Spain's Rajoy says general election likely on December 20

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy speaks during the opening of a political event of the ruling Popular Party (PP) at a castle in the Galician village of Soutomaior, northern Spain, August 30, 2015. REUTERS/Miguel Vidal

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain will probably hold national elections on December 20, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Thursday, leaving him less than four months to persuade Spaniards an economic recovery is good enough to warrant giving him a second term in office.

"Once the budget is approved ... I will call elections... They will be in December," Rajoy said in an interview with COPE radio. Elections are due by year-end.