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Spain election: PP short of a majority and Unidos Podemos second Spain election: PP short of a majority and Unidos Podemos second
(about 1 hour later)
The conservative People's Party of acting PM Mariano Rajoy has won most seats in Spain's parliamentary election but is well short of a majority, an exit poll suggests. The conservative People's Party (PP) of acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has won most seats in Spain's parliamentary election but is well short of a majority, an exit poll suggests.
The left-wing Unidos Podemos coalition would have the second most seats, the poll by state broadcaster TVE forecast. And the two left parties, between them, have enough seats for a majority, the poll by state broadcaster TVE forecast.
The Socialists were in third place, with centre-right Ciudadanos fourth. The Unidos Podemos coalition appears to have leapfrogged the Socialist PSOE into second place.
The poll was held after the four main parties failed to break the deadlock from December's inconclusive poll. The exit poll placed centre-right, pro-business party Ciudadanos fourth.
The vote comes days after the UK voted to leave the EU. The vote was held after the four main parties failed to break the deadlock from December's inconclusive poll.
TVE's poll gave the PP 177 to 124 seats, with Unidos Podemos on 87-95 and PSOE on 81-86. Ciudadanos, a natural ally of the PP, was forecast to win 26 to 32.
The Spanish election came days after the UK voted to leave the EU.
Prime Minister Rajoy had sought to portray the election as a choice between economic stability and the uncertainty offered by Unidos Podemos ("Together We Can"), a coalition led by anti-austerity party Podemos that emerged just two years ago in protest against austerity measures demanded by Brussels.Prime Minister Rajoy had sought to portray the election as a choice between economic stability and the uncertainty offered by Unidos Podemos ("Together We Can"), a coalition led by anti-austerity party Podemos that emerged just two years ago in protest against austerity measures demanded by Brussels.
Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias has denied his party is Eurosceptic, telling the BBC he was "sad" at the outcome from Britain's referendum.Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias has denied his party is Eurosceptic, telling the BBC he was "sad" at the outcome from Britain's referendum.
"We hope for a different Europe, we will fight for a Europe with social rights as a reality and we are for Europe and the people in Europe.""We hope for a different Europe, we will fight for a Europe with social rights as a reality and we are for Europe and the people in Europe."
December's election was a watershed for Spain, because the PP and the Socialist PSOE party had previously alternated in power since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s. December's election was a watershed for Spain, because the PP and the PSOE had previously alternated in power since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s.
But after months of talks no party was able to form a coalition or minority government.But after months of talks no party was able to form a coalition or minority government.
Unidos Podemos and other left-wing groups argued that the PP, under Mr Rajoy, had been discredited because of austerity and the chronic unemployment that has plagued Spain since the 2008 financial crisis.Unidos Podemos and other left-wing groups argued that the PP, under Mr Rajoy, had been discredited because of austerity and the chronic unemployment that has plagued Spain since the 2008 financial crisis.
The PP, however, says Spain's improved economic performance is proof that its policies have worked.The PP, however, says Spain's improved economic performance is proof that its policies have worked.
Casting his vote on Sunday, Mr Rajoy urged Spaniards who "love and feel for their country" to make their voices heard.Casting his vote on Sunday, Mr Rajoy urged Spaniards who "love and feel for their country" to make their voices heard.
"Spain will be what the Spanish people want it to be, it will have the government and the members of parliament the people want," he said."Spain will be what the Spanish people want it to be, it will have the government and the members of parliament the people want," he said.