MADRID (Reuters) -Spanish conservative leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo’s will seek a parliamentary vote on Sep. 26 and 27 to become prime minister, Spanish lower house speaker Francina Armengol said on Wednesday.
Feijoo, whose People’s Party got the most seats but failed to win an absolute majority in a national election last month, was nominated by King Felipe on Tuesday to try to form a government.
Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says he will seek another term in office if Feijoo fails in his attempt.
A candidate for prime minister needs to secure an absolute majority in the 350-member assembly in a first vote, or a simple majority in a second vote held within two days of the first.
Far-right group Vox and two regional parties have said they will back Feijoo, giving him 172 lawmakers, meaning he still faces an uphill battle to convince other groups to back him or abstain in a second vote to be able to form a government.
Armengol has the constitutional authority to set a date for an investiture vote after the king nominates a candidate.
If no candidate gets elected within two months after a first vote fails, a new election would take place.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; editing by Emma Pinedo and John Stonestreet)
