Popular Party to keep Galicia following a low-turnout race

Spain’s ruling centre right party retained control of Galicia, one of its heartlands, in a regional election on the 21 October 2012, a result that would ease pressure on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as he pushed through an unpopular programme of public spending cuts and tax increases in Spain.

Elections in the Basque Country held on the same day, provided less encouraging news for the Spanish prime minister, with Basque nationalist and separatist parties winning the majority of the vote, as had been widely forecast.

• Primary Source

El País: Tag: Elecciones autonómicas http://elpais.com/tag/elecciones_autonomicas/a/

El País, 21.10.12: ETA stands by end to violence but seeks role in peace plan http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/10/21/inenglish/1350821335_322532.html

El País, 14.10.12: Basque leaders play cagey game in shadow of Catalan sovereignty push http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/10/14/inenglish/1350217372_388838.html

ESO: Background information: Peace shifts the focus to growth and investment http://www.europeansources.info/record/peace-shifts-the-focus-to-growth-and-investment/

BBC News, 21.10.12: Separatists win Basque election - exit polls http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20022218

Deutsche Welle, 21.10.12: Elections in Spain measure regional discontent http://www.dw.de/elections-in-spain-measure-regional-discontent/a-16321531

France24, 21.10.12: Spanish regional elections to test PM Rajoy http://www.france24.com/en/20121021-spain-regional-poll-test-economic-crisis-rajoy-basque-galicia

EurActiv, 22.10.12: Spaniards send mixed messages in regional polls http://www.euractiv.com/elections/spaniards-send-mixed-messages-re-news-515541

El País / El Mundo, 22.12.12: Basque elections up stakes for Rajoy (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/2920701-basque-elections-stakes-rajoy

El País, 22.10.12: Galician victory for PP gives Rajoy a much-needed shot in the arm http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/10/22/inenglish/1350907682_878576.html

El País, 22.10.12: Galicia win gives Rajoy breathing space http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/10/22/inenglish/1350927193_024797.html

CIDOB: Spain in Focus, November 2012: Spain’s’ Regional Elections: Galicia and the Basque Country Show Very Little Surprise / Who is who: Íñigo Urkullu. Other emerging Leaders: Xosé Manuel Beiras, Laura Mintegi / Regional Elections Results: President Rajoy's Latest Test http://www.cidob.org/en/publications/spain_in_focus/november_2012/spain_in_focus_november_2012

---