Sanchez new PM
MADRID: Socialist Pedro Sanchez was yesterday sworn in as Spain’s seventh head of government since its return to democracy in the late 1970s, taking over from veteran conservative Mariano Rajoy, who was ousted over a corruption scandal.
One of Sanchez’s main challenges will be to try to find a way out of the crisis in the wealthy Catalonia region, where a new nationalist government was due to be sworn in yesterday.
Sanchez was sworn in as Spanish Prime Minister before King Felipe, his right hand on the constitution — the first time that was not done with the Bible or a crucifix.
Sanchez became Prime Minister having only 84 seats for his Socialist Party in the 350member assembly, thanks to support from the hardleft Podemos and smaller nationalist par ties.
He said he intends to steer the country through to mid2020, when the parliamentary term ends.
But his majority — the smallest for a Spanish Government since the return to democracy following Francisco Franco’s death in 1975, makes it unclear how long his administration can last.
The new leader of Catalonia’s government Q. Torra on Saturday said he was committed to achieving independence for Catalonia and wanted to enter into talks with the new Prime Minister, to end a standoff between Barcelona and Madrid.