The Cabinet on Friday failed to approve rules enabling a controversial copyright protection law to become operative.

The outgoing Socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero originally encouraged this legislation, which seeks to curb rampant online piracy.

But the measure, known popularly as Ley Sinde after the culture minister who endorsed it, Ángeles González-Sinde, met with significant opposition from internet groups and left-wing parties.

Asked whether the administration meant to leave this hot potato in the lap of the incoming Popular Party, government spokesman José Blanco said that "the future government will have to take many decisions; that's the result of winning the elections."

There is also only one Cabinet left before the Socialists hand over power.