Congress elected Jose Maria Aznar prime minister on Saturday, the country's first conservative premier in 13 years. "A new era has begun in the democratic history of Spain," Aznar said after the vote.
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Aznar, a 43-year-old former tax inspector, was to be sworn in Sunday by King Juan Carlos. He will be Spain's fourth prime minister since dictator Francisco Franco died in 1975.Aznar's Popular Party narrowly defeated former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez's scandal-plagued Socialist party in March 3 elections but fell short of a majority in Congress. As a result, Aznar formed alliances with several regional parties.