After the election, Spain is threatened with a political stalemate: the conservatives are the strongest force – but it is not enough to form a government. Even the Socialists with Prime Minister Sánchez do not have a majority with their previous partners.
The top candidate of the conservative People’s Party (PP) is a long time. Alberto Núñez Feijóo appeared in front of his supporters on the balcony of party headquarters shortly after midnight. He strives to be the beaming winner. The Conservatives get the most votes. Nevertheless, the significant gains compared to the parliamentary elections four years ago are not enough to replace the left-wing government of Pedró Sánchez.
Feijóo announces that he will try anyway. It is his duty to start talks on possible government constellations so that Spain can be governed in accordance with the election results. So he obviously means: with himself at the top.
Defeat for ultra-right
But how this can be achieved remains an open question. Because the potential alliance partner, the right-wing extremist party Vox, is losing a lot of seats – so together with the PP it will not be enough for a change of government. And other parties also made it clear early on that they didn’t want to do anything in common with the ultra-right.
Sánchez will probably be able to continue after all, Vox boss Santiago Abascal stated bitterly in the evening, supported by communists, separatists and terrorists, Abscal said.
Pedro Sánchez is celebrated by his supporters in front of the headquarters of the Socialist Workers’ Party in Madrid.
Which is by no means a foregone conclusion. Because the Socialists and their previous allies in the Spanish Congress also lack sufficient votes for a stable majority. Sanchez celebrates anyway. The predicted loss of the Socialists did not materialize. A right-wing victory was averted. According to Sánchez, the backward-looking bloc, i.e. those who wanted to undo all the achievements of the past four years, had failed.
Success for new left alliance Sumar
Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz’s left-wing alliance Sumar, which was launched just a few weeks ago and into which previous coalition partner Unidas Podemos has been merged, is recommended as a strong political partner alongside the Socialists.
In a way, Diaz is the third beaming winner after a long evening of voting. Democracy has won, she exclaims. Only: Spain’s democracy must now also show how it can resolve the political stalemate in parliament. A grand coalition remains very unlikely in Spain. In the end, there could even be new elections.