Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez swears in in front of King

Pedro Sánchez has been sworn in as prime minister of Spain after taking an oath in front of the king, Felipe VI, at the Spanish Royal Palace, Zarzuela. 

The Socialist was reelected as the premier by a majority of lawmakers in the Spanish Congress on Thursday after striking agreements with seven other parties to back his bid, including Catalan pro-independence groups Esquerra Republicana and Junts per Catalunya.

Sánchez took the oath in the Hall of Audiences of Zarzuela in front of a copy of the Spanish Constitution and on a desk where, as in his previous inaugurations, there were no religious symbols.

The Socialist leader promised for his "conscience and honor to faithfully fulfill the obligations of the position as head of the government with loyalty to the King, and to preserve and have preserved the Constitution as a fundamental rule of the State, as well as to maintain the secrecy of the deliberations of the Council of Ministers."

After swearing the oath, Sánchez shook hands with King Felipe VI with a serious pose, and took a photograph with all the representatives of the high institutions of Spain.

Present in the room were the minister of justice, Pilar Llop, who served as a senior notary; the Congress speaker, Francina Armengol; the Senate president, Pedro Rollán; president of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), Rafael Mozo; and head of the Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido.

Weekend, new ministers

During the weekend, Pedro Sánchez will announce his next cabinet, the second coalition government in modern democracy in Spain.

The deal with the left-wing coalition Sumar will mean both groups will divide ministries.

Once the deal between both is achieved, Sánchez will give a press conference from Moncloa, the headquarters building of the Spanish government in Madrid, and the new cabinet members will be sworn in on Monday in Zarzuela, as sources from the executive told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

The first cabinet meeting is scheduled for Tuesday after the traditional picture with all new members on the stairs of the Moncloa building.

Moncloa confident on stability

One of the biggest questions raised since Sáncehz was reelected prime minister revolves around the stability the new executive will have. In order to pass any new laws, it will need the support of many parties all together, including Catalan pro-independence parties, Basque parties, and more. 

Isabel Rodríguez, spokesperson for the executive, told Spanish public broadcasters TVE that this situation "is not new" and that they are "capable of providing certainty and stability in times of difficulty."

"It will be complex and difficult, yes, but rest assured, because [Sánchez] has shown he is capable of managing [the administration]," she explained.