Sanchez sworn in as Spanish PM after winning investiture vote

Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 21:32:20|Editor: xuxin
Video PlayerClose

MADRID, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Socialist Party leader Pedro Sanchez was sworn in on Wednesday morning as prime minister after being returned to power in Tuesday's investiture vote in the Spanish Congress (lower chamber).

He did so by swearing loyalty to the Spanish Constitution in the presence of King Felipe VI after the reading of the Royal Decree confirming him as Prime Minister.

Sanchez's return to office has ended 10 months of political instability which saw Spain hold two general elections (in April and November) in 2019.

Sanchez won Tuesday's vote with 167 votes in favour and 165 against, with the right-wing People's Party (PP), Ciudadanos and the extreme right wing Vox, voting against him.

He will now form a coalition government with the left-wing Unidas Podemos with the promise of introducing progressive social and economic policies while trying to relax the tension with the Catalan region in the northeast of Spain.

The fact that Catalan and Basque parties Esquerra Republicana and Bildu abstained in Tuesday's vote, while the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) voting in his favour, allowed Sanchez the simple majority he needed to return to power. He will continue to need their "support" in order to pass legislations and his budget for 2020.

Sanchez is expected to name his new cabinet, which will include Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and Izquierda Unida's Alberto Garzon in the coming hours, before holding the first session of his new cabinet.

KEY WORDS:
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001386885141