Spain government poised to fall, Socialists set to take helm

Spain's conservative government appeared doomed Thursday to lose a no-confidence vote in parliament, with the center-left Socialist party poised to take power.

Spain's Prime Minister and Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy, lower row right, is applauded by his fellow lawmakers as he arrives to the main chamber during the first day of a motion of no confidence session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Thursday, May 31, 2018.  (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A Basque nationalist party's announcement that it would vote in favor of the motion spelled the almost certain end of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's mandate and foretold the stunning collapse of his minority government in a parliamentary vote Friday, when it will be short of support to survive.

Officials of Rajoy's Popular Party dismissed speculation that he might resign ahead of the vote.

"The PP has faced up to all the problems that have come its way," party secretary-general and Defense Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal told reporters, adding that Rajoy would be present for the ballot that is expected to oust him.

The impending downfall of Rajoy's government after ruling for nearly eight years came just days after the Popular Party's reputation was badly damaged by a court verdict that identified it as a beneficiary of a large kickbacks-for-contracts scheme.

Spain's Prime Minister and Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy gestures to his fellow lawmakers as he arrives to the main chamber during the first day of a motion of no confidence session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Thursday, May 31, 2018.  (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The unexpected development injected a new element of tension into European Union politics and global financial markets, already unsettled by Italy's struggles to install a government since a March 4 election.

Under a Spanish law that prevents a power vacuum, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, who tabled the no-confidence motion, would immediately become the new leader of the 19-country eurozone's No. 4 economy and a prominent EU leader at a time when the bloc faces numerous challenges.

Unlike Italy's potential new leaders, Sanchez hasn't expressed skepticism about the EU or the continent's single currency, both of which are broadly popular in Spain.

In the no-confidence debate, Sanchez, 46, called on Rajoy to step down over the kickbacks scandal.

"Are you ready to step down here and now? Resign and everything will end," Sanchez told the prime minister as he listened from his seat in parliament. "Mr. Rajoy, your time is up."

Rajoy responded by accusing Sanchez of a power grab.

Spain's Prime Minister and Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy addresses lawmakers during the first day of a motion of no confidence session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Thursday, May 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

"Everybody knows that Pedro Sanchez is never going to win the elections and this is the reason for his motion, his urgency," Rajoy told lawmakers, reminding them that the Socialists lost two general elections under Sanchez's leadership and warning that a Socialist government would endanger the country's financial stability.

Sanchez promised to abide by a national budget recently negotiated by Rajoy. It includes substantial benefits for the Basque nationalists whose promised votes in the no-confidence debate opened the door for Sanchez to oust Rajoy.

Sanchez also vowed to open talks with separatists in the Catalan regional government over their demands for independence. That issue has dogged Spain for the past eight months.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Popular Party leader listens to speeches during the first day of a motion of no confidence session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Thursday, May 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Rajoy has been in power since December 2011, successfully steering Spain out of its worst economic crisis in decades during the eurozone debt crisis and achieving some of the strongest economic growth in Europe. Last year, gross domestic product growth reached 3.1 percent.

In the process, Rajoy faced down opponents who complained that the recovery came at the expense of austerity measures, just as he successfully stood up to Catalan secessionists.

But the strong economy wasn't enough to keep Rajoy in La Moncloa palace, the seat of government in Madrid, and he was undone by the corruption scandal. Last week, National Court judges delivered hefty prison sentences to 29 business people and Popular Party members, including some elected officials, for fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, among other crimes.

Spain's Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez addresses lawmakers during the first day of a motion of no confidence session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Thursday, May 31, 2018.  (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

The Popular Party was fined 245,000 euros ($287,000) for benefiting from "an authentic and efficient system of institutional corruption." More damagingly for Rajoy, the judges questioned the prime minister's credibility when he said in court that he was unaware of the fraudulent accounting.

Sanchez appeared to have the absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies — 176 of 350 seats — required to unseat Rajoy.

But the coming months could be difficult for Sanchez to navigate, with a minority Socialist government needing to please Basque regionalists, Catalan separatists and anti-austerity parties in order to pass legislation in parliament. Rajoy has labeled that prospect a "Frankenstein government," while critics refer to Rajoy's government and party as "zombies."

Spain's anti-establishment Podemos party proposed Sanchez to form a broad coalition government and a left-wing alliance to win the next general election, which Socialists have promised to call before the end of this year.

Spain's Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez addresses lawmakers during the first day of a motion of no confidence session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Thursday, May 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

"Today, finally, we are sending the Popular Party home," said Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias, who called for Sanchez to implement an ambitious social agenda and to undo years of austerity measures by the conservatives.

Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera, whose center-right party is leading recent polls, formally announced his lawmakers would vote against the motion on Friday.

"I don't want a corruption-marred 'zombie government' but neither a 'Frankenstein government' with those who want to break Spain apart," Rivera said.

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III led the nation Sunday in a two-minute silence in remembrance of fallen service personnel in central London as the Princess of Wales looked on, a further sign that the royal family is slowly returning to normal at the end of a year in which two of the most popular royals were sidelined by cancer.

Remembrance Sunday is a totemic event in the U.K., with the monarch leading senior royals, political leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his eight living predecessors, and envoys from the Commonwealth countries in laying wreaths at the Cenotaph, the Portland stone memorial that serves as the focal point for honoring the nation’s war dead.

The service is held on the second Sunday of November to mark the signing of the armistice to end World War I “on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918. Across the U.K., services are conducted at the same time in memory of the dead.

After the two-minute silence, buglers from the Royal Marines played the “Last Post,” and Charles led the wreath-laying part of the service.

The 75-year-old king, dressed in his Royal Navy uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet, laid a wreath of poppies at the base of the Cenotaph in recognition of the fallen from conflicts dating back to World War I.

His eldest son and the heir to the throne, Prince William, left his own floral tribute — featuring the Prince of Wales’ feathers and a new ribbon in Welsh red.

Dressed in somber black, his wife, Kate, watched on from a balcony of the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, as is tradition. Queen Camilla, who would normally be standing next to the princess, wasn't present as she recovered from a chest infection.

It's the first time since the start of the year that Kate carried out two consecutive days of public official engagements. On Saturday, she attended the Royal British Legion Festival Of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Following the wreath-laying, around 10,000 veterans, including those who have fought in wars this century, notably in Afghanistan and Iraq, marched past the Cenotaph. With the passage of time, there were only a handful of World War II veterans present.

“It’s always a great honor to be back on occasions like this, but I remember the guys that never came home on my ship when it was torpedoed," said 99-year-old Stan Ford, who has had to walk with leg calipers ever since the ship that he was serving on — HMS Fratton — was sunk off France's Normandy coast in August 1944 at the cost of 31 lives.

“They never came home, and I always feel it’s my duty to put in an appearance and thank God for those that did survive, and to pray for the ones who didn’t," said Ford, who was one of 38 survivors.

Charles’ ceremonial role as commander in chief of the armed forces is a holdover from the days when the monarch led his troops into battle. But the link between the monarchy and the military is still very strong, with service members taking an oath of allegiance to the king and members of the royal family supporting service personnel through a variety of charities. Charles and William served on active duty in the military before taking up full-time royal duties.

Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February, forcing him to step away from public appearances for two months as he focused on his treatment and recovery. Just a few weeks later, Kate announced her own cancer diagnosis, which sidelined her for much of the year as she underwent chemotherapy.

The king has been in good form in recent months and recently completed a taxing trip to Australia and Samoa. Kate, who made her first post-diagnosis public appearance during the monarch's birthday parade in June, is slowly returning to public duties.

Prince William reflected this week on the strain that the cancer scare has placed on the royal family.

“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” William told reporters on Thursday as he wrapped up a four-day trip to South Africa. “But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”

While the Cenotaph was the focus of the national remembrance service, communities throughout the U.K. held their own ceremonies on Sunday.

Needham-Crofton, who served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers before a truck accident ended his military career, planned to attend a local service in Eastbourne on the south coast of England.

He has spent much of his time honoring veterans and trying to help them, including 20 years as a volunteer for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. Like some of his army tasks, raising cash was rather grueling as it involved standing in front of London subway stations collecting coins to help fund the group’s efforts.

“I like to respect all the veterans and do what I can for them," he told The Associated Press. “It’s a brotherhood really. Even if you don’t know a veteran that you meet, you feel a kinship toward them. That is very important to me. I shall be like that for the rest of my life."

From left: Britain's former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, former Prime Minister Liz Truss, leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, stands on a balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prince William salutes after laying a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch, left, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain's Prince William returns to his position after laying a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Britain's King Charles III, at centre, stands with other royals and politicians as they attend the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool )

Britain's King Charles III, centre, with Prince William ,left, and Princess Anne attend the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's King Charles III, centre, with Prince William ,left, and Princess Anne attend the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, stands on a balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

Front from left, Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles III and Anne, Princess Royal walk during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, front right, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, front left, carry wreaths, as former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, second row center, Liz Truss, second row left, and Theresa May, second row right, look on as they attend the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, front right, and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, front left, carry wreaths as they attend the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Kate, Princess of Wales, left an Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool )

Britain's King Charles attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, stands on a balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London, England, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, center, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, left, attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)

From left, on first row: Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince William, Britain's King Charles and Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's King Charles, centre left, arrives to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Pool Photo via AP)