Rajoy will seek parliament's backing to form government

Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy yesterday accepted a mandate from King Felipe to seek parliament's backing to form a new government and end over 10 months of political deadlock.

The Socialist party agreed on Sunday to abstain in the vote, allowing Sr Rajoy to lead a minority government of his conservative Partido Popular.

"I guarantee to you that if I am invested in the vote I will work from the first day so that this government is stable and long-lasting," Sr Rajoy told reporters.

"I am perfectly aware of the difficulties that governing in minority entails."

FULL STORY IN OUR PRINT AND E-EDITIONS