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| Spain leftist leaders inch towards possible government deal | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The leader of Spain's Socialists (PSOE) has cautiously backed the idea of forming a "progressive" leftist government if acting PM Mariano Rajoy cannot get enough votes in parliament. | |
| The PSOE's Pedro Sanchez was commenting on a proposal from Pablo Iglesias, leader of left-wing Podemos (We Can). | |
| But Prime Minister Rajoy - the centre-right winner of the December election - should first try to win a confidence vote in parliament, Mr Sanchez said. | |
| The election result was inconclusive. | |
| Mr Rajoy's Popular Party (PP) won, but without a clear majority. Both the PSOE and Podemos (second and third in the election, respectively) have ruled out forming a coalition government with the PP. | |
| Mr Sanchez said reaching an agreement on policies must be the first step: "The logical thing is to discuss policies, and then to discuss a possible government formation. | |
| "Podemos and PSOE voters would not understand it if Pablo Iglesias and myself did not agree." | |
| A future government must win a confidence vote in parliament in order to take office. If, two months later, there is still no parliamentary approval, the country will have to hold a fresh election. | |
| King steps in | |
| King Felipe spent Friday meeting Spain's main political leaders separately. He was acting as a facilitator but no early breakthrough was expected in the negotiations to form a coalition government. | |
| It is the first time in 40 years that the king has had such an influential role after an election. For decades the PP and PSOE alternated in power, with secure majorities. | |
| The former king, Juan Carlos, oversaw Spain's democratic transition after the death of nationalist dictator Gen Francisco Franco in 1975. | |
| Mr Iglesias said he had told the king of "our desire to form a government of change with the Socialists and the United Left [IU]", and that he would seek the post of deputy prime minister. | Mr Iglesias said he had told the king of "our desire to form a government of change with the Socialists and the United Left [IU]", and that he would seek the post of deputy prime minister. |
| Podemos politicians should also get the social policy, economy, defence and interior ministry posts, he said. | |
| The PSOE says it will only consider a leftist coalition with Podemos if the latter drops its support for an independence referendum in Catalonia. | |
| Between them, the PSOE, Podemos and the United Left would still fall short of an overall majority, having won a combined 161 seats in the 350-seat Congress. | |
| Spain country profile | Spain country profile |
| Uncertain future for Spain after election | Uncertain future for Spain after election |
| Mr Iglesias says his priority is "social emergency" legislation to help families threatened with eviction and other socially vulnerable groups, such as poor pensioners. | Mr Iglesias says his priority is "social emergency" legislation to help families threatened with eviction and other socially vulnerable groups, such as poor pensioners. |
| Many Catalans want a referendum on independence but Podemos is the only one of Spain's major parties to back the idea. | Many Catalans want a referendum on independence but Podemos is the only one of Spain's major parties to back the idea. |
| There is speculation now that Podemos might give way to the PSOE on that issue, in order to reach a coalition government deal. |