Valencia conservatives, socialists back on track

3 February 2006

MADRID – An agreement between the conservatives and the socialists over a new constitution in Valencia is back on and has won the thumbs up from congress’ constitutional commission.

On Wednesday, the PP party said it was not prepared to accept changes wanted by the socialists to the ‘estatut’ – an agreement which redefines the region’s relationship with central government and its degree of responsibilities and autonomy.

It looked as if a pact between the two majority parties in the region had broken down.

However, eleventh-hour talks between PP and PSOE proved fruitful. The two agreed to a compromise.

The constitution now defines the Valencian language as the “official language” of the region, but avoids references to limits on the percentage of the electorate needed to enter the parliament, which had proved contentious.

The compromise between the two parties is noticeably different from the state of affairs in Catalonia where the conservatives continue to reject the constitution drawn up between the socialists and other allies.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news