Leaders: Mariano Rajoy (PM) · Luis de Guindos (Economy, then ECB VP from May 2018) · Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría (Vice-PM coordinating Catalonia response)
Second Rajoy government formed after 315-day political deadlock (two inconclusive elections Dec 2015 + Jun 2016) via PSOE abstention ('No es no' — Pedro Sánchez resigned PSOE secretariat rather than abstain; ultimately PSOE gestora allowed investiture). Economic school: centre-right stewardship with continued fiscal discipline; the political dominant is the Catalan sovereignty crisis. Signature actions: Catalan 1-O referendum (Oct 1 2017) declared unconstitutional; Art. 155 of the Constitution invoked (first ever, Oct 27 2017) imposing direct rule, dismissing Generalitat, calling 21-D regional elections; prosecution of pro-independence leaders (Supreme Court 'Proceso'); minimum-wage rise 8% 2017, 4% 2018 (with Ciudadanos bargain); 2018 budget expansionary relative to prior path. No-confidence motion by Pedro Sánchez succeeded Jun 1 2018 (180-169) triggered by PP Gürtel-corruption-case conviction. Left-right: centre-right. Popularity: PP 33.0% / 137 seats Jun 2016 (2.5% higher than Dec 2015 election), fell through 2017-2018 under Catalan and corruption pressure. Coherence: low — minority arithmetic, crisis-dominated agenda, ended by legal rather than electoral removal.
Policy-content fingerprint — how the framework codes this movement on its axes
Size of cash and near-cash transfer programmes (unemployment benefits, means-tested assistance, universal child benefits). Architecturally distinct from forced-saving schemes — see condition welfare_architecture.
increased · weak
larger transfer footprint
SMI minimum-wage rises 8% then 4%; modest 2018 budget relaxation.