Spain's PP to challenge Constitutional Court over blocked early election vote

Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) is taking its fight to the Constitutional Court after the Congress of Deputies' leadership vetoed a vote on early elections. The PP had sought to debate amendments with the Catalan pro-independence party Junts to a motion calling for the government to dissolve parliament and hold snap elections.

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We will use all avenues to denounce this outrage.

The Congress leadership, with a majority from the ruling PSOE and Sumar parties, blocked the debate. They argued that calling elections is solely the prerogative of the prime minister and that the PP's motion was akin to a vote of confidence, which is not permissible in this manner.

PP spokesperson Borja Sémper vowed to use "all avenues to denounce this outrage." He criticized the current state of Congress, stating it is "blocked" and not addressing citizens' problems. Sémper lamented that the political agenda seems dictated by court cases, preventing even a debate on dissolving parliament.

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What has Congress become? It is blocked and does not talk about citizens' problems.

"This chamber has become an empty shell," Sémper declared, adding that the government's upcoming budget presentation will be the "first exercise of the election campaign" because he believes it is impossible for the budget to pass. The PP also plans to bring the same vote to the Senate next Wednesday, where they hold an absolute majority.

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This chamber has become an empty shell.