Spain's Rajoy loses confidence vote in Parliament

MADRID

With a lost confidence vote in Parliament, Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has failed for now in his bid to form a minority government, according to local media reports.

Spanish media outlets said Rajoy and his center-right People's Party (PP) could not get the backing of the opposition Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).

Rajoy could only secure the support of 170 deputies in the 350-seat Parliament, short of the 176 needed to govern.

As Rajoy lost the vote, a second vote will follow on Friday.

No party has held an overall majority in Spain since an inconclusive parliamentary election last December. A repeat election in June failed to break the deadlock, but left the PP the largest party in Parliament.

The PP won the most seats, but fell short of a majority in both elections.

*Reporting by Senhan Bolelli; Writing by Burcu Arik