Spanish budget plans rejected

SPAIN’S lower house has rejected the ruling socialist government’s 2019 spending proposal, paving the way for the possible calling of early elections by prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

Catalan separatist politicians joined Spain’s centre-right and conservative opposition parties in voting against the plan. The Catalan parties refused to back the plan unless the government opened the door to talks on the region’s self-determination issue. The government has said the country’s constitution does not allow that.