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AFP
MADRID
SPAIN'S acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called on Monday for a government to be formed by early August after his conservative Popular Party emerged stronger from another inconclusive general election.
The PP was the big winner of Sunday's polls, the second in six months, which played out against a background of turbulence and uncertainty from Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union.
But it still failed to get an absolute majority and must therefore embark on tough negotiations with hostile political rivals in a bid to unblock months of political paralysis triggered by December polls that were also inconclusive.
Rajoy told reporters he hoped to avoid extending this political limbo at a time of fragile economic recovery in Spain and uncertainty following Britain's shock exit from the European Union.
"It is crucial to have a government at the end of July or at the beginning of August at the latest, because the challenges ahead are significant," he said.
The fractured results this time round were much the same as after the December polls, with the PP coming first, followed by the Socialists, a far-left coalition led by Podemos and market-friendly upstart Ciudadanos.
But unlike the other three parties which lost seats, votes or both, the PP emerged strengthened from the election, beating expectations with 137 seats in the 350-strong lower house of parliament -- 14 more than in December.
The extra seats give Rajoy more clout in coalition negotiations, coupled with the fact that parties are under pressure to succeed where they failed last time and reach a deal to avoid holding yet more elections.
Adding to the pressure, the European Commission said on Monday it hoped"that a stable government can now be formed so Spain can continue working with the European institutions and its European partners."
