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28 June 2005
PONTEVEDRA — The political future of Spain’s last Franco-era politician appears to be in doubt after Manuel Fraga’s Popular Party lost the regional elections in Galicia.
The Galician Socialist party (PSG) and a Galego Nationalist Bloc (BNG) party are to form a coalition government, ousting the Popular Party (PP), which has ruled the north-west province for nearly 20 years.
In a closely fought election, decided by votes sent in from broad by emigrants from Galicia, the coalition parties won 38 votes to the 37 of the PP.
The hopes of Franco’s former propaganda minister, Fraga, to head Galicia’s regional government have been dashed but he has already asked the PP’s leader, Maraino Rajoy, if he can continue as leader of the opposition.
The region’s ruling PP, built by Fraga from the ruins of Francoism 25 years ago, and the two opposition socialist parties had each claimed victory in the elections, held two weeks ago.
The defeat of ‘Don Manuel’, as Fraga is known in Galicia, which he has ruled as a virtual fiefdom for nearly 20 years, had appeared increasingly likely when opinion polls suggested he would not win an absolute majority.
It could now end the career of a man who has dominated not only Galician politics but national politics as he helped to set up the present Popular Party at the advent of democracy.
His authoritarian style is famous in Spain, causing division between conservatives who admire his old-style leadership, and hostility from liberals.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news