Pedro Sanchez has sworn in as Spain’s new prime minister, a day after the Socialist Party leader successfully displaced his predecessor Mariano Rajoy, who yesterday lost a no-confidence vote in parliament.
The no-confidence vote came after a major corruption case, opposing the reputation of the Conservatives of the People’s Party. Today’s Rajoy attended himself. Pedro Sanchez is Spain’s seventh prime minister since the end of Franco’s dictatorship in 1975.
Sanchez sworn in loyalty to the King and the Spanish Constitution. He done it without the Bible, which is happening for the first time since the restoration of democracy in Spain.
Parliament voted by 180 votes to 169 against the discharge of the government of Rajoy and his substitution by a government led by Sanchez. One MP abstained.
Spain is the fourth largest economy in the euro area and an influential member of the European Union. Sanchez and his party are strong supporters of the EU and the single currency.
Sanchez pledged to fight corruption and help those Spanish citizens affected by the cut of public spending that went on for years in the management of Rajoy. He also promised to hold elections soon without setting an exact date.
The new prime minister will lead a minority government and will need the support of both the Left-wing Party, several regional parties and the Catalan separatists to do something in governance.
Sanchez pledged to start talks with the separatist leader of Catalonia, who would restore the high level of self-government. The Catalan government, led by Kim Tora, has today also made an oath and took office. He is a close associate of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.
