Debate on conservative attempt to form Spanish government on September 26 and 27
People's Party eyes Basque nationalists and pro-independence Junts for support
The congressional debate on the conservative People's Party's attempt to form a government in Madrid will take place on September 26 and 27.
The chamber's speaker, Francina Armegol, announced the dates a day after King Felipe VI invited the People's Party to try to form a government after concluding a round of talks with representatives of Spain's main parties - but not pro-independence Esquerra Republicana or Junts per Catalunya, who opted out of speaking with him.
This means the head of the conservatives, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, will submit to an investiture vote in Congress at the end of next month.
The People's Party was the most-voted party in last month's general election, but Feijóo's success is anything but certain as the conservatives fell short of a 176 MP majority.
Although far-right Vox has pledged to vote for Feijóo, as have two smaller regional parties, the conservatives still only have 172 MPs backing them as of yet - not enough for a People's Party victory as the party will need either an absolute majority on September 27 or a simple majority 48 hours later on September 29.
The People's Party now has its eyes on the Basque Nationalist Party's 5 MPs and diametrically opposed pro-independence Junts' 7, from whom they would need at least an abstention in the second round of voting.
If Feijóo is unable to win the investiture vote, which currently seems unlikely, Congress will be dissolved two months later if no candidate is able to form a government and a new election will be called.
The Socialists, whose speaker candidate won more votes than the People's Party's Cuca Gamarra last week, are now on a quest to secure the critical support of the Catalan pro-independence parties.
This will be no easy feat for the left-wing unionist party as at the moment both hardline Junts and moderate Esquerra Republicana are demanding an amnesty for independence leaders as well as a referendum - issues that could potentially see Spaniards head to the polls again in a few months' time.