Spanish voters give old guard a kicking as leftists ride high

Results and analysis of the General Election held in Spain on the 20 December 2015.

Popular Party (PP): 123 seats / 28.72% of vote
Socialists (PSOE) : 90 seats / 22.01% of vote
Podemos : 69 seats* / 20.66% of vote
Ciudadanos : 40 seats / 13.93% of vote

* including regional formations of Podemos

Commentators saw the results as a breakup of the traditional two party dominance (PP / PSOE) of Spain, and would necessitate lengthy talks between the parties to try and secure a workable coalition. Otherwise, a new election would have to be held.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key Source: Spanish general election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/spanish-general-election-2015/

ESO: Background information: The 2015 Spanish general election: a final look at the parties and the polls http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-2015-spanish-general-election-a-final-look-at-the-parties-and-the-polls/

The Local.es, 21.12.15: Rajoy will first try to form govt but deadlock could see new elections http://www.thelocal.es/20151221/spains-pm-rajoy-will-try-form-govt

El País, 21.12.15: Popular Party wins Spanish election but will find it difficult to govern http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/21/inenglish/1450653650_844346.html

El País, 21.12.15: [Editorial]: Change and stability http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/21/inenglish/1450688392_560045.html

El País, 21.12.15: What happens now if there’s no majority to form a government? http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/21/inenglish/1450684257_190223.html

BBC News, 21.12.15: Spain election: Tough talks ahead after historic result http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35149983

Deutsche Welle, 21.12.15: Spain faces electoral mess and real test http://dw.com/p/1HQx5

EUObserver, 21.12.15: Spain ends two-party system, coalition talks ahead https://euobserver.com/political/131619

EurActiv, 21.12.15: Splintered Spanish vote heralds arduous coalition talks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/splintered-spanish-vote-heralds-arduous-coalition-talks-320611

Politico, 21.12.15: Spain heads for coalition impasse http://www.politico.eu/article/spanish-pm-rajoy-comes-first-in-elections-exit-poll/

Politico, 21.12.15: 10 takeaways from Spain’s election http://www.politico.eu/article/10-takeaways-from-spains-election/

The Guardian, 21.12.15: Spanish election: national newcomers end era of two-party dominance http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/20/peoples-party-wins-spanish-election-absolute-majority

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 21.12.15: Spain's voters say no to two-party system http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER175245-Spain-s-voters-say-no-to-two-party-system

CNA, 21.12.15: The PP wins the Spanish Elections but loses its absolute majority http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/the-pp-wins-the-spanish-elections-but-loses-its-absolute-majority

EUObserver, 22.12.15: Spain's uncertain road to a new government https://euobserver.com/political/131637

Politico, 22.12.15: [Opinion]: Spain heads for political havoc http://www.politico.eu/article/spain-heads-for-political-havoc-mess-election-vote/

EurActiv, 22.12.15: Spain's left-wing parties reject new Rajoy government http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/spains-left-wing-parties-reject-new-rajoy-government-320613

El País, 22.12.15: Rajoy will seek support of Ciudadanos and Socialists to form government http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/22/inenglish/1450774194_081640.html

The Local.es, 22.12.15: Spanish PM offers dialogue with other parties to form government http://www.thelocal.es/20151222/spanish-pm-offers-dialogue-with-other-parties-to-form-government

The Conversation, 21.12.15: Spain votes for change – but has no idea what government it’ll end up with http://theconversation.com/spain-votes-for-change-but-has-no-idea-what-government-itll-end-up-with-52583

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: Major change in Spain's party system http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2015-12-spanienwahlen/

Deutsche Welle, 23.12.15: Spanish opposition leader rejects Rajoy as leader of government http://dw.com/p/1HSQL

Politico, 23.12.15: [Opinion]: Spain’s wounded giant plays kingmaker http://www.politico.eu/article/spain-psoe-a-wounded-giant-socialists-sanchez-elections/

The Local.es, 23.12.15: Spain's Socialists refuse to back Rajoy bid to form new government http://www.thelocal.es/20151223/spains-socialist-refuse-to-back-rajoy-bid-to-form-new-government

El País, 23.12.15: Socialist leader tells Rajoy he won’t support him at investiture vote http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/23/inenglish/1450873351_874379.html

EUObserver, 24.12.15: [Analysis]: Who will govern in Spain? https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/131661

Blog: Open Europe, 21.12.15: Uncertainty rules in Spain after messy election outcome http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/uncertainty-rules-in-spain-after-messy-election-outcome/

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