Pedro Sanchez resigns as Socialist party leader

PEDRO SANCHEZ, the leader of the Spanish Socialists has resigned his position as the party’s leader after the PSOE federal committee voted in favour of allowing acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy to form a government.

After an epic ten-hour debate held by the bitterly divided Socialist assembly, Sanchez lost by 132 votes to 107 and immediately announced his resignation.

Sanchez has adamantly opposed such a move and staked his leadership on the issue after half of his executive team resigned over his willingness to take Spain into an unprecedented third election and risk serious punishment from the electorate.

His decision means that an end to Spain’s nine-month political deadlock is now in sight as his successor will almost certainly abstain from a confidence vote in Rajoy, thus handing the PP leader the reins for another term in office.

Susana Diaz, head of the Andalucian autonomous community is a firm favourite to replace Sanchez with a reputation for pragmatism and a young political career untarnished by scandal likely to favour her among the grassroots.