Spain finally has a govt as Rajoy voted back to power

Spain's parliament voted conservative Popular Party (PP) leader and acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy back into power on the 29 October 2016.

This followed the decision made by the Spanish Socialist Party on the 23 October 2016 to lift a long-standing veto that had prevented the conservative Popular Party (PP) from forming a minority government, after inconclusive elections in December 2015 and June 2016. Former Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sanchez, who had been ousted as leader of his party over opposition to the deal to allow the PP into government, announced on the 29 October 2016 that he was stepping down as a member of parliament in protest.

Nevertheless, there were signs of continuing opposition in the other political parties within the Parliament and in wider society.

On 3 November 2016 Mr Rajoy unveiled his new government.

EurActiv, 04.11.16: Spain’s Rajoy appoints EU-friendly Cabinet http://www.euractiv.com/section/euro-finance/news/spains-rajoy-appoints-eu-friendly-cabinet/

The Local.es, 04.11.16: PM names new cabinet and drops Gibraltar's thorn in side http://www.thelocal.es/20161104/pm-names-new-cabinet-and-drops-gibraltars-thorn-in-the-side

El País, 04.11.16: Spain’s new cabinet suggests few changes to major policies http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/11/04/inenglish/1478246610_894323.html

El País, 29.10.16: Rajoy becomes Spain’s new PM after a 10-month stalemate http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/10/28/inenglish/1477665648_836385.html

Deutsche Welle, 29.10.16: Spanish PM Rajoy wins parliamentary vote, ending 10 months of political​ gridlock http://dw.com/p/2Rszw

BBC News, 30.10.16: Mariano Rajoy wins vote to lead Spain minority government http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37813195

Politico, 30.10.16: 5 takeaways from Mariano Rajoy’s second term http://www.politico.eu/article/5-takeaways-from-mariano-rajoys-second-term/

Council of European Union: Press Release, 30.10.16: Letter of congratulations by President Donald Tusk to Mariano Rajoy http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/10/30-tusk-congratulations-rajoy/

EurActiv, 31.10.16: Spanish crisis gives way to new political battles http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/spanish-crisis-gives-way-to-new-political-battles/

Euronews, 03.11.16: Cabinet shake-up in Spain as period of minority government begins http://www.euronews.com/2016/11/03/cabinet-shake-up-in-spain-as-period-of-minority-government-begins

EUObserver, 04.11.16: Spain’s new government in need of friends https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/135769

Politico, 03.11.16: Mariano Rajoy picks old faces for new Spanish cabinet http://www.politico.eu/article/mariano-rajoy-picks-old-faces-for-new-spanish-cabinet/

EurActiv, 04.11.16: Guindos’ reappointment hailed by Eurogroup, Commission http://www.euractiv.com/section/euro-finance/news/guindos-reappointment-as-economic-minister-pleases-europe/

ESO: Background information: The challenges facing the ‘new’ Spain http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-challenges-facing-the-new-spain/

EuVisions, 11.11.16: Towards a Spanish Government http://www.euvisions.eu/towards-spanish-government/

---