Is the Spanish Government on the verge of collapse?

Given that Rajoy and other leading members of the Partido Popular are now accused of accepting 'backhanders' and of allowing their party to be funded illegally, and the protests that are now taking place, including half a million signatures in one day demanding Rajoy's resignation, in addition to international outrage, is the Spanish Government on the verge of collapse? 

no

but i would like it to

martial law would be awesome

i live close to loads of expensive shops so all the looting will be legen --wait for it--- derrry

You wouldn't really like martial law, Mungry.  A free thinker like you would be the first for the chopping block.

The only problem with the Government collapsing is that the opposition is probably just as bent and if they get into power, we'll hear more about all their backhanders as well.

From a different perspective perhaps this is the time to recognise that corruption does not pay in the longer term and works against the interests of all but a few.

Surely now would prove an ideal opportunity for the European parliament and Commission to ensure that the concerns of the public are listened to across Europe and that they re-prioritorise the need for major reform, accountability and greater consumer protection/rights in order to restore calm. Not easy, but until they demonstrate a willingness to listen and respond to many genuine concerns then tensions will only grow.

From El Pais today:

Spain has hit the international headlines today:  the Financial Times has written an editorial 'Rajoy in crisis,' asking for a full and independent investigation into the  Bárcenas scandal.  The FT reckons that Rajoy is now facing the battle of his life and at a time when the country is in a desperate state anyway.  The FT comments that the scandal has hit at the exact moment when nearly all the institutions of Spain, from the monarchy to the judiciary show signs of 'putrefaccion' (being rotten to the core).

It points out that only three weeks ago Rajoy was trying to make demands on Angela Merkel regarding stimulating the economy, but he'll have other things on his mind now.  Rajoy won't like a conservative newspaper going on the offensive against the PP, El Pais points out.  In November the FT even said that Rajoy was a provincial politician, ill-suited to accepting reality and not capable of resolving a complex and international crisis.

The New York Times, the Washington Post, Die Welt and the Suddeutsche Zeitung in Germany have also been covering the story, believing that the Barcenas scandal has done serious damage to Spain's international reputation.

So, is this going to bring the Government down?  Or is he going to be able to weather this storm, with no credible alternative able to handle the crisis engulfing Spain?

 Without a doubt it has done serious damage to the Governments image and Spain internationally. This is a very very tricky situation. On one hand we need a government to get the Country out of this mess and on the other hand all political parties in Spain have been corrupt at some point in their history and may even still be, although I think they are starting to wake up. When everything went well in Spain it didn't seem to bother anyone, the people just took it in their stride. In business within certain sectors you even had to budget for it, it was part of life. But while most people got what they wanted and made a profit no one complained. Where does that leave us now? Well the same people are in Government and in the opposition, so niether of them are ideal and there is no other party that could even come close to managing the Country. From that point of view the Govenment has already collapsed. I don't think that their is anyone in the government that comes to mind as being an "untouchable" on either side. The problem is it doesn't matter, if Rajoy is guilty or innocent, he is finished in the eyes of the Spanish people. Half of the people that voted for him in the previous elections have now turned on him, so no need to say what the rest think. If he was to go to the ballot box today the surveys say he would only get 22% of the votes. There are now 890,000 signatures demanding his resignation along with the rest of his cabinet. So how on earth do you get out of this mess? Bill Clinton had it easier when he cheated on his wife! The problem here is that even if he is found innocent they will still think he is guilty as the general belief is that all of the country's institutions are rotten to the core. This was the worst news at the worst time. Spain didn't need it, but it will have to be dealt with. The solution is so colossal I don't know if Spain is prepared for it. The country would need a serious antibiotic to eliminate all infections thoughout all the Country, or maybe even a new political party. Where do you start to clean up this mess. We have seen it so many times over the past few years and all cases have turned out to be true or have been covered up or escape goats were found. If Mariano Rajoy resigns who will take his place? And if elections were called again who on earth would you vote for? Is it on the verge of collapse?YES but I would also ask the question, what does Spain have to do to get a Government?

Yes, Ian.  I was watching Euronews last night and an expert from Madrid was saying that this is now the biggest crisis faced since Spain became a democracy.  It's almost like the point at which another country might undergo revolution, but there's no appetite for bloodshed fortunately and hopefully no army general waiting in the wings these days.  I think they need serious outside help, e.g. appointing a top statesman from another country to try and steer them through this mess.  I've got an idea:  Tony Blair! (and I'm not joking, as I've always had great respect for him although I know everyone seems to love to hate him) or someone from another European  country or even the USA.  They can't sort it out themselves and someone from elsewhere wouldn't be tainted by the corruption that seems to have touched everyone in the country.

Jeepers eggcup you have respect for blair!  you want him to help sort out Spain's mess?  if he went to Spain he would gather their military together and attack us here in the UK for no good reason, why? i don't know, and neither does he.  Attack and recapture the Falklands just because the so-called last owners spoke a bit of Spanish.  March into Gibraltar and give that back, then leave quietly convinced none of this was off his doing, it was Franco's then go and buy some more houses somewhere, leaving Spain in a bigger mess then before whilst getting another award for opening their borders to all and sundry from every hell hole on earth.

Now eggcup their is a known cure for these feelings, a stiff drink, an early night and a whack on the head with a hammer and not necessarily in that order.

But if you happen to be a 25 year old Blond Swedish nymphomaniac  then ignore the above because i can help you out with these feelings,  here's my phone number.

Dearie me eggcup!!!! I usually agree with and enjoy your posts but Blair ??????? The man is  up to his neck in sleazy dealings and dodgy dossiers . He is a self serving, dishonest, patholigical liar who did much damage to the UK and destoyed the lives of many families at home and abroad. He is certainly not the straight kiinda guy he would like us to be deluded about and should be serving a long term in jail. It troubles me enormously that he seems to be popping up here and there lately pontificating on this and that, nooooooo.........I don't love to hate him, it gives me no pleasure but there is no other way I can feel about him.

I think they need serious outside help, e.g. appointing a top statesman from another country to try and steer them through this mess.

They already have one.  She's called Angela Merkel.  Mr Rajoy is nothing but a puppet these days and will no doubt be replaced by Brussels/Berlin in the near future.

I can see that eggcup is not a blinkerd tory as some others are  on here

Well haydngi.

Considering only three so far have answered this post, and two were meant to be more on the funny side then straight answers i have to wonder how you come to the assumption that i for one for am a blinkered tory.

Blinkered? I don't think so.

Back to the main point:  can the Spanish sort this out themselves?  I don't think so.  What is the alternative?   Maybe Mandy?

Whoa back their....Mandy!!!    your getting worse....sorry but you have gone past the point of no return now....you really have to get professional help over this thing you have for criminals.

Ah, how easy it is to criticise others' ideas without coming up with any alternatives.  I try not to do that myself.  Come on.  Get your thinking caps on - who should or could lead Spain out of this phenomenal mess, whatever nationality?  I want names. 

Well it's certainly not the Prince of Darkness!! The very thought of that slime ball makes me need to lie down in a darkened room, eggcup I am in shock! I can't name anyone with the ability, strength and integrity (thats all three atributes in one person) for such a job, they may be out there somewhere but they must hide their light under a bushel.The situation is a mess.  I  think that to bring a foreigner in could lead to resentment and something the Spanish people would find it difficult to accept regardless of the cirumstances.

Eggcup.

Who's criticising your ideas? you haven't come up with any ideas or alternatives yet who are capable of running other countries, the names you have come up with so far are nothing short of legal criminals, and honestly i am sorry if you don't agree with that statement, if so then you don't know much about the people and their past records that you proposed. 

Surely you don't think blair did a good job of running this country, do you? and  before you answer that one think about the many thousands of decent English folk who are in trouble right now, today, thanks to the aftermath and fallout of blair and Co's policies from even way back then.

And before it gets mentioned, yes cameron and his sidekick twonk are not that much better, albeit in a kind of different way, and everyone has to admit, even if they don't agree on politics and politicians cameron came into this with the worst mess this country has ever been in since the last war to clear up.

I thought you were going for a laugh when you posted your comments, obviously not , and it's me who's wrong on that one, yet to suggest blair as a possible leader of other countries when we can still remember what he did to this country is nothing short of a joke, i can still remember him sitting on the sofa with Des O'Connor doing the interview and blair telling the country  "I am a pretty honest type of guy really" why would anyone have to confirm or make a statement like that about himself on a TV show, well he certainly showed us in many ways he wasn't after that comment.

You say how about mandy, yet again another known legal criminal who thinks only of what he can get away with, like fiddling the stamp duty on a house sale and not by a few quid either, like somehow forgetting he borrowed money for another house and not by a few quid either,  like getting a very much lied about "Very quick"  through the back gate visa and passport for  foreign  boyfriend (back gate being the clue here), like being probably the only person who kept getting kicked out of parliament for having his fingers in the till and not by a few quid either, and yet still getting a job back.  These are just a few juicy items that have gone on and no doubt thousands more what the pair did have gone on undetected.

And yes once again cameron and co could be the same as...but somehow i don't think the country will hate them as much as blair and co.

You haven't mentioned brown as a good leader of other countries yet, is it to come?

As I said, it's easy to criticise other people's suggestions, but not so easy to come up with something positive and constructive oneself.  I repeat: who are the others who are capable of getting Spain out of this mess, no matter what their nationality?  Actual names, rather than waiting for me to suggest names and then shooting them down.  That's just too easy. 

Eggcup.

Their isn't to many names/people, the whole world is in a muddle right now, if you did ever to manage to bring in someone with a very good track record our stupid lawyers, judges and criminal human rights laws would shove a bulldozer right through them.

Look at the recent thing about bringing in an American top cop to run our police departments...least i think that's what he was...everyone up in arms, yet if this cop did a decent job in America of all places, and we all know the state of our policing here,  why not, see what i mean.

The leaders of Chinese industry are doing good, if you want to end up being a robot on two quid a month wages and living and sleeping in the same factory you work in, and don't forget those conditions don't apply to the boss's.

In short their are no leaders, simply down to the fact that every country wouldn't want someone from another country telling them what to do and how best to do it. The middle East is a good proving ground for that one.