Spain

Catalan Independence
In the wake of the December 2015 general election, pro-independence Catalan parties used political stalemate and instability to push their cause.

Parliament
Since 1977, Spain enjoyed stable parliamentary majorities at the national level, with the center-right People's Party and the center-left Socialist Party alternating in power. However, the 2000's saw economic troubles and corruption that encouraged a high voter turnout to shake up the political system and allow multiple newcomer parties to make big gains in the mid-2010's in order to work together to reach consensus. This splintered political landscape complicated efforts to form a government.

On December 20, 2015, Spaniards voted in the parliamentary election in which new parties loosened the grip of the once-dominant conservatives and Socialists, raising the possibility of a new era of consensus politics or a period of instability. The People's Party won the general election, although it had to rely on other parties to govern for another four-year term; however, the party had its worst result ever in a general election as Spaniards angered by high-level corruption cases and soaring unemployment turned away from the party in droves. The two biggest left-wing blocs - the opposition Socialists and newcomer Podemos - already signaled they would not back a PP-led government. The close result magnified the importance of small separatist parties from Catalonia, which could try to extract concessions, such as the promise of an independence referendum as the price for their support.

Economy
In the first part of 2015, the government passed the 2016 budget and low interest rates. Cheap oil continued to boost economic growth, but soothing any market concern over political instability would be difficult after the Dec. 20, 2015 election.

Culture
Miss Spain was crowned Miss World on December 19, 2015. Mireia Lalaguna Royo took the top prize in the 65th edition of the pageant held in China, with the other 5 finalists being from Russia, Lebanon, Indonesia, and Jamaica. Royo took over the crown from the 2014 winner Rolene Strauss of South Africa.