MADRID (AP) Spains opposition Socialists tried to persuade smaller parties to support the ouster of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoys conservative government as a tense parliamentary debate opened Thursday on their no-confidence motion.
To secure the votes needed to replace Rajoy, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez promised to uphold a recently negotiated national budget that includes substantial benefits for Basque nationalists and vowed to open dialogue with separatists in the new Catalan government.
Backing from nationalist lawmakers would give enough votes.
He urged the prime minister to step down over the court fine imposed on Rajoys Popular Party last week as a beneficiary of a large kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.
Are you ready to step down here and now? Resign and everything will end, Sanchez told the prime minister, who listened from his seat with an impassive face. Mr. Rajoy, your time is up.
Sanchez, 46, reminded the chamber that last weeks damaging court ruling questioned Rajoys claim that he and other top officials were unaware of the partys illegal accounting.
The prime minister fought back. He said it made no sense to seek a no-confidence vote based on the graft ruling because the National Courts verdict doesnt include any criminal punishment for his party.
Everybody knows that Pedro Sanchez is never going to win the elections and this is the reason for his motion, his urgency, Rajoy told lawmakers, reminding them that the Socialists lost two general elections under Sanchezs leadership and warning that a Socialist government would endanger financial stability.
Every time you open your mouth, the risk premium goes up, the prime minister told his rival.
The debate on Thursday was expected to be followed by a vote on Friday.
As the two main parties exchanged accusations of covering up corruption cases in their respective ranks, all eyes were set on how the Basque nationalist party, which governs in the northern prosperous region, might tilt the balance either way.
Sanchez needs an absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies 176 of 350 seats to oust Rajoy. The far-left anti-austerity Podemos is set to vote in favor, but that leaves him still needing the votes of the Basque partys five lawmakers.
The pro-business Ciudadanos (Citizens) party, whose leader Albert Rivera is riding a wave of popularity after pressing Rajoy for a more aggressive approach in crushing the Catalan separatist challenge, is refusing to support Sanchez because it wants a snap election as soon as possible.
The prospect of an election won by Ciudadanos, which favors more central control of Spains self-governed regions, posed a dilemma for the regional Basque party. The nationalists have said their priority will be shielding the more than 500 million euros ($585 million) in additional investments and other benefits obtained from Rajoys government in this years national budget negotiations.
Sanchez announced on Thursday that he wont touch Rajoys budget if he is elected for the top job.
If the Basques stick with Rajoy, the prime minister will likely face subsequent no-confidence challenges from either Ciudadanos or Podemos in a bid to force an immediate general election, possibly in the fall.
