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SPAIN - Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was toppled by a corruption scandal Friday, becoming the first leader in Spain’s modern democracy to lose a vote of no confidence in Parliament.
7he demise of Rajoy one of Europe’s longest-serving political leaders paves the way for Pedro Sinchez, the leader of the main opposition socialist party, to become Prime Minister. Friday’s vote was the culmination of years of corruption allegations against Rajoy’s Popular Party. 7he scandal came to a head last week when a court convicted his former aides of running slush funds to help finance Popular Party election campaigns. 7he fall of Rajoy’s government comes at a time of wider political turmoil in Europe. 7wo populist parties in Italy have just reached an agreement to form a coalition government after months of wrangling, %rexit dominates 8. politics and the European 8nion must now contend with a looming trade war with the 8S. Spain’s political tumult is born of a long-running corruption scandal coupled with internal division. Although still feeling the effects of the global economic crisis, Spain’s economy is performing better than that of Italy, and anti-European sentiment played no part in its change of government. Nonetheless, Sinchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party PSOE , faces significant challenges as he assumes office. Spain was riven last year by the &atalan independence crisis, which remains unresolved.
(CNN)