Spain election: Socialist Sanchez 'agrees PM deal'

Spain's Socialists say they are set to sign a pact with centre-right party Ciudadanos (Citizens) backing left-wing leader Pedro Sanchez's bid to be prime minister.

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez is seeking to become prime minister, but the path to his prize remains strewn with obstacles

A five-point plan for constitutional reform is at the heart of the deal due to be agreed on Wednesday morning. Mr Sanchez would then seek parliamentary backing to become prime minister in a vote on 2 March.

Spain remains in political limbo following December's inconclusive poll. Even if the Socialists (PSOE) and Ciudadanos strike a deal, between them they would command 130 seats - still fall far short of the number of seats required for an absolute majority in the 350-seat lower house.


Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's centre-right Popular Party, which took the greatest number of seats in the election, has already tried to form a coalition without success.

The Socialists had been negotiating with the radical left Podemos, but on Tuesday declared they had come to an agreement with Ciudadanos - due to be signed at 11:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on Wednesday.

"If these are the proposals, then we say yes," said Mr Sanchez during a news conference in Congress on Tuesday afternoon. The five-point pact would strip immunity from senior officials from being tried in lower courts; depoliticise the judiciary; make it easier for citizens to propose legislative initiatives; remove central government representation within regional administrations; and limit prime ministers to two terms in office.

In addition, reports El Diario (in Spanish), the deal envisages the imposition of a special tax on wealthy estates, an increase in the minimum wage, and corporate tax reform.

However, should a coalition be formed and go on to take power, constitutional reforms would depend on the unlikely support of the PP, which has an absolute majority in the Senate.

And despite the Ciudadanos deal, correspondents caution, the path to a new government remains far from clear.