Spain's PM Will Not Resign Ahead of No-Confidence Vote – People's Party Member

"Mariano Rajoy will not resign," the secretary-general of the People's Party (PP), Maria Dolores de Cospedal, said in a press conference on the sidelines of a discussion in parliament ahead of the vote.

Meanwhile, the Basque Nationalist Party announced Thursday that said it would support a motion of no-confidence against Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, paving the way for Rajoy to be removed from office.

"Our vote against [the no-confidence motion] will not create more stability [in Spain]. We will act more responsibly by voting in favor of [the motion]," PNV party spokesman Aitor Esteban said in an address to Spain's parliament.

Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, got into hot water after a motion was filed by the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Pedro Sánchez. Previously, the Basque political party, as well as pro-independence Catalan parties, have supported the no-confidence vote brought over the corruption case.

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The motion was initiated, following a recent court ruling, which found several officials of Spain's People's Party guilty of embezzlement, tax evasion and numerous other offenses. The party itself has been fined by Spain's High Court last week for its involvement in the "corruption scheme."

The PSOE leader needs to receive a majority of 176 votes to take over as Spain's new prime minister. According to preliminary surveys, he currently has 175 votes – just one short of what he needs to have an absolute majority.

Responding to the accusations against him, Rajoy rejected the political proceedings as a plot by Sánchez and his party to undemocratically seize power.