Who needs a government? After 300 days without one in Spain, few people notice

In this Tuesday, May 3, 2016 file photo, a worker pushes a trolley past the Spanish Parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Spain is about to pass 300 days without a government. But guess what? Few people seem very bothered by that as the economy roars ahead. In Spanish cities there are packed terrace cafes and restaurants, thriving fashion shops and art galleries. The overall impression is of a bustling and vibrant country pressing forward. (AP Photo/Paul White, File) (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribu)

MADRID (AP) – Spain is about to pass 300 days without a government. But guess what? Few Spaniards seem bothered by that as the country's economy roars ahead.

Spanish cities are boasting of packed cafes and restaurants, thriving fashion shops and art galleries, plenty of tourists. The overall impression is of a bustling, vibrant country.

So who needs a government?

"I'm not especially worried about it," said retiree Goyito de Camacho. "I see it on the TV and in the papers but (politicians) are all the same. They're all scum who don't care about the people."

Two inconclusive elections on Dec. 20 and June 26 have left the conservative Popular Party running a caretaker government for the past nine months — Saturday will be its 300th day. The party won both elections but lacked a majority and now has until Oct. 31 to muster support to form a minority government or Spain will face a third election.

There's no sense of panic, however. A CIS survey this month showed Spaniards' chief worry — by far — is the country's 20 percent unemployment rate. After that, those questioned expressed concern about corruption and disappointment with politicians and political parties. The absence of a government came in fifth.

"Politics in Spain is chaotic, the parties are only interested in themselves" said 52-year-old computer technician Jose Luis Alfonso. "They say it's not affecting the economy, although I imagine it is. Maybe we'd be better off without a government."

But economics professor Jose Ramon Pin of the IESE Business School and other experts warn that the impression that Spain is doing just as well without a government is deceptive.

"It's true that a country can maintain itself without a government. The problem is if it goes on for too long," said Pin.

Spain's case is by no means unique. Belgium set a European record with a massive 541 days needed to form a government following a 2010 election.

As it stands, Rajoy has the support of 170 lawmakers in the 350-seat national parliament — 137 of them from his own party — but he needs other parties' votes, or abstentions, in a confidence vote if he wants to form a minority government.

But Spain has never had a coalition government and its political parties seem incapable of making deals. Speculation, however, is rife that the leading opposition Socialist party, whose leader has quit amid the stalemate, may abstain if a vote is held this month.

Meanwhile, Spain is one of the European Union's fastest-growing economies. The International Monetary Fund says Spain will grow 3.1 percent this year, just as strongly as when it had a fully functioning government last year.

There are clouds on the horizon, however.

Spain's central bank is warning that the political deadlock could have negative economic effects as key reforms to ensure long-term growth aren't being introduced.

Pin, the economics professor, notes that a key reason for continuing growth is that Spain's 2016 budget was passed before the political paralysis set in.

"The problem will be in 2017, because there's no budget yet and public investments, fiscal policy or money distribution won't be known till then," he said. "This produces uncertainty."

He said "the main issue is investor confidence, national and foreign," predicting that, once a new government is formed, there should be a surge in investment.

Another potential problem is the EU's threat to impose sanctions on Spain if it doesn't curb its bloated budget deficit.

Spain's central bank says the deficit for this year and next will be 4.9 percent and 3.6 percent of annual GDP, respectively — well above the 3 percent level permitted by the EU. Any sanctions could eat into economic growth and investor confidence.

Pablo Simon, a political science professor at Madrid's Carlos III University, believes Spain is in an economic bubble and has failed to make the necessary reforms to consolidate growth.

"There been absolutely no legislation passed," he said. "We have lost precious time and we don't realize it because it looks like the economy is going well. But we are going to notice it in one or two years."

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