Spain’s Socialists in crisis as political blockage takes toll

The article reported that Spain's nine-month political paralysis during 2016 was taking its toll on Spanish political parties, and none more so than the Socialists who were facing a crisis, with talk of an imminent 'coup' against leader Pedro Sanchez.

News sources including The Local.es reported that Spain's Socialist party was hit by a 'coup' attempt on the 28 September 2016 with half of its leadership quitting in a bid to oust the leader Pedro Sanchez and unblock the country's political deadlock.

PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez spent the 1 October 2016 fighting for his political life as the PSOE leadership convened in Madrid to put their confidence in the leader to a vote. Mr Sanchez suggested that he could resign if party delegates decided to lift his veto on a conservative-led governing coalition.

In the evening of the 1 October 2016 Pedro Sanchez resigned as Secretary General of the PSOE.

• Primary Source

El Pais, 23.09.16: Political deadlock in Spain takes toll on increasingly divided parties http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/09/23/inenglish/1474618460_544509.html

ESO: Key Source: Spanish general election, 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/spanish-general-election-2016/

ESO: Background information: Spain moves a step closer to ending political deadlock http://www.europeansources.info/record/spain-moves-a-step-closer-to-ending-political-deadlock/

ESO: Background information: Will Spain be able to get rid of corruption? http://www.europeansources.info/record/will-spain-be-able-to-get-rid-of-corruption/

The Local.es, 27.09.16: Socialists under pressure to allow PP to form government https://www.thelocal.es/20160927/spains-socialists-under-pressure-to-allow-conservative-to-form-government

ESO: Background information: Basque parliamentary election, 2016 / Galician parliamentary election, 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/basque-parliamentary-election-2016-galician-parliamentary-election-2016/

El Pais, 28.09.16: Spain’s Socialist leader agreed to let PP form government, says ex-PM http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/09/28/inenglish/1475049197_821054.html

The Local.es, 29.09.16: Spain's stricken Socialist party hit by 'coup' attempt https://www.thelocal.es/20160929/spains-stricken-socialist-party-hit-by-coup-attempt

El Pais, 29.09.16: Socialist chief refuses to quit despite mass resignations of executive committee http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/09/29/inenglish/1475130579_570740.html

EurActiv, 29.09.16: Embattled Spanish Socialist party hit by leadership ‘coup’ attempt http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/embattled-spanish-socialist-party-hit-by-leadership-coup-attempt/

BBC News, 28.09.16: Spanish election: Senior Socialists resign in protest against Sanchez http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37498847

The Guardian, 28.09.16: Spanish socialist leader faces revolt over refusal to end political deadlock https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/28/spanish-socialist-leader-faces-revolt-over-refusal-to-end-political-deadlock

The New York Times, 28.09.16: Leader of Spain’s Socialist Party Survives Ouster Attempt http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/29/world/europe/spain-socialists-politics.html

Deutsche Welle, 28.09.16: Could Rajoy benefit from Socialist ructions? http://dw.com/p/2Qhvo

Politico, 28.09.16: Spanish Socialists launch coup to oust Pedro Sánchez http://www.politico.eu/article/spanish-socialists-launch-coup-to-oust-pedro-sanchez-cesar-luena-spanish-socialist-workers-party/

Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2016: Spain's Socialists deeply divided http://www.eurotopics.net/en/166985/spain-s-socialists-deeply-divided

The Local.es, 30.09.16: Spain's crisis-hit Socialists set for leadership showdown https://www.thelocal.es/20160930/spain-crisis-hit-socialists-prepare-for-leadership-showdown

El Pais, 30.09.16: Police ready to quell potential trouble at Spanish Socialists’ crisis meeting http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/09/30/inenglish/1475248367_484015.html

Deutsche Welle, 01.10.16: Spain's Socialist Party chief faces challenge http://dw.com/p/2Qn8s

BBC News, 01.10.16: Spain Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez faces key party vote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37529610

Deutsche Welle, 01.10.16: Uncertain future after resignation of Spain's Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez http://dw.com/p/2QnzA

Politico, 01.10.16: Spain’s Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez resigns http://www.politico.eu/article/spains-socialist-leader-pedro-sanchez-resigns-politics-mariano-rajoy-psoe/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 05.10.16: he resignation of Pedro Sánchez has left Spain’s PSOE in crisis http://bit.ly/2dE5pvr

El Pais, 07.12.16: Spain’s struggling Socialists could have a new leader by summer http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/12/07/inenglish/1481101280_685033.html

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