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Former leader of Spanish Socialist Party resigns as MP

Xinhua, October 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

Former leader of Spain's Socialist Party, Pedro Sanchez, resigned on Saturday as member of the parliament hours before investiture vote.

The investiture vote on Saturday evening would allow People's Party leader Mariano Rajoy to be prime minister, due to the abstention of the Socialists, a decision made in a Federal Committee last Sunday.

Sanchez said his reasons to resign were clearly known.

"I deeply disagree with allowing Mariano Rajoy to govern. Like many socialists, I maintain a firm, clear 'no',"he said.

He said it was a difficult decision, but emphasized that he would not leave politics and wanted to be a member of the Socialist party in order to refund an autonomous party.

"As socialists we want to vote. As the grassroots member I now become, I will from Monday dedicate all my effort to defending that right", he stated.

"Between the options given by the management committee, I do not choose any of them. I will not go against my party and I will not go against my manifesto commitment either," he emphasized, encouraging the management committee to call for a congress after the investiture vote.

Despite the decision taken at the Federal Committee last week, some members of the Socialist Party were set to vote against Rajoy. Endit