Sunday’s general election results in Spain have created uncertainty around the future of the next government – raising the spectre of political deadlock.
The right-wing bloc which was expected to win, only secured 169 seats. The left-wing bloc won 153 seats, both falling far from an absolute majority.
The leader of Spain’s Populist Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, claimed victory in the snap vote, but cannot form a majority, even with the support of the far right.
Negotiations will now begin to try and form a new government and avoid another election.
Parties with the greatest potential to be kingmakers were nearly even with the far-right Vox part on 33 seats and far-left Sumar on 31.
The outcome for Vox, which had campaigned on a platform of rolling back laws on gender violence, LGBTQ rights, abortion and euthanasia, marks a loss of 19 seats from four years earlier.
While Sanchez’s Socialists finished second, they and their allied parties celebrated the outcome as a victory since their combined forces gained slightly more seats than the PP and the far-right.
The bloc that could likely support Sanchez totalled 172 seats, while the right bloc, behind PP’s leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, was likely at 170.
Supporters chanted “no pasarán” – the slogan of anti-fascist forces during the Spanish civil war meaning they shall not pass.
Whether Sánchez can find a way to keep his position as the head of Spain will depend on securing the backing of the Catalan pro-independence party, led by Junts de Carles Puigdemont.
They have previously warned they will not help without compensation.
