BARCELONA, SPAIN – JULY 23: A man votes at the University of Barcelona historic building on July 23, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. Spanish voters will go to the polls on July 23 to vote and elect the next Spanish government. (Photo by Javier Mostacero Carrera #1102751 #51C ED/Getty Images)
Javier Mostacero Carrera | Javier Mostacero Carrera Getty Images News | Getty Images
Spain’s conservative People’s Party is expected to lead talks to form a new government in Madrid, exit polls suggest, suggesting that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s socialist rule may be coming to an end.
According to preliminary exit polls published by RTVE, the BJP has 145 to 150 seats, followed by the incumbent socialist party PSOE with 113 to 118 seats. An absolute majority requires 176 seats.
With neither of the two major parties securing a clear majority, the focus is now largely on who will emerge as the third-largest political force in Sunday’s election. Given that exit polls show the far-right party Vox neck and neck with the left-leaning Sumar Party, it is unclear whether the far-right party is in third or fourth place.
One of the biggest questions in this election is whether PP will formally join forces with Vox – which could mark the far right’s return to power for the first time since Francisco Franco’s dictatorship in 1975. Exit polls suggest a right-wing bloc could command a majority.
PP and Vox have previously teamed up to govern three regions of the country, but may find it more complicated to work together at the national level.
Members of Alberto Feijóo’s Conservative Party expressed concern about Vox’s anti-LGBT rights and anti-immigration policies. Vox has also been criticized by mainstream politicians for its opposition to abortion rights, denial of climate change and other measures.
The early election was triggered by the Socialist Party’s crushing defeat in regional and municipal elections in May. General elections were originally scheduled for the end of the year.
Sunday’s vote was the first to be held in the summer. The extreme heat felt in different parts of the country in recent weeks may hold clues about climate policy ahead of the vote.
Pedro Sanchez has been Spain’s prime minister since 2018. He has been criticized for pardoning politicians who support regional independence. During his tenure, there were also problems with “consent only” sexual consent laws, which cut prison time for many convicted rapists through a loophole.
However, Sanchez’s economic record ahead of the vote proved strong. According to the International Monetary Fund, Spain’s economy will grow by more than 5 percent in 2022 and is expected to expand by about 1.5 percent this year.
Europe’s fourth-largest economy also has one of the lowest inflation rates. In June, Spain became the first economy in the region to see inflation below 2%, a rate that has slowed since hitting a record high in 2022, according to the Economy Ministry. However, political experts said Sunday’s vote was more focused on cultural and social issues.