A "very bad result" has retaken the People's Party PP. This was admitted by her boss Pablo Casado, 37, when he moved shortly after midnight in the party headquarters in front of the closest collaborators and supporters of the Conservative balance sheet. More than half of the seats have been lost. You now have to settle for 66 out of 350 MPs in the Spanish Parliament. They also hand over control of the second chamber, the Senate, to the Socialists.
General Election in Spain
As of 04:34 clock, 99.99% counted
Forecasted distribution of seats; Source: El País
Only in July Casado had taken over the party leadership. Previously, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had been overthrown by a vote of no confidence by Socialist Pedro Sánchez and had withdrawn from politics. Casado ordered the PP a clear right course. He accused his predecessor of being too lenient against the splintering tendencies in Catalonia. He bet on national unity and wanted to retake the government quickly. Therefore, Casado kept calling for Sánchez to call new elections.
At first, the strategy seemed to work out, in the regional election in the socialist stronghold of Andalusia in December came after almost 40 years, the PP in power. But that was only possible with the support of Vox's ultra rightists, who received almost eleven percent of the vote from the stand. They got them mainly from the camp of the PP voters. To stop further emigration, Casado fell into a shrill tone that did not fit his permanent smile.
He accused the Socialist Prime Minister of "blood-smeared hands" preferable because Sánchez with friends of Eta terrorists from the Basque Country and with separatists from Catalonia pacts. Casado took over Vox's demands, such as the abolition of autonomy in Catalonia, a recentralization of the administration and the promotion of bullfighting. In this way, he removed the People's Party from the political center, where elections have been won so far.
Vox is in, but got fewer votes than expected
This shift to the right, which now had such devastating consequences for the PP, helped the liberal party Ciudadanos (citizens) catch up. Only one percentage point, ie 200,000 votes or nine seats, separates Ciudadanos, who competed in Spain for the first time in 2015, from the PP. And Vox entered the Madrid Cortes with just over ten percent of the vote, but fell short of expectations.
Juan Medina / REUTERS
PP boss Pablo Casado
On election night, Ciudadanos boss Albert Rivera already celebrated as leader of the conservative camp. "Sooner or later we will rule Spain," he shouted in front of his fans. At the same time he shared with Pablo Casado, to whom he had always offered a coalition in the election campaign. Casado remained only "two news programs," he sneered in the tightest circle. He will probably have to resign soon.
A coalition with the Socialists Rivera categorically excluded, as in the election campaign. It is bad news for Spain that their boss Pedro Sánchez will form the government with the left-wing populists of Podemos and the independence parties from the Basque Country and Catalonia, said Rivera. He could even prevent that, he would help with his 57 Ciudadanos deputies, the 123 socialists in parliament to an absolute majority. But Rivera has stated that because of his willingness to speak with the independence parties in Catalonia, Sánchez is "not constitutional."
Video analysis of Spain election: "The parties have drowned each other"
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The determination of Ciudadanos for a pact with the right to criticize progressive party friends. They consider it wrong to leave the center alone to the Socialists. "Rivera would hold the key to a sensible formation of a government," says constitutional lawyer Francesc de Carreras, who in 2006 co-founded the "Citizens" party in Catalonia against independence. He believes that now, in particular, entrepreneurs will put pressure on Rivera to consider his veto.
Decisions on the government can only be expected after the European elections
Election winner Pedro Sánchez emphasized in his nocturnal acceptance speech that he wanted to reign "for all Spaniards" and for the time being exclude no alliance. The only condition is that future partners must respect the constitution and advocate progressive social policies.
On 21 May, the newly-elected representatives will meet for the first time in the Madrid Parliament. But decisions about the government can only be expected after May 26th. The Spaniards should not only designate candidates for the European Parliament, but also representatives of the people in 13 out of 17 autonomous regions and in all cities and municipalities. 90 percent of the political power positions in the country therefore forgive citizens within a month.
The Liberal Rivera expects a good chance to overtake the PP with his Ciudadanos in some coveted places, for example in the capital. The ambitious politician sees his entry into the seat of government, the Moncloa Palace, ever closer.
He wants to be the "alternative" to Prime Minister Sánchez, not his number two.