Spain premier seeking to establish coalition govt.
Spain’s acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he will continue talks in an attempt to establish a coalition government following the December 20 vote in which his Popular Party (PP) lost its parliamentary majority.
He made the comments on Tuesday, noting that having a lower house of parliament controlled by a majority capable of passing important legislation is the best option for Spanish people.
He rejected any alliance with the leftist Podemos party, as it is for a referendum to let people in the wealthy northeastern region of Catalonia decide if they want to break away from Spain.
Rajoy further appealed for a "broad-based, consensus government,” while urging parties which share his stance on issues such as Spanish unity to join forces.
"There is a majority of Spaniards who have expressed their backing for fundamental issues, such as defending Spanish unity," Rajoy said. "The (outcome) that would best match the will of the majority would be a government with broad support (from parties)."
Rajoy stressed that such a coalition would provide the country with the stability it is in need of to continue its economic recovery.
The PP garnered 123 seats in Spain’s 350-member lower house of parliament, losing 63 seats, while the Socialists came second with 90 seats, followed by Podemos and allies with 69 and Ciudadanos with 40. Rajoy’s party required 176 seats to win a majority.
The Socialist Party has said it would not support a government led by the PP or Rajoy. The party, however, does not back a Catalan referendum.
Senior Socialist politician Cesar Luena has said that Spain "needs big pacts", but added that the party would veto a PP government.
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