Spain's Sanchez faces decisive vote after coalition talks stall

Talks between Spain's socialists and far-left Podemos on coalition government stall, casting doubt on whether PM Sanchez will win a crucial confidence vote.

Talks between the Spanish Socialists and far-left Unidas Podemos on supporting acting premier Pedro Sanchez broke off on Wednesday and have not resumed just hours before his confirmation vote, a senior Podemos lawmaker said on Thursday.

Ione Belarra told RNE radio that Podemos remained open to negotiate “till the last moment” but after the Socialists told her party they considered the negotiations collapsed, any resumption would have to be proposed by the Socialists.

She said Podemos will not support Sanchez in the vote unless their conditions on various government posts were met, but also said there would be time to negotiate further until September.

Podemos negotiator Pablo Echenique told Cadena Ser radio his party would not enter a government at all cost and Socialist negotiator Carmen Calvo told the same radio that Podemos had not wanted to negotiate and had asked too much responsibilities in the cabinet.

SS