Saudi Arabia: Spain rejects arms embargo requested by Catalan parties

The Spanish parliament has rejected imposing an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia, as requested by Catalan pro-independence parties and left-wing Podemos.

The proposal was rejected with the votes of the ruling Socialist party, headed by Spanish president Pedro Sánchez, as well as those of People’s Party (PP), the main opposition group.

Catalonia’s PDeCAT and Esquerra Republicana (ERC) demanded Spain "suspend current contracts with Saudi Arabia" and reject future deals, while Podemos wanted the government to find an alternative client and provide funds to compensate for the lost deal.

The Spanish government faces harsh criticism from some of its political allies for not taking retaliatory measures against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the spotlight over the death of the dissident journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.