Spain’s ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) has suffered a significant defeat in regional elections held in Extremadura. The elections also saw notable gains for the far-right Vox party.
The PSOE, which leads a minority government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is currently facing allegations of corruption. Observers suggest that the results in the southwestern region could be indicative of future challenges for the Socialists.
The Socialist Party secured only 18 out of 65 seats in the regional parliament, a sharp decline from the 28 seats they previously held. This marks their worst result ever in Extremadura.
Despite the Socialists’ historical dominance in the region, the conservative People’s Party (PP) managed to displace them in 2023 with the support of Vox. The PP had called for early elections hoping to achieve an absolute majority. However, Sunday’s results gave them only 29 seats, forcing them to once again rely on Vox to pass legislation. Vox increased its representation from 5 to 11 seats.
Regional governments in Spain possess considerable powers, including authority over education, healthcare, infrastructure, and culture.
These elections represent the first major test for Prime Minister Sánchez since a close aide, José Luis Ábalos, was referred to trial on bribery charges related to government contracts. His wife, Begoña Gómez, and younger brother, David Sánchez, also face corruption allegations.
David Sánchez is scheduled to appear in court in May, along with ten other defendants, including the Socialist candidate for regional president, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, who described the election results as “very bad.”
In addition to the corruption cases, the Socialists have recently faced criticism.
