Mixed reactions to Spanish election result
- 12 years ago
On the streets of the Spanish capital, residents react with mixed feelings to the news that Prime Minister-elect Mariano Rajoy's centre-right party has won the country's biggest election victory in 30 years.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT JOSE LUIS SAYING:
"We needed change because of the crisis, so the majority of Spaniards have decided."
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT ANTONIO SAYING:
"He's going to take us workers to ruin because we are going to have cuts and, I don't know, I hope I am wrong."
The euro zone debt crisis claimed its fifth government victim on Sunday as voters kicked out the Socialists-blamed for the worst economic crisis in generations, which has pushed unemployment to 21 percent.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT CARLOS SAYING:
"It was expected, throughout the campaign it was clear voters would punish the Socialists. In terms of repercussions I think they will be moderate, at the end there is no huge difference in economic policies. There are no magic recipes."
The elections were the first since Basque separatist group ETA announced it had ended its armed struggle.
Following an election dominated in much of the country by the dire state of the economy, residents of Bilbao were surprised to discover that a Basque separatist party - Amaiur - had done so well, winning seven seats in Spain's parliament.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BILBAO RESIDENT LOLI, SAYING:
"From my point of view it is not ok. I don't like the result. The fact that Amaiur has won so many votes. But of course, we have to respect that. There is a reason for people voting that way. But I think it is due to their disappointment after what the Socialists have done, though I don't know what would have happened if it had been the People's Party."
But regardless of the ongoing separatist struggle, Mariano Rajoy must deal first with Spain's economic woes, and is under huge pressure to announce and implement policies to help the country overcome its debt crisis.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT JOSE LUIS SAYING:
"We needed change because of the crisis, so the majority of Spaniards have decided."
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT ANTONIO SAYING:
"He's going to take us workers to ruin because we are going to have cuts and, I don't know, I hope I am wrong."
The euro zone debt crisis claimed its fifth government victim on Sunday as voters kicked out the Socialists-blamed for the worst economic crisis in generations, which has pushed unemployment to 21 percent.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT CARLOS SAYING:
"It was expected, throughout the campaign it was clear voters would punish the Socialists. In terms of repercussions I think they will be moderate, at the end there is no huge difference in economic policies. There are no magic recipes."
The elections were the first since Basque separatist group ETA announced it had ended its armed struggle.
Following an election dominated in much of the country by the dire state of the economy, residents of Bilbao were surprised to discover that a Basque separatist party - Amaiur - had done so well, winning seven seats in Spain's parliament.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BILBAO RESIDENT LOLI, SAYING:
"From my point of view it is not ok. I don't like the result. The fact that Amaiur has won so many votes. But of course, we have to respect that. There is a reason for people voting that way. But I think it is due to their disappointment after what the Socialists have done, though I don't know what would have happened if it had been the People's Party."
But regardless of the ongoing separatist struggle, Mariano Rajoy must deal first with Spain's economic woes, and is under huge pressure to announce and implement policies to help the country overcome its debt crisis.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.