The People's Party (right) led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo secured the largest bloc in the snap parliamentary elections held in Spain on Sunday, surpassing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. However, he did not achieve a majority enabling him to form a government, according to nearly final official results. The counting of over 99.3% of the votes showed the People's Party won 136 seats, an increase of 47 seats compared to the result achieved four years ago, while the Socialists captured 122 seats. Despite these favorable figures for Núñez Feijóo, they did not reach the 150-seat threshold he aimed for.
Following the announcement of the results, Núñez Feijóo stated outside his party's headquarters in Madrid, "As the candidate of the party that received the most votes, I believe it is my duty" to attempt to "form a government," even though he and his only potential ally, the far-right Vox party, did not obtain an absolute majority in Parliament.
Sánchez quickly asserted that he managed to limit the gains of the right-wing opposition, emphasizing that the right and far-right were "defeated" in the legislative elections. Speaking before enthusiastic Socialist activists gathered outside the Socialist Party headquarters in central Madrid, Sánchez remarked, "The reactionary bloc of the People's Party and Vox has been defeated." He added, "We, who want Spain to continue progressing, are far more numerous."
