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Sanchez gives speech in Spanish investiture debate

Xinhua, March 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), began his bid to be named as the next Prime Minister of Spain on Tuesday when he opened the investiture debate in the Spanish Congress with a 90 minute speech.

Sanchez went into the debate knowing he could only count on 131 votes in a Congress of 350 deputies in Wednesday's vote which will decide whether or not he replaces Mariano Rajoy in the Palacio de la Moncloa.

As a result part of his speech was an appeal for left wing party, Podemos to add their votes to those of the 90 PSOE deputies, the 40 members of center-right party Ciudadanos (C's) and the single member of the Canary Island Coalition on Wednesday.

He said the PSOE was offering "a government of change and of dialogue" to end four years of government by Rajoy's right wing People's Party.

"18 million Spaniards voted for the current government to not continue ... 18 million Spaniards are expecting a different government, one that will repair the consequences of the mistakes that have been made and clear the path for different and better policies," said Sanchez insisting that only his party could provide "change" in Spain.

"Do we want a government based on agreement? Yes or no?" asked Sanchez, who offered a plan to help Spain's most disadvantaged families as a possible olive branch to either persuade Podemos to vote in his favor on Wednesday when he needs to win an overall majority, or to possibly abstain on Friday when a simple majority would be enough to take him into power.

First indications were not positive as Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias described Sanchez's speech as "disappointing," while his number two, Inigo Errejon commented the speech was "even worse than we thought it would be."

If nobody is able to form a government within 60 days of Wednesday's vote Congress will be dissolved and Spain will hold a new general election. Endit