Podemos ready to change the Spanish political landscape

SPAIN – Local elections

Sunday’s local elections could shake up “politics as usual” and bring about change in corrupt Spain

Thousands gathered to watch new left-wing political party Podemos close its campaign in Madrid Friday ahead of local elections scheduled for Sunday.

Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias attacked Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy for his use of a private jet that cost 10,000 euros an hour, while Spain limps on in poor economic form.

Rajoy claimed Tuesday that Spain is in a good economic situation compared to 2012 and that no one is talking about recession or strikes, which Iglesias responded to:

“They don't talk about strikes in the neighborhood where you live, Mr Rajoy. They don’t talk about strikes in the restaurants where you eat, Mr Rajoy. In the private jets, and in the restaurants where you eat ... there no. But where we come from, yes we talk about strikes. In my neighborhood Mr Rajoy, we talk about strikes. We come from the real world and in this country we talk about strikes. In this country there are 13 million people at risk of poverty.”

Sunday's elections will take place in a climate of high unemployment and extreme disappointment in the governing Popular Party and Prime Minister Rajoy. Anti-austerity movement Podemos is hoping to gather voters and shake up traditional politics.

The local elections are seen by many as an opportunity for voters to express their discontentment with the economic crisis and scandals that have shaken Spain’s political class over the last few years.

New parties, such as Podemos and its right-wing rival Ciudadanos (Citizens), are hoping to rattle the dominant two-party system, which has seen the Socialist Party and the conservative Popular Party alternate power for nearly four decades. Since 2008’s financial crisis, many European countries have seen a disintegration of traditional political systems as well as strong turnout to vote for anti-austerity parties; most notably with the election of Syriza in Greece in January, then the landslide victory of the Scottish National Party in Scotland in the U.K.’s recent general election.

People will be going to the polls to elect councilors in 8,100 towns and parliament members in 13 of Spain´s 17 regions. The biggest battles are set to take place in Madrid and Barcelona.

Iglesias called on all citizens to boot the usual parties out on Sunday by casting a vote for change. “The only useful vote in this country is the purple vote; it’s the Podemos vote,” he said.

Source:

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Iglesias-Calls-on-Spain-to-Vote-Podemos-in-Sundays-Elections-20150522-0014.html