Feb 9 β€’ 15:55 UTC πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ͺ Estonia ERR

Spain's Prime Minister's home party suffered defeat in regional elections in Aragon

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist Party faced a historic defeat in the regional elections in Aragon, with the right-wing People's Party winning significant support.

In the regional elections held in Aragon, the Socialist Party, led by Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, experienced a significant defeat, marking what is described as their worst performance in the region's history. The right-wing People's Party (PP) secured 34.3% of the votes, making them the election winner. However, despite this victory, they failed to achieve an outright majority in the 67-seat chamber, which has a high bar for coalition-building.

The results also indicated a decline in support for the Socialist Party, who garnered only 24.3% of the votes and lost five seats, bringing their total representation down to 18 seats. Meanwhile, the far-right Vox party saw a notable increase in their support, doubling their previous figures to nearly 18% of the votes. This electoral shift highlights a growing trend towards right-wing politics in Spain, which may signal future challenges for Sanchez's government as they navigate an increasingly polarized political landscape.

The election results in Aragon have drawn attention as they could be reflective of broader sentiments across Spain, often referred to as a 'mini-referendum' on the current government's policies. National polls suggest that the rise of right-wing populists could become a significant factor in upcoming elections, complicating the political environment for the Socialists as they seek to retain power in a changing political climate.

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