Rajoy to name cabinet on Thursday after winning confidence vote

Spain's Parliament has voted to approve Mariano Rajoy's bid to form a new minority government, bringing to an end the country's 10-month political stalemate.

Sr Rajoy, leader of the conservative Partido Popular, won a second term as prime minister on Saturday with 170 votes in favour, 111 votes against and 68 abstentions.

"I will announce the government on Thursday afternoon and they will be sworn in on Friday," Sr Rajoy told reporters immediately after the vote.

"I have already spoken with His Majesty the King."

Sr Rajoy needed an absolute majority in the 350-seat Parliament during a first confidence vote on Thursday, but was rejected.

He only needed more votes in favour than against during the second vote.

The PSOE's decision to abstain broke the deadlock and cleared the way for a minority PP government, although some socialist MPs broke ranks and voted against Sr Rajoy.