Spain calls snap election after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ‘s budget proposals rejected
Spain called a snap election for 28 April today after its national budget was rejected.
The socialist government’s budget proposal was defeated on Wednesday when politicians in favour of Catalan seceding joined right-wing parties in voting it down.
Read more: Germany narrowly avoids recession as GDP stagnates in the fourth quarter
It means Spain will hold its third election in just four years.
“Between doing nothing and continuing without the budget and calling on Spaniards to have their say, I choose the second," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said today in a televised address.
“Spain needs to keep advancing, progressing with tolerance, respect, moderation and common sense. I have proposed to dissolve parliament and call elections for 28 April.”
Sanchez only took office in June after the previous right-wing government was defeated in a no-confidence vote.
Sanchez lost Wednesday's budget vote by 33 votes, with 191 against and 158 in favour, according to Reuters.
Conservative People’s Party leader Pablo Casado claimed it expressed a lack of confidence in Sanchez.
Read more: Eurozone construction sector endures 'sluggish' start to the year
“Today, it is clear that we’ve come to the end of the road, that this agony can’t go on any longer and that Spain needs a better government and it deserves it as soon as possible,” he said, quoted by Reuters.
Spain has suffered political turmoil in recent years after its recovery from an economic slowdown in 2013 was followed by uproar over whether Catalonia could separate from Spain.