According to various Spanish media reports the Basque Nationalist Party party announced that it will vote against Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in a no-confidence motion. It’s a move that will almost certainly force him out of office.
Mr Rajoy’s centre-right People’s Party (PP) – in power since 2011 but part of a minority government after it failed to win successive elections outright in 2015 and 2016 – is at the centre of a cash-for-contracts scandal following the conviction last week of 29 people associated with the party of crimes relating to fraud, embezzlement and money-laundering.
One of the party’s former treasurers was jailed for 33 years over the affair, known as the Gurtel case.
Spain’s lower house is currently debating a motion filed by the main opposition Socialist Party (PSOE), which is looking to unseat Rajoy and replace him with their leader Pedro Sanchez. Rajoy’s departure would probably trigger a second political crisis in southern Europe, after Italy’s political deadlock. It is not clear whether Rajoy could resign before the vote takes place on Friday. If he doesn’t he would become the first Spanish Prime Minister to lose a no-confidence vote.
If Rajoy loses the no-confidence vote, the motion would automatically become groundless and the government of the People’s Party would go into caretaker mode until a new prime minister is sworn in — which could take up to several months.
During the no-confidence motion, Sanchez urged Rajoy to quit before the vote on Friday: “Resign today and this no-confidence motion would be over today.” Sanchez would need an absolute majority of 176 votes to become Spain’s new Prime Minister.
However, on Thursday the PNV has unveiled the mystery about their vote: they will support the motion of censure, if not Rajoy does not resign in the next few hours.
The parliamentary spokesman of the Basque formation, Aitor Esteban, has confirmed the decision adopted by the direction of the nationalist party. The announcement was made without Rajoy sitting in his seat to hear him in person. The outgoing president did not need it; the nationalists had already warned him.
“We respond to what the majority of Basque society demands by voting yes,” Esteban confirmed. “Last Thursday’s ruling was a before and after in society (…) and the debate transcends the legal.” Therefore, Basque nationalists have opted for Sanchez against Rajoy.
“Neither the situation is simple, nor the solution and its consequences are,” said Esteban. He also said that the PNV has always tried to do an “exercise of responsibility”, in reference to its decision to support Rajoy’s budgets, including in them a revaluation of pensions. If those budgets do not pass the process of the Senate, has said in reference to the PP, will be “an irresponsibility equal” that of which accuses others.
The debate is scheduled to run throughout Thursday and deputies will vote whether to keep or replace Rajoy on Friday.
