Spain's acting prime minister set to end political stalemate
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Version 0 of 1. Spain’s conservative acting prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has said he has accepted King Felipe VI’s request to seek parliament’s approval to form a government and end the country’s 10 months of political deadlock. Rajoy is all but certain to obtain that approval in the coming days following the rival Socialist party’s decision to stop blocking his bid and to abstain in a second parliamentary vote. Two inconclusive elections since December have left Rajoy running a caretaker government. His People’s party won both elections but lacks a parliamentary majority and needs outside support to form a minority government. Rajoy spoke on Tuesday after the king ended two days of talks with leaders from each party in an effort to end the impasse before a 31 October deadline. If no government is in place by then, a third round of elections would have to be called. Parliament’s speaker, Ana Pastor, said the investiture session would start on Wednesday, paving the way for a first vote on Thursday and a second and final one on Saturday. |