The third round of consultations initiated by King Felipe VI on April 25 ended, as widely expected, with nothing. For the first time in its democratic history, Spain will therefore be forced to return to new elections. Although at an official level the time to form a government expires on May 2, in fact there is no other possible solution. By this date the King will dissolve the Houses and in the month of June, in all likelihood on the 26th, the Iberian people will return to the polls.
“There is no candidate who has the necessary support to have confidence in Parliament“. This is the phrase with which Felipe Vi communicated to the press the umpteenth failure of the talks with the leaders of the parties. After meeting Pedro Sanchez (Psoe), Albert Rivera (Ciudadanos), Pablo Iglesias (Podemos) and Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish sovereign summoned the president of the Congress, Patxi Lopez, to inform him of the decision.
In the meantime, clashes and spites continue between the various political forces. The socialist leader today accused Iglesias and Rajoy of not having had the will to form a government, leaving the country in the throes of ungovernability. Harsh statements, despite the King's recommendation during the consultations to avoid another electoral campaign made up of accusations and quarrels.
At this point therefore, unless a very improbable last-minute agreement arrives, Spain will return to voting next June. According to the latest polls, however, the next electoral round could sanction the same result achieved in the elections of 20 December 2015, given that no party, according to the surveys, will be able to reach the 176 seats necessary to govern. Madrid's political future continues to be uncertain, while Brussels could soon impose sanctions due to the failure to achieve the 2015 targets. Last year ended with a deficit of 5,1% against a target set at 4,2%, the banks remain weak and the public finances continue to worry Brussels. In the event that the country's political vicissitudes are not resolved in the short term, the prospects for Spain do not appear to be encouraging.
