Spanish Socialists Rule Out Coalition With Ruling Party After Coming Second

MADRID (Sputnik) – Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party (PP) failed to secure an outright majority in Sunday's vote, gaining 123 lower house seats out of the 176 required. PSOE, PP’s traditional rival, took 90 seats.

"These voices are incompatible. There is no way [to form a coalition with the Popular Party]," Luena said. "The votes cast for the Socialists are votes for change, rather than pursuing the present course."

Luena contended the 5.5 million votes cast for PSOE were to "replace Rajoy," asserting that "there must be an alternative" to the current leadership.

The PP won a majority in the Senate, which grants them the ability to block decisions made by the lower house, the Congress of Deputies. The party nonetheless lost nearly one-third of its previous mandates in the Congress of Deputies, leaving the composition of a potential coalition uncertain.

The anti-austerity Podemos party gained 69 Congress of Deputies seats and the liberal Ciudadanos (Citizens) party won 40 seats. In the Senate, Podemos placed third with 16 mandates, with six or fewer seats each for the remaining six parties.