Mariano Rajoy Removed from Office as Prime Minister of Spain

After several days of political tension in Spain, the parliament finally voted on Friday, June 1, to remove Mariano Rajoy, the Prime Minister of the country, through a vote of no confidence, and elected Pedro Sanchez as his successor. Mariano Rajoy, leader of the conservative People's Party, had been Prime Minister since December 2011, but recently, following the judicial conviction of several officials from his party in one of the largest organized corruption cases, the popularity of the party plummeted, prompting the opposition leader to call for the government's resignation. The confidence vote for Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Socialist Workers' Party, which is considered the largest opposition party in Spain, is likely to be held tomorrow (Saturday), and after taking an oath in the presence of the King of Spain, he is expected to introduce his cabinet members within a few days. The Spanish parliament agreed to hold the impeachment only on the condition that the vote would simultaneously address both the qualification of Mariano Rajoy and his potential successor. For the first time in the four decades since the death of General Franco, the former dictator of Spain, a Prime Minister has been removed through a parliamentary vote of no confidence. Of the 350 members of parliament present at the session on Friday, 180 voted in favor of the impeachment, 169 voted against, and one abstained. After the votes were announced, Mariano Rajoy approached Pedro Sanchez and congratulated him. Among the 19 Eurozone countries, Spain is the fourth largest economy, and Mr. Sanchez, along with his social-democratic party, strongly supports remaining in the European Union and the Eurozone. Concurrently with the announcement of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the Madrid stock market also rose by 1.16%. Pedro Sanchez, 46, a former economics professor at the university, was ousted from the secretary-general position of his party two years ago after losing to Mariano Rajoy in the general elections, but he returned to this position last year. The nature of potential coalitions in the new government and Mr. Sanchez's stance on holding 'early elections,' which is demanded by some parties, remains unclear. Pedro Sanchez will be the seventh Prime Minister of Spain in the post-Franco era.