Catalan Socialists MEP intends to run again in European election

The leader of the Catalan Socialists in the European Parliament, Javi López, has announced he will take part in the internal vote to get a place in the Spanish Socialists' ticket for the European election next May.

He became MEP after the 2014 vote and is currently member of the employment and social affairs committee.

López explained his decision during a press conference on Friday, saying his party contributed in helping the EU to move on from its "darkest" period, referring to the austerity era.

He also said that the EU needs to continue its economic growth, but also needs to focus on the public services and the "certainties" of the future.

Socialists respond liberals, who praised Andalusia agreement with far right

This, on the same day that a fellow MEP in the Spanish Socialist party, Iratxe García, responded in Barcelona to the liberals (ALDE) leader in the European chamber, Verhofstadt, over the Andalusia agreement involving the far-right Vox  and also Ciutadans, member of ALDE.

Verhofstadt had said he was happy for Ciutadans to be part of the region's new executive, and said: "it is great news for Andalusia and Spain."

García, in turn, responded claiming he is "whitewashing an agreement with a party which wants to deport people."

In a press breakfast organized by the European Parliament office in Barcelona, she said that Verhofstadt's stance is due to the fact that Ciutadans "might become one of the most important delegations" of ALDE after the next election.