Socialists hail people's vote of confidence in Zapatero

The defeat of the right in the elections in Galicia, north west Spain, represents a big vote of confidence in the Government of José Luis Zapatero and a humiliating defeat for the Spanish Partido Popular said the President of the Party of European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.

Since achieving autonomy over 20 years ago, Galicia has always been ruled by the right, and is widely known as the most right-wing region of Spain. 

“This is a big vote of confidence for the Government of José Luis Zapatero” said PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen “After a year in Government the Spanish Socialists are riding high.”

“The people of Galicia wanted change and chose the Socialists to achieve it for them” commented Rasmussen, “It is an outstanding result.”

The Galician Socialists were the only major party to increase its vote – with the Galician Nationalists and the Partido Popular both losing votes.

The result follows the Socialist victory in Bulgaria where the Socialists, led by 39 year old Sergei Stanishev, emerged as the largest party. “Bulgaria needs a young, dynamic Prime Minister like Sergei Stanishev” said Rasmussen. “It needs to look to the future, not to the past.”

He added “The EU should do all it can to ensure that the Bulgaria and Romania are able to join the European Union in 2007.”  

For more information Julian Scola, PES Press Officer, +32 2 548 9085,