News / EU

Spain's Socialists leader says new poll inevitable after coalition talks fail

Tuesday, 26 April 2016 7:08 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 26 April 2016 7:08 PM ]

PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez speaks during a press conference at the Spanish parliament in Madrid on April 26, 2016. (AFP)

The leader of Spain's main opposition party says he believes new elections are inevitable after a surprise eleventh-hour coalition proposal failed.

"We are heading to new elections," Pedro Sanchez, the Secretary General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), said after meeting King Felipe VI on Tuesday.

The king had tasked Sanchez to form a government following inconclusive December elections.

PSOE, which finished second in the election with 90 seats, struck a deal with center-left newcomer Ciudadanos, which has 40 seats, but was unable to convince the far-left Podemos, which has sway over 69 seats.

Podemos has so far rejected any deals that include Ciudadanos, and vice versa.

Sanchez blames the political deadlock on Podemos and the ruling conservative People's Party, which has 123 seats in the 350-seat parliament.

Spain must form a government by next Monday or fresh elections will be held June 26.

Initially, King Felipe VI had tasked PM Mariano Rajoy to form a government.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (AFP)

Rajoy, however, declined and said he was not in a position to present his candidacy as he had no outside support. The king then called on Sanchez to try.

Polls suggest repeating elections would not break the political stalemate and could mean more months of political paralysis and possibly even more elections.

Spain has never had a coalition government.

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