Spanish incumbent Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's plea to his opponents: "There are more things that unite us than divide us" | Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty
Rajoy reaches out to Socialists and Ciudadanos
The conservative leader says a broad alliance would be "a great opportunity" for reform.
By	Ivo Oliveira
1/5/16, 3:36 PM CET
Updated 1/6/16, 1:27 PM CET
Spain's Mariano Rajoy said Tuesday he would try to reach an agreement with the opposition Socialists (PSOE) and Ciudadanos (Citizens) to secure a new term as prime minister at the head of a stable coalition able to consolidate the economic recovery.
In an interview with Cope radio, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) said an alliance backed by more than 200 MPs from the PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos would reassure financial markets and provide the conditions for long-term reforms, including an overhaul of the constitution if necessary.
"We can resolve many problems for many years. It is a great opportunity," said the incumbent prime minister, whose party came first in the December 20 elections but was far short of a majority.
Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez, who came second, has so far refused to enable a new government led by Rajoy, who warned that if the PSOE teamed up instead with the radical Podemos (We Can) and nationalists, it would be "bad for the interests of Spain."
"We must respect the polls and try to unite the political forces that defend essential things ... There are more things that unite us than divide us," said Rajoy, noting that Spain is not as accustomed to coalition governments as much of the rest of Europe. The PP and PSOE have alternated in power for most of the four decades since the restoration of democracy.
The PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos, the centrist movement which came fourth in the elections, oppose the growing movement for independence for the wealthy region of Catalonia, while third-placed Podemos backs a referendum on the issue.
Rajoy said it would be better for Catalonia if regional President Artur Mas, who has struggled since September's local elections to get multi-party support to remain in office, abandoned his push for independence. However, Rajoy said there seemed to be no alternative to new elections in Catalonia because Mas was unlikely to drop this idea.
"When things are done wrongly, they tend to end badly," he added.
'No is no,' Spain's Socialists tell Rajoy
Ivo Oliveira
EU Regional Policy
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