Bankruptcy for Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez's socialists in regional elections

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Lost: Luis Tudanca, the Socialist candidate

Photo: NACHO GALLEGO/EPA

The socialist party PSOE of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez suffered a bitter defeat in the general elections in the region of Castile and León.

The ruling conservative People's Party (PP) ended up at the top of Sunday's vote – but to stay in power it now needs to work in tandem with the right-wing populists from Vox, which emerged as the victors.

The party, which is considered xenophobic and misogynist, improved according to the preliminary official results from 5.5 to 17.6 percent and thus to 13 seats of the 81 seats;

previously they only had one.

The new election was also considered an important mood test for all parties.

After counting around 95 percent of all votes, the Socialists only got a good 30 percent, which means they will only occupy 28 of the 81 seats in the regional parliament in Valladolid, almost 200 kilometers north-west of Madrid.

The Sánchez party won the last election in 2019 by almost 5 percentage points and 7 more seats, but was still unable to form a government at the time.

A grand coalition between the PP and the Socialists was ruled out

The conservative regional president Alfonso Fernández Mañueco called the early parliamentary elections in December after the government alliance between his PP and the liberal Ciudadanos (citizens) broke up.

According to the preliminary official results, the Conservatives won the election this time with almost 32 percent and thus improved by 2 to 31 seats.

However, Fernández Mañueco would have to seek an alliance with Vox if he wants to continue in power.

A grand coalition between the PP and the Socialists was ruled out.

Vox's success came as no surprise.

It was predicted by all surveys and also corresponds to the development of the past few years in most regions of Spain.

dop/dpa