SPAIN PROTESTS: Thousands take to the streets over EU-enforced cuts as Rajoy re-elected
TROUBLE-HIT Spain saw swathes of protests last night as it finally approved a second term for their prime minister, ending 10 months of political turmoil.
A parliamentary vote saw acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy secure a second term as head of the country’s government.
Mr Rajoy, leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), was elected with a 170-111 vote.
The opposition Socialist Party abstained from the vote, re-handing Mr Rajoy the reigns of power.
Mariano Rajoy was re-elected prime minister after ten months of uncertainty
But Spaniards took to the streets during the vote to express their anger against the re-election of Mr Rajoy.
Thousands took to the streets of Madrid holding banners reading “No” and chanting “they don’t represent us” amid widespread budget cuts and alleged corruption in the country.
Spanish home secretary Jorge Fez Diaz claimed up to 3,000 people marched in the capital.
Thousands lined the streets of Madrid to protest against Mr Rajoy's re-election
They don’t represent us
The southern European nation has suffered almost a year of uncertainty after voters punished the PP in a December election for years of austerity policies.
Unemployment soared to 27 per cent and the Iberian nation needed a 41 billion euro (£37 billion) European bailout during Mr Rajoy’s tenure.
But Madrid is desperate to block any Catalan moves to split from Spain, as the region is the country’s most economically successful area.