Both left and right-wing factions have been urging the people of Spain not to vote the forthcoming government referendum on political reform. For the leftists, the reforms aren't hardhitting enough and for the rightists they're far too lenient. Meanwhile, in Madrid on Wednesday (8 December) the Spanish Socialist Party market its anniversary.

SYNOPSIS: Several hundred Socialist gathered at the civil cemetery in the capital for the anniversary of the death of the party's fonder Pablo Iglesias. Iglesias played a major part in the development of democratic socialism and trade unionism in Spain until his death in 1925.

A Popular Socialists Party member addressed the people. The anniversary coincided with the end of the party's first congress since the Spanish civil war. The party has threatened to boycott next year's general elections unless the government agreed to its conditions for the restoration of democracy. The four-day congress decided to abstain in the referendum constitutional reforms next week and upheld the party's demand for the legalisation of all parties, including the banned Communist party. The Socialists at the cemetery raised their fists in a minute's silence in memory of their founder and his ideals.

In Madrid the previous da, leftists distributed leaflets urging the people not to vote in the referendum. Several of them were believed to be members of the Communists Part which has the strong support of the Socialists. The opposition parties, including the Socialists, want to negotiate with the government on free election. They have completed a list of negotiators, including exiled Communists Party Secretary-General Santiago Carr???llo. But if the government agreed to see the negotiators it would mean tacit recognition by the government of the Communists Party.