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Article: Not plain in Spain. (re-election of Felipe Gonzalez) (Editorial)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- June 12, 1993
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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PLENTY of embattled politicians across Western Europe greeted Felipe Gonzalez's fourth electoral victory (see page 45) with relief. Here was a country where, despite a nasty economic downturn, voters were not inflicting ritual humiliation on their leaders. It is worth comparing Spain with Italy to see how Spain is keeping its head, when neighbors are losing theirs. But it is also worth considering why relief may be short-lived. In April 1992 another incumbent, Britain's John Major, also scraped home surprisingly; 14 months later, he is not exactly a model of clear government or pro-European vigor.
Italians have also been voting (in local elections), with strikingly ...