Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will propose Deputy Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to succeed him as the ruling party's candidate in next year's general election, a government source said today.
Mr Aznar has long said he will not stand for a third term in general elections expected in March next year. He will propose a successor to meetings of the Popular Party's ruling bodies next Monday and Tuesday and they are expected to ratify his choice.
Mr Rajoy was until recently one of Spain's least-known politicians, but he has earned a reputation in his party for absolute discretion and loyalty to his boss.
He also gained credibility by running the PP's re-election campaign in 2000, a vote which the party won with an absolute majority.
Mr Rajoy has acted as Mr Aznar's right-hand man in recent political crises, willing to handle the worst tasks in the public spotlight.
He quietly bore the brunt of dealing with Spain's worst-ever environmental disaster amid huge public outcry after the sinking of the oil tanker Prestige in November 2002.
He then took the role of justifying Spain's backing for the US-led war on Iraq, in the face of strong public opposition.
Mr Rajoy (48), was elected to the Galician regional government in 1986 and worked his way up the political ladder from there.