King says no possibility of government, elections to be called in June

Spain’s King Felipe has aid he would not put forward a new candidate to seek the confidence of parliament and become prime minister, a move which de facto paves the way for a new general election in June.

The king said in a statement that none of the political leaders he met had enough support to secure a parliamentary majority.

Earlier, the country’s acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he told King Felipe he still lacked the necessary support to be re-elected.

The leader of Spain’s main opposition Socialist party also said he was not in a position to seek the confidence of the parliament, meaning that a new vote was inevitable.

Spain will in theory return to the polls on the 26th June.