Hi everybody !! I spoke a lot about Spain and traditions but let's have a little more information about the Geopolitic situation of the country.         

 

 

           Since Franco's death in 1975, more than thirty years have passed during which Spain has experienced profound political, social, economic and cultural evolutions. Such changes have made the country an essential partner in the European Union and its political role on the international stage has grown. Nowadays, Spain is a stable democracy like its European partners.

 

 

Presentation of country’s government 

 

            Spain is a multiparty constitutional monarchy where the king is head of state and the prime minister is head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government while legislative power is vested in parliament. The judiciary is independent of the first two.

 

 

Executive Power

                Spain is defined in its constitution as a constitutional parliamentary monarchy, reflecting that the king is both limited in its powers by a constitution and by the existence of two chambers elected deliberative, for the first by the people and for the other by the autonomies.

 

               King Philip VI reigns since 2014. He is head of state and various autonomies, that is why the title of King of Spain does not match in practice with the exercise of the functions established by the Constitution 1978 in the sense that the statutes of autonomy can award their own functions. Thus the presidents of autonomies are appointed by the King on the proposal of autonomous parliaments, while the director of the State within communities himself is appointed by the Cabinet by the President of the Central Government.

 

            The king also opens new legislatures of Cortes Generales and Autonomous Parliaments. He exercises the supreme command of the armed forces and is the highest representative of the country in international relations. The King is the Head of State, symbol of its unity and its sustainability. As such, the King has a right of entry and presence in the Congress of Deputies and then of presidency, what other European monarchies do not usually allow.

 

           Executive power is entrusted to the government, composed of the president, vice-presidents and ministers. The president is appointed by the Congress of Deputies the proposal by King and earned a 4-year term if its application is accepted by the majority of the Congress of Deputies. The government's primary role is to lead the domestic and foreign policy, civil and military administration and the defense of the state. It also exercises the executive function and regulatory power under the constitution and the law. Moreover, it is one that manages the budget of the Spanish state. The government is responsible jointly and severally political actions before the Congress of Deputies, before whom a weekly basis to account for its management.

 

 

 

Legislative Power

       Spain has an imperfect bicameral parliament. The Cortes Generales are the name of both houses of Parliament represent the Spanish people. They are formed by the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.

 

          The Congress of Deputies is composed of 350 deputies elected by proportional representation list system for a period of four years. The role of Congress is to exercise legislative power, that is to say to control the action of the government by voting the bills. This room is also responsible for approving the budget proposed by the government. The room also has the power to pass a motion of censure to overthrow the government.

 

          The Senate is composed of Spain territorially four senators are elected in each of the 47 provinces of the peninsula, 16 are elected from the three island provinces, and Ceuta and Melilla elect two each; What goes up to 208 senators. The parliaments of the 17 autonomous regions also elect one senator and a senator for each additional million inhabitants in their territory. Currently, the Senate consists of 264 senators. Its role is to exercise legislative power by having a veto over legislative proposals accepted at the Congress of Deputies.

 

         

 

          Nationally there are two dominant political parties, (the left-leaning PSOE and right-wing PP) which make it extremely difficult for any other formation or coalition to achieve an electoral majority in the bicameral Cortes Generales (consisting of both the national Congress of Deputies and regional representation in theSenate). 

 

 

 

 

 

Judicial Power

           Although having autonomies, Spain does not separate the judiciary and the courts wich are competent in areas of norms of central government or autonomous standards. A Constitutional Court has exclusive features to address all issues relating to the Constitution, the statutes and standards arising, it is also the supervisory body of referenda and electoral results.

 

         Autonomies have no equivalent bodies, their status before being accepted session of Congress of Deputies, and subject to control before promulgation by the Constitutional Court, all provisions contrary to the Constitution are canceled and the Constitutional Court has jurisdiction over issues of powers between the State and the autonomies but also between these institutions, whether central or local institutions.

 

       A Supreme Court judge in his final appeal cases being submitted by the lower courts, it is also the first instance court for crimes involving foreign officials and certain offenses that can lead to lower courts of bias. It is not the body regulating the judiciary, this prerogative is exercised by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, which manages, organizes, structure the judiciary.

 

          There are in Spain, as in many democracies specialized courts in specific areas (trade, family, terrorism ...).

 

          The courts of appeal and district courts are located throughout the territory.

 

 

 

 

External political situation

 

        Spanish foreign policy is traditionally Atlanticist and European, with Mediterranean and Latin American tropism, with highlighting of the role of the Spanish language, viewed as an economic instrument of great importance.

 

         The transatlantic link for Rajoy is that the United States must become "the most important partner of Europe." He clearly announced that the Popular Party is "just as pro-European as Atlantic". This position is reflected in support for the rapid conclusion of the trade agreement EU / USA, still under negotiation.

 

            The Mediterranean commitment with regard to the neighborhood of the EU and the relations with Morocco are a priority. With this large neighbor, the second commercial partner of Spain outside the EU, tension is seen about the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, of illegal immigrants, or the Western Sahara (file on which the Spanish Government, ex- colonial power, intends to pursue a policy of "active neutrality" in alignment with the positions of the United Nations Security Council). Rajoy made on 18 January 2012, his first visit abroad in Rabat, during which he brought a strong support to the reforms of Mohammed VI who "places Morocco at the forefront of the Arab world ". With Algeria, Spain seeks to preserve its economic and commercial interests. Finally, Madrid is particularly concerned about the security situation deteriorated in Libya, and risks destabilizing the Sahel and Tunisia.

 

          Moreover, Spain maintains dense relations with the Latin American space (important human, historical, social, cultural, political, economic and linguistic). A Secretary of State is also responsible for cooperation and relations with the Ibero-American area. Spain has to rely on strong partners like Mexico and especially Brazil to play more effectively its role of "bridge between Europe and Latin America," although this ambition can confront some obstacles (sudden nationalization of Repsol in Argentina, political differences between Madrid and the Latin American States led by the Bolivarian governments). The support of the Colombian peace process and transition in Cuba, are now priorities for Madrid.

 

 

 

Internal political situation

 

 

 

            The traditional parties are in a delicate situation in this election year. (March 22: early regional elections in Andalusia; 24 May: municipal elections and "autonomic" in most regions; September 27: early regional elections in Catalonia that the President of the Generalitat, Artur Mas, wish to become a "referendum" for independence; general elections late in the year).

 

          The political context is marked by the rise of protest parties like Podemos (the radical left party from the movement of the "indignados" created a few months before the elections in May 2014), and Ciudadanos (the original center-left party Catalan).

 

           After the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos, Prince Felipe took the oath and became King of Spain under the name of Felipe VI, before Parliament on 19 June 2014. The King has indicated a desire to pass the torch the "new generation", a new young and dynamic king, he considers ready for the challenges of tomorrow, while embodying "stability, a key element of the identity of the monarchy." The King is the Head of the Spanish State, symbol of its unity and permanence. It is a constitutional monarch without real political power but with a magisterial influence.

 

          The new King is trying to renew the institution. In his inaugural speech, he said he intends to be the king of a constitutional monarchy restored, exemplary and law-abiding, anxious to serve his country and to all citizens, aware of the economic and social challenges.

 

 

 

 

Regional Conflicts - Catalan independence

 

            As the Scots, part of Catalans want independence. Proud of their language and their culture, many of the 7.5 million Catalans do not feel treated as they would by the Spanish central government. 

 

          Catalunya is one of the most powerful and richest regions of Spain. With 7.5 million inhabitants (about 47 million that the country), the Catalans produce about 20% of the wealth of Spain and the region accounts for 25% of Spanish imports. Located in the northeast of the country, Catalonia has a status of "autonomous community", with a Parliament and a clean government. Health, education and social services, particularly within its prerogatives. Catalonia has two official languages: Spanish (or Castilian) and Catalan, and one can also speak Occitan.

 

           Barcelona, capital of the region and major Mediterranean port, the second largest city of Spain. It is a major economic and cultural center of Europe. When they do not attend a match of Barça, the Catalans working in the industry (automotive, pharmaceutical ...), tourism, services (banking, real estate ...) ... In late October, Catalonia had an unemployment rate of 19 %, indeed high, but significantly less than the actual 23.67% posted for all of Spain.

 

            The notion of Catalan identity (traditions, culture, language, flag ...) has always been very strong in this region. If Catalonia has never been an independent state, the region has very old roots. Not until the twentieth century that the Catalan nationalism actually emerges. However, it remains largely minority.

 

            The separatist shift of much of the Catalan public opinion is in 2010 when the Spanish constitutional court rejects the new Statute of Catalonia, the Estatut. This text, which expanded the autonomy of Catalonia, recognized the existence of the Catalan nation. Many Catalans feel betrayed when this new status was approved by the Spanish and Catalan parliaments.

        Since then, every September 11, the day of the Catalan National Day (which is, paradoxically, the commemoration of defeat for the Catalans), is the opportunity of an impressive show of force. In 2014, there were between 550,000 and 1.8 million people in the streets of Barcelona. An immense crowd invaded the main avenues of the city, forming a V (like "vote"), to claim the right to hold a referendum. The previous year a "Catalan way" towards independence had been represented through a human chain of 400 km.

 

 

 

               The government of the Popular Party (right) stuck by its base, very unionist. The Socialist Party, tends to favor greater autonomy of Catalonia, remains opposed to the Catalan independence.

 

              Catalonia's parliament approved a referendum for its independence from Spain on Sept. 19, 2014. Later that month, Catalan President Artur Mas scheduled the vote for Nov. 9, 2014. However, the Spanish Constitutional Court suspended the referendum after hearing the Spanish government's appeal on Sept. 29. Spain's government appeal called for all of Spain, not just one region, to decide on the future of the country. Therefore, Catalonia held an unofficial vote on Nov. 9 for their independence. Only 37% turned out, but of those, 81% voted for Catalonia's independence. Spain's government refused to acknowledge the vote, calling it invalid.

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this article, see you soon to learn more about Spain !