Spain's Socialists to vote on ending political impasse

Socialist party supporters shout during a protest against the party's possible support for a conservative government outside the socialist headquarters in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. Spain's socialist party will meet Sunday to decide if they will abstain in a parliamentary vote to let acting conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's build a minority government and end a nine-month political deadlock. (AP Photo/Paul White) (The Associated Press)

Red roses, a Spanish socialist symbol, lie outside the socialist headquarters as a protest gesture while a police officer stands guard in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. Spain's socialist party will meet Sunday to decide if they will abstain in a parliamentary vote to let acting conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's build a minority government and end a nine-month political deadlock but many socialist voters are not in agreement. 'Messages by the roses read in Spanish 'We want to decide' and 'No is no'. (AP Photo/Paul White) (The Associated Press)

MADRID – Spain's Socialist party is meeting to decide whether to help end the country's nearly 10-month political impasse and deliver another term to acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Two inconclusive elections since last December have left Rajoy in charge of a caretaker government. Rajoy's conservative Popular Party won both elections but did not win enough seats to form a majority in Parliament.

The Socialists will decide at their meeting Sunday on whether to allow Rajoy and his Popular Party to lead the government by abstaining from voting against him during a confidence vote in Parliament. That would prevent a third election.

The party has been bitterly divided over the issue but there are been growing signs it may yield in the end.