Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez called a snap election on Monday, in an apparent attempt to wrong-foot his conservative opponents and give his flagging Socialist party the best chance of retaining power before its support weakens further. Sanchez made the unexpected announcement a day after left-wing parties were routed in a regional ballot. His move to bring the poll forward to July from late 2023 took most of his government and even some members of his inner circle by surprise, as per sources close to the PM.
But, as conservative opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo called on voters to make him Spain‘s next leader, political experts said Sanchez had bet his rivals won’t be ready to fight a coordinated campaign for the July 23 poll. Sanchez portrayed Sunday’s defeat as a vote of no confidence in his coalition government and said he felt compelled to “take personal responsibility” for the result.
Feijoo’s mainstream People’s Party (PP) won outright control of two regional administrations and could run six more in partnership with far-right Vox, whose leader said he was ready to form coalition with PP. In all, 12 regions were contested. reuters
But, as conservative opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo called on voters to make him Spain‘s next leader, political experts said Sanchez had bet his rivals won’t be ready to fight a coordinated campaign for the July 23 poll. Sanchez portrayed Sunday’s defeat as a vote of no confidence in his coalition government and said he felt compelled to “take personal responsibility” for the result.
Feijoo’s mainstream People’s Party (PP) won outright control of two regional administrations and could run six more in partnership with far-right Vox, whose leader said he was ready to form coalition with PP. In all, 12 regions were contested. reuters