Spain’s election ends with no clear majority, throwing the country into political limbo

Spain’s election Sunday ended with no clear majority for either of the two main parties, throwing Europe’s fourth-largest economy into political limbo.

With all votes counted, Spain’s conservative Partido Popular party secured 136 parliamentary seats, followed by the incumbent socialist party PSOE with 122 seats. Far-right party Vox came third with 33 seats, while the leftish Sumar party got 31.

All parties fell short of the required 176 seats needed for an absolute majority.

Ahead of the election, there was speculation that PP could join forces with Vox — potentially marking the first return to power of the far right since the 1975 dictatorship of Francisco Franco. PP and Vox have joined forces previously in some regions, but never at a national level.

However, their combined 169 seats remain below the 176 required to form a coalition majority.

On the other side, incumbent leader Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE could potentially join forces with Sumar, but again, their combined 153 seats also fall short.

Alberto Feijóo, leader of the PP, claimed responsibility for forming a government, given that his party won the most seats.

“I am going to start a dialogue with the rest of the parties,” he said on Twitter. “I ask for responsibility so that Spain does not suffer blockades.” He added that he hoped other parties would not join forces themselves and prevent him from forming a government.

It’s not this straightforward, however.

Sanchez’s ruling party actually gained seats in Sunday’s election, and he has experience in negotiating accords with smaller parties to form a government.

“Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will have a shot at staying in power by negotiating a deal with far-left Sumar and smaller parties, although a repetition of elections is also a material possibility,” Antonio Barroso, deputy director of research at Teneo, said in a note. He assigned a 45% chance to each scenario.