Rajoy signals readiness for investiture date

Acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Thursday said he was in a position to present his candidacy to be returned to office at an investiture vote in the Spanish Congress.

Rajoy said he would ask Speaker Ana Pastor to fix the date for the investiture debate after meeting with the leader of center-right formation Ciudadanos Albert Ribera.

He made his announcement after Rivera had told the waiting press that Rajoy had agreed to sign an anti-corruption pact proposed by Ciudadanos as one of the conditions stipulated for giving their support.

Rajoy in turn said the pair had taken a "decisive" step towards the formation of a new government in Spain and in avoiding a possible third general election in a year.

The acting prime minister also confirmed he has spoken to the Canary Island Coalition (CC), who have one seat in Congress.

However, he admitted that even with the support of CC and Ciudadanos, he would still have just 170 votes in an investiture debate -- short of the 176 needed for a majority. He called on Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez to facilitate the formation of a new government.

The meeting between Rajoy and Rivera came 24 hours after a meeting of the People's Party executive committee in which Rajoy was authorized to negotiate with Ciudadanos. Enditem