As it stands, only Ciudadanos might be willing to back Rajoy.
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The December and June elections both resulted in hung parliaments after the rise of Podemos and Ciudadanos smashed decades of dominance by the Popular Party and the Socialists.
Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the small, business-friendly Ciudadanos party to consider supporting his bid to form a government but warned Spain faces a third round of elections if the leading opposition Socialist party maintained its intention of voting against him. “We’re not in the process of talking about entering into a government” with the PP, he said. Nationalist parties from the Basque Country and Catalonia have refused to provide any support to Rajoy. In a second ballot, 48 hours later, getting more votes in favor than against would be enough.
Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) had until now promised to abstain in an investiture vote to enable a PP-led minority government, but Rivera said on Tuesday he was open to further negotiations if first Rajoy agreed to a six-point reform pact.
Ciudadanos, a natural ally of the PP, rejects Rajoy’s party because of corruption scandals that have tainted its reputation.
“Rajoy wants to vote on its executive conditions in the coming days, we will respect and wait for an answer”, said Rivera in a press conference following the meeting.
Rivera’s change of stance is the biggest development since the general election in June, Spain’s second in six months, failed to produce a victor capable of forming support for a majority to pass next year’s spending plan, and to steer efforts to reduce the budget deficit.
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