MADRID (AP) — Conservative Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy survived Wednesday, as expected, a parliamentary vote of no-confidence that was called by far-left lawmakers to protest the many corruption scandals tainting the ruling Popular Party. The 16-hour debate since Tuesday leading to Wednesday’s vote saw Rajoy facing the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, who was proposed as candidate for alternative prime minister despite not having enough support in the lower house. The motion was rejected with 170 votes against, 82 votes for and 97 abstentions, roughly in line with the breakdown when Rajoy was voted in as prime minister last year, showing there has been no change in the balance of power in parliament. “Stop saying that this is an opportunity to unseat Rajoy, because it isn’t true,” said Jose Luis Abalos, parliamentary spokesman for the Socialists, pointing to the fact that Podemos knew it did not have the necessary support to see the vote through.
Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, survives a no-confidence vote, presented by Podemos, as he is called to declare as a witness in the trial for Gürtel corruption scandal in 26 July.