MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) decided to abstain in the upcoming parliamentary vote on the prime minister candidature so that incumbent Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, belonging to the Popular Party (PP), could remain in power, PSOE said Sunday.
Some 139 members of the party voted in favor of the abstention, 96 voted against and two abstained, according to the data posted by PSOE on its Twitter.
This PSOE decision comes after two failed general elections, as Spain has been governed by the interim administration for more than 300 days now. Now, the country will have a chance to finally form a permanent government.
In October, PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez left the party over his rejection of the abstention.
On August 31 and September 2, Rajoy failed to gain the necessary majority in the parliament at the two rounds of elections as PSOE voted against him both times.
