It has taken 10 months, but Spain appears to be finally on the verge of forming a new government.
ADVERTISEMENTIt has taken 10 months, but Spain appears to be finally on the verge of forming a new government.
After losing a parliamentary vote of confidence on Thursday, acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is expected to win a second such vote this weekend, opening the way to a minority conservative government.
The Socialists have said they will abstain on Saturday, when Rajoy will only need more votes in favour than against.
Despite that, opposition parties warned the Spanish premier he will face a tough second term.
During Thursday’s heated debate, in which the leftist Podemos party stormed out of the chamber, Rajoy’s rivals made it clear they would not give him a free hand to govern and would fight his austerity policies.
Rajoy’s People’s Party won two national elections in December and June but without a majority. So far since then, efforts to form a coalition government have failed.