The Spanish parliament voted in a conservative government on Saturday.
By 170 parliamentarians in favour to 111 against, Mariano Rajoy and his Popular Party received approval to resume power.
During the vote, all 68 Socialists MPs abstained following their party’s revised decision to let a fully-empowered government come in by not blocking its rival party rather than send Spaniards back to the voting booths for an unprecedented third general election.
Rajoy vowed to retain the same economic policies he adopted in his first premiership. At the time, these included severe austerity measures which the Socialists blame for rising inequality.
But in the last 12 months, the country’s economy has been the fastest growing in the euro bloc and unemployment has been reduced from 27% in 2013 to 20% last month.
"Do not expect me to... damage economic recovery and job creation," Rajoy told parliamentarians in a pre-vote session.
Although many reports describe the formation of a proper government as an end to a rollercoaster ride which lasted 10 months, the truth is that the new government will be a minority one and will face strong opposition. Turbulent political times may well continue.
After being returned to government, Rajoy told reporters "If we all make an effort, we can reach agreements and we have to try and turn this difficult and complex situation into an opportunity."
Rajoy originally came to power in 2011 with an absolute majority. But now the party has only 137 out of 350 seats in parliament and it will have to negotiate every bill.
"You are in the clear minority and under tight surveillance of this lower house. The Socialist party will devote itself to monitoring your every step," Antonio Hernando, the Socialists' parliamentary spokesman, told Rajoy.
The country’s budget for next year is a key priority. Observers believe that some €5 billion will have to be cut to reduce Spain’s deficit. Cuts, however, are likely to be opposed in parliament as well as in public sentiment.
Comments
In a more advanced and longer established democratic society 'Parliamentary Immunity' is a fundamental tool that in theory allows law makers to avoid Defamation charges and proving their allegations against bad people or bad organisations before making claims of wrongdoing. In the hope that the law enforcers will then step forward and investigate to get the necessary proof.
Here, as in Spain - due to their Defamation Law - it has warped into protection from investigation of the Parliamentarian no matter how bad they are suspected to be. Anyone else remember the swirl of suspicion around ex-PM Passos Coelho and missing millions of euros from his much earlier days as a Business Adviser ? As he is still in Parliament, very quiet now.