Devendra Kumar
Spain’s political terrain remains uncertain after the country’s inconclusive national elections left both the right and left blocs without a clear path to forming a new government. The conservative Popular Party, led by Alberto Nunez Feijoo, won the election but fell short of its expected victory, while the Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s party garnered slightly more seats when combined with its allied parties. The outcome has thrown the country into a state of political jockeying and uncertainty, with the next prime minister yet to be voted on.
The Popular Party’s poor performance has left it without a clear route to forming a government, and analysts predict a “deadlock scenario” in the parliament. The party’s best option would be to form an alliance with the far-right Vox party, but even then, it would likely not be enough to secure the necessary majority. The Socialists, on the other hand, have celebrated the outcome as a victory, as their combined forces with junior coalition partner Sumar and smaller parties have gained slightly more seats than the right-wing bloc.
Pedro Sanchez’s Socialists finished in second place, but with 31 seats more than their previous total, they are well-positioned to form a government. However, the hardline Catalan separatist party Junts, which holds the key to power, has made it clear that it will only support Sanchez in exchange for concessions, including a referendum on independence for Catalonia. This demand is likely to be too costly for Sanchez to accept, leaving his chances of forming a government uncertain.
The election has left Spain in a state of political limbo, with weeks of uncertainty ahead before a new government is formed. The next prime minister will only be voted on once the new Congress of Deputies is installed, and the chances of Sanchez securing the necessary majority are slim. As the country’s politicians begin the process of negotiations and coalition-building, the future of Spain’s government remains unclear.