On top is Rajoy’s investiture session, which will start next Tuesday, and the movements around him have intensified in the last hours. Citizens are the first party to take the plunge. The spokesman, Juan Carlos Girauta, explains that his party has imposed a 48-hour ultimatum on the PP, giving the people until Saturday night to accept the demands of Ciudadanos. Otherwise, the negotiations for Rajoy’s assent during the investiture session will be left unchanged and will be resorted to abstention.

“We want to say yes to Rajoy, so give us the reasons for that,” Girauta addressed the PP representatives. Thus, Ciudadanos wants to know in the coming hours the response of the PP to the conditions that it considers essential for the conclusion of the agreement. If they agreed, Rajoy would receive the support of at least 170 MPs in the first vote, which the PP believes would put the ball on the PSOE’s roof with the hope that the Socialists’ rejection could lead to a third election.

To be elected president, Rajoy needs the support of an absolute majority in the first vote, and in the second he would suffice with a simple majority. It is almost certain that it will not get enough support in the first round of voting, and the position of the other parties for the second round remains to be seen.

Tuesday, only Rajoy

Meanwhile, the president of the Congressional table, Ana Pastor, explained on Thursday the details of the investiture session. As in the March session, the presidential candidate will be the only one to address the rest of Members on the first day. The next day, the spokesmen of the other parties will do so.

In fact, the PP strongly criticized the use of this format by Pedro Sánchez in March, and submitted a letter requesting that López – president of the Congressional table in March – change the format, considering it a “legal fraud”. According to Popular, López’s decision was only intended to “elevate the monologue of Pedro Sánchez.” Five months later, the formula was repeated.

Looking for a formula to avoid Christmas

If the investiture sessions failed and the third elections were called, all indications are that they would take place on December 25, Christmas Day. The parties are already looking for a formula to avoid this date.

For example, the PSOE acknowledges that it is considering the possibility of legal reform. The spokesman of the Senate of Socialists, Óscar López, said that they are “looking for a solution to the blackmail of the PP.” Thus, the socialist plan would be to reduce the election campaign by one week and have the votes on December 18.

To this end, article 51 of the Electoral Law (LOREG) should be amended to begin with, but it may be superfluous. Article 42 of the LOREG states that once the cuts have been abolished, it is necessary to wait 54 days for other elections to take place. If Rajoy’s investiture attempt failed, the cortes would be annulled on November 1 as mandated by the Constitution, and there would be only 47 days until December 18.