Spanish Parliamentary Elections: "Divided into five parts and seven parts"

(Baonghean) - As predicted by analysts, the Spanish parliamentary election witnessed a fierce confrontation between the traditional parties, the People's Party, the Socialist Party, and the emerging forces, the We Can Party (Podemos), the Citizens Party (Ciudadanos). This election marked a new era in Spanish politics, ending the period when the right-wing People's Party and the left-wing Socialist Party took turns in power for more than three decades.

Dispersion results

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at a polling station. Photo: Herald Courier

According to preliminary results, the ruling Popular Party of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy won 123 seats, accounting for 28.7% of the vote. However, this victory of the Popular Party is quite modest compared to the 186 seats it won in 2011, meaning it lost the absolute majority to be able to form a government on its own.

The ruling People's Party is closely followed by the Socialist Party with 90 seats (equivalent to 22%). But most notable is the strong rise of the "new forces": the Podemos Party with 69 seats and the Ciudadanos Party with 40 seats.

According to analysts, the results of this parliamentary election reflect the disappointment of Spanish voters with the ruling People's Party. After 4 years of leading the country, the People's Party of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has helped Spain recover somewhat economically.

However, the austerity policy that Spain has applied over the past four years has pushed many classes of the population into poverty. The economic achievements have not been really impressive, making the Spanish people feel that the trade-off for their poor life in the past time is not worth it.

The People's Party lost its absolute majority compared to 2011. Photo: Sputnik

Spain is expected to achieve economic growth of 3% in 2015 - not too bad compared to its European neighbors. However, high unemployment and income disparities are gradually eroding voters' confidence in the ruling Popular Party. In addition, corruption allegations also cost the party a lot of points in the recent election.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the president of the Popular Party, also admitted that the government had implemented many “difficult and unpopular” policies in recent times to pull the economy out of the crisis. However, Mr. Rajoy still affirmed that the Popular Party is “the strongest political force in Spain”.

End of traditional political model

Mr. Rajoy can claim that “the People’s Party is the strongest political force in Spain” based on the highest number of votes it won in the election and has not allowed the worst-case scenario of the traditional parties losing their majority, leaving the new parties in a dominant position. However, it is necessary to recognize that there has been a qualitative change in the victory of the People’s Party.

The results just announced show that the traditional two-party political model in Spain has ended. "We are entering a new era, right here in our country" - the representative of Podemos party was happy when the result that the party achieved was considered a "breakthrough".

According to the Spanish Constitution, the leader of the party that wins the majority of votes will form and head the new government. Analysts predict that the process of forming a coalition will be difficult and take a long time, possibly several weeks - although the Constitution does not specify a specific time limit. With its moderate stance, the Civic Party is considered the most potential candidate for the Popular Party to form a new government.

Mr. Pablo Iglesias, Leader of the Podemos party, was pleased with the results achieved. Photo: Reuters

However, preliminary results show that the two parties combined only have 163 seats, not enough to have a majority of 176 in the House of Representatives. On the left, Podemos, with its anti-austerity policies, is emerging as a formidable political force. If Podemos joins forces with the Socialist Party and several smaller parties, they could win 175 seats, just one seat short of a majority in the House of Representatives. However, the leader of the Socialist Party has declared that with the most votes, Prime Minister Rajoy's People's Party has the right to form a government first.

Another possibility for Prime Minister Rajoy is to form a coalition with the Socialist Party to form a new government, because the combined number of seats won by both parties exceeds 176. This possibility is most likely when the President of the Socialist Party, Pedro Sanchez, has signaled his “readiness to negotiate” with the Popular Party. According to analysts, Spanish politics may repeat the scenario of Portuguese politics, that is, the right-wing party wins, but is dominated by left-wing forces in the coalition.

“Spain has entered a new era, an era for young people,” said Albert Rivera, leader of the Ciudadanos party. Whatever the final coalition plan for the Popular Party, it is important that Spain has a roadmap to meet the changing demands of voters: economic growth, lower unemployment and social justice.

Thuy Ngoc