Rajoy defends 'clear' PP posture on next Spanish gov't

Acting Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday that the position of his ruling People's Party was "very clear and very understandable" in regards to who should lead the next Spanish government.

Rajoy said the current legislature, which begins with a hung Parliament with his Peoples Party holding 123 seats in the Spanish Congress, the Socialists (PSOE) 90, and recently formed parties Podemos, 69 and Citizens 40 seats respectively, was "different from all of the others which we (Spain) have had since 1979.

Rajoy insisted he wanted to remain in power in order to guarantee "stability" in the face of the Catalan independence crisis and the ongoing economic recovery.

"The Peoples Party must accept the responsibility of government," he said, although he admitted a PP-led coalition was not the only possible option at the time as the Socialists could theoretically form a government if they made a pact with Citizens and Podemos, or with Podemos and the minority groups such as Basque and Catalan nationalists in Congress.

However, Rajoy warned that a PSOE-led coalition would only serve to "generate more uncertainty," at a time when a stable government was required.

Meanwhile Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias criticized the deal between PSOE, PP and Citizens which will see Socialist Patxi Lopez named as the Speaker of Congress.

Iglesias called the agreement "shameful," adding he didn't believe the PSOE voters "want deals for seats." Endit