Spain: Deputy PM to succeed Aznar

Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been chosen to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar as the candidate for the governing conservative Popular Party in next year’s general elections, Aznar’s office said today.

The proposed successor is commonly known as Aznar’s right-hand man, and has held four ministerial posts. Most recently, he was the point man for the Prestige oil spill and manager of Aznar's second election campaign, which yielded a landslide win in 2000.

The other two main contenders for the position were Finance Minister Rodrigo Rato and former Interior Minister Jaime Mayor Oreja.

Aznar, 50, who has served two terms, has said he will not stand again in the interest of renewal in his party.

Aznar has been very tight-lipped about whom he wanted to succeed him and it was widely believed that he would hand-pick the party’s candidate for the elections.