Nationalists Have Key to Left-Wing Spanish Government

© AP Photo / Emilio MorenattiThe next Spanish government could be formed by left-wing parties if they enter into a coalition with Catalan and Basque nationalist forces, experts told Sputnik on Monday.
The next Spanish government could be formed by left-wing parties if they enter into a coalition with Catalan and Basque nationalist forces, experts told Sputnik on Monday. - Sputnik International
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The next Spanish government could be formed by left-wing parties if they enter into a coalition with Catalan and Basque nationalist forces, experts told Sputnik on Monday.

Popular Party (PP) supporters wave Spanish flags in front of the party's headquarters after the partial results of Spain's general elections in Madrid on December 20, 2015. - Sputnik International
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MADRID (Sputnik) — Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) won the most seats in Sunday general elections, getting 123 of its deputies elected to the country’s parliament, 63 less than in the 2011 vote. PP's traditional rival, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), secured 90 seats. Left-wing Podemos came third, gaining 69 seats. Different regional nationalist parties secured a total of 26 seats. At least 176 seats are needed for parliamentary majority.

According to Xavier Giro, a professor of political journalism at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sunday's elections brought in a new political era in Spain, with "a totally fragmented" parliament and a government formed by at least two parties or even more.

"If we sum up the votes obtained by the leftist parties and the nationalist minorities, they have an absolute majority. The nationalists are the key to a leftist government," the expert told Sputnik.

He added that Basque and Catalan nationalist forces could support Podemos, which has pledged to hold referendum on Catalan independence demanded by local secessionist forces. At the same time, an alliance with PSOE could be difficult, since they oppose any steps towards Catalan independence.

Victor Sampedro, a professor of Public Opinion and Communication Policy at King Juan Carlos University in Madrid, agrees that the leftist parties could try to form a government with the support of nationalist forces, but "it will be difficult".

"A pact with nationalist parties could create an internal problem for the PSOE, especially in the regions opposed to a Catalan referendum," he told Sputnik.

At the same time, Sampedro does not rule out the possibility of a coalition between PP and PSOE, similar to that seen in Germany.

The expert believes that bipartisanship is a possible way to avoid a new election for the political forces that have gotten used to a de-facto two-party political system in the country.

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