Left-wing mayors surge into office in Spanish cities

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(MarketWatch) MADRID — The retired judge who will be sworn in as mayor here Saturday after 24 years of conservative rule says she will create a government office to serve as an intermediary between banks and thousands of delinquent mortgage-holders in danger of being evicted.

In Barcelona, the social activist elected mayor says she will clamp down on the overdevelopment of tourism, while allowing some government decisions to be determined by online referendums. In A Coruña, home to three of the 10 richest Spaniards, the former law professor taking charge at city hall vows to implement “99 measures for the 99% of the citizenry,” including a reduction of his own salary as mayor.

A new wave of leftist leaders is taking power in city halls across Spain on Saturday, replacing career politicians sullied by economic crises and corruption scandals. Generally political neophytes, they were chosen by alliances among left-leaning parties and citizen movements that finished strongly in May 24 municipal and regional elections.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party lost absolute majorities in 127 of the 154 largest cities it won in elections in 2011. In coalition bargaining that could stretch into the summer, the party also stands to lose control in several of the nine Spanish regions where it ran as the incumbent. .................(more)

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