The king of Spain has decided to put off further talks with party leaders until nearly the end of October, the parliamentary speaker said on Tuesday.
The talks are aimed at finding a solution to the political stalemate in the country’s government.
Felipe VI will resume discussions on 24 and 25 October, brushing right up to the deadline of 31 October. If no resolution is reached by then, the king will be obliged by the constitution to call an unprecedented third general election.
After the talks, the king will decide "whether he can put forward a prime ministerial candidate who has sufficient support," speaker Ana Pastor said.
Spain has been in the hands of a caretaker government since the first election back in December last year. The voters gave Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party the most votes but not enough for a majority in the 350-seat legislature, which requires 176.
The second election saw the Popular Party gain more votes, but again in sufficient to govern alone.
None of the four leading parties were able despite months of talks to agree any form of coalition with 176 seats.
A minority government could be given the right to govern, but this requires other parties to approve it in a parliamentary vote of confidence. Rajoy put such a government to the vote last month, but his attempt was rejected by parliamentarians from the Socialist party and the Unidos Podemos coalition.
In the meantime, the Socialists booted out their leader and are trying to decide if they will let a minority government in or continue to veto it.
