Spanish PM Sanchez looks to boost support for his government

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, right, shakes hands with socialist leader Pedro Sanchez after a motion of no confidence vote at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Friday, June 1, 2018. Opposition Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez has won the vote to replace Mariano Rajoy as prime minister, in the first ouster of a serving Spanish leader by parliament in four decades of democracy. during the second day of a motion of no confidence session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Friday, June 1, 2018.
Pierre Phillipe Marcou/Pool Photo via AP

MADRID — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is making his case to stay in power, two months after he unseated the previous conservative administration with a no-confidence motion.

Sanchez has announced labor rights for non-permanent employees, improved pension payments and enacted measures to ensure equality for women.

Sanchez also said after a Cabinet meeting Friday his government plans to create 450,000 jobs by the year's end.

The announcements came before a summer recess and after a loss of political support for the center-left Socialist government's spending plans for 2019.

The government has only 84 of the 350 seats in the lower house of parliament, making it tricky to get its measures approved.

Sanchez has repeatedly said he wants to complete the remainder of the parliamentary term and call elections for 2020.

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