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Spanish elections: Socialists 'lead amid right-wing surge' Spanish elections: Socialists lead amid right-wing surge
(32 minutes later)
The governing Socialist Party in Spain looks set to win the most seats in the general election, but fall short of a majority, exit polls suggest. The governing Socialist Party in Spain looks set to win the most seats in the general election, but fall short of a majority as the first results come in.
The conservative Popular Party follows in second place, while the far-right Vox party appears to have doubled its vote share, said the poll by public broadcaster RTVE. With more than 75% of the votes counted, the opposition conservative Popular Party follows in second place, and the far-right Vox party appears to have heavily increased its vote share.
Right-wing parties have the most votes combined, though no majority.Right-wing parties have the most votes combined, though no majority.
Spain has not had a stable government since 2015.Spain has not had a stable government since 2015.
This was the country's fourth election in as many years.This was the country's fourth election in as many years.
Voter turnout at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT) was 56.8%, almost four points lower than the last general elections in April.Voter turnout at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT) was 56.8%, almost four points lower than the last general elections in April.
Spanish politics has become increasingly fragmented in recent years with the emergence of new parties.Spanish politics has become increasingly fragmented in recent years with the emergence of new parties.
Where do parties stand?
RTVE projects that the Socialists (PSOE) will win between 114 and 119 seats, while the left-wing Podemos, which is open to forming a government with the Socialists, is expected to take between 30 and 34 seats.
Meanwhile, on the right, the Popular Party (PP) is projected to take between 85 and 90 seats, while Vox could take between 56 and 59 seats, and the centre-right Citizens party between 14 and 15, RTVE says.
This would mean that both the PSOE and the PP could struggle to form a coalition government without involving smaller parties - as 176 seats are required for a majority in the 350-seat parliament.
What could the results mean?What could the results mean?
Based on RTVE projections, both the Socialists and Podemos have lost seats compared to the April elections. Based on earlier projections by public broadcaster RTVE, both the Socialists and Podemos have lost seats compared to the April elections.
That election ended in deadlock and the two parties failed to form a coalition together by the September deadline which forced Sunday's election.That election ended in deadlock and the two parties failed to form a coalition together by the September deadline which forced Sunday's election.
To form a coalition now, they would need to form alliances with smaller, nationalist parties, analysts suggest.To form a coalition now, they would need to form alliances with smaller, nationalist parties, analysts suggest.
Meanwhile, PP and Vox could seek to make the most of their gains, if confirmed. Meanwhile, the Popular Party (PP) and Vox could seek to make the most of their gains, if confirmed.
One PP politician said that Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez should "start to think about going", given the results of the RTVE poll, El Pais reports.One PP politician said that Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez should "start to think about going", given the results of the RTVE poll, El Pais reports.