Spain gov’t parties vie for feminist flag before Women’s Day

By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spain’s government has presented a plan to mandate gender quotas in elected government bodies and companies’ executive boards on the eve of International Women’s Day. But the annual women’s march comes amid a political spat inside Spain’s ruling coalition over which of the two left-wing parties best represents the feminist cause in an election year. The divisive issue is what to do with a new sexual violence law that has inadvertently led to the reduction of sentences of over 700 offenders since last October. The partners are prepared to vote differently over a proposed reform to the law later on Tuesday.