All posts by Carmen Gomaro

Carmen Gomaro - leading international news and investigative reporter. Worked at various media outlets in Spain, Argentina and Colombia, including Diario de Cádiz, CNN+, Telemadrid and EFE.
SPAIN

Revitalizing Aragonese Language Advocacy: Jorge Pueyo’s Commitment in the Congress of Deputies

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Jorge Pueyo, representative of Chunta Aragonesista (CHA) in the Congress of Deputies for the Sumar coalition, promised the position in Aragonese “for Aragón, it is your rights and freedom, landscapes and rivers and the working class” (for Aragón, your rights and freedom, landscape and rivers and the working class).

Later, in statements to the media, he announced that he would continue to speak Aragonese in Congress, arguing that on a day-to-day basis he expresses himself equally in Spanish and Aragonese.

Likewise, he regretted that the president of the Chamber, Francina Armengol, did not refer to Aragonese in her speech on the use of languages.

In addition to using Aragonese in Congress, the CHA deputy intends to continue working to make its use equal to that of Catalan, Basque and Galician.

In 2021, the Congress of Deputies, with the votes of the PSOE, gave the go-ahead to a non-legal proposal, defended by Bildu and supported by nationalists, independentistas and Unidas Podemos, which urged the Government to promote statutory reforms that are necessary for their own languages, such as Aragonese or Bable, to become official.

Aragonese and Catalan appear as “proper languages” of Aragon in its Statute of Autonomy, although they do not have the rank of co-officials.

It is estimated that some 25,000 people know how to speak Aragonese, to which are added another 20,000 who understand and know it but do not express themselves in it. And they declare that some 17,000 people know how to write in Aragonese.

In addition to appearing in the school curriculum and being taught voluntarily in schools and institutes where it is the predominant language, Aragón has its own Language Academy with the Aragonese and Catalan institutes.

At the beginning of the mandate of the socialist Javier Lambán, the General Directorate of Language Policy was created, in the hands of CHA, which the new PP-Vox government has announced that it is going to abolish it.

The ‘Aragonese Broncano’

Jorge Pueyo, 28, a lawyer and until now the presenter of a program in Aragonese on Aragón Televisión, is known as the Aragonese Broncano.

He was born in Fonz, a town in Huesca where Aragonese is spoken. He has said that during his childhood he experienced situations of linguistic inequality, which made him interested in the dissemination of Aragonese.

He has published several poems in Aragonese and his project for the dissemination of Aragonese began with a YouTube channel, a kind of program in Aragonese that was not successful.

In May 2019, the Charrín Charrán program premiered, the first program in Aragonese on Aragón TV, presented by Silvia Cebolla, where he participated as editor and reporter.

He rose to fame when in October 2021 he began to publish a morning newscast from Monday to Thursday in Aragonese on Twitter and was able to reach many more people. In fact, his first video reached 30,000 views.

In 2022, the program A escampar la boira premiered, a midnight program for Aragón TV, where they interviewed relevant personalities inside and outside Aragón in Aragonese.

In addition to promising the position in Aragonese, Pueyo wore the tie that José Antonio Labordeta wore for the first time when he took office as a deputy in Congress for CHA. The garment in question was designed by the painter Agustín Ibarrola.

HEALTH

Urgent Call for Action: Safeguarding Spain’s National Health System

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The evident inefficiencies of our National Health System (SNS) have jeopardized one of the vital pillars for social cohesion and the welfare state, dragging patients and professionals.

More than four million people on waiting lists, primary care collapsed, a system overwhelmed by the pandemic and a society that looks expectantly towards this ruling class far removed, at times, from the pain of the street.

At this hour, what more legitimate concern could our politicians have than the best possible healthcare?

The light has changed in this post-electoral scenario, in which the tension has swept away all paths of consensus and time seems to have stopped. It is a luxury that we cannot afford.

The problem is no longer what is happening, which is also happening, but what awaits us around the corner.

With the largest generation in history knocking on the doors of retirement, the challenge of chronic patients in Spain has just loomed – the current 20 million patients, to whose care three quarters of the health resources are allocated, represent already 80% of visits to the GP-.

And while the peak of the population pyramid gains weight, the base falls from our hands. Stopping the brain drain is another of the great challenges: we need to retain our professionals, who are so magnificently educated.

So much so that we run the risk of becoming a training center for the rest of Europe -although there are no official data, it is estimated that almost 30,000 Spanish doctors and nurses practice outside the country.

A strategy is urgently needed that grants flexibility and resources to a SNS that should focus on prevention and technology.

The public-private collaboration model, woven for more than 20 years of consensus and which has made Spain an international benchmark, requires attention and repair.

Our memory is so light that some have already forgotten the enormous effort made by private healthcare during the pandemic, thanks to which we were able, together, to face the Covid crisis.

On the brink of that abyss the big parties managed to find themselves. In recent months we have also heard one another agree on the diagnosis of an exhausted SNS -this was confirmed in one of the last Circle Debates held in May in Madrid, and on the call for a State Pact for the Health. There is no more delay.

It is time to work to reverse the degradation of the system and assume the challenge of shielding free and universal public health from ideological fluctuations. The moment demands vision and responsibility.

ECONOMY

AI’s Impact on Banking: Redefining Customer Interaction and Financial Management

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As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes an integral part of the banking landscape, customer interaction is also evolving.

Virtual assistants and chatbots can provide quick answers to financial questions, offer analytics, and perform basic transactions.

This streamlines the customer experience and changes the way we interact with traditional banking services.

As AI positions itself at the heart of the banking industry, the crucial question arises: How is this technology redefining the traditional concept of savings and financial management?

Personalization of the financial experience

AI-powered personalization starts with data collection and analysis where financial institutions can track and analyze long-term customer behavior.

This includes spending patterns, savings goals, investment history, and much more.

AI leverages this data to create accurate and detailed financial profiles that will enable a deep understanding of individual aspirations and needs.

For example, if a client has long-term savings goals, the AI could suggest specific investment strategies.

For someone looking to buy a home, one could look at mortgage options and calculate possible monthly payments.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

Despite the benefits, the use of AI in banking decision-making is not without its challenges. The reliability of the algorithms, the transparency of decisions and the ethics of data manipulation are issues that must be carefully addressed.

Also, ensure that AI is used for the benefit of clients and not to maximize the profits of the financial institution.

Risks and Stability: Is the AI infallible?

Although AI can make informed decisions, it is still a technology and as such is not without its risks and failures.

Algorithms can make mistakes if based on incomplete or incorrect data, which could lead to unintended financial decisions.

The lack of human emotions can also be a factor to consider, since the AI cannot anticipate unusual events or situations that require sensitivity.

AI projects

The vanguard of financial innovation is already underway in our country. Entities such as BBVA, CaixaBank and Santander already apply projects with this technology.

BBVA, for example, has developed a virtual assistant using AI. Through its app, this assistant uses different tools to help users improve their financial health.

Six out of ten digital customers, according to the entity, already use the financial health features of its app to manage and plan their economy.

In the first quarter of 2023 alone, the volume of interactions reached 57 million, which represents an increase of 62% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Additionally, and directly linked to savings, customers have at their disposal different functionalities such as ‘My goals’ or ‘Schedule your account’, focused on achieving savings goals previously established by the customer in the app.

CaixaBank, for its part, has developed its own technological model that can manage each case in the same way as an employee would.

This model has achieved an accuracy of 99%, which means that almost always the system thinks and acts as a person would.

For example, within Wealth Management & Insurance, it has enabled rebalancing of funds and profitability for its clients.

These projects not only optimize the banking experience, but also demonstrate the commitment of these institutions to provide innovative solutions that translate into tangible benefits for their customers.

The future of banking

While AI can make analytical decisions and streamline processes, the human touch is still essential to understanding the emotional and personal aspects of financial management.

The combination of AI efficiency and human intuition could pave the way to a richer and more effective banking experience.

The future of banking seems to be marked by a synergy between AI technology and human trust.

SPORTS

Sergio Arribas: From Real Madrid’s Castilla to Almería’s Rising Star

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The best player in the 2022-2023 Primera RFEF now plays for Almería, sold by a Real Madrid team from which it was difficult for him to leave while he was looking for the dream of the Second Division with Raúl’s Castilla.

Now, after scoring 18 goals and giving 7 assists in the last season of the white subsidiary, with whom he was on the brink of promotion in Elda, Sergio Arribas (Leganés, 2001) welcomes Carlo Ancelotti’s team with the Andalusian team as springboard in his jump to the elite of professional football. Before facing his idols, talk to EL MUNDO.

If I’m not mistaken, it has become independent for the first time. Indeed, well, little by little I’m getting better and better (laughs). I arrived in Almería last Tuesday and the truth is that both the people and the colleagues are like a family.

After these last two years, it was time to make the leap to First Division, right? Yes, it was time to leave Madrid, at least to play in First Division, which is what I wanted. Almería came, they gave me the opportunity and I am very happy.

They had many offers. Why Almería? I have spoken a lot with Joao, the sports director. He insisted a lot on me coming, that they needed a player like me and that he was going to be very important this year.

It is what I needed to hear, I need to play minutes and gain experience. You were in a young team for its category, like Castilla, and you arrive at one that also has a young squad. Is it positive or negative?

We are a young staff, yes. Already in Castilla we were the youngest team and we were not bad at all. I think that this year we mix youth with experience, so let’s learn from them, from the details. I think it will be a nice year.

How hungry are you? Very hungry. I really wanted to go out to First. It seems that I have a lot of pressure but I see it the opposite. I love to play, have fun and it’s what I want to do. I want to continue like these last few years at Castilla. Do you feel that pressure? Because of the rumors, because he’s a Madrid youth player…

Well, maybe you can tell when you get to a place and they say ‘look, this is the Madrid boy’, but then that pressure goes away when you go out onto the field. I just want to do my best. What does your family say? Enjoy, be myself, get the best out of this season. They have been here with me these days and they will be here for the game.

I am a very familiar boy, I am very grateful to both my parents and my brother, and I have had the same circle of friends and partner for many years. I focus on them who are the ones that make me grow.

My parents are the ones who bring me down to earth, with my father I have had many talks returning from Valdebebas so that he would lower me from the cloud sometimes (laughs). The Madrid youth academy will be a whirlwind of sensations, right? That’s a bubble and you realize how big the club is when you leave.

Do you think he deserved more opportunities in the first team? Speaking of Madrid…. It is the best team, every year they sign the best players in their position. Because? I had offers to go to a First Division, but I spoke to the club and they told me that Castilla was going to make a strong team to try to get promoted, that we were going to follow the same.

I had stayed with the thorn of the Playoff against Ibiza and I accepted. I took it as a personal challenge, taking Castilla to the Second division, and we almost did it… Were you clear that it was going to be your last year or could it have been different with the promotion? I don’t know, honestly…. I was clear that I wanted to go out to First Division.

I don’t know if I would have been with the first team if I had been promoted.. Things happened like that, we didn’t get promoted and I didn’t want to spend another year in the RFEF First Division, I had to make the leap and try myself in the First Division. How important has Raúl been in your evolution?

What has he told you? He has been key in the last three years. As he was a player, he is a coach: very demanding. He is the ideal person to represent Real Madrid and at Castilla he is training players for the future, perhaps those who left were not so prepared before.

He always says that we realize that it is very difficult to play abroad, that it is difficult to reach First Division. I have to thank you for all the advice you have given me.

If it weren’t for Raúl, I don’t know if I would be here. He has insisted that I press, that with what I do in the First RFEF he is not going to give me for the First Division, that he knows me and knows that I can achieve it.

And that he will continue to see me, I take that into account… (laughs). What is the biggest difference between the First RFEF and the First Division? Well, look, I have been lucky enough to train with a team like Madrid…

It’s how fast the ball goes, the speed. In First with little they do you a lot of damage. And now it’s Madrid’s turn in their second game… It’s funny (laughs). It’s going to be weird, but very special.

I had been at the club for 11 years, I think I haven’t faced Madrid since I was young, in football 7. It will be special because I have played with many of them, I have shared a dressing room… Do you have any references?

Well, I have been lucky to be with them and I have always loved Isco and Modric. Training and playing with them has been amazing. Do you have any goals for this year? It’s my first year, I have to gain experience, grow as a player and as a person.

Hopefully I can score the ones I scored last season, but it’s going to be difficult, a good figure for the first year would be 10 (laughs).. Let’s talk about studies. I took my Bachelor’s degree and selectivity and then I entered CAFYD, but I left it after six months because I didn’t have time, I couldn’t go to class for training.

My first intention, if I don’t do well in football, was to study nursing or something related to health. Do you see more football or paddle tennis? They say that he likes the shovel… Soccer, soccer, but I also really like playing paddle tennis and watching it on television.

ECONOMY

Evergrande Bankruptcy Sparks Concerns of Global Impact on Real Estate Sector

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Evergrande has been a zombie company for two years, which are those that -in financial jargon- are understood to be so loaded with debt that, in reality, they continue to walk even though they are already dead from an economic point of view.

The Chinese real estate giant finally filed for bankruptcy this week under US law and the world is now wondering if the butterfly effect that these types of events usually cause is going to fully touch the brick globally.

Evergrande’s story has been told in chapters and this has led it to gradually deflate on the stock market. It’s worth nothing, really, because it was last suspended from trading earlier this year.

The point is that it is not the only Chinese real estate that is scaring the market. Another giant -although smaller- Country Garden has already publicly warned this week that it faces serious difficulties in returning the money to its bondholders, those investors who have the company’s debt in their hands.

It has lost 71% in the Chinese Hang Seng for the year and its shares are trading today at the equivalent (in Hong Kong dollars) of 0.09 euros.

Given this situation, analysts wonder when the Chinese government, at the head of an interventionist economy, will decide to come to their rescue, but the figures are astronomical.

It is estimated that Evergrande’s debt alone is the equivalent of 2% of Chinese GDP, some 340,000 million dollars. “Direct intervention in the residential market is needed because, despite the fact that regulatory measures have already been adopted, people continue to decide to wait to make the decision to buy a house because they believe that the crisis could get even worse,” say the manager Natixis.

The reality is that there is an alarming liquidity crisis in China that can unleash defaults that would affect the entire chain, from suppliers, to banks that grant mortgages and, ultimately, the population.

The Chinese government is aware and therefore decided surprisingly to lower interest rates to 2.5% this week, at the lows of 2014. Its objective is to reactivate the economy, encourage consumption because, contrary to what is happening in the US and Europe, inflation there fell to negative rates in July.

The collapse of Chinese real estate is the straw that breaks the camel’s back for a sector hard hit by the economic recession and the rise in rates. It is easy to understand why: less activity sells fewer houses.

The higher the cost of the mortgages, the less you buy, and this is compounded by the escalation of prices that affects builders, even though they try to pass on the increase in costs to the end customer.

Only in August the European real estate sector fell 9% (above the 7% left by the Stoxx 600). And in Spain, although the business of the Socimis has nothing to do with the residential sector, it has also led Inmobiliaria Colonial to the lowest levels of last October.

In a week it loses 5% and in the year it goes for a 15% drop. Merlin Properties, its rival, loses 11.3%.

SPORTS

Canada Prevails in Intense Duel Against Spain: A Close Victory in Overtime

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A particularly brilliant Shai Giljeous-Alexander in the first part of the duel and an RJ Barrett who, after practically vanishing after signing a good start, knew how to come back on time after extra time were the great arguments for Canada to prevail over a Spain that, another once again stood up against one of the favorite teams to win the next World Cup, but, once again, they found themselves outclassed on the scoreboard (80-85).

A great second quarter, both in attack and defense, and the maintenance of good defensive performance in the third, in this case, were not enough to win a victory that would have been a blow to morale for the team led by Sergio Scariolo.

Canada, through a very toned RJ Barrett, left very early by six points on the scoreboard at the start of the duel.

Spain was largely overwhelmed by the talent exhibited by both the Knicks guard and by Shai Giljeous-Alexander who already claimed the attention of the spotlight in the first quarter so that his team would come to treasure a maximum advantage of 9 points (10-19).

Scariolo’s team, again especially entrusted to the contributions of the Hernangómez brothers, knew how to find, despite everything, the way to close the gap, put themselves three points below with a great dunk from Garuba (21-27) and close to a draw with a triple by Rudy who, despite the suspense, was lost in limbo. The little fortune, in addition, would forcefully punish Nickeil Alexander-Walker from beyond the 6.75 line to close the first period with a painful 21-27.

The setback, once again, far from eating away at the morale of the Spaniards, became a stimulus. Scariolo’s team took a step forward defensively, giving up just one point for the Canadians and also putting their batteries in attack to take the lead for the first time on the scoreboard and open a timid three-point gap (31-28) with a partial from 10-1.

With a little more success, the locals could have widened the gap a bit, but they ended up seeing how Canada, led mainly by Shai Giljeous-Alexander and Dwight Powell, managed to bring the game to an exchange of blows in which, in the end, the Spanish would know how to emerge victors.

Thanks, in large part, to the intensity of Juancho Hernangómez and the good hand in the triples of Víctor Claver. Spain knew how to respond perfectly to the Canadian rebellion attempt and ended up going to rest with a partial victory by 23-13 and four points ahead in the light (44-40).

Spain lowered its offensive performance to unsuspected limits at the restart. The defensive intensity of Canada caused him to reach the limit of his possessions over and over again and he could not quite find his way to the basket.

At the defensive level, his performances followed more or less the path marked out in the second quarter. Thus, it is explained that, despite the drop in attack, he managed to reach the end of the quarter one point above on the scoreboard (56-55).

Hand in hand, in this case, with a very intense Santi Aldama under both baskets, a flash from Abalde and a very opportune three-pointer from Rudy Fernández, and no matter how much Canada, more by flashes than by good collective play, came to put themselves for a moment timidly ahead on the scoreboard.

The fourth quarter was largely a carbon copy of the third.. Canada maintained its defensive intensity to unspeakably bother a Spain that, despite everything, managed to score 17 more points thanks, above all, to two well-timed triples by Joel Parra, another shot from beyond the Darío Brizuela’s 6.75 line and the fight between Aldama and Garuba.

The Canadians, with Olynyk and Bell-Haynes as the most prominent, managed to force overtime and even had one last possession to win the game, in the hands of a Shai Giljeous-Alexander whose performance declined with the passing of the minutes, which the Thunder point guard could not transform into the winning shot.

In extra time, with RJ Barrett largely missing in the second half of the duel, returning to his best clothes, Canada would end up taking the game for good, no matter how much Spain tried to resist tooth and nail through good deeds.

From Garuba and Juan Núñez and a great three-pointer from Claver. Those of Scariolo, as against the United States, fell again with honor. In this case, by 80-85, against a team that, like the American, also aspires to win the next World Cup.

SPAIN

Department of Education’s Commitment to Rectify Teacher Allocation Lists

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The Department of Education will publish this Thursday the rectified lists of the allocation of 7,000 places for Primary teachers and it is expected that those of Secondary will be on Friday or, at the latest, on Monday.

That is the commitment that the Minister of Education, José Antonio Rovira, has acquired this morning with representatives of unions that, with a dozen people, have gathered at the department headquarters to protest the delay.

Rovira has confirmed that the technicians are working against the clock to have the lists “as soon as possible” and has been blunt in assuring that there will be no cuts in them. “The awards are being made based on the staff forecasts that the Botànic left us. There won’t be any cuts,” he said.

“Then we will see the responsibilities of each one in the process,” said Rovira, who added that the parties that made up the Botànic delayed the process “as long as possible”. “What has not left us prepared was the award, which was to match the positions with the vacancies,” he lamented.

What they have done is “a review” of a computer process with tens of thousands of people involved, for which they have also thanked the unions for their collaboration in monitoring the process.

SPAIN

Language Dispute Sparks Controversy in Spanish Politics

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The Government’s request to the European Union to include Catalan, Basque and Galician in the official language regime of the European Union and the announcement by the President of Congress, Francina Armengol, that these co-official languages will be admitted to the Chamber Baja has aroused indignation in the Government of Carlos Mazón and the Popular Party by leaving Valencian out of its list, which has the same status as a co-official language.

According to the Statute of Autonomy in its article 6, “the language of the Valencian Community is Valencian”. This does not happen in the Balearic Islands, where Catalan is referred to. Not listing the Valencian means, as the PP deputy Esteban González Pons defended in the same congressional chamber, risking that in Congress and the European Parliament they recognize “that the Valencian is Catalan” and not respecting the Statute or the Constitution.

The Consell will announce this Friday the measures that it will take in an institutional declaration to defend “the language, culture and signs of identity” of the Valencian Community, but there are already voices from the Government of Carlos Mazón that have risen up.

The first was the Minister for the Environment, the popular Salomé Pradas, the only one in the entire Consell who was sworn in in Valencian, accusing Pedro Sánchez of despising Valencian to “please his partners”. “I hope you rectify this disregard and contempt for the language itself and hallmark of the Valencian Community,” he wrote on social networks, recalling the literalness of the Statute.

The president of the Valencia Provincial Council, Vicente Mompó, also spoke along the same lines, who, in Valencian, added that “contempt” to the list of demands. «There will be those who say that it is only a symbol, but no, it is our language.

Sánchez does not respect the Valencian Community and has shown it in the financing, in the Mediterranean Corridor. and once again, belittling the Valencian”, he assured on his social networks

With the arrival of the Government of the Generalitat and the majority in the Cortes with the support of Vox, the PP had already announced the recovery of the Identity Signs Law, repealed by the Botànic, which strengthened Valencian against Catalan, something that from Education it is also intended to be done in the classroom despite the fact that the Valencian Academy of Language, the statutory body that regulates it, defends philological unity.

SPAIN

Political Uncertainty as Felipe VI Navigates Uncharted Waters

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Discount time has begun for Felipe VI. The Head of State finds himself in a situation never experienced in almost half a century of democracy in Spain. Two candidates say they want to be appointed by the King to form a government.

The most voted, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, relies on the argument of being the leader of the first political force. However, after Vox yesterday broke the promised support for the PP candidate, Cuca Gamarra, after the party’s refusal to give them a seat on the table, Feijóo would not add enough support and would only be left with their representatives -137, plus the UPN deputy and the representative of Coalition Canaria-. It remains pending what position Santiago Abascal takes and if the break is maintained.

Pedro Sánchez, socialist candidate and acting president, has been running since 23-J as the ideal person to form a government despite being the second force. However, the support of Junts yesterday during the vote of the members of the Table brought him closer to La Moncloa again. So the King has two politicians running, but without a clear picture to form a government.

Constitutionalists consulted by EL MUNDO stress that the very existence of the round of consultations implies an assessment of the situation. And based on that, he must calibrate not only the votes obtained, but the support he can gather to be sworn in as president.. Francesc Carreras is positioned in this sense.

«I see the procedure very clearly», he assures, invoking article 99 of the Constitution: «After each renewal of the Congress of Deputies, and in the other constitutional cases in which it proceeds, the King, after consulting with the representatives designated by political groups with parliamentary representation, and through the President of Congress, will propose a candidate for the Presidency of the Government».

Francina Armengol is the only clear name right now. The new president of Congress has as its first function to draw up a list with the spokespersons of each parliamentary group and send it to the King. Before each new constitution of the Table of Congress, the Head of State has always received the new president in audience.

It will be the same with Armengol, who, after that first meeting, today, will send you the names of the spokespersons. So, the Head of State will set two days for the consultations, probably not before the middle of next week or at the beginning of the last week of August.. the date is important.

If it were already held in September, the chances of a hypothetical electoral repetition falling at Christmas would be full. Therefore, two options are considered for the investiture: either the end of August or the end of September, so that a new appointment with the polls would already be in January.

Don Felipe meets with the candidates in a protocol order from highest to lowest parliamentary weight and listens to their proposals. Several of Sánchez’s potential partners, predictably, will not even attend the appointment in Zarzuela. Once the consultations have been carried out, the King must propose as a candidate whoever he believes has the support to form a Government.

“In a parliamentary system, the party with the most votes is not the one that can form a government,” recalls Carreras, who insists that in article 99 “what is implicit is that the King has to propose whoever has the best chances.”. If he proposes the most voted knowing that he does not gather support, “the one who would lose would be the King, not the candidate,” he says.

Six legislatures and nine rounds

Felipe VI knows the procedure perfectly. He has six legislatures and nine rounds of consultations in his reign. Don Juan Carlos held 10 rounds of consultations. Four failed and three effective investitures with two Prime Ministers: Rajoy and Sánchez have emerged from these appointments with parliamentary spokesmen.

According to article 56.1 of the Constitution, the King “arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions”. Felipe VI invokes all legal means to be able to form a government. This happened in 2016, when he commissioned Rajoy to form a government, who declined the constitutional mandate.

The head of state had to repeat the rounds of consultations and order Sánchez to form a government, which did not obtain enough votes. Rajoy won and the King ordered him to form a government, but he did not succeed in the first round, so there was a new round from which the popular party was already invested. Between the first consultations of that year and the opening of the next legislature, 10 months passed with a government in office.

The elections that followed the vote of no confidence did not yield a clear winner. The King called two new rounds but elections were held again. A single round of consultations at that time was enough for the head of state to commission Sánchez to form a government. Now, the King will listen to the spokesmen in a new round of consultations to decide who to appoint.

SPAIN

Authorities Release Robot Portraits of Suspects in Festival Rape Case

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The Civil Guard of Pontevedra has released the robot portraits of the alleged perpetrators of the rape of a young woman in the early morning of July 18, during the celebration of the San Campio Festivities, in the parish of Pontellas, municipality of O Porriño.

In order to identify the alleged perpetrators, they have requested that anyone who can provide any type of information or data contact the Civil Guard through the telephone number set up for this purpose: 600 461 444.

In addition, citizens may provide information in person at any Civil Guard post and will guarantee the confidentiality of the communicator in any case.

However, last July the Civil Guard pointed out that these two men were, during the performance of the Panorama Orchestra, on the steps of the field of the party between 03:00 and 04:00 in the morning of the July 18.

Thus, they explained that they are “two young men around 20 years of age, with Galician accents, both with brown hair, who wore short-sleeved shirts and shorts.”