Spain: Collapse of ruling PP party leaves regions in leftists' hands
The collapse suffered by the ruling People's Party's (Partido Popular or PP) in Spain's local and regional elections has opened up a new political landscape where new leftist parties now rule hundreds of municipalities.
Of the 8,000 municipalities that held elections, a third will be governed by an absolute majority of the PP, and a quarter of them by the socialists PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español or the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party).
PP lost 2.4m votes in comparison to the 2011 voting outcome
Despite being the most voted political party, the PP won 2.4m fewer votes than in the 2011 election, when it won 8.5m votes.
Since the 1995 local election, the PP had never won less than 7.3m votes. But the ruling party won 6m votes on Sunday, representing 22,750 councillors, 3.757 less than in 2011.
Read more: Full coverage of the Spanish local and regional elections 2015
As it stands, PP will still be able to rule without coalitions in a third of the town halls.
In total, PP will be able to rule in 2,768 municipalities (34.24% of the total), and has won a relative majority in 656 town halls.
With more than 95% of the votes counted, PP remains the most voted political party, but its dominance over Spanish politics has been severely reduced.
Voting outcome of the regional election
Madrid Autonomous Community:
PP's Cristina Cifuentes won the election with 33% of the votes, followed by the socialists PSOE led by Ángel Gabilondo. Podemos jumped to become the third most voted party, with 18% of the votes, and centrists Ciudadanos became the fourth most voted political party, with 12% of the votes.
Valencia:
PP won 31 MPs, in comparison to the 55 won in 2011. Majority reached the left-wing parties' hands: Compromís won 19, Socialist PSOE 23 and Podemos 13.
Castille La-Mancha:
PP lost its majority but won 16 seats in the region which includes cites Albacete, Toledo and Guadalajara. The party is at risk of losing power in the region if PSOE and Podemos form a coalition.
Castilla y León
PP won 42 MPs, and PSOE 25 in the region which contains such cities as Valladolid, Burgos and Salamanca. Podemos burst into the regional parliament with 10 representatives, as well as Ciudadanos, that got 19.
Extremadura:
PSOE obtained majority in the region and could form a government together with Podemos, which became the third most voted party. PP was the second most voted political force, with 28 MPs. Ciudadanos won 1 MP.
Navarra:
Local anti-Basque-nationalism party UPN won elections in this northern region, but will not be able to form a coalition in order to rule. PSOE party won 7 seats, as well as Podemos, while PP got 2.
Murcia:
PP lost 11 MPs regarding the 2011 elections, with 22 seats at the regional Parliament. Socialist Party 13, Podemos 6 and Ciudadanos 4.
La Rioja
PP was defeated, and got 15 out of 33 MPs. PSOE won 10, Ciudadanos 4, as well as Podemos.
Balearic Islands
Although PP was the victorious party, it could face fierce opposition if PSOE and Podemos formed a coalition. Regionalist party won 3 seats.
Cantabria
Ruling Ignacio Diego's PP won election with 13 seats in the Parliament, in comparison to 20 got in 2011. Podemos won 3 seats, Ciudadanos 2.
Aragón
PP's Luisa Fernanda Rudi WON 21 out of 67 MPs, PSOE 18, Podemos 14, local Partido Aragonés 6, Ciudadanos 5 and United Left (IU) 1.
Asturias
PSOE won election with 27% of the votes, PP got 20.6% m Podemos 19.6% and United Left (IU) 12.9%
Canary Islands
Regionalist CCa-PNC got 18 out of the 60 seats, followed by the Socialist Party who got 15, while PP won 12. Podemos got 7 seats.
Ceuta and Melilla
PP won the election in both Northern Africa cities, although nearly half of the region's votes are yet to be counted.
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