Socialist Putsch in Spain Clears Rajoy’s Path Back to Power
- Party rebels defeat Sanchez after 10 hours of debate in Madrid
- Socialist lawmakers may now allow Rajoy to take office
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After nine months, two elections and a dramatic revolt in the 137-year-old Socialist party, the machinery of Spanish politics broke free of its gridlock this weekend in a pivotal shift that may finally allow Mariano Rajoy to take office for a second term.
Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, the main obstacle to the caretaker prime minister’s ambitions, resigned late on Saturday, pushed out after more than 10 hours of tempestuous talks in Madrid by rebels demanding he drop his opposition to Rajoy’s People’s Party. With 85 lawmakers in the 350-strong parliament, the second biggest delegation, Sanchez had wielded an effective veto over Rajoy’s efforts, even though he was unable to deliver on his own plans for an anti-PP coalition.