Pedro Sanchez is new Spanish Prime Minister after Mariano Rajoy ousted in no confidence vote

The Spanish Prime Minister was voted out following a corruption scandal surrounding his party.
Chloe Chaplain1 June 2018

Spain's Prime Minister has been ousted after more than six years in power following a political corruption scandal that plagued his party.

Mariano Rajoy was forced from office in a no confidence vote on Friday, marking the first time a leader has been pushed out in 40 years of Spanish democracy.

He lost the vote by a slim majority, with 180 people voting yes, 169 no votes and one abstainer.

Ahead of the landmark vote, Mr Rajoy made an impassioned speech saying he was proud of his record as leader of the conservative People's Party.

Ousted: Minister Mariano Rajoy (bottom R) acknowledges applause from Popular Party's members
AFP/Getty Images

He also congratulated Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, who will assume his position as Prime Minister.

Following the vote, Mr Rajoy crossed the chamber to shake Mr Sanchez's hand.

Mr Sanchez had, on Thursday, secured the backing of six smaller parties for the motion – giving him absolute majority to rule.

Rajoy embraces a party deputy at Parliament
REUTERS

"It has been an honour to leave Spain better than I found it. Thank you to all Spaniards and good luck,” Mr Rajoy told lawmakers, before bidding farewell.

His removal follows a long-running corruption trial involving members of his conservative PP. Several people linked the party were sentenced to decades in jail last week.

Mr Rajoy's position had become weak by his status as head of the corrupt minority government as well as the divisive independence drive in the wealthy region of Catalonia.

Successor: Socialist (PSOE) leader Pedro Sanchez
REUTERS

The Basque Nationalist Party, whose five seats were key to Sanchez securing enough parliamentary backing, withdrew support from after the conviction.

Two Catalan pro-independence parties as well as leftist Podemos also said they would back Mr Sanchez. Market-friendly Ciudadanos, leading in the national opinion polls, was the only major party that said it would support Mr Rajoy.

Mr Sanchez said on Thursday he would stick to the budget put forward by Rajoy and approved by parliament last month if voted into power. He has promised to start talks with the Catalans but said he will not give them an independence referendum.

He is expected to be sworn at the weekend and his cabinet appointed next week. However, with only 84 seats in the 350-seat parliament, his government will struggle to pass legislation.

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