Spain's Citizens, People's Parties Ink Alliance Deal Before PM Investiture Vote

MADRID (Sputnik) — In June, parliamentary elections in Spain resulted in a deadlock, as PP led by Rajoy finished first but failed to gain an absolute majority to form a government on their own. On Thursday, Rajoy and Albert Rivera, the Citizens party leader agreed to sign a deal on a parliamentary alliance.

"We signed an anti-corruption deal which includes six points. The deal paves the way for talks on Mariano Rajoy's investiture," Juan Carlos Girauta, lawmaker from the Citizens party, was quoted as saying by 24 Horas broadcaster.

Reportedly the deal requires officials proven to be involved in corruption be suspended from their posts, abolish judicial preferences for politicians, those convicted of corruption be stripped of their eligibility to apply for an amnesty and that a parliamentary committee be set up to probe the allegations of the illegal funding of PP.

Rajoy needs 176 out of the 350 total votes for his nomination to the prime ministerial post to be confirmed, while he has secured only 170 votes from the PP and the Citizens party so far.

Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, which came second in the elections, warned that it would vote against Rajoy's nomination.