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☆ Ex-Soccer Chief in Spain to Stand Trial on Sexual Assault Charge
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Luis Rubiales, Spain’s former soccer chief, will stand trial on a count of sexual assault for grabbing the head of Jennifer Hermoso, a star player, and forcibly kissing her on the mouth at the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in August. The decision on Wednesday evening by Spain’s National Court came after a judge concluded in January that Mr. Rubiales should be held to account for the kiss, which the judge said “was nonconsensual” and within the bounds of the “intimacy of sexual relations.”Public prosecutors and Ms. Hermoso’s lawyers are seeking a total of two and a half years of prison time for Mr. Rubiales: one year for the sexual assault charge and an additional 18 months in connection with a coercion charge. Mr. Rubiales is accused of pressuring Ms. Hermoso to show support for him after the kiss. Three other former soccer officials, including Jorge Vilda, the former women’s team’s coach, are also accused of coercion. They could each face 18 months in prison.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, “, Ms, Hermoso, Jorge Vilda Organizations: Spain’s National, ” Public

Spain’s Interior Ministry identified the woman as Ana Maria Knezevich Henao, saying she “disappeared” on February 2 and requires medication. An image posted on Spain’s National Center for Missing Persons website shows a photo of Knezevich Henao with long brown hair and brown eyes. Around the time she went missing, Rameau said received a WhatsApp message from Knezevich Henao that read: “I met someone wonderful!! The website of a computer services company in South Florida, EOX Technology Solutions, lists David Knezevich as the CEO and managing director. It says David Knezevich is Serbian and Knezevich Henao is a native of Colombia and a project manager.

Persons: Ana Maria Knezevich Henao, “, ”, Juan Felipe Henao, Knezevich, Sanna Rameau, Rameau, Henao, David Knezevich Organizations: CNN, Spanish, Ministry, National, for, Police, EOX Technology Locations: Madrid, Barcelona, Spanish, Madrid’s, Salamanca, Serbia, South Florida, Colombia

☆ Luis Rubiales, Ex-Chief of Spanish Soccer, to Face Trial Over World Cup Kiss
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A judge with Spain’s National Court recommended on Thursday that the country’s onetime soccer boss, Luis Rubiales, be tried on a sexual assault charge over his non-consensual kiss of a star player during the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney, Australia, last summer. If found guilty of sexual assault in the case, which upended Spanish women’s soccer and set off a debate about the legacy of sexism in the sport in Spain, Mr. Rubiales would face a prison sentence of one to four years. The judge also recommended that Mr. Rubiales and three officials with the Royal Spanish Football Federation, soccer’s governing body in the country — including Jorge Vilda, who was fired as the women’s team coach in the wake of the incident — be tried on charges of coercion for exerting pressure on the player, Jennifer Hermoso, to show support for Mr. Rubiales in the immediate aftermath of the kiss. The judge concluded that the kiss by Mr. Rubiales “was non-consensual and was a unilateral and surprise act.”

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jorge Vilda, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales “, ” Organizations: National, Royal Spanish Football Federation Locations: Sydney, Australia, Spain

☆ Jennifer Hermoso says that she has received threats after Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Patrick Sung | Wayne Sterling | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Spanish Women’s World Cup star Jennifer Hermoso revealed on Monday that she has “received threats” in the aftermath of the unwanted kiss she received from former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales. I’ve received threats and that’s something which you will never get used to.”Rubiales gave an unwanted kiss to Hermoso during the medal ceremony after Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph in August. Alexia Putellas, Hermoso and Irene Paredes celebrate winning the Women's World Cup. Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesIn her GQ interview, Hermoso didn’t go into detail as to what those threats had been, but added that: “These weeks have been very hard. She returned to the Spanish women’s team late last month and scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Italy.

Persons: Jennifer Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, ” Hermoso, “ I’ve, I’ve, ” Rubiales, Spain’s, Rubiales, Alexia Putellas, Hermoso, Irene Paredes, Catherine Ivill, Hermoso didn’t, I’m, she’s, that’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Spanish, Spanish Football Federation, GQ Spain, FIFA, La, Spanish women’s, Italy, Olympic Games, Spain’s National Locations: “, Mexico, Spain

CNN —Former Spain women’s soccer coach Jorge Vilda, Spanish national team director Albert Luque, and Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) marketing director Rubén Rivera have been summoned to testify as suspects as part of the case against RFEF’s former president Luis Rubiales, Spain’s National Court announced on Wednesday. “The judge of the National Court Francisco de Jorge has summoned former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda and men’s national team director, Albert Luque, and RFEF marketing director, Rubén Rivera, to testify as suspects in the case … on October 10,” the court said in a statement. Patricia Pérez, press manager of the women’s team and Miguel Garcia Caba, RFEF’s former director of integrity are set to testify on Thursday, according to the court. The naming of Vilda and the others as suspects comes as the Spain’s women’s national team looks to move on from the incident which marred its World Cup celebrations. However, despite being called up to the national team, many players had refused to participate until sweeping, structural changes were made by RFEF.

Persons: Jorge Vilda, Albert Luque, Rubén Rivera, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Luque, Rivera, Francisco de Jorge, “, ”, Patricia Pérez, Miguel Garcia Caba, Caba, RFEF, Linnea Rheborg, Rubiales, de Jorge Organizations: CNN, Spain women’s, Spanish, Royal Spanish Football Federation, National, men’s, ” CNN, Women’s Nations League Locations: Rubiales, Spain, Sweden, Vilda, Switzerland

☆ Spanish women’s players agree to end national team boycott after striking deal with federation and Spain government
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( George Ramsay | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Earlier this week, 20 players named to the national team squad reiterated their refusal to play in two upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures, including against Sweden on Friday. A Mixed Commission featuring representatives for the players, RFEF and CSD will also be created to implement further changes in the future. How we got hereWednesday’s announcement is the latest development in a long-running saga between the Spanish women’s team players, who won a first Women’s World Cup title last month, and RFEF. Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas runs with the ball against Japan at the Women's World Cup. Marty Melville/AFP/Getty ImagesOf the 15 players who signed the letters, only three were in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle.

Persons: Víctor Francos, Mapi León, Patricia Guijarro, ” Francos, ”, …, we’ve, ” Amanda Gutiérrez, FUTPRO, Montse Tomé, Jorge Vilda, Rafael del Amo, Tomé, del Amo, “, ” Tomé, León, it’s, “ We’ve, Guijarro, you’re, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Alexia Putellas, Marty Melville, Mariona, Aitana, Ona Batlle, RFEF Organizations: CNN, Spanish, soccer, Royal Spanish Football Federation, government’s, of Sport, UEFA Women’s Nations League, Sweden, Barcelona, women’s, RFEF, Guijarro, World, Spanish women’s, Japan, England, Federation Locations: Sweden, Switzerland, Spanish, Sydney, AFP, Australia, New Zealand, women’s soccer

☆ Outcry in Spain as artificial intelligence used to create fake naked images of underage girls
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Police in Spain have launched an investigation after images of young girls, altered with artificial intelligence to remove their clothing, were sent around a town in the south of the country. A group of mothers from Almendralejo, in the Extremadura region, reported that their daughters had received images of themselves in which they appeared to be naked. One of the mothers, Miriam Al Adib, used a video published on her verified Instagram account to raise awareness about the situation. On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the high court of justice in Extremadura told CNN that a police investigation is ongoing. According to the outlet, the images were made using an app which uses artificial intelligence to produce images of people without any clothes on.

Persons: Miriam Al Adib, Al Adib, ” Francisco Mendoza, ”, Pilar Porrón, Fátima Gomez, María Ramírez, María Guardiola, Guardiola, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso Organizations: CNN — Police, CNN, “ Locations: Spain, Almendralejo, Extremadura, Spanish, Madrid

“The federation has worked to be able to talk to the players,” she said. “The Royal Spanish Football Federation has no right to deprive Spain of the women’s national team, even more so after having won the World Cup. Alexia Putellas controls the ball against Japan during the Women's World Cup. Of the 15 players who signed the letters, only three were in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle. However, now that Vilda and Rubiales have left their positions, RFEF hopes to kick-start a new chapter in women’s soccer.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Montse Tomé’s, Jorge Vilda, RFEF, Athenea del Castillo, Misa Rodríguez, Olga Carmona, Teresa Abelleira –, Friday’s, Rodríguez, Tomé, ”, “ I’ve, We’ve, Montse Tomé, Rodrigo Jimenez, Hermoso –, –, Hermoso, Víctor Francos, Francos, “, Miquel Iceta, ” Iceta, Alexia Putellas, Marty Melville, Iker Casillas, ” AFE, Mariona, Aitana, Ona Batlle, Rubiales, Thomas Coex, Carla Vall Organizations: CNN, Spanish women’s, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Sweden, Athenea, UEFA Women’s Nations League, Cadena SER, Spanish, of Sport, country’s, Sport, Spain’s Law of Sport, ’, High, women’s, Japan, Getty, Women’s Nations, England, Federation, National Court Locations: Switzerland, Spain, Madrid, AFP, RFEF, Sweden, Spanish, Australia, New Zealand, women’s soccer

“We wish to end this statement expressing that the players of the Spanish women’s national team are professional players, and what most fills us with pride is putting on the shirt of the national team and always taking our country to the highest places. World players’ union FIFPRO posted on X in support of the players’ decision saying, “FIFPRO fully supports the Spain Women’s National Team in their united call for change. The identical letters said that “the situation” within the Spanish national team – about which RFEF was “aware” – had been affecting the players’ “emotional state” and health. Of the 15 players who signed the letters, only three were in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle. Despite their youth and relative inexperience, the Spanish players produced an impressive performance Down Under.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, RFEF, d’Or Féminin, Alexia Putellas, “, FIFPRO, Pau Gasol, –, Hermoso, Pedro Rocha, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tomé, Rocha, Víctor, Tomé, Thomas Coex, ” –, Mariona, Aitana, Ona Batlle, Amanda Perobelli, Spain’s Organizations: CNN, Women’s Nations League, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish women’s, “, Spain Women’s National Team, High Council of Sport, Sweden, Getty, Spanish, Reuters, Vilda Locations: Spanish, Spain, “, RFEF, Switzerland, Madrid, AFP, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden, women’s

MADRID (AP) — Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish soccer federation, denied any wrongdoing when questioned by a judge investigating his kissing a player on the lips last month at the Women’s World Cup, Spain's state prosecutors' office said Friday. He said she had consented to the kiss, but Hermoso has denied that repeatedly. Spanish state prosecutors formally accused Rubiales last week of sexual assault and an act of coercion. According to Hermoso, Rubiales pressured her to speak out in his defense immediately after the scandal erupted. The state prosecutors’ office said Rubiales denied both accusations when answering questions by the judge in an hour-long hearing that was closed to the public.

Persons: — Luis Rubiales, Judge Francisco de Jorge, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, Olga Tubau, Carla Vall i Duran, ” Vall, Duran, De Jorge, ___ Wilson, ___ Organizations: MADRID, Spain’s, Spain, England, National Court, Rubiales, FIFA Locations: Spanish, Spain, Sydney, Australia, Barcelona

CNN —Players competing in the top-tier of women’s football in Spain – Liga F – have called their strike off after reaching a minimum pay agreement, players’ union FUTPRO announced on Thursday. We cannot compare men’s football dimension with women’s football dimension,” Malabia told CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies. Spain won the Women's World Cup earlier this year. I believe the value of women’s football is so high,” he added. The 2023/24 Liga F season gets underway on Friday with Valencia hosting Real Madrid.

Persons: FUTPRO, ” FUTPRO, ”, Pedro Malabia Sanchis, ” Malabia, Amanda Davies, Catherine Ivill, Keka Vega, Malabia, Luis Rubiales, La Roja, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales Organizations: CNN — Players, Spain – Liga, –, Liga F, CNN, La Liga, Spanish Footballers ’ Association, Reuters, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Liga, Valencia, Real Madrid Locations: Spain, Jennifer Hermoso .

☆ Man arrested after allegedly touching Spanish journalist’s bottom live on air
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The man can be seen approaching her and then appearing to touch her bottom as she’s talking to presenter Nacho Abad in the studio. Balado tried to continue with her piece to camera, but Abad asked her if the man had just touched her bottom. “Do you really need to touch my bum?” she asked, before telling him that she’s live on television. “It’s very unpleasant, particularly when you are working,” she said, before the camera panned to show the man standing on the street with another man. “Only yes means yes.”The man was later arrested and Spain’s national police posted a video on X of him being led away in cuffs.

Persons: Isa Balado, Nacho Abad, Balado, Abad, “, ”, Yolanda Díaz, ” Díaz, Irene Montero, Madrid, Balado’s, Verónica, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso Organizations: CNN — Police, “, Balado, Madrid magistrate’s, CNN, High, Justice, Espana Locations: Spain, Madrid, Cuatro, “, Spanish

CNN —Luis Rubiales, the former head of Spain’s soccer federation (RFEF), has been summoned to testify before a Spanish court on Friday as part of an investigation into his unwanted kiss on Jennifer Hermoso at the Women’s World Cup final. This comes after Spain’s National Court admitted a complaint by Spanish prosecutors against Rubiales for “the crimes of sexual assault and coercion” on Monday. That process also includes requesting videos of the kiss from various news outlets, as well as footage of Spain’s Women’s World Cup medal ceremony and locker room celebrations, a court spokesman told CNN. “Well, there’s been more than Rubiales’ resignation, there’s also been other changes, we have a new coach,” Carmona said. “Rubiales’ resignation is still very recent, it only happened last night, and so we have to discuss as a group and see what happens.”

Persons: CNN — Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, ”, Luis Francisco de Jorge, LUIS MANUEL RUBIALES BÉJAR, Hermoso, Friday’s, Spain’s, –, Pedro Rocha, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tomé, Víctor Francos, Rocha, Olga Carmona, Vilda, “, there’s, ” Carmona Organizations: CNN, National Court, women’s, High Council of Sport, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Spain, Spanish, RFEF

☆ Olga Carmona: Spain star ‘angry’ that Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss tarnished Women’s World Cup victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Olga Carmona, the Spanish soccer star who scored the winning goal in the Women’s World Cup final, said it made her “angry” that Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on teammate Jennifer Hermoso overshadowed the team’s historic victory. “Yes, it does make me angry and I think that hopefully from now they’ll talk about how we are world champions.”Spain's players celebrate defeating England to win the Women's World Cup. Catherine Ivill/Getty ImagesWhen asked if she had spoken with Hermoso, Carmona confirmed she had not. TF-Images/DeFodi Images/Getty ImagesThe Spanish women’s national team is scheduled to play Sweden away on September 22 in the Women’s Nations League. The board for women’s soccer was meeting for the first time since being created earlier this year.

Persons: CNN — Olga Carmona, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Carmona, Hermoso, ” Carmona, “, ”, Catherine Ivill, Jorge Vilda, –, Montse Tomé, there’s, ” Luis Rubiales, Rubiales ’, d’Or Féminin, Alexia Putellas Organizations: CNN, England, Real Madrid, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish women’s, Sweden, Women’s Nations, UEFA, National Court Locations: Spanish, “

CNN —Spain’s National Court has admitted the complaint made against former soccer chief Luis Rubiales for “the crimes of sexual assault and coercion” by Spanish prosecutors, according to a court press release issued on Monday. The admittance of the prosecutor’s complaint – part of the Spanish legal process – allows the court to begin gathering evidence, which could lead to possible charges against Rubiales, who resigned from his position as president of country’s soccer federation (RFEF) on Sunday. Jenni Hermoso filed an official complaint with Spanish prosecutors last week, which has now been accepted by the National Court. The unwanted kiss on Hermoso sparked condemnation in Spain and led to widespread calls for Rubiales to resign from his role as RFEF president. Jorge Vilda was fired as head coach of the Spanish women's team in a series of "regeneration" changes being made by RFEF.

Persons: CNN —, Luis Rubiales, “, ”, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, El, Jenni Hermoso, ” Rubiales, Hermoso, –, Jorge Vilda, RFEF, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Pedro Rocha, Montse Tomé, Rocha, Víctor, Verónica Boquete, Vilda, ” Boquete Organizations: CNN, Diario AS, Vanguardia, Spanish, Hermoso, National Court, FIFA, Getty, High Council of Sport, Nations League, Sweden, Cadena COPE Locations: Spanish, ”, Spain, RFEF

☆ Luis Rubiales resigns as president of Spanish football federation following World Cup kiss scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Issy Ronald Homero De La Fuente Zoe Sottile Patrick Sung Laura Perez Maestro | Issy Ronald | Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Luis Rubiales on Sunday resigned from his position as president of the Spanish soccer federation following weeks of fierce criticism over his unwanted kiss with Women’s World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso. Among other things, because the powers that be will prevent my return.”The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed that Rubiales had presented his resignation as chief of the Spanish football association as well as vice president of UEFA. “The Royal Spanish Football Federation confirms that Luis M. Rubiales Béjar has presented his resignation tonight,” RFEF said in a statement. He was replaced by Montse Tomé, the first woman in Spanish national team history to hold the position. Public outcry to the unwanted kiss and Rubiales’ staunch defense of it has come from every sphere of Spanish society, including from politicians and sports stars.

Persons: CNN — Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Pedro Rocha, RFEF, ” Rubiales, “, ”, Rubiales, Luis M, Rubiales Béjar, ” RFEF, Pedro Rocha Junco, it’s, Hermoso, ’, Irene Montero, ” Yolanda Diaz, Spain’s, Jenni, Jorge Vilda, Vilda, Montse Tomé, Spain’s women’s, ” Hermoso, Rubiales “, Ángeles Organizations: CNN, UEFA, Spanish Football Federation, Spanish, Royal Spanish Football Federation, FIFA, Hermoso Locations: Spanish, “, Spain, ”, Rubiales, Motril, Grenada

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish state prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against Luis Rubiales for sexual assault and coercion for kissing a player on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final, the country’s prosecutors’ office said Friday. Prosecutors presented the suit to Spain’s National Court in Madrid two days after Hermoso formally accused Rubiales of sexual assault. According to a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of sexual assault. Prosecutors have asked the judge that Rubiales appear before a court to give preliminary testimony. If the National Court judge agrees the hear the case, it would lead to a formal court investigation that will end with a recommendation for the case to either be dismissed or go to trial.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Hermoso, ___ Organizations: Spain, England, Prosecutors, National Locations: BARCELONA, Spain, Spanish, Sydney, Australia, Madrid

☆ Jorge Vilda: Former Spain women’s coach calls his firing ‘unfair’ and ‘unexpected’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Homero De La Fuente | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Spain’s former women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda called his sacking “unfair” on Tuesday and addressed why he clapped at Luis Rubiales’ assembly as fallout from the beleaguered soccer chief’s unwanted World Cup kiss continues. Vilda added that, while he did not expect to fired from his post, he has spoken with Tomé. I think she deserves it, I think she has the capacity to do the job really well,” he said. “I don’t feel it alluded to me because I don’t feel like I’m a director – because I am not,” said Vilda. I am a coach, so when you are talking about leadership, I do not feel it alluded to me.

Persons: CNN —, Jorge Vilda, Luis Rubiales, Vilda, “, ” Vilda, Montse Tomé, Pedro Rocha, we’ve, …, ”, Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Hermoso, – Organizations: CNN, women’s, Spanish, Cadena SER, FIFA

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish soccer federation fired women’s national team coach Jorge Vilda on Tuesday, less than three weeks after his team won the Women’s World Cup title and amid the controversy involving suspended federation president Luis Rubiales. Fifteen players stepped away from the national team for their mental health, demanding a more professional environment. The players who left the team had signed a letter complaining about Vilda and the conditions for the national team. The women's team made it to only its third World Cup appearance in Australia and New Zealand. The president currently in charge of the Spanish soccer federation, Pedro Rocha, released a letter on Tuesday apologizing to the soccer world and to society in general for Rubiales’ behavior.

Persons: Jorge Vilda, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Vilda, Luis de la Fuente, ”, Spain’s, Rubiales ’, ” Vilda, Spain hadn’t, Roja, hadn't, Pedro Rocha, Rocha, — “, ” Rocha, ___ Organizations: MADRID, FIFA, eventual, women’s, — Locations: Spanish, Sydney, Madrid, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, United States

☆ Pressure Mounts on Spanish Soccer Chief Over Kiss at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The pressure is on for Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain’s national soccer federation, to quit. In an emergency meeting that went on late into Monday night, Spain’s regional soccer chiefs unanimously asked him to step down immediately. And in Madrid on Monday night, hundreds of people took to the streets, waving red cards and demanding Mr. Rubiales’s resignation. Mr. Rubiales, a former professional soccer player, had hoped to play a match with friends on Saturday evening at the town’s municipal stadium. Feminist groups threatened to protest outside the gates, and the town council ordered it canceled, saying it could not guarantee Mr. Rubiales’s safety.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Rubiales’s, “, ” Organizations: Prosecutors, Spain, National Sports Council Locations: Madrid, Motril

☆ What the Collapse of Spain’s Far Right Means Going Forward
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Jason Horowitz | More About Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Europe’s liberal and moderate establishment breathed easier on Monday after Spain’s nationalist Vox party faltered in Sunday’s elections, stalling for now a surge from far-right parties around the continent that seemed on the brink of washing over even the progressive bastion of Spain. But instead of Vox becoming the first hard-right party to enter government in Spain since the end of the Franco dictatorship nearly 50 years ago, as many polls had predicted, it sank. The party’s poor returns at the polls also took down the underperforming center-right conservatives who had depended on Vox’s support to form a government. As a result, no single party or coalition immediately gained enough parliamentary seats to govern, thrusting Spain into a familiar political muddle and giving new life to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who only days ago seemed moribund. Suddenly, Mr. Sánchez appeared best positioned to cobble together another progressive government in the coming weeks to avoid new elections.

Persons: “, ”, Giorgia Meloni, Vox, Pedro Sánchez, Sánchez Organizations: Vox, Repubblica Locations: Spain, Europe, Italy

☆ Far Right May Rise as Kingmaker in Spanish Election
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Jason Horowitz | More About Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If Spain’s national elections on Sunday turn out as most polls and analysts suggest, mainstream conservatives may come out on top but need allies on the political fringe to govern, ushering the first hard-right party into power since the Franco dictatorship. The potential ascent of that hard-right party, Vox, which has a deeply nationalist spirit imbued with Franco’s ghost, would bring Spain into the growing ranks of European nations where mainstream conservative parties have partnered with previously taboo forces out of electoral necessity. It is an important marker for a politically shifting continent, and a pregnant moment for a country that has long grappled with the legacy of its dictatorship. Even before Spaniards cast a single ballot, it has raised questions of where the country’s political heart actually lies — whether its painful past and transition to democracy only four decades ago have rendered Spain a mostly moderate, inclusive and centrist country, or whether it could veer toward extremes once again.

Persons: Franco Organizations: Vox Locations: Spain

☆ Spain’s far-right Vox party is targeting women’s rights. It may end up kingmaker in Sunday’s election
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Teaming up with Vox, which is projected to receive 36 seats, would give a right-wing coalition a slim working majority. Meanwhile, more than 1,200 Spanish women have been killed by current or former partners since 2003, according to data from the equality ministry. “As progress has been faster, the opposition to gender equality policies has also been more intense and animated,” she said. If the party were to come into government it could severely impact the lives of Spanish women, said Nuño. In local administrations where it has gained influence, Vox has been able to end equality initiatives and censure cultural events, she said.

Persons: CNN —, Spain’s, Pedro Sanchez, Paul Hanna, Vox, Francisco Franco, Paloma Román Marugan, Xuan Cueto, Santiago Abascal, ”, “, ” Vox, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Oscar del Pozo, Laura Nuño Gómez, King, King Juan Carlos, Franco, “ Vox, Jon Nazca, Clara Campoamor Organizations: CNN, Vox, Reuters, Popular Party, Spanish, Bloomberg, Getty, Socialist, PSOE, PP, Deputies, Complutense University of Madrid, Europa Press, Guardia Civil, King Juan, King Juan Carlos University, European Economic, European Union Locations: Europe, Spain, Madrid, Catalonia, Gijon, AFP, Ronda

CNN —Italian authorities have issued an “extreme” health risk for 15 cities including Rome and Florence this weekend as a heatwave that is baking Europe threatens to bring record temperatures. The ESA warned that Europe’s heatwave has only just begun with Spain, France, Germany and Poland also expected to see extreme weather, just as the continent welcomes an influx of tourists. In the south, temperatures in the cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada have reached 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, even the normally mild region of Navarra in the north is seeing up to 40 degrees Celsius. Heat is one of the deadliest natural hazards – more than 61,000 people died in Europe’s searing summer heat wave last year.

Persons: ”, Remo Casilli, Guglielmo Mangiapne, it’s, – Organizations: CNN, European Space Agency, ESA, Roman, Piazza del Popolo, Reuters, Local, Italian Meteorological Society Locations: Rome, Florence, Europe, Sicily, Sardinia, “, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Piazza, Reuters Greece, Athens, Italy, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Mallorca, Navarra

☆ Spain to launch app to find out if men shun household chores
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Spain’s equality ministry says it will launch an app designed to monitor the sharing of chores between members of a household, as part of a drive to improve gender equality. “What surveys tell us is that women spend a lot more time on household chores than men do,” said Rodríguez, who added that the app will allow each member of the household to input the time they spend on chores. According to a survey from Spain’s national statistics institute, published in December, 45.9% of female respondents said they carried out the majority of household chores, compared to just 14.9% of men. Rodríguez emphasized that all sorts of different tasks should be considered household chores. “All of those who are offended by the household chores app are really offended by the possibility that they will have to start doing their bit at home,” she wrote.

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