[Marxism] GRANMA: Spanish Socialists Win Elections

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

(Excellent news from Spain with the victory of the modernizing
Socialist Workers Party over the extremely reactionary and also
clericalist-oriented Popular Party of Aznar and Rajoy. This is
a continuing sign of progressive change in Spain's political
culture where even the isolated terrorist attack on one of the
PSOE politicians was not sufficient to turn the clock back in
Spanish politics. Even the rise of undocumented immigration to
Spain along with the ETA activities haven't caused a majority
of the Spanish public to respond to the appeals of the right.)
===================================================================

GRANMA
March 10, 2008

Spanish Socialists Win Elections

MADRID, March 9.- Spain's Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) emerged
victorious in Sunday's general elections although without an absolute
majority of the parliament.

ZAPATERO CELEBRATES THE TRIUMPH

With the PSOE triumph, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero,
the party's leader, will continue at the helm of the Spanish
government. The People's Party (PP) will continue as the main
opposition force.

With 96 percent of the votes tallied by midnight local time, PSOE had
just below 44 percent to 40 percent for the PP. The turnout was
estimated at over 75 percent.

The results would give the Socialists 169 seats in the 350-seat
parliament to 154 for the PP.

In third place was the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia with three
percent and ten seats in parliament, ahead of the United Left party,
which lost two of its five seats. Six other parties took the
remaining 14 seats.

When learning of his party's victory, Rodriguez Zapatero said he
would govern for all placing a priority on those who do not have
everything. He said the vote showed that the Spanish people want to
begin a new period without confrontations, reported Prensa Latina.

Meanwhile, PP candidate Mariano Rajoy recognized his defeat and
congratulated Rodriguez Zapatero.

Some 35 million Spaniards were summoned to vote for a new 350-member
lower house of parliament and 208 of the 264 senators, in a climate
of mourning after the assassination Friday of former Socialist city
council member Isaias Carrasco in Mondragon (Basque Country).


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