Madrid [Spain], August 18: An ally of caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was elected speaker of Spain's parliament on Thursday, delivering him a vital boost as Madrid's political parties enter a critical phase in forming the next government.
FrancinaArmengol, the former leader of the Balearic Islands region and a member of Sanchez's Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), received enough votes to take up the influential position.
And most importantly for Sanchez, she received the support of lawmakers from the Junts party of Catalan separatist leader CarlesPuigdemont, who lives in exile in Brussels.
The vote on the speakership was seen as a test of support for Sanchez - and a harbinger of the negotiations to come next week, when King Felipe VI holds consultations with parties and tasks someone to form a government. Sanchez needs the backing of Junts, which is considered particularly radical, to keep his left-wing government in power.
Neither Sanchez nor the conservative opposition leader Alberto NúñezFeijoo have a smooth route to obtaining the necessary support of at least 176 members of the lower house.
Feijoo's People's Party (PP) clearly won the election on July 23 as the strongest force, but with 137 seats fell short of expectations.
His possible coalition partner, the right-wing populist Vox, also lost 19 seats and now has only 33.
Sanchez, who became prime minister in 2018, could succeed in forming a government if, along with other regional parties, he were to reach an agreement with the Junts party.
Junts, however, has previously demanded an independence referendum for Catalonia, which Sanchez was seen as likely to reject.
What kind of deal PSOE and Junts may have reached over the selection of Armengol is not known.
If neither Sanchez nor Feijoo succeed in forming a government, there would have to be another election at the end of the year or early next year.
Source: Qatar Tribune