Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy lost a confidence vote in Parliament on Friday over a corruption scandal, making his government the first in Spain to fall in this way.
His political opponent Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the main opposition Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), now automatically becomes Prime Minister.
Rajoy’s fall follows years of corruption allegations against his Popular Party. The scandal culminated last week in a court convicting his former aides of running slush funds to help finance Popular Party election campaigns.
Rajoy’s fate was sealed after the Socialists secured support for the no confidence motion Thursday from a number of smaller parties in Parliament, including the Basque Nationalist Party.
According to CNN, Rajoy shook hands with his successor Pedro Sanchez to congratulate him after the results were announced.
Ana Pastor, President of the Spanish Parliament, announced that Sanchez has “the trust of the Parliament” and so becomes the new Prime Minister of Spain.
He received a standing ovation, with parliamentarians shouting: “Yes, it can be done.”
Sanchez has previously said that he would call for snap elections should he become prime minister.
CNN reports that Rajoy had effectively conceded defeat ahead of the vote, congratulating Sanchez on his expected win in a brief address to Parliament.
“In light of what we all know, I presume that the vote of no confidence will go ahead, and Pedro Sánchez will become the Prime Minister and I want to be the first to congratulate him,” Rajoy said.
“I will accept the result of the vote as the democrat I am, but I cannot agree with what has been done.”
