Spian: Spanish Socialists prepare to end political logjam - by Tobias Buck

After 10 months of political deadlock and drift in Spain, it all comes down to this: a committee of some 300 officials from the Socialist party who will meet this Sunday to decide whether the country should have a government or not.

The choice facing the members of the PSOE’s federal committee is stark, and will carry a heavy political price either way. But if party insiders and analysts are right, the Socialists are preparing the ground for a last-minute U-turn that would allow the formation of a minority conservative government.

Barring a late surprise,the committee is expected to instruct the party’s members of parliament to abstain in a crucial vote on Mariano Rajoy’s candidacy for a second term as prime minister. That would be enough to secure another mandate for the veteran centre-right leader and draw a line under Spain’s political deadlock.

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Spain: Rajoy calls for broad coalition as split parliament reconvenes

Rajoy has called for a broad coalition between his People’s Party (PP), the Socialists (PSOE) and Ciudadanos.

Rajoy, who will ask for a vote of confidence at the end of this month to remain Prime Minister, said the coalition should last four years, to enable Spain to reform itself and strengthen its economy.

Podemos, which would be excluded from the coalition, still managed to draw everyone’s attention when Carolina Bescansa, who was a candidate for speaker,showed up with her baby boy, Diego… and started breastfeeding him in parliament.

Spain Rajoy calls for broad coalition as split parliament reconvenes | euronews, world news