1 |
0.29 |
= |
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Information about the current Government of Spain can be found here.
Country information
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Useful links
Travel advice
UK in Spain Website
BBC Timeline of Spain
British Council: Spain
Spanish newspapers
www.elpais.es
www.elmundo.es
www.abc.es
www.lavanguardia.es
www.larazon.es
www.elperiodico.es
www.expansion.es
www.negocios.es
www.cincodias.es
