Spain's Rajoy set to win second term as prime minister

PanARMENIAN.Net - Spain's 10 months without a government should end on Saturday, October 29 when parliament is set to grudgingly grant conservative Mariano Rajoy a second term as prime minister, Reuters reports.

But political instability may persist as Rajoy's weak minority government struggles to build support to pass legislation in a hostile parliament.

After two inconclusive elections and months of fruitless attempts at coalition-building, a controversial decision by the opposition Socialists to abstain should allow Rajoy to be confirmed as prime minister in a parliamentary confidence vote set for 7.45 p.m. (1745 GMT) on Saturday.

The result will be a triumph for the 61-year-old Rajoy, who is renowned as a political survivor.

After winning the 2011 election, Rajoy was forced to implement austerity policies as Spain endured a severe recession, unemployment soared to 27 percent and the country's banks needed a 41 billion euro ($45 billion) European bailout.

Unlike in his first term, when his absolute majority meant he could afford to ignore the opposition, his conservative Popular Party now has only 137 seats in the 350-seat parliament and will depend on support from others.

Rajoy sounded conciliatory in a speech to parliament this week, offering to work with opponents on issues like pension and education reform.

"The exceptional circumstances demand that we put aside ideological confrontations and combine our efforts ... because we are dealing with an unheard-of situation," he said.

But his political foes are skeptical he can change his style. Thousands of demonstrators are expected to march in protest against a new Rajoy government in Madrid on Saturday.

The Socialists, the second largest force in parliament, have made clear that while they will allow Rajoy to form a government to end the political stalemate, they will fight Rajoy's policies and will not approve his budgets.

That could mean the new government will be short-lived, Reuters says.