Spain's political stalemate starts taking economic toll

This year was supposed to be a good one for Spanish builders but the lack of a government three months after an inconclusive general election has put the brakes on economic activity. "Everything that has to do with construction in this country is blocked," said Carlos Luaces, director general of Spain's association of sand and gravel producers, Anefa. Spain has been locked in a political stalemate since a general election on December 20 resulted in a parliament divided among the country's four m