Mariano Rajoy sworn in as Spain’s prime minister

Spain’s conservative leader Mariano Rajoy was sworn in on Monday as prime minister for a second term at a ceremony attended by King Felipe VI, bringing a close to 10 months of political limbo.

“I swear to faithfully fulfil the obligations of prime minister and to show loyalty to the king,” Rajoy said with his hand on the Spanish constitution.

In a ceremony that was broadcast live on national television, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) was then greeted by Felipe VI, who came to the throne in June 2014.

Rajoy is set to spend the next three days forming a new cabinet for his minority government, after a 10-month deadlock. Still it was clear that he would be faced with unprecedented opposition as the country grapples with painful economic reforms and resurgent Catalan separatism.