Spanish congress brings forward investiture debate

The speaker of the Spanish Congress, Patxi Lopez, on Tuesday brought forward the start of the investiture debate by 24 hours.

The debate will decide whether or not Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sanchez will be named as Spain's new prime minister. The debate will now start on March 1.

Lopez said he took the decision because a fresh general election would need to be held if the 350 elected members of Congress are unable to decide who will be Spain's next leader.

The Spanish constitution states that once the first investiture vote has been held, Congress has two months to elect a new prime minister, failing which it will be dissolved and a new general election called.

A total of 54 days have to pass between the dissolution of parliament and new elections. With June 26 being the last available Sunday (the day Spanish elections are always held) before the start of the holiday season, the debate has to start on March 1, Lopez said.

Sanchez has two options to be named as prime minister. The first is to win an absolute majority in the first investiture vote, or to win a simple majority in a second vote.

If he fails to do this then, acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the leader of the People's Party, would have the chance to try an negotiate a coalition which would allow him to remain in power.

Meanwhile, Sanchez will hold meetings on Tuesday with the leaders of left-wing parties, Podemos, Compromis and United Left, as well as with Albert Rivera, the leader of center-right formation Citizens as he continues negotiations to form a viable government. Endit