Spain's Socialist interim leadership meets to seek end of political deadlock after ousting leader Sanchez

Record ID: 85019

  • Title: Spain's Socialist interim leadership meets to seek end of political deadlock after ousting leader Sanchez
  • Date: 3rd October 2016
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 3, 2016) (REUTERS) SPAIN'S SOCIALIST PARTY INTERIM MANAGEMENT AT MEETING CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY INTERIM MANAGEMENT, JAVIER FERNANDEZ, AT MEETING VARIOUS OF MEETING
  • Embargoed: 18th October 2016 11:59
  • Keywords: Spain Socialist Party Sanchez Politics Madrid
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • City: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00152GAZWN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The members of Spain's Socialist Party interim management held their first meeting on Monday (October 3), after ousting the party's leader Pedro Sanchez on Saturday (October 1).
    By ousting Sanchez, who became leader in 2014 and has presided over a slump in the party's support, the Socialists can now try to find ways to avoid a looming third election, including a potential abstention in a confidence vote on allowing interim Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy a second term.
    Sanchez has led a long stand-off with Rajoy's conservative People's Party (PP), which won the most votes but fell short of a majority in two inconclusive elections, and the dispute has frustrated attempts to form a government.
    Members of the Socialists assembly met on Saturday to decide whether to open up a leadership race in October, as proposed by Sanchez, or oust him, after the Socialist leadership tore itself in two this week.
    The Socialists will now be under interim management until a party conference can choose a new leader.
    Party insiders say the powerful head of the Andalusia region Susana Diaz is the favourite to take Sanchez's place although it is not yet clear when the new secretary general will be picked.
    The interim management will face one of the party's biggest dilemmas since it was founded in 1879: allow a conservative minority government or force a third general election in a year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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