Spain's Socialists make progress in attempt to form government

Madrid [Spain], October 25: The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) of caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has made progress towards the formation of a new government.
An agreement on the formation of a "progressives coalition" was reached the previous night, the PSOE and the left-wing alliance Unite, or Sumar, announced in Madrid on Tuesday.
Thanks to the agreement, Spain will be able to continue its growth "in a sustainable way and with quality jobs," the two parties said.
They want policies "based on social and climate justice," as well as "expanding rights, feminist achievements and freedoms." The agreement with Unite, led by Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, is not enough for Sanchez, however. Together, the two coalition partners only have 152 deputies out of a total of 350 in the lower house of parliament.
Sanchez still needs the votes of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), of the head of the Catalan regional government, Pere Aragones, and the conservative Together for Catalonia, or Junts, party of separatist leader CarlesPuigdemont, who lives in exile in Belgium.
Both seek Catalan independence and are demanding an amnesty for those separatists who took part in the failed attempt to secede in autumn 2017 in return for their support.
The Socialists came second in the parliamentary elections held early on July 23 behind the conservative People's Party (PP) of leading candidate Alberto NúñezFeijoo.
As head of state, King Felipe VI had initially entrusted Feijoo with a mandate to form the government. But the 62-year-old's candidacy was rejected by the lower house at the end of September. Now it is Sanchez's turn.
There is no date yet for the vote on the Socialist's candidacy to stay on as prime minister in the lower house. He needs to secure an absolute majority of at least 176 yes votes in the first round.
If no government can be formed by November 27, Spaniards will have to go to the polls again on January 14.
Source: Qatar Tribune