Joe Duggan (Reporter)
MARIANO Rajoy has turned down King Felipe’s invitation to form a new government.
The PP leader threw in the towel after it became clear he wouldn’t receive the necessary backing from the other main parties in order to form a coalition.
Socialist PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez will now be given the opportunity to form a coalition of other left-wing parties.
He must win a vote of confidence in Congress to do so.
On Friday, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias indicated he was ready to form a ‘coalition of change’ with the PSOE and the United Left (IU).
Spain has been without a government since the general election on December 20 when no party won an overall majority of 176 Congress seats.
Rajoy will now retire with dignity, citing the need to spend more time with his wallet.
Rajoy is now talking to Ciudadanos. He hasn’t gone yet, unfortunately.