Spanish Politics and Institutions

Spanish Political System

• Constitution of 1978: Established parliamentary monarchy with separation of powers.
• The Crown:
  • Head of State, symbolizes unity.
  • Mediates and represents Spain in international relations.
  • Functions include enacting laws, calling elections, commanding armed forces.

Legislative Branch

• Cortes Generales: Bicameral parliament, consisting of the Congreso de los Diputados (lower house) and Senate (upper house).
• Legislative process prioritizes bills from the Executive (about 80% of proposals).
• Election Procedure: King proposes candidate for PM after elections.

Executive Branch

• Prime Minister and Cabinet: Executes laws and policies.
• No term limits for PM; can change due to resignation or motion of censure.
• PM is accountable to the legislature.

Judiciary System

• Judiciary Independence: Interprets laws, ensures adherence to the Constitution.
• Higher courts: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
• Recent controversies regarding politicization and the efficiency of the judiciary.

Territorial Organization

• Autonomous Communities: Spain has a unitary structure with devolved powers to regions.
• Distinct status for regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country, reflecting center-periphery dynamics.

Political Parties in Spain

• Major national parties: PSOE (Socialist), PP (People's Party), Vox, Unidas Podemos.
• Political dynamics shaped by electoral policies and regional identities.
• Increasing presence of minor parties due to fragmentation in voter preferences.

Challenges in Spanish Politics

• Corruption Scandals: Impacting monarchy's reputation and public trust.
• Growing polarization regarding issues such as national identity and regional autonomy (e.g., Catalonia).
• Economic challenges and policy responses to crises (e.g., austerity measures).