Voters ready to sacrifice PM to secure government

A majority of voters of Spain's ruling conservative People's Party (PP) would consent to its leader and acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stepping aside if this allowed the party to stay in government, a poll showed on Sunday.

Rajoy, blamed for harsh austerity measures implemented in recent years that crippled the economy as well as political corruption cases at the PP during his leadership, is seen as the main obstacle for other parties to back a PP government.

Spain returns to the ballot box on June 26 after an inconclusive December election stripped Rajoy's center-right party of its absolute majority. Opinions polls show the vote could produce another political stalemate, forcing PP to strike a "grand coalition" deal with the Socialists and newcomer liberal party Ciudadanos to remain in power.