Spain’s lower house approves controversial constitutional reform

September 8, 2011

The two major parties, the PP and PSOE managed to pass this day a constitutional amendment that would impose precise limits on the deficit. Clear signal to the markets. ”Los indignados”  call for new manifestations in protest.

Lawmakers voted 316 in favor and 5 against the constitutional reform, so that the motion easily achieved three-fifths of support required. However ten legislators from smaller parties in disagreement left the session before the vote.

In the midst of economic and political crisis, minority groups and “los indignados”  fuss over about what they consider another surrender PPSOE  (as they call in conjunction to the PPand PSOE)  to markets.

Likewise, the anger of much of society from  the treatment of urgency, without consensus or referedum, with the aim of reaching approval in the Senate, where is going to be treated next week, before the September 27  when the dissolution of ”Cortes Generales” takes place, a prelude to general elections on 20 November.

The bipartisan agreement was announced 10 days ago when they decided to raise to constitutional urgent status  a suggestion that had been proposed just before German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy,and wanted both markets and the European Central Bank.