Spain PM Rajoy says he’ll continue pushing for a coalition government

The Socialists have so far ruled out joining together with Rajoy and his party.

The best option is “the formation of a government with broad parliamentary support that can govern, can build trust inside and outside of Spain and provides stability”, Rajoy said.

Rajoy’s future as leader of the PP is now in doubt, but he will be expected anyway to seek out a political deal with the new centrist Ciudadanos (Citizens) party, which was on course for between 47 and 50 seats.

Mr Rivera reiterated Ciudadanos’ position that it won’t support the Prime Minister or his party but would abstain in a leadership vote which would benefit Mr Rajoy in forming a minority government if he can get other parties to follow suit.

Spain’s left-wing Podemos party leader has told Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy that he will not offer any support for a new government formed by Rajoy’s centre right Partido Popular (PP).

He recalled that the Socialists focused their campaign on the need to “send Rajoy home”.

“It is a possibility called for in the constitution…it could serve to overcome the deficiencies of a candidate who does not appear to have the support of his own party”, Iglesias said. We have not reached the Spanish parliament to play the game of [musical] chairs, or to make the traditional political compromises, and everyone must know this.

Iglesias said he had explained to Rajoy face-to-face in their 90-minute meeting why Spain could not continue with him in power, saying that part of the reason was that the last Congress was characterized by inequality and corruption.

Instead he said the priority for Podemos when parliament reconvenes on January 13 will be to help the poor by proposing a “social emergency” law that prevents families from being evicted for not paying their mortgage or ensures pensioners can buy their medicine. The party, however, does not back a Catalan referendum.

The leader of Citizens, Albert Rivera, forecast Monday that a minority government could run Spain by striking a series of temporary, issue-by- issue agreements with other parties, including his.

It is the role of Spain’s King Felipe to nominate one of the parties to form a government.

If there is still a deadlock after two months from a first vote of confidence in parliament on a new prime minister, new elections must be held.