Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s embattled Popular Party leader, has been re-elected prime minister after two inconclusive elections and ten months of political stalemate.<br /><br /> 170 people were in favour of the appointment, 111 were against and there were 68 abstentions.<br /><br /> Rajoy says he will choose his cabinet on Thursday and officially take up his position on Friday.<br /><br /> His appointment is largely thanks to the PSOE Socialist Party’s decision to abstain from voting in the congressional ballot. Sixteen Socialists also voted against re-electing Rajoy.<br /><br /> Spain had lacked a leader with full authority since December last year (2015), due to parliament failing to agree on a candidate both then and in June, 2016.<br />
