Spanish parties poised for battle

MADRID Spain's official gazette yesterday published decree dissolving parliament, giving the embattled Socialist eight weeks …

MADRID Spain's official gazette yesterday published decree dissolving parliament, giving the embattled Socialist eight weeks to reverse poll showing them trailing the right wing opposition in the run up to March elections.

Originally, the election was scheduled for 1997, but the, Prime Minister Mr Felipe Gonzalez, brought it forward after a wave of scandals rocked his administration.