Spain PM Mariano Rajoy: Don't expect miracles

Spain's new conservative leader has begun the task of dragging the country out of an economic black hole and warned there was a difficult road ahead.

The Popular Party last night swept to victory beating the Socialists as Spain's voters swung to the Right - the biggest such win since the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1975.

Incoming prime minister Mariano Rajoy admitted "there won't be any miracles", adding: "But as we have said before, when things are done properly, the results come in."

It is the third time in as many weeks that a eurozone country has dumped its government with leaders in Italy and Greece also falling victim to the crisis. Mr Rajoy added: "It is no secret to anyone that we are going to rule in the most delicate circumstances Spain has faced in 30 years. For me, there will be no enemies but unemployment, the deficit, excessive debt,
economic stagnation and anything else that keeps our country in these critical circumstances."
With 97 per cent of the votes from the election counted, the Popular Party won 186 seats. The Socialists dropped from 169 to 110.

The Popular Party got 44 per cent of the vote to the Socialist's 29 per cent. It has warned that Spain is "going to make all the sacrifices" to tackle the country's debts.

Parliament is expected to meet next month to confirm Mr Rajoy as the new prime minister.
Outgoing prime minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, whose popularity plummeted as the crisis deepened, did not seek a third term in office. Socialist spokesman Perez Rubalcaba said his party would fight to protect the welfare state from cuts that he claimed Mr Rajoy will almost certainly make.