Spanish acting PM says he "never thought about stepping down" as PP leader

Acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy began the run-up to the June 26 general election in Spain by insisting he had "never" thought of stepping down as the leader of the People's Party (PP).

In the election in December 2015, the PP lost their overall majority in the Spanish Congress, winning just 123 of the 350 seats in the chamber, resulting in a hung parliament.

In the four months since the vote, parties have failed to produce a coalition government and new elections have been called. Rajoy will again lead the PP at the next election on June 26.

In the interview with Cadena Ser radio station, Rajoy said although "nobody was irreplaceable," he had "never" thought about leaving the door open for someone else to be the PP candidate in the forthcoming vote.

"It would not be good either for Spain or for the PP," insisted Rajoy in his first interview since the new election was confirmed by King Felipe VI who signed the decree dissolving parliament on Tuesday.

In the run-up to the Dec. 20 elections last year, Rajoy was criticized for only appearing in one electoral debate -- a head-to-head with Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez -- and for sending Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria in his stead to a four-party debate alongside leaders of the Podemos and Ciudadanos parties.

Rajoy said Tuesday he had not yet made a decision on his participation in electoral debates when the election campaign officially begins on June 10. Endit