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Spain election: Socialist Sanchez pleads to become PM Spain election: Socialist Sanchez pleads to become PM
(about 9 hours later)
Spain's Socialist party leader, Pedro Sanchez, is set to urge deputies to back his bid to form a coalition government. Spain's Socialist Party leader, Pedro Sanchez, has urged deputies to back his bid to form a coalition government.
But his attempt to end 11 weeks of political deadlock since inconclusive elections seemed likely to fail. But his attempt to end 11 weeks of political deadlock since inconclusive elections seems likely to fail, correspondents say.
Between them, the Socialists and partner party Ciudadanos command only 130 seats in the 350-seat lower chamber of parliament. Between them, the Socialists (PSOE) and partner party Ciudadanos command only 130 seats in the 350-seat lower chamber of parliament.
The two other main parties have said they will not support Mr Sanchez.The two other main parties have said they will not support Mr Sanchez.
In his speech, he is expected to urge them to avoid calling fresh elections which polls suggest could lead to another political impasse. In his address to parliament on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Sanchez called for the formation of a coalition based on common interests.
He will appeal to a sense of "responsibility" and underline the "progressive and reformist" nature of his policy agenda, party sources told Spanish newspaper El Pais. "Why don't we form a government based on those things that bring the majority of the 350 deputies of this parliament together?" he asked.
"Why don't we unite to form a government for change? Why don't we get together and pass as many reforms as possible to solve the most urgent problems of Spaniards? Why don't we vote together in favour of all issues in which we are in agreement?"
Strain of Sanchez's bid to ruleStrain of Sanchez's bid to rule
Podemos bangs on doors of powerPodemos bangs on doors of power
Mr Sanchez will make his presentation speech on Tuesday afternoon, and a confidence vote will be held late on Wednesday at which he will need to gain the support of more than half of the chamber's 350 seats to be voted in as prime minister. Mr Sanchez warned that time was running out for a decision.
Failing that, another vote will be held on Friday at which he would require only a simple majority - in other words, more votes in favour than against. "We have two options. Either we do nothing and allow [conservative leader Mariano] Rajoy to continue presiding over the interim government, or we opt for a change based on dialogue and agreements. There are only two options and this chamber has to decide what to do - either we stay still or we start walking."
Given that opponents Podemos and the Popular Party have 191 seats between them, at the very least he would need significant numbers of their deputies to abstain. But Podemos and smaller parties rejected overtures from Mr Sanchez's Socialists (PSOE) earlier in the week. A confidence vote will be held on Wednesday at which Mr Sanchez will need to gain the support of more than half of the chamber's 350 seats to be voted in as prime minister.
Failing that, another vote will be held on Friday at which he would require only more votes in favour than against.
Given that opponents Podemos and the Popular Party have 191 seats between them, at the very least he would need significant numbers of their deputies to abstain. But Podemos and smaller parties rejected overtures from Mr Sanchez's PSOE earlier in the week.
If he succeeds in neither vote, parliament will have two months to choose a government or face fresh elections on 26 June.If he succeeds in neither vote, parliament will have two months to choose a government or face fresh elections on 26 June.
The incumbent Popular Party gained most votes in the 20 December election but its leader, Mariano Rajoy, was unable to secure enough backing to form a government. The incumbent Popular Party gained most votes in the 20 December election but its leader, Mr Rajoy, was unable to secure enough backing to form a government.
The PSOE performed badly, hit by the emergence of Podemos and Ciudadanos, and the fragmented political landscape has eluded efforts to agree a ruling coalition.The PSOE performed badly, hit by the emergence of Podemos and Ciudadanos, and the fragmented political landscape has eluded efforts to agree a ruling coalition.