Madrid, October 13 (RHC)-- Spain's King Felipe has called for new consultations aimed at forming a government to resolve the country's 10-month-long political deadlock and avoid a third national election in less than a year. 

Under Spanish law, the king acts as a formal broker between political parties who have reached an impasse. Nationwide elections in December and June gave no single party a clear mandate, and acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been unable to win enough support to form a governing coalition. 

The resignation last week of the Socialist party leader, Pedro Sanchez, however, has offered new hope.  Sanchez had been staunchly opposed joining a coalition with Rajoy's conservative PP party, but his successor, has indicated that he may be willing to do just that, fueling confidence that the scheduled meetings October 24 and 25 may finally bear fruit before the October 31 deadline.