Spain’s Socialists lift veto on conservatives

The Spanish Socialist Party’s (PSOE) federal committee met on the 23 October 2016 and agreed to lift a long-standing veto that had prevented the conservative Popular Party (PP) from forming a minority government. There were hopes that a ten-month political impasse would soon be over following the election in December 2015, which was then followed by a second election in June 2016, with inconclusive results.

King Felipe VI met all political leaders on the 24-25 October 2016. On the 25 October 2016 he asked PP leader and acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to form a government. Investiture vote would be called on the 27 and 29 October 2016. If no obstacles arose a new government might start on the 1 November 2016.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Spain moves a step closer to ending political deadlock http://www.europeansources.info/record/spain-moves-a-step-closer-to-ending-political-deadlock/

ESO: Key Source: Spanish general election, 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/spanish-general-election-2016/

El País, 19.10.16: Socialists to take key decision on support for PP government on Sunday http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/18/inenglish/1476794936_378992.html

France24, 23.10.16: Spain's socialists vote to allow minority government led by Rajoy http://www.france24.com/en/20161023-spain-socialists-abstain-voting-against-conservative-government

ESO: Background information: Spain's Socialists in crisis as political blockage takes toll http://www.europeansources.info/record/spains-socialists-in-crisis-as-political-blockage-takes-toll/

Politico, 23.10.16: Spain, at last, gets new government http://www.politico.eu/article/spain-socialists-back-conservative-government-psoe-pp-mariano-rajoy/

The Guardian, 23.10.16: Spain's Socialists lift veto to allow Rajoy minority government https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/23/spains-socialists-lift-veto-to-allow-conservatives-to-rule-as-minority

EurActiv, 24.10.16: Spain’s Socialists clear way for another Rajoy government http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/spains-socialists-clear-way-for-another-rajoy-government/

Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Spain's Socialists pave way for Rajoy government http://www.eurotopics.net/en/168258/spain-s-socialists-pave-way-for-rajoy-government

The Local.es, 24.10.16: Spain faces crucial week as conservatives re-take power https://www.thelocal.es/20161024/spain-faces-crucial-week-as-conservatives-re-take-power

EUObserver, 24.10.16: Spain's Socialists ease Rajoy's path to power https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/135614

El País, 24.10.16: Spain’s Socialists will allow PP to form minority government http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/24/inenglish/1477292590_216340.html

Politico, 25.10.16: Spain’s Rajoy accepts king’s invitation to form government http://www.politico.eu/article/spains-mariano-rajoy-accepts-kings-invitation-to-form-government-socialist/

The Local.es, 25.10.16: Spain's Rajoy says king has tasked him with forming govt https://www.thelocal.es/20161025/spains-rajoy-says-king-has-tasked-him-with-forming-government

El País, 25.10.16: Leftist leader warns Spanish king about wave of protests http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/25/inenglish/1477382824_607281.html

Politico, 26.10.16: Mariano Rajoy: We will need to build a new majority every day http://www.politico.eu/article/mariano-rajoy-we-will-need-to-build-a-new-majority-every-day-spain-pp-psoe/

The Local.es, 27.10.16: Tough road ahead, Spain PM warns before return to power https://www.thelocal.es/20161027/tough-road-ahead-spain-pm-warns-before-return-to-power

El País, 27.10.16: Tense investiture session signals tough term ahead for Spain’s Rajoy http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/27/inenglish/1477556354_055934.html

El País, 28.10.16: Spain’s Rajoy loses first investiture vote, prepares for Saturday victory http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/28/inenglish/1477641625_320890.html

The Local.es, 29.10.16: Spain's conservatives set to re-take power https://www.thelocal.es/20161029/spains-conservatives-set-to-re-take-power

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