Spanish Congress and Senate demand elections or confidence vote from Sánchez

Both chambers of the Spanish Parliament have approved non-binding motions urging Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to either call a general election or submit to a confidence vote. The motions, passed by the Senate on Wednesday and the Congress on Thursday, highlight the government's perceived lack of parliamentary support and the absence of a budget for three years. Source: El Mundo

The votes

• Senate: The motion passed with 145 votes in favour (PP, Vox, UPN), 2 abstentions (Coalición Canaria), and 106 against. Junts did not vote, and PNV voted against. Source: El Español
• Congress: The motion passed with 178 votes in favour (PP, Vox, UPN, Junts) against 171. The government parties (PSOE and Sumar) had vetoed the first two points of the motion, which called for an immediate election and the government's resignation. Source: El Mundo

Political disagreements

Junts refused to vote in the Senate, with spokesperson Eduard Pujol criticizing the PP's approach. PP's Antonio Silván responded, "Junts vuelve a hacer de Junts" (Junts is being Junts again). Source: Infobae The PNV voted against, while Coalición Canaria abstained. Source: La Vanguardia

Implications

While non-binding, the motions carry political weight. El Mundo notes that they "evidencian el 'agotamiento de la legislatura'" (evidence the exhaustion of the legislature). Sánchez has not indicated how he will respond.