MADRID (Sputnik) — Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) won the Sunday general elections, getting 123 seats in the country’s parliament, 63 less than it obtained in the 2011 vote. PP's traditional rivals, Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) secured 90 seats. Podemos came third, gaining 69 seats. At least 176 seats are needed to have parliamentary majority.
"Perhaps the time has come that an independent, influential figure to take responsibility and try to bring an end to the rule of the People's Party, and we put an end to corruption and inequality," Iglesias said in his article published in the Huffington Post.
Earlier on Wednesday, PSOE's leader Pedro Sanchez said that the ruling PP had the responsibility to form a new government, but, however, his party would vote against extension of the country's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy mandate for another term because Spain needed a change.
Iglesias criticized Sanchez because he did not attempt to form a "leftist coalition" to oppose Rajoy.
"If Sanchez is not allowed to try to become the head of the government, perhaps it is because he was not able to be the leader of his party," Iglesias said.
Rajoy will face the first parliamentary vote on the re-assumption of his position as the country's prime minister in January. If he fails to gain 50 percent support of lawmakers, a second vote will be held where he will be required to get more votes for his candidacy than against it.
