2015–16 Spanish government formation

2015–16 Spanish government formation

Mariano Rajoy voting on 20 December 2015.
Date	1st: 21 December 2015–26 April 2016 2nd: 27 June–29 October 2016
Location	Madrid, Spain
Cause	Spanish general election, 2015 Spanish general election, 2016
Participants	Felipe VI PP PSOE Unidos Podemos (from 27 June 2016) → Podemos → IU → Compromís C's ERC DL (until 26 April 2016) CDC (27 June–10 July 2016) PDeCAT (from 10 July 2016) PNV EH Bildu CC
Outcome	1st: Signing of PSOE–C's pact. Pedro Sánchez's failed investiture. Inconclusiveness of government formation negotiations leading to fresh election. 2nd: Signing of PP–C's pact. Mariano Rajoy's failed investiture. PSOE crisis leading to Sánchez's ouster and the party voting to allow a PP minority government.

1st:

2nd:

Attempts to form a government in Spain, and related events, followed the inconclusive Spanish general election of 20 December 2015, which failed to deliver an overall majority for any political party. As a result, the previous Cabinet headed by Mariano Rajoy assumed caretaker functions. According to Article 99.5 of the Spanish Constitution:

After a series of inconclusive inter-party negotiations, Pedro Sánchez tried and failed to pass an investiture vote on 2 March. Subsequently, a political impasse set in as King Felipe VI could not find a new candidate to nominate with sufficient parliamentary support. As a result a snap election was held on 26 June. The second election also proved inconclusive, and a failed investiture attempt by Mariano Rajoy on 31 August raised the prospect of a third election.

On 1 October, a party rebellion resulted in Pedro Sánchez being ousted as PSOE leader and the party voted to allow the formation of a PP minority government. This materialized on 29 October when PSOE abstained in Rajoy's second investiture process, thus ending the political deadlock after 314 days without an elected government.

As the election produced a hung parliament, a multi-party agreement was expected to be required. Mariano Rajoy said he would try to form an administration, but Pedro Sánchez called for a change in government, while recognising the PP's right to try and form a government first. Two possible coalitions, the PP with C's and PSOE with Podemos, would both come up short of a majority by themselves.