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Spain's Pedro Sánchez faces decisive vote on future in power Spain's Pedro Sánchez loses vote to form government
(about 7 hours later)
Spanish MPs are set to vote on whether Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will remain in power after talks to form a coalition government stalled. Spain's caretaker PM Pedro Sánchez has failed to secure the parliamentary votes required to form a government after a coalition deal was rejected.
His Socialist party (PSOE) gained the most seats in April's election, but fell short of a majority. The Socialist leader needed the backing of the left-wing Podemos party, but its ministers abstained in Thursday's vote, describing the deal as "unacceptable".
Mr Sánchez now requires the backing of the left-wing Podemos party and other smaller parties to continue to govern. Mr Sánchez's PSOE party gained the most seats in April's election, but fell short of a majority.
If he fails, he has two more months as caretaker to find a solution or face another general election. He now has two more months to find a solution or face a general election.
It will be the country's fourth in four years. It would be the country's fourth in four years.
The Socialist leader lost his first post-election confidence vote on Tuesday, and his party has since been locked in negotiations to secure a new deal with representatives from Podemos and other parties. Speaking ahead of Thursday's vote, Mr Sánchez said he was "sorry" that a coalition deal could not be reached with Podemos.
What happened with the talks? "We have demonstrated a noble willingness to reach a deal," he said, adding that his party's proposals had been rejected "one after another".
Talks on Wednesday appeared to have broken down. Podemos said its ministers had only been offered "inexistent or empty" roles within the government, with leader Pablo Iglesias suggesting the Socialists had shown his party a lack of "respect".
Mr Sánchez's Socialists described Podemos's demands for key posts within government as "unacceptable", while Podemos said it had only been offered "inexistent or empty ministries". Mr Sánchez lost his first post-election confidence vote on Tuesday and lost his second by 155 votes to 124, with 67 abstentions. The session in parliament was adjourned after his defeat.
The Socialist party's acting Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo said Podemos "have literally asked us to give them the government" rather than form a coalition together. How did we get here?
A number of smaller parties said they would back Mr Sánchez, but only if a deal is agreed with Podemos. Spain's right-wing parties, meanwhile, have said they will not support him. Thursday's result follows weeks of fractious negotiations and political turmoil.
While Tuesday's vote required Mr Sánchez to secure an absolute majority of 176 seats in Congress's 350-seat parliament, Thursday's ballot scheduled for 14:25 (12:25 GMT) requires a simple majority of support from lawmakers. However, he only won 124 votes in the initial ballot, whereas 170 MPs voted against him and Podemos abstained. On Wednesday, coalition negotiations broke down, with Mr Sánchez's Socialists rejecting Podemos's demands for key posts within government.
Parliamentary backing for his coalition would bring weeks of fractious negotiations and political turmoil to an end, giving Mr Sánchez his first full term as prime minister. The Socialist party's acting Deputy Prime Minister, Carmen Calvo, said Podemos "have literally asked us to give them the government" rather than form a coalition together.
What are the sticking points? A number of smaller parties had said they would back Mr Sánchez, but only if a deal were agreed with Podemos. Spain's right-wing parties, meanwhile, refused to support him.
In return for joining a coalition, Podemos has asked for key positions such as deputy prime minister and social roles in his cabinet in charge of the environment, equality, employment and economics. While Tuesday's vote had required Mr Sánchez to secure an absolute majority of 176 seats in Congress's 350-seat parliament, Thursday's ballot required a simple majority of support from lawmakers.
But after last-ditch talks on Wednesday, Podemos warned against raising expectations as there had been "little progress in the PSOE's proposals", arguing that the Socialists wanted to keep social affairs ministries to themselves. The prime minister insisted he had made a good offer. What were the sticking points?
Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias has already agreed not to seek a ministerial position himself, in an attempt to find a deal. In return for joining a coalition, Podemos had asked for key positions such as deputy prime minister and social roles in his cabinet in charge of the environment, equality, employment and economics.
The two leaders have tried to find common ground for the past three months and tensions spilled into the open during a debate at the start of the week, when Mr Iglesias accused the caretaker prime minister of offering only "cosmetic" roles. But after last-ditch talks on Wednesday, Podemos said there had been "little progress in the PSOE's proposals", arguing that the Socialists wanted to keep social affairs ministries to themselves. The prime minister insisted he had made a good offer.
Separately, Mr Sánchez has said that Mr Iglesias, whose views on the question of Catalonia's independence starkly differ from his, is "the principal obstacle" to agreeing on a new coalition. Mr Iglesias had already agreed not to seek a ministerial position himself, in an attempt to find a deal.
Among the smaller parties with representatives voting in parliament on Thursday are the conservative Popular Party (PP), the right-of-centre Ciudadanos (Citizens), the centre-left separatist Catalan Republican Left (ERC) party and the far-right Vox. The two leaders have for months tried to find common ground and tensions spilled into the open during a debate at the start of the week, when Mr Iglesias accused the caretaker prime minister of offering only "cosmetic" roles.
Separately, Mr Sánchez said that Mr Iglesias, whose views on the question of Catalonia's independence starkly differ from his, was "the principal obstacle" to agreeing on a new coalition.
Among the smaller parties with representatives able to vote in parliament on Thursday were the conservative Popular Party (PP), the right-of-centre Ciudadanos (Citizens), the centre-left separatist Catalan Republican Left (ERC) party and the far-right Vox.
Why is Catalonia so important?Why is Catalonia so important?
The future of Spain's semi-autonomous north-eastern region has been politically explosive ever since Catalonia's leaders held an independence referendum in October 2017. The vote had been outlawed by Spain, but the separatist leadership went ahead with it and then declared independence from Spain.The future of Spain's semi-autonomous north-eastern region has been politically explosive ever since Catalonia's leaders held an independence referendum in October 2017. The vote had been outlawed by Spain, but the separatist leadership went ahead with it and then declared independence from Spain.
The issue was a key reason why this year's snap election took place, because Catalan separatists withdrew their support at a key moment in February. A dozen Catalan leaders went on trial in Madrid the same month, facing charges including rebellion and sedition, and separatist MPs wanted concessions from the government.The issue was a key reason why this year's snap election took place, because Catalan separatists withdrew their support at a key moment in February. A dozen Catalan leaders went on trial in Madrid the same month, facing charges including rebellion and sedition, and separatist MPs wanted concessions from the government.
Mr Sánchez has sought to lower tensions with the region and has faced criticism from other political opponents.Mr Sánchez has sought to lower tensions with the region and has faced criticism from other political opponents.
His administration has engaged with the pro-independence government, holding talks with current Catalan president Quim Torra - prompting PP leader Pablo Casado to label him "the biggest villain in Spain's democratic history".His administration has engaged with the pro-independence government, holding talks with current Catalan president Quim Torra - prompting PP leader Pablo Casado to label him "the biggest villain in Spain's democratic history".
Ciudadanos has also accused Mr Sánchez of siding with "enemies of Spain" and wanting to "liquidate" the country.Ciudadanos has also accused Mr Sánchez of siding with "enemies of Spain" and wanting to "liquidate" the country.