Spanish Politics in Turmoil

Pablo Iglesias, leader of the left-wing Podemos group and currently the second deputy prime minister in the coalition government with the PSOE socialists, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is to leave his role to stand for the presidency of the Madrid regional government, in the elections to be held on 4 May. Iglesias has announced his reasons and intentions in a video posted on social media Madrid will be heading to the polls on 4 May following last week’s ‘political earthquake’. The current president of the capital’s regional government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the right-wing People’s Party (PP), called for elections in order to avoid a potential motion of no confidence against her from the socialist PSOE and centre-right Ciudadanos (Cs) parties. In an interview on Monday, Ayuso has said that she will have no problem making a pact with the far-right Vox party, if necessary.