Conservative leader Mariano Rajoy was sworn in Wednesday, December 21, as Spain’s new prime minister, to begin work on what he lists as his top priority -- pulling the nation out of its deep economic crisis.
Rajoy won a landslide election victory in parliamentary elections November 20. Daunting to-do list awaits Spain new PM
The Obama administration previously offered its support for the economic reforms of the outgoing Socialist government, but that government's unpopular austerity measures and the economic crisis led to its defeat at the polls.
Spain has an overall unemployment rate of 21.5%, but it youth unemployment rate is a staggering 45%.
Rajoy said most of Spain's national holidays that fall on weekdays would be observed on the closest Monday to improve productivity. Rajoy's first cabinet meeting is scheduled for Friday.Url: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/21/world/europe/spain-prime-minister/index.html?hpt=ieu_c2
