Spanish Elections Loom Close After Parliament Rejects Budget

Pressure now on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to go to voters
Budget scuppered after Catalan separatists withdraw support

Spain’s political fragmentation adds to Europe’s uncertainty. Bloomberg’s Maria Tadeo reports.(Source: Bloomberg)

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By Charlie Devereux and Charles Penty

February 13, 2019 at 11:52 AM UTC

Updated on

February 13, 2019 at 3:52 PM UTC

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Spain’s parliament blocked the ruling Socialist party’s 2019 budget, significantly increasing the chances that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will call an early general election.

The 473 billion-euro ($535 billion) spending plan was rejected after the government failed to secure backing from the Catalan independence parties it had previously relied on for support.