Further Vox’s rise could also push the PP into conflict with the European Union (EU).ĭuring his term Sánchez has passed laws on euthanasia, transgender rights, abortion and animal rights. There have been concerns that if Vox becomes the kingmaker, it could force PP’s hand into undoing several of the previous PSOE’s policies. Going into these elections, the Vox, a far-right party has been projected as a disruptor. Whether the PSOE would accede to their demands remains to be seen. This leaves the parties in Catalonia, particularly the pro-independence parties, to side with the PSOE. On the other hand, the PP has promised to make sedition an offence if they are voted to power. But considering Sánchez’s lack of options at the moment and past record of leniency any possibility of demand for independence gaining traction again cannot be ruled out. The Junts are likely to drive a hard bargain which could include greater fiscal and administrative autonomy. Nine Catalan leaders were given lengthy prison sentences in 2019 for holding independence referendum in 2017. However, it is easier said than done since the Junts have already announced that they would not support Sánchez as president for nothing.Īs certain political parties from Catalonia have struggled for independence, Sánchez has displayed leniency towards the separatists as well. In the current situation the only shot that Sánchez has in forming the government is to stitch together an alliance with Sumar and other smaller regional parties which would include ERC and the Junts. The Junts had opposed Sánchez during his investiture in January 2020. Junts Per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia), a pro-independence Catalan party, has won seven seats in these elections and could hold the key to forming the government this time. This arrangement finally helped Sánchez in investiture of his government in January 2020. As per negotiations, the Em Comú Podem, a coalition of left parties in Catalonia supported Sánchez while Esquerra Republicana Catalunya (ERC), a pro-independence Catalan party abstained from voting. After the November 2019 elections, Sánchez negotiated with Catalan political parties. When the general elections held in April 2019 resulted in hung parliament, elections were held again in November 2019. The PSOE, under the current President of the Government Pedro Sánchez, too would have to negotiate with Sumar and other smaller regional parties to form the government.Ĭatalonia, which has been at loggerheads with Madrid for decades over autonomy in governance and revenue sharing and where several political parties harbour ambitions of independence from Spain, holds the key for any breakthrough in this deadlock.Ĭatalonia had also played a crucial part in the previous general elections held in 2019. However their total tally of 169 falls short of majority. These two parties are allies in some of the Autonomous Communities in Spain. But the opinion polls had indicated a possibility of the PP allying with Vox to form a government. No party, at least the two major parties PSOE and PP, was expected to win absolute majority on its own in these elections. The results present an uncertain picture as it would take considerable political bargaining for any party to form the next government in the lower house of the Spanish Parliament, Congreso de los Diputados that has 350 seats, thereby requiring 176 seats for absolute majority. The far-right Vox has won 33 seats while Sumar, a coalition of far-left parties, led by the current second Vice President of Spain Yolanda Díaz has won 31 seats. While the PP’s performance was as expected, the PSOE has surprised by winning 122 seats, which is actually an improvement of two seats as compared to last elections of November 2019 when it won 120 seats. Most of the opinion polls had predicted the PP winning around 140 seats while the PSOE ending up with around 105-110 seats. This prediction proved to be correct but the number of seats won by the PSOE has upset the equations of the opinion polls.Īs per the final results, the PP has won 136 seats and the PSOE has won 122 seats. The results of the general elections held in Spain on July 23 have continued with the trend that has been the characteristic of the Spanish electoral politics for the past almost one decade.Īs Spain went to polls on July 23, the opinion polls had predicted a change in guard with the opposition party Partido Popular (PP), a conservative party, making considerable gains in its seats tally compared to last elections and the ruling party Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) coming second.
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