The result strengthens the conservatives’ role in regional power-sharing—adding to the pressure on Spain’s minority government ahead of a string of key elections in 2026.
In an almost comedic turn of fortune, a recount in Madrid—to the benefit of the conservative PP—could mean the socialists will require the single in-person vote of exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.
With Spain in the EU presidency and European elections coming up next year, the shortfall of the Right in Spain is having repercussions in Brussels as well.
Were the PP to govern now, it is unlikely that it would try to resolve the asymmetries of the Spanish system on display during these elections, especially with Núñez Feijóo at the helm.
Pegasus, Catalonia, and recent vote rigging scandals have fueled an atmosphere of distrust in the electoral process. Most polls predict a comfortable victory for the Right in this week’s Spanish parliamentary elections.
Apart from VOX, whose position as third largest party in the country and junior party in a future coalition with the PP is likely, a few more parties are worth mentioning.
