This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
With the November 10 vote just over a month away, Spain's political landscape is once again in flux. In a surprise move, Albert Rivera, leader of the centre-right party Ciudadanos, has indicated that his party may be willing to support Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government, despite previously refusing to back him.
Although the Socialists won the April election, they fell short of an absolute majority, and Sanchez was unable to secure the backing to be confirmed as prime minister. Sanchez blamed his rivals for the deadlock, but it appears that Ciudadanos may be willing to extend its support this time around.
Meeting supporters on Saturday, Rivera said he would try to convince the Socialists to sit down with Ciudadanos, although he did not specify how his party would extend its support. This announcement was widely seen as a U-turn by Ciudadanos, which until now has largely vetoed the option of backing Sanchez.
Sanchez's government has been plagued by political instability, and the latest crisis drew to a head last month. Rivera briefly extended an olive branch to Sanchez, saying that his party would abstain from any vote of confidence, thereby enabling him to be sworn in. However, the offer was dismissed by Sanchez.
Sanchez has been critical of the Catalan separatist movement, which has been a major challenge for his government. In a speech in the northwestern Galicia region, Sanchez said that the separatists had 'failed' and that the economy in the wealthy northeastern region of Catalonia had still not recovered from the 2017 referendum and declaration of independence.
Sanchez's comments come as polls suggest that the Socialists are on track for another victory in the November 10 vote, but again without an absolute majority, raising the spectre of yet another political impasse.
