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.