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| Spanish elections: Mariano Rajoy struggles to build coalition | Spanish elections: Mariano Rajoy struggles to build coalition |
| (2 months later) | |
| Spain’s conservative leader is struggling to build a new “grand coalition” government after defeated rivals in Sunday’s vote refused to work with him. | Spain’s conservative leader is struggling to build a new “grand coalition” government after defeated rivals in Sunday’s vote refused to work with him. |
| Spain, which has been without a government since 20 December, remains deeply fragmented after the country’s second inconclusive election in six months, in which Mariano Rajoy’s conservative People’s party (PP) increased its seat count but fell well short of the 176 needed to secure a majority in the 350-seat congress of deputies. | Spain, which has been without a government since 20 December, remains deeply fragmented after the country’s second inconclusive election in six months, in which Mariano Rajoy’s conservative People’s party (PP) increased its seat count but fell well short of the 176 needed to secure a majority in the 350-seat congress of deputies. |
| Rajoy said he hoped to put together a coalition as soon as possible, ideally involving his party’s traditional adversaries, the socialist PSOE, led by Pedro Sánchez. | Rajoy said he hoped to put together a coalition as soon as possible, ideally involving his party’s traditional adversaries, the socialist PSOE, led by Pedro Sánchez. |
| But within hours, both Pedro Sánchez and Albert Rivera, leader of the centrist Ciudadanos party, had declined the offer. | But within hours, both Pedro Sánchez and Albert Rivera, leader of the centrist Ciudadanos party, had declined the offer. |
| A spokesman for the socialists said the party would not support Rajoy’s re-election “by action or omission”, adding that the PSOE regarded the votes it had won as a mandate to fight the PP’s “unfair, ineffective and antisocial policies”. | A spokesman for the socialists said the party would not support Rajoy’s re-election “by action or omission”, adding that the PSOE regarded the votes it had won as a mandate to fight the PP’s “unfair, ineffective and antisocial policies”. |
| The PSOE also said it would not smooth Rajoy’s path to re-election by abstaining from voting if he sought approval from parliament next month. A spokesman said it was up to the PP to make the first move to form a government, rather than trying to pressure the PSOE. | The PSOE also said it would not smooth Rajoy’s path to re-election by abstaining from voting if he sought approval from parliament next month. A spokesman said it was up to the PP to make the first move to form a government, rather than trying to pressure the PSOE. |
| Sánchez has repeatedly ruled out a deal with the PP as long as Rajoy is in charge, and on Sunday night he criticised the party’s austerity measures | Sánchez has repeatedly ruled out a deal with the PP as long as Rajoy is in charge, and on Sunday night he criticised the party’s austerity measures |
| Rivera also turned down the proposal, but said he could reconsider if Rajoy steps aside – something the acting prime minister has ruled out. | Rivera also turned down the proposal, but said he could reconsider if Rajoy steps aside – something the acting prime minister has ruled out. |
| Antonio Barroso, an analyst at the political risk advisory firm Teneo Intelligence, said a PP-led minority government remained the most likely outcome of the Sunday’s election. | Antonio Barroso, an analyst at the political risk advisory firm Teneo Intelligence, said a PP-led minority government remained the most likely outcome of the Sunday’s election. |
| “If the stalemate materialises again, the PP will be the only alternative to a third round of elections,” he said. “This should in principle allow the other parties to justify their abstention in an investiture vote to facilitate a PP-led administration.” | “If the stalemate materialises again, the PP will be the only alternative to a third round of elections,” he said. “This should in principle allow the other parties to justify their abstention in an investiture vote to facilitate a PP-led administration.” |
| The PSOE came second in Sunday’s election with 85 seats, the leftwing coalition Unidos Podemos third with 71 seats, and Ciudadanos fourth with 32. | The PSOE came second in Sunday’s election with 85 seats, the leftwing coalition Unidos Podemos third with 71 seats, and Ciudadanos fourth with 32. |
| The biggest upset of the night was Unidos Podemos’s failure to pull off the much-anticipated coup of taking second place and overthrowing the PSOE as Spain’s dominant leftwing force. | The biggest upset of the night was Unidos Podemos’s failure to pull off the much-anticipated coup of taking second place and overthrowing the PSOE as Spain’s dominant leftwing force. |
| In the run-up to the vote, the party seemed to have capitalised on growing disenchantment with the traditional political behemoths. Spain is emerging slowly from its economic crisis but still struggles with an unemployment rate of 21% and youth unemployment of 45%. Podemos’s position had also been strengthened by corruption scandals that have tarnished the PP in recent years. | In the run-up to the vote, the party seemed to have capitalised on growing disenchantment with the traditional political behemoths. Spain is emerging slowly from its economic crisis but still struggles with an unemployment rate of 21% and youth unemployment of 45%. Podemos’s position had also been strengthened by corruption scandals that have tarnished the PP in recent years. |
| But despite the initial confidence provoked by two exit polls putting it comfortably in second place, Unidos Podemos came nowhere near the predicted sorpasso, or overtaking, of the PSOE. The recent decision to run on a joint ticket with United Left (IU), the leftwing coalition that includes the Communist party of Spain, failed to deliver. | But despite the initial confidence provoked by two exit polls putting it comfortably in second place, Unidos Podemos came nowhere near the predicted sorpasso, or overtaking, of the PSOE. The recent decision to run on a joint ticket with United Left (IU), the leftwing coalition that includes the Communist party of Spain, failed to deliver. |
| Speaking at a press conference as the final results came in, the Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, acknowledged that his party had fallen well short of expectations. | Speaking at a press conference as the final results came in, the Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, acknowledged that his party had fallen well short of expectations. |
| Proffering an olive branch to Sánchez, he added: “It’s time to reflect and, of course, it’s time to focus on dialogue between the progressive political forces.” | Proffering an olive branch to Sánchez, he added: “It’s time to reflect and, of course, it’s time to focus on dialogue between the progressive political forces.” |
| Sánchez, whose attempts to form a coalition government earlier this year were thwarted by Podemos, appeared to shrug off the prospect of cooperation. | Sánchez, whose attempts to form a coalition government earlier this year were thwarted by Podemos, appeared to shrug off the prospect of cooperation. |
| “They had the chance to vote for a progressive government led by the Socialist party [PSOE],” he said on Sunday night. “It was within their power to put an end to the government of Mariano Rajoy that has done so much damage to the middle and working classes with its cuts and its policies.” | “They had the chance to vote for a progressive government led by the Socialist party [PSOE],” he said on Sunday night. “It was within their power to put an end to the government of Mariano Rajoy that has done so much damage to the middle and working classes with its cuts and its policies.” |
| The horse-trading may have begun, but it will be a month before the Spanish parliament convenes for a confidence vote in whichever candidate is proposed following consultations between political leaders and King Felipe. | The horse-trading may have begun, but it will be a month before the Spanish parliament convenes for a confidence vote in whichever candidate is proposed following consultations between political leaders and King Felipe. |
| If the candidate wins more than half the necessary 350 votes, they will receive the confidence of the congress of deputies. If not, another vote will be held 48 hours later in which the candidate again will need 50%, but at a lower threshold as parties are allowed to abstain as they see fit. | If the candidate wins more than half the necessary 350 votes, they will receive the confidence of the congress of deputies. If not, another vote will be held 48 hours later in which the candidate again will need 50%, but at a lower threshold as parties are allowed to abstain as they see fit. |
| Should no candidate attract the necessary majority within two months, Spain could face a third general election. | Should no candidate attract the necessary majority within two months, Spain could face a third general election. |