The Spanish prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, named his deputy, Mariano Rajoy, 48, as his successor yesterday, fulfilling a promise not to seek a third term at the general election next spring.
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The bearded and bespectacled Mr Rajoy, whose affable and humorous character contrasts with that of the dour and prickly Mr Aznar, is expected to stand down from his government posts to become secretary general of the party.
His nomination needs ratifying by the party executive tomorrow, but there is little chance of opposition. The increasingly autocratic Mr Aznar, 51, has an iron grip on his party and has made it clear that he, and he alone, will choose who follows him.
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Mr Aznar credits him with having turned around a sudden drop in the party's popularity caused by its enthusiastic backing of the war in Iraq.
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