Spain's Socialist party has unblocked the conservative Popular Party from forming a minority government, which finally brings to an end the country's nearly 10-month political impasse.
Members of the Socialists' federal committee voted Sunday 139 to 96 to abstain from voting against acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during the upcoming confidence vote in parliament, which would grant him a second term in office.
Rajoy's Popular Party won elections in December 2015 and again in June this year, but not enough seats to rule alone. The party needed the main opposition Socialists to either support its government or abstain in a parliamentary confidence vote.
With only 137 of the 350 seats in parliament, the Popular Party’s government is expected to be weak.
Spain has been led for decades by either the conservatives or the Socialists and has never had a coalition government.
