Spanish election yields another hung parliament - what happens next?
Polling fails to break the country's impasse and sets up months of negotiations
Spain’s acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez says he will form “a stable government and do politics for the benefit of the majority of Spaniards” after Sunday’s election delivered another hung parliament.
The governing Socialists (PSOE) won the most seats at the polls, but fell short of a majority. Meanwhile, the far-right Vox party “vaulted into third place”, The Guardian says, and the centre-right Citizens party suffered “a humiliating collapse”.
PSOE, led by Sanchez, won 120 seats, three fewer than in April’s inconclusive election. The conservative People’s party (PP) won 87 seats, while Vox more than doubled its seat count from 24 to 52. Another significant statistic was the turnout, which points to increased apathy: participation fell from 75.5% in April to 69.9%.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What happens next?
The result means that the election has failed to bring an end to the country’s political impasse and Spain’s political parties are set for yet more negotiations and horse-trading to try to assemble a government.
With potentially months of bargaining ahead, Sanchez said: “I’d like to make a call for the rest of the political parties to act generously and responsibly to unblock the political situation in Spain. The PSOE will also act generously and responsibly to unblock it.”
The leader of PP, Pablo Casado, said: “We’ll see what Pedro Sanchez suggests and then we’ll fulfil our responsibility because Spain can’t carry on being deadlocked.”
The anti-austerity Unidas Podemos, which came fourth with 35 seats, has offered to help Sanchez back into office. “Once again we extend a hand to the Socialist party and Pedro Sanchez,” said party leader Pablo Iglesias, adding that he was ready to start talks with the party as soon as Monday.
The BBC points out that though Unidas Podemos is the Socialist party's natural political ally, a coalition between the two would still fall short of the 176 seats needed for a majority.
Spain is currently in turmoil, with unemployment figures rising by almost 100,000 last month and the European commission revising the country’s growth forecast down from 2.3% to 1.9% for this year, and from 1.9% to 1.5% for 2020.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
India elections start amid violence, hate speech accusations
Talking Points Narendra Modi seeks a third term while critics worry about the future of the country's democracy
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Bird flu worries mount as virus found in milk, cows
Speed Read The FDA found traces of the virus in pasteurized grocery store milk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
How the biggest election year in history might play out
The Explainer Votes in world's biggest democracies, as well as its most 'despotic' and 'stressed' countries, face threats of violence and suppression
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Good democracies include their poorest citizens. The UK excludes them'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published