Socialists – the governing party of Spain – won a third election in four years. However, they were unable to make a majority.
Although centre-left won against far right which has been in news for a long time now; it was not a landslide victory. Consequently, it is not really a ‘wow’ moment for Socialists.
PM Pedro Sánchez’s party polled 29% and will have to make a coalition government with either left-wing Podemos and regional parties, or the centre right.
Since the military rule ended in 1970s, this is the first for a rightist party entering the parliament.
Vox opposes multiculturalism, unrestricted migration, and what it calls “radical feminism”.
The Popular Party (PP), which was ousted from power in May 2018 in a no-confidence vote, collapsed during the elections.
In its worst election ever, the PP won just 66 seats, down from 137 in the previous parliament.
Turnout was 75.8%, the biggest for several years and 9% higher than the previous election in 2016.
In his victory speech, Mr Sánchez said the party’s big challenges were to fight inequality, advance co-existence and halt corruption.
“The future has won and the past has lost,” he told cheering supporters. During his time in office he has raised the minimum wage, appointed a female-dominated cabinet and promised to bring in laws defining rape as sex without clear consent.
What happens next?
Increasing his party’s share from 23% of the vote in the 2016, this result is a personal success for the PM.
But it still leaves the Socialists and Podemos 11 seats short of the necessary 176 for a majority in the 350-seat parliament.
Mr Sánchez will have to go for the difficult option; and make coalition government with either smaller parties or far right.
An alliance with Ciudadanos (57 seats) would give him the numbers, but its leader, Albert Rivera, is critical of Sanchez’s ways and vowed never to form a coalition with the Socialists.
As a counter move, his party men do not wish to join hands with Ciudadanos either.
Another option for Mr Sanchez is to make a coalition with Catalan pro-independence parties – an option that doesn’t go down well with the rightists.
An alliance involving all the other regional parties, including the Basque separatist PNV, would leave him one seat short of a majority.
Who are Vox?
The PP’s defeat translates as no coalition with the Vox.
Contrarily, Vox’s support increased; giving it 24 seats.
This a historic success since the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.
Led by Santiago Abascal, a former member of the conservative PP, the party has emerged in a matter of months with a vow to “make Spain great again”.
Despite that the Vox rejects the far-right label, its views on immigration and Islam place it in line with far-right and populist parties elsewhere in Europe.
It wants to repeal laws against gender violence, and opposes abortion and same-sex marriage. Critics see it as a nationalist throwback to fascist dictator Franco.
Why is Catalonia so important?
The future of Spain’s north-eastern region was one of the big issues of the election.
As a result of referendum held in October 2017, it declared itself independent from Spain.
A dozen of its leaders – among them is ERC leader Mr Junqueras, who was Catalan vice-president when he was arrested – have gone on trial to Madrid.
Angst at Catalan independence move has boosted support for Vox, say analysts say.
The centre-left Catalan ERC was the big winner in Catalonia, with a projected 15 seats. Its leader, Oriol Junqueras, is in jail facing trial for his role in declaring independence in October 2017 and tweeted thanks for the million votes his party received.