The victory for the right, although predicted by the polls, was bigger than expected. Forced to react, the Prime Minister called early elections on July 23.
This is called a warning shot. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist Party suffered a major defeat in local – regional and municipal – elections on Sunday 28 May. His rival, the leader of the People’s Party (PP, right), Alberto Núñez Feijóo made no mistake when he immediately announced “a new political cycle”. The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) has lost control of several regions and towns in the country.
Immediate consequence of defeat : Pedro Sanchez, in power since 2018, announced on Monday the calling of early legislative elections on July 23. The latter were initially to be held at the end of the year, on a date which had not yet been fixed. Franceinfo summarizes the main lessons of the election night.
A blue wave of unexpected magnitude
The polls all announced a victory for the right in this double ballot, which was held in 12 autonomous regions (out of 17) and all the cities of the country, but no one expected the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) to suffer such a setback. The Popular Party (PP), which had made these local elections a national referendum on the policy of Pedro Sanchez, has practically achieved all its objectives. He first collected the largest number of votes in the municipal elections – more than 7 million (31.5%) – some two million more than four years ago, against less than 6.3 million (28, 1%) for the PSOE, and has managed to hold its own in many major cities, including the capital Madrid, reports El Pais (in Spanish).
Above all, he conquered at least six of the 10 regions hitherto ruled (directly or within a coalition) by the PSOE: the Valencian Community, fourth in the country by population, Aragon, Extremadura, the Balearic Islands , Cantabria and Rioja. The right-wing party benefited in particular from the collapse of the center-right party Ciudadanos, “whose he managed to absorb almost all of the electorate”summarizes on Twitter Antoine de Laporte, specialist in Spain at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation. The result is good news for the leader of the PP Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who was experiencing his first electoral test.
A warning for the Socialist Prime Minister
Sunday’s double ballot was seen as a dress rehearsal ahead of parliamentary elections, now scheduled for July 23. If the name of Pedro Sanchez did not appear on any bulletin on Sunday, any more than that ofAlberto Núñez Feijóo, the stake was very important for the two men. Despite the good health of the Spanish economy, “inflation”as well as “the ups and downs” of the coalition between the socialists and the radical left in power, influenced the choice of voters, summary Antoine deLaporte.
The disappointing results probably prompted the Prime Minister to announce, on Monday, the surprise convocation of early legislative elections on July 23. “The Spaniards must clarify the policies that must be implemented and the forces that must implement them”, explained the head of government during a brief speech. On average, according to Politico (in English), the polls currently give the PP a large lead with 31% of voting intentions, followed by the PSOE at 25% and Vox at 13%. The result and the strategy of the radical left, which is very divided, will be key elements for a renewal of Pedro Sanchez for a third term after an express campaign.
The push of the far-right Vox party
This is the other side of the coin for the PP. In most of these regions, he will need the support of Vox to rule. This far-right party, by winning more than 7% of the vote, has thus doubled its score in the municipal elections compared to the 2019 ballot and now has a presence in all the regional parliaments of the country, recalls Politico (in English). Vox, with which the PP already governs in Castile and León, announces itself as a partner as unavoidable as it is cumbersome for the PP, while the latter is trying to project a more moderate image.
A “disastrous” evening for the radical left
The radical left party Unidas Podemos (UP), which is part of Pedro Sanchez’s coalition, is the other big loser of the evening. The party is thus below the 5% mark in Madrid and Valencia. “It’s a disaster”commented on Monday the former secretary general of the party Pablo Iglesias, reports El Pais. A feeling shared by Mathieu Gallard, research director at Ispos France, on Twitter : “PFor Unidas Podemos, this election is truly a disaster.” The party “is increasingly perceived as a factor of division and blockage by its natural electorate”underlines the specialist.
To get back into the race, Podemos could have no choice but to ally with Sumar, the new movement of the Minister of Labor Yolanda Díaz, who seeks to unite left-wing forces ahead of the legislative elections. “It’s time to get back to work”assured on Twitter Ione Belarra, the boss of Podemos. Time is running out for the radical left: there are now only 55 days left before the election.