Spain: PSOE collapse in Extremadura, PP ahead but without an absolute majority

Madrid (Spain), 21 December (LaPresse) – As predicted by the polls, Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE suffered a sharp decline in the regional elections in Extremadura, which has been a historic stronghold of the Socialists for years. With 24.4% of the votes counted, the Popular Party is the leading party with 29 seats. With these numbers, it would gain one seat compared to the previous elections in 2023, but would not reach an absolute majority of 33 deputies. To govern, it would need Vox, which currently has 12 seats, seven more than in the previous election. The PSOE, whose candidate, Miguel Angel Gallardo, will stand trial in the spring with Sanchez’s brother, David, for alleged crimes of influence peddling and administrative abuse (a crime similar to abuse of office), now has 19 seats, 9 fewer than in 2023. The area to the left of the PSOE, which ran jointly with Podemos and Izquierda Unida, currently has 5 seats, one more than before. Turnout at 6 p.m. was 50.6%, compared to 57.1% in 2023.