Spain’s Sanchez Unlocks EU Funds With Tense Parliament Vote Win
- Vote in error by opposition lawmaker swung vote for Sanchez
- Center-right party backed labor reform after allies rebelled
Pedro Sanchez in Madrid on Feb. 3.
Photographer: Eduardo Parra/Europa Press/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez scraped together just enough support in a disputed vote in parliament to pass a labor reform that’s key to unlock billions of euros in European pandemic aid.
Deputies approved the legislation last night by a razor-thin margin of 175 votes to 174 amid scenes of confusion after the parliament speaker initially announced it had been defeated. She then corrected the tally amid cheers from the government bench.