Three days remain for political pact-making in Spain’s municipal governments

THE race to negotiate political pacts in Spain’s municipalities is heating up with just days remaining. 

A deadline of Saturday June 13 has been set for the inauguration of new mayors, after May’s local elections failed to produce absolute majorities across the country.

The highest ever number of split municipal elections results has led to parties looking to pact with their former rivals.

In Malaga alone, a third of the province’s 103 municipalities will need pacts for stability.
Seeing which parties pact will no doubt give an early indication as to who may end up in central government come the general election in November.

The story so far

Marbella

THE fate of Marbella’s mayor is in the hands of the two elected Opcion Sampedrena (OSP) councillors.
The PP won 14 seats, while the combined left-wing parties – the PSOE, Costa del Sol Si Puede and the IU – claimed 13 seats.
In a bid to lure OSP’s councillors into a pact, PP mayoral candidate Angeles Munoz has offered councillor Manuel Osorio the deputy mayorship of San Pedro de Alcantara.

Torremolinos

THE need to pact is as strong as ever, with both the PP and the PSOE candidates bowing down to the so-called smaller parties for their support.
PP candidate and acting mayor Pedro Montes is currently holding talks with representatives from Ciudadanos.
While PSOE leader Jose Ortiz is calling on Costa del Sol Si Puede for its support.

Mijas

PSOE candidate Jose Gonzalez has held his first meeting with Ciudadanos’ Juan Maldonado and Costa del Sol Si Puede’s Antonia Santana.
After the PP lost its majority, the other three parties are set to form a pact to oust mayor Angel Nozal.
Gonzalez said he is ‘confident’ that the parties can come to an agreement that will see him elected mayor.

Benalmadena

A FIVE-party pact could see the PP removed from office in Benalmadena.
Clubbing together to out current mayor Paloma Galvez are representatives from the PSOE, Costa del Sol Si Puede, the IU and local political groups Alternativa por Benalmadena and Vecinos por Benalmadena.
The prospect of the five parties not reaching an agreement is the only hope Galvez has of holding on to her post as all five have said they will not pact with the PP.

Ronda

A THREE-way pact could see neither of the country’s two biggest parties claim mayorship in Ronda. Although it is unlikely to happen, a pact between the PA, IU and A.P.R would see the PSOE and PP take a back seat.
More realistically, the IU and PA have been approached by both parties to form a pact.
While Antonio Lara, the chief candidate for the A.P.R, has criticised the main parties for slamming the door on him and not approaching him to pact.

Nerja

TRUE to her job title, a headteacher is laying down the law in Nerja.
Ciudadanos chief Maria Sanchez has agreed to pact with the PP, but only if current mayor Jose Armijo steps out of the hot-seat.
The only other option for the PP is to convince the EVA or the IU to join forces or a four way pact headed up by the PSOE may win out.

Manilva

PSOE mayoral candidate Diego Jimenez (below) will be inaugurated as mayor after agreeing a deal with the IU.
A battle for the IU’s support was fought between the PSOE and Compromiso Manilva who both needed to pact with Antonio Barragan to gain the required number of seats.