Spain's jobless rate drops to 19 pct ahead of new govt
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Spain's unemployment rate has dropped to 18.9 percent in the third quarter from 20 percent in the previous three-month period, the lowest rate in six years and welcome news for acting premier Mariano Rajoy as he looks to begin a second term in office this week.
The National Statistics Institute said Thursday the number of people out of work fell by 253,900 July through September to a rounded total of 4.3 million.
Reducing the unemployment rate, the second highest in the European Union after Greece's, had been one of Rajoy's main promises in government since 2011.
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Head of the conservative Popular Party, Rajoy is virtually guaranteed to win Parliament's approval to form a minority government Saturday and end a 10-month political deadlock following two inconclusive elections.