Mr Rajoy said whilst casting his vote that "these years have been tough for Spain".
The Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, spoke of Spanish institutions that could not raise finance.
Mr Rajoy says ministries, for example, must reduce spending by an average of nearly 15%.
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So far, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has denied that a request for aid is imminent.
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Mariano Rajoy's name is written a number of times in the documents published by El Pais.
Increased spending on pensions is just, necessary and possible, says the conservative Mr Rajoy.
Mr Rajoy wants to cut taxes to boost growth, but there is little room.
If Mr Zapatero will not go far enough, it knows that Mr Rajoy will.
It is still unclear, however, what a government run by Mr Rajoy would do.
And Mr Rajoy is right, Spaniards are cynical about all their politicians in all the parties.
When Mr Rajoy took office in late 2011 there were 5.27 million people unemployed in Spain.
Third, Mr Rajoy claims that Spain does not need to be told what to do.
Many wonder whether Mr Rajoy has any strategy to restore confidence in markets and among Spaniards.
The warm and witty Mr Rajoy ought to be the perfect antidote to any nasty image.
Overall, Rajoy's reluctance to ask for international assistance earlier has further complicated Spain's plight.
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By choosing to take on Mr Rajoy right now, Catalans are playing with fire.
Rajoy does remain the best viewed politician by his countrymen, coming in above Rubalcabas in the ratings.
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Mr Rajoy passed a law allowing the centre to intervene in the finances of poorly performing regions.
Despite having a commanding majority and unprecedented control over the regions, Mr Rajoy has been a disappointment.
Mr Rajoy wants CiU, which is critical of Mr Zapatero's lukewarm reforms, to help him oust the government.
Prosecutor Eduardo Torres-Dulce said he may question Mr Rajoy and other PP officials about the alleged slush fund.
One reason is that Mr Rajoy flunked hard choices at the outset, notably the cleansing of the banks.
Overseas, market participants had their eyes on Spain, with the administration of Mariano Rajoy presenting their 2013 budget.
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Nobody could accuse Mariano Rajoy, who has been the centre-right prime minister since only late December, of inaction.
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Critics say Mr Rajoy lacks the strength of a candidate who has had to fight to the top.
Spanish Interior Minister Mariano Rajoy hailed the move as a "great step forward".
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Saturday appealed for the June accords to be fulfilled as swiftly as possible.
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The PP leader, Mariano Rajoy, has at last shifted his party towards the centre after a long ideological battle.
Mr Rajoy vows to press on, aware that Spain's credibility is at stake.
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She stressed that in the 12 years she had worked with Mr Rajoy he had always manifested "exemplary conduct".
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