Spain's governing Socialists won the country's national election Sunday but will need the backing of smaller parties to stay in power, while a far-right party rode a groundswell of support to enter the lower house of parliament for the first time in four decades, provisional results showed.
Supporters of Spanish Prime Minister and Socialist Party candidate Pedro Sanchez react as they gather at the party headquarters waiting for results of the general election in Madrid, Sunday, April 28, 2019. Last Updated Sunday, April 28, 2019 5:57PM EDT
He hinted at a preference for a left-wing governing alliance but also sent a warning to Catalan separatists whose support he may need that any post-electoral pact must respect the country's 1978 constitution, which bans regions from seceding. "We told you that we were going to begin a reconquering of Spain and that's what we have done," Vox leader Santiago Abascal said, referring to the 15th century campaign by Spanish Catholic kingdoms to end Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula.
But Sanchez will still need support from 11 more seats to produce a 176-seat majority in the lower house of parliament, meaning he may be forced to make pacts with Catalan and other separatist parties -- moves that would anger many Spaniards on the left and the right. The arrival of Vox in Madrid's national parliament marks a big shift for Spain, where the far right has not played a significant role since the country's transition to democracy following the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975.
"This means that there is a significant sentiment against centralization and in favour of regionalization," she said, pointing at that as one of the challenges that the new prime minister will face.
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