Rajoy should 'give up hope' of becoming PM

Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), on Saturday said that acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy should "give up all hope" of a second term in office.

Speaking after a meeting of PSOE leaders in Madrid, Sanchez said the party was "not going to pardon" Rajoy by either forming part of a coalition government with Rajoy's Peoples Party (PP), nor abstaining to allow Rajoy to win an investiture vote.

"We want to change the government, because we want to end the PP's reforms," said Sanchez, who said that if Rajoy turned down the chance to try and form a government as he did eight days ago, then his party would try if asked to do so in his meeting by King Felipe VI next Tuesday.

"If Rajoy doesn't call a vote of confidence then he should go home. The PSOE will try and form a government," insisted the Socialist leader, who added the party would put any possible coalition agreement to a vote of grassroots members.

Sanchez also criticized the PP for its constant implication in corruption scandals in the wake of the arrests of high-ranking PP members carried out in the Valencia region this week in relation to another cash for favors scandal.

He said the PP needed to move into the opposition, elect a new leader and rebuild.

Spain has been in six weeks without a government since the Dec. 20 general election left a hung parliament in the 350 seat Congress. The PP won 123 seats, the PSOE 90, while left wingers Podemos won 69 seats and Citizens 40.

Source: XINHUA