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Spain’s Socialist party refuses Rajoy’s grand coalition offer

Monday, 27 June 2016 11:06 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 29 June 2016 4:00 PM ]

The Leader of the Popular Party (PP) and Spain's caretaker prime minister, Mariano Rajoy delivers a speech after a meeting of the national executive committee held one day after the Spanish general elections, at the PP headquarters in Madrid, on June 27, 2016. (AFP)

Spain’s Socialist Party has rejected an offer by acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to form a “grand coalition” with his conservative Popular Party (PP).

"We are not going to support Rajoy's investiture or abstain," said Socialist party spokesman Antonio Hernando on Monday.

The leader of Liberal Ciudadanos party, Albert River, had a similar reaction to the proposal, while hinting that he might support a government run by the PP if it changes its leader.

The announcement was made after the party won 137 seats in the 350-member parliament in Sunday’s elections, but fell short of gaining a majority.

The Unidos Podemos coalition led by anti-austerity party Podemos came in second with 71 seats, while the Socialists gained 85 and Ciudadanos came in fourth with 32 seats.

“My hand is still outstretched to guarantee the stability that Spain needs,” said Rajoy in a televised press conference held earlier in the day. “We need a government and we need it now."

Following his victory, Rajoy announced that “We won and we demand the right to govern.”

*Supporters of the Popular Party (PP) wave flags as they wait for results outside the PP headquarters during Spain's general election in Madrid on June 26, 2016. (AFP)*

Despite having the highest number of seats, the PP still needs the support of other parties to establish a coalition or minority government.

No single party won enough votes to form a majority government in elections in December last year and the political parties that won seats in the parliament failed to form a coalition.

Following a six-month power struggle, the parties had vowed to quickly reach a coalition this time, but the Socialist party’s announcement hints at a persisting deadlock.

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