Spain’s Parliament voted conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy back into power ending a rollercoaster, 10-month political crisis. 170 lawmakers voted for Rajoy, 111 voted against him, and 68 abstained from voting.
Mr. Rajoy pledged to plough on with economic policies deeply unpopular with the opposition which blames austerity measures taken in his first term for rising inequality.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near Parliament amid a heavy police presence, unhappy about corruption and sweeping spending cuts during Rajoy’s first term.
In the pre-vote session, party leaders strongly criticised Rajoy and one another — just as they have done for the past 10 months as the country went through two inconclusive elections.