Spanish conservatives get absolute parliament majority

With 78% of ballots counted, Spain's conservative Popular Party, led by Mariano Rajoy, won an absolute majority in parliament, a government spokesman said on Monday. Government Spokesman Jose Blanco officially declared winner the Popular Party, supported by 44.1 percent of voters. The partly is to receive an absolute majority of 187 places in the 350-seat Congress. Its main election rival, the ruling Socialist Party, garnered 28.8 percent of the vote and will get 109 places. The Socialists have caused the voters' discontent with high unemployment, austerity measures and a deplorable economic situation. The country's borrowing rates were above 6 percent for most of this week, just 1 percent lower than the unsustainable 7-percent level.