The results of the general elections in Spain leave the future of the next government in sight

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The right-wing bloc that was expected to win got only 169 seats. The left bloc won 153 seats – both far from an absolute majority.

The results of Sunday’s general elections in Spain have created uncertainty about the future of the next government – adding to the specter of political impasse.

The leader of the Spanish Populist Party, Alberto Núñez Viejo, declares victory in the snap vote, but he cannot form a majority, even with the support of the far right.

Negotiations will now begin to try to form a new government and avoid another election.

Vox did badly – dropping seats in the 2019 election

Feijóo’s chances of a PP forming a majority with the far-right Vox party have faded after it fared worse than it did in 2019.

On Sunday, the conservative leader said he would try to form a government.

“As the party’s candidate with the most votes, I think it is my duty to ‘try’ to form a government,” he said at the party’s headquarters in Madrid.

Incumbent President Pedro Sanchez of the Socialist Workers’ Party defied expectations, saying last night that “the reactionary bloc has failed”.

Supporters chanted “La pasarán” – the slogan of the anti-fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War implying that they would not pass.

Sanchez must hold on now.

Whether Sanchez is able to find a way to retain his position as President of Spain will depend on securing the support of the Catalan pro-independence party, led by Juntes de Carles Puigdemont.

They previously warned that they would not help without compensation.

Pedro Sanchez did better than expected

Sanchez was acquitted in his controversial decision to call snap elections during the sweltering heat wave, after his poor performance in the local and regional elections.

After 94.97% of the votes were counted, the Conservative Populist Party won 136 seats, up 47 from 4 years ago. The far-right Vox won 33 seats – 19 fewer than in 2019 – adding a total of 169 MPs in the coalition.

This number does not allow them to rule, not even with the hypothetical contribution of the Vice-People’s Union of Navarrese (UPN) and Coalición Canaria – because of the threshold of 176 seats.

But the left bloc registered 153 deputies. 122 of these deputies are from the Socialist Socialist Party and 31 from Sumar, the 15-party coalition led by Yolanda Diaz.

To gain 176 seats, Sánchez’s party would need 23 more deputies and their traditional allies in Parliament – ERC, Bildu, PNV and BNG (all regional parties) – would have 19 seats together.

So the fate of Pedro Sanchez can be decided by Juntes de Carles Puigdemont.

The exiled Catalan leader in Belgium said before campaigning began that his party would not support Sanchez or Figo, so everything is still up in the air.

Leftist leader Sanchez has been criticized in the past for making concessions to Catalan and Basque nationalists, which some say threaten the country’s unity.

The surprising turn of events was the result of left-nationalist EH Bildu coming close to becoming the first party in the Basque Country – while the ERC stands as a big loser in the election, dropping to seven seats.

The most likely outcome is new elections

With these results, there will be a deadlock in parliament. For now, this will allow Pedro Sanchez to remain in Moncloa – but it could lead to new elections soon.

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