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Spain election: Socialists face key vote for coalition Spain election: Rivals reject Socialist power bid
(35 minutes later)
Spain's parliament is debating whether to allow the Socialist party to form a new government. Spain's Socialist leader looks certain to fail in his bid to become PM after both main rival parties vowed to oppose him.
The Socialists (PSOE) came second in December's inconclusive elections and have until the end of the week to see if they can secure a majority in parliament. Pedro Sanchez has been trying to secure support for a coalition government with the centre-right Ciudadanos following inconclusive December polls, in which the Socialists (PSOE) came second.
On Tuesday, PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez appealed to deputies to back his bid to form a coalition. He has until the end of the week to try to secure a majority in parliament.
However, correspondents say his chances of forming a government are slim. But now his opponents on both left and right have scorned the attempt.
If he fails in a confidence vote later on Wednesday, another vote will be held on Friday.If he fails in a confidence vote later on Wednesday, another vote will be held on Friday.
If neither vote is successful, parliament will have two months to choose a government or face fresh elections on 26 June. If neither vote is successful, it will be the first time in Spain's last four decades of democracy that the procedure has failed. Parliament will have two months to choose a government or face fresh elections on 26 June.
Blame game begins in earnestBlame game begins in earnest
Strain of Sanchez's bid to ruleStrain of Sanchez's bid to rule
Kiss that showed real political passionKiss that showed real political passion
In parliament on Wednesday, acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy - leader of the incumbent conservative Popular Party - called Mr Sanchez a "fictitious, unreal candidate", said reports.
Mr Rajoy told Mr Sanchez his 122 deputies would vote against him "because you plan to eliminate what was achieved in Spain throughout these past four years which prevented this country from needing a bailout, created jobs, improved its competitiveness and caused it to grow economically".
Conversely, Mr Sanchez was also under attack from the left.
"You want to consolidate the main policies of the PP," said Pablo Iglesias, the pony-tailed leader of the upstart far-left Podemos party, which represents 69 seats.
However, he did not rule out a united front with the Socialists entirely, urging Mr Sanchez to "write the future of Spain together with us" - but leaving aside Podemos's ideological foes, Ciudadanos.
In his address to parliament on Tuesday, Mr Sanchez called for the formation of a coalition based on common interests.In his address to parliament on Tuesday, Mr Sanchez called for the formation of a coalition based on common interests.
He said a Socialist-led government would enact a series of progressive measures such as a minimum wage increase and a gender wage-gap law.He said a Socialist-led government would enact a series of progressive measures such as a minimum wage increase and a gender wage-gap law.
"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 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?"
Between them, the PSOE and partner party Ciudadanos command only 130 seats in the 350-seat lower chamber of parliament.Between them, the 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.
To become prime minister, Mr Sanchez will need the support of more than half of the chamber's 350 deputies in Wednesday's confidence vote.To become prime minister, Mr Sanchez will need the support of more than half of the chamber's 350 deputies in Wednesday's confidence vote.
Failing that, another vote will be held on Friday in which he would require only more votes in favour than against.Failing that, another vote will be held on Friday in which he would require only more votes in favour than against.
Given that opponents Podemos and the Popular Party have 191 seats between them, he would need at the very least significant numbers of their deputies to abstain. That now looks doomed too - leaving the country in limbo at a time when the economy is growing but still suffers serious weaknesses, primarily an unemployment rate of nearly 21%.
But Podemos and smaller parties have so far rejected overtures from Mr Sanchez. The Popular Party gained most votes in the 20 December election but Mr 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, Mariano 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 governing coalition.The PSOE performed badly, hit by the emergence of Podemos and Ciudadanos, and the fragmented political landscape has eluded efforts to agree a governing coalition.