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SPAIN’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez narrowly won a confidence vote in parliament today, enabling him to govern in coalition with anti-austerity alliance Unidas Podemos (UP).
The dramatic vote, broadcast live on Spanish TV, went 167 to 165 in his favour with only a simple majority required.
Addressing MPs before the vote, Mr Sanchez said the coalition was “the only option” for Spain after five elections in recent years.
Abstentions by Catalan and Basque MPs played a critical role in approving the coalition.
Mr Sanchez, head of the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), had failed to gain the absolute majority needed in Sunday’s first vote.
He will now form a minority government, which will be Spain’s first coalition government since the restoration of democracy.
He plans to hold his inaugural cabinet meeting on Friday.
The fragmented 350-seat parliament will make the passage of legislation difficult as PSOE has 120 seats and UP just 35 — well short of a majority.
UP was formed in 2016 after mass demonstrations against corruption, austerity and inequality.
