Rajoy to stand down as leader of the People's Party

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Spain's former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Tuesday he would stand down as leader of the People's Party after his party was ousted from government in a no-confidence vote from Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez.

"It's best for me, best for the party and best for Spain," Rajoy said to a standing ovation from party members.

Turned attention to the new prime minister of Spain, Rajoy said Pedro Sanchez is “someone who has never won an election."

Pedro Sanchez smiles from his seat before the final day of a motion of no confidence debate in Parliament in Madrid, Spain, June 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

Sanchez has taken power with just 84 seats out of 350 in Congress thanks to the support of other parties including left-wing anti-austerity group Podemos and pro-Catalan independence groups.

The Sanchez government, Rajoy continued, has been born with “extreme weakness,” and with “budgets that we approved and that some of those who supported Mr. Sanchez have already tried to veto.”

Rajoy also added that he would continue to be a member of the party and that an extraordinary PP congress would be called to elect a new leader.

Source(s): Reuters