Spain Deputy PM: New govt stability a task for all parties

MADRID – The stability of a new minority government expected to take power in Spain next week will depend on the willingness of all parties to negotiate and act responsibly, acting deputy prime minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Friday.

She told reporters the new conservative government’s term in office would test all parties’ “capacity for dialogue and responsibility.”

She spoke after what was expected to be the final Cabinet meeting of acting premier Mariano Rajoy’s caretaker government.

Parliament is meeting Saturday when it is expected to approve Rajoy’s bid to form a new government and end a 10-month political impasse. Once approved, Rajoy is likely to be sworn in before King Felipe VI on Sunday, when he could name the members of his government.

Rajoy’s candidacy was rejected by lawmakers in a first vote Thursday, but a promised abstention by the leading opposition Socialist party will see the conservative leader through in a second round Saturday.

Spain has been in a political stalemate following two inconclusive elections since last December. Rajoy’s party won both but fell short of a majority and has struggled to get enough backing to allow him form a minority government.

In the first vote he needed an absolute majority in the 350-seat chamber, but on Saturday he will only need more votes in favour than against.

He has the support of 170 lawmakers — 137 of them from his own party.

If a government is not in place by Monday a third election must be called.