Moncloa Palace, Madrid
The acting President of the Government closed off the round of consultations at Zarzuela Palace initiated by His Majesty, King Felipe VI, on Monday with the representatives appointed by the political groups with parliamentary representation, in compliance with Article 99 of the Spanish Constitution.
As he explained at the end of the meeting, Mariano Rajoy confirmed that the King offered him the opportunity to stand at the investiture session as candidate for President of the Government. "I thanked him for this gesture and the deference he showed towards me, but I told him that I am not in a position at this time to stand for the investiture because not only do I not have a majority of votes to back me but that, furthermore, I have an absolute majority of accredited votes against me: 180 MPs at least", he stated.
The acting President of the Government told the King that he will continue working to achieve a sufficient majority because he considers that the option he proposes for a government in Spain is the best option for Spain. "This is the moderate option. It is an option which would have 250 MPs in the Lower House and an absolute majority in the Upper House. It is an option that responds to the general interests of the Spanish people and to the majority will of those citizens that believe in the unity of Spain, in national sovereignty, in the equality of all Spaniards and in the consolidation of the economic and social recovery that we are achieving in Spain, as well as in job creation".
Mariano Rajoy added that he will continue with his candidature to the Presidency of the Government, but that he still does not have the support necessary to stand for the investiture because on Friday morning a proposed agreement was presented that would include many more votes than his proposal and a great deal fewer against. "It makes no sense for me to continue preparing my investiture debate while others are already negotiating the distribution of cabinet positions".
He also clarified that the aim of the investiture debate is for a candidate to receive a vote of confidence in the Lower House and thus form a stable government, and not a mere formality that then sets the clock ticking. "I am not going to put myself forward for that procedure out of respect for the 7 million Spaniards who put their trust in and gave their support for the People's Party".
"I don't not have the votes at this time, and hence, it makes no sense for me to go there for the sole purpose of the two-month deadline starting to tick down as established by the Constitution", he concluded.
