In local and regional elections, Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP) achieved a significant victory over the ruling Socialist party. Although the PP made substantial gains, it will require the support of the hard-right Vox party to govern in many areas. The results indicate a challenging path for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, as he will face an uphill battle against emboldened conservatives in the upcoming general election. The PP secured 31.5% of the municipal vote, experiencing a nine-percentage-point increase since the 2019 elections, while the Socialists received 28.1%, a slight decline of one percentage point. Despite the PP’s success, absolute majorities were not obtained in several regional and municipal legislatures, necessitating coalitions or voting pacts with Vox to form governments. This raises the possibility of a PP-Vox national coalition if the right-wing prevails in the general election, marking the first hard-right party in Spain’s central government in over 40 years.
In Madrid, President Isabel Díaz Ayuso consolidated her position and won an absolute majority without requiring a coalition partner. Ayuso’s brand of libertarian populism has propelled her into the political spotlight, making her a potential future prime ministerial candidate. At the municipal level, the PP ousted Socialist mayors in various cities, including Sevilla and Valladolid, although cooperation with Vox will be necessary for governance. Barcelona witnessed the defeat of left-wing mayor Ada Colau by pro-business Catalan nationalist Xavier Trias, who criticized the incumbent’s leadership. However, Trias will need support from other parties to secure a majority in the city council, leading to anticipated negotiations.
Throughout Spain, the PP focused the elections on Sánchez, despite his absence from the ballot, portraying him as unscrupulous and unreliable while capitalizing on discontent over his political alliances. Sánchez’s reliance on parliamentary votes from Catalan separatists and a Basque secessionist party, including convicted members of the disbanded terrorist group Eta, has alienated some Spaniards. Additionally, a mishandled sexual consent law proposed by Sánchez’s coalition partner, the hard-left Podemos party, further weakened his position. Podemos performed poorly in the elections.
Sánchez emphasized his management of Spain’s economy as his main electoral asset, citing high employment levels and lower inflation compared to other EU countries. However, stagnant wages and the prevalence of low-quality jobs undermined his appeal. The Socialists also faced challenges due to highly publicized incidents of alleged electoral fraud in small municipalities. Overall, the election results indicate that significant changes are necessary if Sánchez hopes to have a chance at victory in the future.
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