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Europe

Spain: PM seeks small party support to try to snap deadlock

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, left, speaks to Ciudadanos party leader Albert Rivera during a meeting at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Rajoy is meeting with the head of a minor party that says it might support his bid to form a new government, and end an eight-month political deadlock following two inconclusive elections. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) (The Associated Press)

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    Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, center background, talks with Ciudadanos party leader Albert Rivera during a meeting at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Rajoy is meeting with the head of a minor party that says it might support his bid to form a new government, and end an eight-month political deadlock following two inconclusive elections. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) (The Associated Press)

  • e1ce5679-
    Image 3 of 3

    Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, left, gestures as he talks with Ciudadanos party leader Albert Rivera during a meeting at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Rajoy is meeting with the head of a minor party that says it might support his bid to form a new government, and end an eight-month political deadlock following two inconclusive elections. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) (The Associated Press)

MADRID – Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is meeting with the head of a small party that says it might support his bid to form a new government, but little indicates they will reach an agreement soon that could end an eight-month political deadlock following two inconclusive elections.

Rajoy met with Albert Rivera of the business-friendly Ciudadanos on Thursday, a day after he admitted his party had not studied a package of reforms Ciudadanos presented last week as a condition for talks.

Rajoy's conservative Popular Party, in power since 2011, won the last election with 137 seats, 39 short of a majority in the 350-seat parliament and needs outside support to win an investiture vote.

If he fails, Spain could face months more of caretaker government and possibly a third election.