Rajoy rejected by Socialists again after Spanish elections
Political stalemate resumes as possibility of third election surfaces
- Acting PM's Popular Party won the June 26 election but unable to form coalition with other parties
- December and June votes provide inconclusive results for Spain
Updated : 16:57
Spain's political crisis looks set to rumble on as the Socialist party rejected another attempt from the Popular Party to form a coalition.
The PP have won both of the elections that have taken place in the last 6 months, but both times failed to win anything close to an overall majority, and acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy has failed once more to convince the centre-leftists led by Pedro Sanchéz to join their government.
After inconclusive results in the December 20 election of last year, months of political wranglings could not produce a coalition, so Spain went to the polls again last month hoping for a resolution.
Spain went to the polls again last month hoping for a resolution
A clear decision has not come however, as Sanchéz has ruled out the possibility of teaming up with Rajoy's party in its current stance.
The PP won 33% of the vote in June, followed by 23% for the Socialists, 21% for radical leftists Podemos, and 13% for centre-right Citizens.
There had been talk of a "grand coalition", similar to other European nations currently, but most parties are seemingly against the idea.
"Right now, his Popular Party has no support. Right now, the Socialist party reaffirms its vote against Rajoy," Sanchéz said.
However Mr Sanchéz also said he would do anything to avoid a third election, a prospect described by Mr Rajoy as "madness".
Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias has said that the Socialists must choose between his party and that of PM Rajoy, or the country would face the prospect of a third election inside a year.