Spain: Socialists re-elect PM as party leader

Spain’s ruling socialist party has re-elected the country’s Prime Minister as its General Secretary. As expected, it was an overwhelming vote, with more than 98 per cent of delegates backing Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the PSOE’s 37th congress in Madrid. “Eight years ago, I said to you in this very hall, that we weren’t doing badly. Today, I tell you, we’re doing quite well, and we’re going to be even better in the coming years,” he said.

José Blanco becomes the party’s vice-general secretary, and as promised, a woman – Leire Pajin – takes over as organising secretary.

Delegates also decided to work towards reinforcing the secular nature of the state; allowing non-EU immigrants the vote in council elections; and relaxing conditions for abortion.