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Socialist Party's leader Pedro Sanchez call for prime minister Mariano Rajoy to resign

Sanchez set to become Spain's Prime Minister

Pedro Sanchez is almost certain to become Spain's new prime minister after his socialist party secured enough votes to topple Mariano Rajoy in a confidence vote over a corruption case.

Spain • 31 May 18

Uncertainty prevails for Catalans and its self-exiled separatist leader Carles Puigdemont

What next for Catalonia and would-be leader Puigdemont?

Catalonia's new parliament meets for the first time today, a step towards choosing a president for Spain's wealthiest region, a daunting challenge when the top candidate has fled abroad and other potentials are in jail.

Catalonia • 19 Feb 18

People celebrate after the declaration of independence at Catalan Assembly, at Sant Jaume square in Barcelona

Spain sacks Catalan govt after independence declaration

The Madrid government sacked Catalonia's president and dismissed its parliament today, hours after the region declared itself an independent nation, in Spain's gravest political crisis since the return of democracy four decades ago.

News • 28 Oct 17

Spanish leader Mariano Rajoy is to hold a special cabinet meeting tomorrow

Cross-party support to dissolve Catalan parliament

The Spanish government has secured opposition support to dissolve Catalonia's parliament and hold new elections there in January in an effort to defuse the regional government's push for independence.

Catalonia • 20 Oct 17

Crowds gathered outside the parliament in Catalonia last night, ahead of the signing of the 'symbolic' declaration of independence

Rajoy gives Catalan leader 5 days to clarify position

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy gave Catalonia's separatist leader five days to clarify his position on whether or not he was declaring independence, a government source said.

World • 11 Oct 17

Catalan leader signs suspended independence declaration

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his allies have signed a declaration of independence for the region, which they have suspended pending talks with Madrid, a regional government spokesman has said.

World • 11 Oct 17

A man holds a card that says 'We want Catalonia in Spain'

Catalan leader under pressure to drop independence push

Catalonia's leader has come under intense pressure to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain after hundreds of thousands of unionists took to the streets at the weekend to protest against the region breaking away.

Catalan referendum • 10 Oct 17

Enda Kenny and Mariano Rajoy held discussions in Madrid

Kenny discusses Brexit with Spanish PM

The Taoiseach has held talks in Spain with its Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, during which they discussed the implications of Brexit ahead of the opening of negotiations between the European Union and the UK.

Politics • 16 Jan 17

Spain's Rajoy says 500,000 new jobs will be created this year and next

Spain's Rajoy upbeat on economy

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy today said the economy would grow 2.9% this year and next, creating 500,000 jobs.

Business • 27 Apr 15

Spain to cut income tax and reduce corporate tax to 25%.

Spain announces tax cut plans

Spain announced today it would cut income tax and reduce corporate tax to 25% for large companies by 2016, aiming to speed up a nascent economic recovery.

Business • 20 Jun 14

Spain has gone from being 'a burden for Europe to a motor', Prime Minister says

Spanish PM sees growth of 1% in 2014

Spain will raise its economic growth forecast for 2014 to 1% and sees growth picking up to 1.5% in 2015, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said.

Business • 25 Feb 14

60.6 million international visitors visited Spain last year

Spain regains world's number 3 tourism ranking

Spain said it had retaken the number three spot in world tourism in 2013, overtaking China by luring a record 60.6 million international visitors.

Business • 21 Jan 14

Mariano Rajoy said Spain had seen clear change in its economic situation

Spanish PM promises 'year of recovery' in 2014

Spain will embark on a year of recovery in 2014 that will help cut the number of unemployed as the “hardest efforts” to restore the economy to growth bear fruit, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said.

Business • 27 Dec 13

Mariano Rajoy walks away from the podium after speaking at a special session of parliament

Spanish PM denies corruption allegations

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has acknowledged that he made a mistake in his handling of a major corruption scandal in the ruling People's Party.

News • 01 Aug 13

Spain Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy kicks off state of the nation debate

Spain's head out of the water- Rajoy

Spain is on the mend, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy claimed today as he revealed that the budget deficit fell to less than 7% of GDP in 2012, from nearly 9% a year ago.

Business • 20 Feb 13

No Spanish economic growth until 2014

Spain's prime minister has said his country will not experience economic growth until 2014.

Business • 06 Nov 12

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy delivers a speech during a Popular Party's campaign meeting for the Galician regional election

Mixed message for Spain's PM in key regional votes

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy secured backing for his austerity drive in a vote in his home region of Galicia, but a clear win for nationalist parties in the Basque Country could soon prove a headache for the central government.

News • 21 Oct 12

Spanish leaders in economy talks with EU's Rehn

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Economy Minister Luis de Guindos are to hold separate rounds of talks today with European commissioner for monetary affairs Olli Rehn.

Business • 01 Oct 12

Critical Spanish budget aims to offset crisis

Spain has announced a detailed timetable for economic reforms and a tough 2013 budget based mostly on spending cuts.

News • 27 Sep 12

Rajoy says Spain may seek help, but not a bailout

Spain is considering obtaining help from the ECB's bond-buying programme but is not planning a full sovereign bailout, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was quoted as saying in Finnish newspapers.

Business • 12 Sep 12

Rajoy, Merkel say did not discuss aid conditions

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy refused to be drawn today on whether his government would tap the new European Central Bank program.

Business • 06 Sep 12

Thousands of people protest against the Spanish government's latest austerity measures in Madrid

Eurozone ministers approve Spanish bailout terms

Eurozone finance ministers have approved the terms of €100 billion bailout package for Spain.

News • 20 Jul 12

The Spanish government has been given an extra year, until 2014, to reach the 3% deficit target

Spain PM announces €65 billion in cuts, taxes

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy today announced €65 billion in drastic spending cuts and a VAT tax rise to rein in spiralling sovereign debt.

Business • 11 Jul 12

Hundreds of miners marched through Madrid overnight

Spanish PM announces €65bn austerity package

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has announced a €65bn austerity package to avert financial collapse as angry miners rallied against subsidy cuts.

World • 11 Jul 12

Euro zone should 'deepen' integration - Holland

French President Francois Hollande has said he wants to deepen the euro zone's economic and monetary integration, as he meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Business • 28 Jun 12