Change of Government Cabinet in Spain (2018): Beginning of New Transit or Deepening the Political Crisis?
Abstract
In June 2018, the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, Pedro Sanchez, became the first Prime Minister of Spain after a historic vote of no confidence in the government of its former head, the representative of the People’s Party, Mariano Rajoy, who was accused of conniving at corruption. Particular attention is focused on the main plans and tasks of the government cabinet, among which: the restoration of the welfare state after many years of severe restrictions caused by the economic crisis; achieving equality and social unity; solution of the Catalan crisis; ensuring the role of Spain in the world. It is emphasized that the Prime Minister put feminism and gender equality at the center of his premiership by appointing 11 women and 6 men as ministers. The stress is set on the fact, that P. Sanchez’s government office does not have absolute support in the parliament, which in future may obstruct the activity of the executive branch.
The plans of the government cabinet of P. Sanchez to carry out political and socio-economic modernization of the parliamentary monarchy by amending the Constitution of 1978, especially the articles, relating to regional autonomy and identity; to restore the welfare state after many years of hard restrictions caused by the economic crisis; resolve the institutional crisis in Catalonia through direct, frank and open dialogue between the parties are analyzed.
It is determined that the basic strategy of the Socialists’ Government in Catalonia is to strengthen the progressive national image of Spain, which can dampen the key principles of modern Catalan separatism, stating that obsolete institutions of the monarchy are obstructing the progressive aspirations of the region.
It is concluded that the current Socialists’ Government may not work until the next parliamentary elections in 2020 unless it finds effective responses to the challenges facing by the state.
