Spanish PM admits mistakes but not to make changes after electoral reverse

Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy insisted he was not going to make any changes to his government and that he would remain as the candidate for the November general elections despite the serious setback his party suffered in Sunday's local and regional elections.

Sunday saw the share of the vote of Rajoy's Popular Party (PP) drop from 44 percent from the 2011 general election to just 27 percent. This saw the PP lose their overall majority in every region where they had governed and also key cities such as Madrid, Valencia, Seville and Valladolid.

Rajoy insisted that despite losing popularity the PP was still the party which had won most votes on Sunday, saying it was "absurd to deny they had won the elections."

"We have to aspire to more," said Rajoy, who said he maintained his intention to be the PP candidate in the next general elections.

"I think I will be," he said, adding he felt "comfortable and calm" over the prospect, as well as "absolutely convinced" that Spaniards would see the work his party had done to bring about the start of economic recovery. Endit