Spain’s King Felipe VI tasked acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with forming the nation’s government after the failure of Popular Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo to do last week, reported Spanish outlet Politico on Tuesday.
Sánchez’s Socialist Party finished second in July’s inconclusive national election, which was won by the center-right PP. Alberto Nez Feijóo, the Conservative leader, sought to construct a successful coalition, but failed last week to win the majority approval of the Spanish parliament required to become prime minister, bringing to his side only the far-right VOX party.
Sanchez stated that he will meet leaders of all major political parties except for that of VOX.
Sanchez will need to secure support from at least 176 politicians in the 350-seat house in the vote (a simple majority), which must take place by November 27.
If Sanchez is to be re-elected as prime minister, he must win an important parliamentary vote, for which he will require the support of a hardline Catalan separatist party, which could be a holdout unless at least some of its demands are met. (However, the right-wing coalition has expressed far less support for the Catalan independence cause or for amnesty for those involved in its attempted virtual mini-coup six years ago).
Sanchez has proven to be a tenacious political survivor in the underdog role, and he is hopeful of regaining power with the support of the hard-left Sumar, as well as with the Basque, Galician, and Catalan (primarily JxCat) regional parties.