Rajoy Becomes New Spanish PM

By Gabrielle Pfafflin

MADRID — Mariano Rajoy of Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP) accepted the Spanish Presidency and an overwhelming parliamentary majority yesterday.

In an electoral landslide unseen since 1995, 43 of the 50 Spanish provinces elected PP representation in parliament and Rajoy for President of Spain.

The recent economic crisis throughout the Eurozone and mounting Spanish debt left by incumbent President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) disillusioned many voters, which caused the abrupt power reversal.

This election likely means cuts to public services throughout the Spanish government and gradual privatization of programs many Spaniards find essential. Rajoy’s campaign focused on the restoration of Spanish pride and reduction of the Spanish debt. However, PSOE legislators vowed “to fight to protect the rights and guarantees that we have accumulated during our time in power.”

PSOE and PP partisanship could lead to a dysfunctional parliament similar to the U.S.

In past reductions, the ratings agencies; Moody’s and Fitch, as well as Standard & Poor’s cited that the Spanish debt, and inefficient austerity packages indicated that Spain’s credit rating posed a risky investment.

Just two days ago, Spanish risk rose to 500 points, prompting the European Central Bank to inject millions of euros into the Spanish government.

These rising tensions and Spanish political separatism, fervored protestors election day to scream, “burn parliament,” and “Rajoy, remember we have a noose.”