Sunday’s election in Spain resulted in a nail-biting finish, leading to a probable hung parliament. No party secured an outright majority, with the Socialist Party (PSOE) winning the most votes but falling short of the required 176 seats to form a government. Following closely behind were the Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s plans suffered a significant setback as the early election aimed to strengthen his negotiating position with Catalan separatists. Now, the Socialists must form a coalition government or risk facing a second election.
The political divisions in Spain are profound, accentuated by the Catalan independence crisis. The outcome leaves uncertainty about whether the Socialists can find a stable coalition partner or if Spain will face another period of instability.
Detailed results are as follows:
- Socialist Party: 123 seats
- Popular Party: 98 seats
- Vox: 52 seats
- Podemos: 35 seats
- Ciudadanos: 10 seats
- Unidas Podemos: 3 seats
- Others: 15 seats
The Socialists must secure support from other parties to form a government. However, their long-standing rivalry makes a coalition with the PP unlikely. Vox has ruled out partnering with any other party, and Podemos demands the position of prime minister to enter into a coalition.
The most plausible scenario is a minority government formed by the Socialists, with the backing of Podemos and other smaller parties. Such an arrangement would be precarious, leading to potential political instability in Spain.
