Regional Election
A far-right party has won seats in a Spanish regional election for the first time since 1975.
The Vox party took 12 parliamentary seats in Andalusia yesterday beating expectations that it would win five.
Tough on immigration and Catalan separatism, Vox could be an important player in a future coalition.
The governing Socialist’s still won more than any other party – 33 seats – but with a greatly reduced majority.
It may try to form a coalition with Podemos, to fend off the center- and far-right in the 109-seat parliament.
The regional result could affect Spain’s new Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as his government’s weakness could increase pressure on him to call early elections.
UK Murder
A man arrested in Spain over a double murder has been released on bail in the UK
The 29-year-old was held over the murder of 28 year old Daniel Shaw in Coventry and the disappearance of Johnny Robbins four days later.
Police had named suspects Ben Whyley and Ryan Hobday, both 29, but said they had gone “off the radar”.
It is understood the detained man is one of the suspects previously named.
The suspect was returned to the UK for questioning following his arrest in Southern Spain on Thursday.
Mr Shaw was shot dead in March while Mr Robbins, who is presumed dead, has never been found.
Unemployment
SPAIN has experienced one of the sharpest drops in unemployment of the European Union.
Figures fell from 16.6 per cent to 14.8 per cent in October, according to figures published by Eurostat, the European Statistical Office. In contrast average unemployment across the Eurozone was at 6.7 per cent.
The statistics show unemployment has fallen across all member states, with Spain’s figures improving the most dramatically. Croatia’s numbers also fell from 10.2 per cent to 8.1.
Football
Plans to complete the violence-delayed Copa Libertadores final in Madrid were thrown into disarray on Saturday when River Plate refused to accept the fixture against Boca Juniors being moved from Argentina.
River was already angered it was fined $400,000 and ordered to play the next two league games behind closed doors after its fans attacked the Boca Junior team bus heading into its Buenos Aires stadium for the meeting of Argentina’s fiercest soccer rivals just over a week ago.
World soccer’s governing body had approved shifting the final to Spain.
Footballer.
Former Spain international David Villa has announced a move to top-flight Japanese club Vissel Kobe, the same club that signed Andrés Iniesta in May this year.
Villa’s contract with Major League Soccer side New York City FC comes to an end on December 31st.
The announcement confirms Villa will join former Barcelona team-mate Iniesta and ex-Germany forward Lukas Podolski at Vissel Kobe.