With parliament officially closed and the general election formally called, Spain’s prime minister has announced that he will not try to retain his post if his party does not win an outright victory.
Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party (PP) won an absolute majority in parliament in 2011 when it trounced the Socialists (PSOE).
Since then the seriously debilitating economic crisis ushered in unpopular austerity measures and, at its peak in 2014, rendered 27% of the workforce without paid jobs and more than 50% of its youth without prospects.
This is the second highest rate in the EU, with only Greece suffering greater numbers.
Mr Rajoy made it clear that he would not stay on as prime minister if the PP does not retain its popularity among voters.
"If my party does not win the most votes, I won't try to be prime minister," Rajoy told the media on Monday.
The election is scheduled for 20 December. If the country’s frequent opinion polls are accurate, both the PP and the Socialists have seen their popularity ratings slip while others such as centre-right Ciudadanos and anti-austerity Podemos have gained voters.
Nevertheless, the latest poll indicates that the PP would still win, but with just 28% of voters. Such a result would give it 131 seats compared to the 186 it holds now.
