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WORLD NEWSWednesday 3 February
Spain’s Socialist leader tapped to try to form government
ALAN CLENDENNING Spanish King Felipe VI, left, shakes hands with Spain’s Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez before a Negotiating a governing
Associated Press meeting at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. deal won’t be easy for San-
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s king chez. Among the biggest
on Tuesday tapped Social- Associated Press hurdles he faces is a pledge
ist leader Pedro Sanchez to by Podemos to allow voters
try to form a government Spain’s traditional two- The far-left Podemos came parties that want to break in the northeastern Catalo-
following an inconclu- party system for the Popu- in third in the Dec. 20 elec- away from Spain or at least nia region to hold a refer-
sive December election in lar Party and the Socialists, tion and the business- win greater autonomy to endum on seceding from
which the country’s conser- who have alternated run- friendly Ciudadanos came secure a majority in parlia- Spain.
vative Popular Party came ning Spain for decades. The in fourth — robbing votes ment. The Socialists are strongly
in first but failed to drum up Popular Party won the most and seats from Socialists Rajoy had proposed form- opposed to permitting sep-
enough support for a coali- votes this time but got only and the Popular Party. ing a so-called grand coali- aratists from holding a se-
tion or a minority govern- 123 seats in the 350-mem- Sanchez would need the tion with the Socialists and cession referendum.
ment. ber lower house of parlia- support of both of them, Ciudadanos, but Sanchez Sanchez told reporters he
King Felipe VI made the ment, losing the absolute or the support of Podemos ruled out any deal with the will need at least a month
decision after meeting with majority it held since 2011. plus much smaller regional Popular Party and Rajoy. to try cut a deal with oth-
Sanchez and with acting er parties to form a gov-
Prime Minister Mariano Ra- ernment, meaning Spain
joy, who heads the Popular won’t pass any legislation
Party, parliamentary speak- or make important deci-
er Patxi Lopez told report- sions until March. Rajoy
ers. will remain in power as
Sanchez — whose party acting prime minister un-
came in second — now til a new government is
faces the difficult task of formed or a timetable is set
trying to negotiate with for newelections.
two newupstart parties that Experts have predict-
made big inroads with vot- ed new elections would
ers upset with austerity, high be held in May or June if
unemployment and official Sanchez is unable to form a
corruption. government.q
The election smashed
