All Change in Spain

Out with two party politics in th Spainsh General Election, 20 December. Weeks of negociations are anticipated to follow. 

For more than 30 years, the Popular Party (PP) and Socialists had alternated power, but they now find themselves challenged by Podemos and centrist party Ciudadanos, which came fourth in the closely-fought legislative polls.

While it took the largest share of the votes, the PP lost its absolute majority in parliament by a significant margin and will now have to try and form an uneasy alliance with other parties or attempt to rule as a minority government.

"We are starting a new political era in our country," gushed Pablo Iglesias, the pony-tailed, 37-year-old Podemos leader, as supporters looked on holding purple balloons to match the colours of the party.

The country's long-established Socialists, meanwhile, scored their worst score in modern history - challenged as they were by Podemos, which has skillfully managed to surf on the wave of exasperation over austerity and corruption that saw it emerge in the first place.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made early morning comments that austerity policies caused the government vote to unravel. While Spain has successfully exited its bailout program, it continues to suffer overall unemployment rates of 20 percent.

Source: The Local