Agile Sánchez Seen Putting Together Coalition in Spain
The Socialist Party leader is outmaneuvering both his far-left rivals and the man he hopes to succeed.
Southern Europe
Greece Continues to Drive Businesses Away
By raising taxes on companies time and again, Greece is driving them into bankruptcy or abroad.
Renzi Should Finish the Job He Started
Now is not the time to stop liberalizing the Italian economy. The work has barely begun.
Portugal Makes Last-Minute Cuts to Avoid Budget Fight
Portugal avoids becoming the first country that has its budget rejected by Brussels.
Geopolitical Shifts Will Enable Cyprus’ Reunification
Controlling the Aegean Sea, and hence Cyprus, is a priority for neither Greece nor Turkey anymore.
No Good Coalition Options for Spain’s Socialists
There are no easy options for Pedro Sánchez as he starts to form Spain’s next government.
Greece Rejects Creditors’ Call for Pension Cuts
Alexis Tsipras proposes to raise pension contributions rather than cut benefits.
Spain’s Parties Go Through Necessary Motions in Talks
The Socialists must explore a coalition they don’t like while the conservatives bide their time.
Portuguese Leader Defends Rolling Back Austerity
The country’s Socialist Party prime minister argues that he can boost competitiveness without cuts.
Spain’s Rajoy Declines Mandate to Form Government
The outgoing prime minister won’t even try to form a government without the support of Congress.
Podemos Calls for Left-Wing Coalition in Spain
The far left’s eagerness to govern presents the mainstream Socialists with a dilemma.
Italy’s Renzi Stabs Central Europeans in the Back
The Italian leader’s stand against a Russian natural gas pipeline turns out to be entirely self-serving.
Catalonia’s Mas Steps Down to Stave Off Snap Elections
The leader of Catalonia’s largest party steps aside to prevent a collapse of the independence movement.
Spain’s Socialists: Coalition with Anyone But Rajoy
The country’s left-wing leader calls for a broad progressive alliance to keep the right out of power.
Snap Elections Loom as Catalan Far Left Rejects Deal
Pro-independence parties may have no choice but to call another election.