Spain's Ciudadanos seeks snap polls after ruling party's graft conviction

Spain's centrist Ciudadanos, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's ally in parliament,on Fridaycalled for a snap poll after Rajoy's conservative Popular Party was sentenced in a major graft trial.

But Ciudadanos will oppose a no-confidence motion filed against Rajoy by the main opposition Socialists, party secretary general Jose Manuel Villegas told a news conference.

"Corruption has liquidated this legislature. The solution is strengthening Spain by giving voice to Spaniards...so we have a renewed government," he said.

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The no-confidence motion "is not Ciudadanos' motion", he said. "We will oppose this motion and ask that Spaniards be given their say and that elections be called."

To succeed, the no-confidence motion will need the support of an absolute majority of 176 lawmakers, a difficult task as opposition parties are deeply divided.

This means it would have to be backed by either Ciudadanos or by several tiny regional parties, including Catalan separatist parties along with far-left party Podemos which has already called for a no-confidence vote.

Ciudadanos has surged in the polls, winning votes from Rajoy's party and the Socialists, thanks to its hardline stance against Catalonia's separatist push.

Analysts say it has no reason to support a no-confidence motion that would lead to an alternative left-wing government.