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Spain's Socialists End 10-Month Political Deadlock

Spain's Socialists cleared the way for the conservative People's Party to be sworn in to government, ending a 10-month political deadlock.
Image: Mariano Rajoy
Mariano Rajoy adjusts his glasses during a meeting in Madrid, Spain, on June 27, 2016.Francisco Seco / AP
/ Source: Reuters

MADRID — Spain's Socialists cleared the way on Sunday for the conservative People's Party (PP) to be sworn in to government, ending a 10-month political deadlock that has paralyzed institutions and threatened to derail an economic recovery.

Image: Mariano Rajoy
Mariano Rajoy adjusts his glasses during a meeting in Madrid, Spain, on June 27, 2016.Francisco Seco / AP

Senior members of the center-left party voted 139 in favor, versus 96 against, of abstaining in a new confidence vote due this coming week which would grant conservative acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy a second term in office.

Had the Socialists rejected the PP's minority government, Spain would have faced the possibility of a third general election inside a year. An election in June failed to resolve the impasse.