What will happen if Pedro Sánchez resigns? All possible scenarios
Spanish PM considers stepping down after corruption probe against his wife
Pedro Sánchez threatened to resign as Spanish PM on Wednesday after a Madrid court opened a corruption investigation into his wife.
The Spanish PM will announce on Monday whether he will resign or continue, but regardless of his decision, Spain will not immediately go to a general election.
The Spanish Constitution stipulates that Congress cannot be dissolved until a year has passed since the last dissolution, which took place on May 28 last year, when Sánchez called a snap general election for July 23.
However, Sánchez could choose to remain as PM until the end of May, marking one year since the last dissolution, and then call for another election, which would be held in July 21 of this year, almost exactly mirroring last year's timeline.
But one of the most important questions is what would happen if Sánchez resigned immediately. If he were to step down now, he would not be able to call a general election.
Initially, both he and his cabinet would cease to function and remain in office until Congress elects a new prime minister, a scenario similar to the one after the elections.
The king would have to consult with Congress and propose a candidate for prime minister. If the first candidate failed, others could try.
However, if no one wins the confidence of the chamber, new elections would be scheduled in two months and 54 days.
Alternatively, Sánchez could choose not to resign, but instead propose a vote of confidence. If he wins, he would continue as prime minister, but if he loses, he would submit his resignation to the king, triggering a vote in Congress for a new prime minister.