Spanish ruling party rebels launch new conservative party

Rebels from Spain's ruling conservative People's Party launched a new political party on 16 January 2014, hoping to tap into public discontent over unemployment, scandals and calls for separatism in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

The ruling Popular Party (PP) kicked off its national conference on the 31 January 2014 in Valladolid with a call for unity after evident fissures within the group witnessed by the absence of former Prime Minister José María Aznar and the announcement by Jaime Mayor Oreja that he would not be standing in the May 2014 elections to the European Parliament, where he led the PP.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Madrid protesters demanding Rajoy's resignation clash with police http://www.europeansources.info/record/madrid-protesters-demanding-rajoys-resignation-clash-with-police/

ESO: Background information: IMF calls on government to reduce wage and firing costs even further http://www.europeansources.info/record/imf-calls-on-government-to-reduce-wage-and-firing-costs-even-further/

El País, 28.01.14: Aznar deepens PP split by snubbing party conference http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/01/28/inenglish/1390933745_435107.html

El País, 29.01.14: Storm brewing in the PP (editorial) http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/01/29/inenglish/1391005102_296191.html

Reuters, 16.01.14: Spanish ruling party rebels launch new conservative party http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/16/us-spain-politics-idUSBREA0F1HM20140116

El País, 31.01.14: PP barons call for unity after fissures appear in party http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/01/31/inenglish/1391194516_685176.html

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