Sanchez wins cliff-hanger Spain vote to remain PM

Madrid, January 7

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Spain’s parliament chose Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez to form a new government on Tuesday, ending almost a year of political limbo for the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy. Sánchez won a cliff-hanger confidence vote 167- 165, with 18 abstentions. His party will lead a leftist coalition with the left-wing United We Can party as junior partner. Sánchez needed the votes or abstention promise of an array of smaller parties to get past. His supporters in parliament erupted into a standing ovation when the result of the vote was announced in the Chamber of Deputies. The hair-line margin of victory has raised doubts about how long the coalition government will last, as its policies require regular parliamentary approval. AP