The main headlines of the international press place yesterday’s general elections in Spain in prominent positions in their digital versions and all of them highlight the situation of blockade that the country is facing. Most of the media see Alberto Núñez Feijóo as the winner who will not be able to govern and Pedro Sánchez as the loser who has options to govern but who depends on the Catalan independentistas. All in all, they see a great risk of electoral repetition.
“Spain faces an uncertain political future after the electoral deadlock”, headlines the prestigious London financial newspaper, which points out that Feijóo’s PP “becomes the majority party in Congress, but neither he nor Prime Minister Sánchez have a clear path to form a government”. In an analysis, the FT concludes that “conservative errors helped Sánchez to stop Vox’s march in Spain.”
The Guardian, also British, sees a “Hung Parliament” after the conservative block did not achieve the expected majority. The digital indicates that both Feijóo and Sánchez claim their victory but foresees “weeks of negotiations ahead”. The newspaper points out that the forecasts in the polls were not fulfilled and that the elections generated fears that the extreme right would enter the government for the first time since the country returned to democracy after the death of General Franco five decades ago.
British public television headlines “the conservatives miss out on total victory while the left celebrates” and explains that Feijóo claimed victory in early elections, but without the result he needed. He also warns that even with the support of the extreme right, his Popular Party has not achieved a parliamentary majority. For the BBC, although both Feijóo and Sánchez can claim success, “Spain is left with an inconclusive result.” Television indicates that the cheers in the socialist camp were as loud as Sánchez’s statement: “The reactionary bloc has failed.”
“Inconclusive elections push Spain into a political mess,” headlines the newspaper from the Big Apple in a more discreet position on its website. “The results showed that no party obtained the necessary support to govern, leaving the country facing weeks of uncertainty,” the newspaper added.
“The loser of the Spanish elections laughs a lot,” headlines the German newspaper to highlight Sánchez’s success. “The conservative Popular Party wins the parliamentary elections, but the right-wing camp is too weak,” continues the FAZ, which gives the socialist Sánchez “a new opportunity”, for which “he has to get closer to the Catalan separatists”.
“The bitter victory of Alberto Núñez Feijóo”, headlines the Parisian newspaper, which points out that although the PP won the elections, with an additional three million votes compared to the 2019 elections, “the right-wing leader does not seem capable of building a government coalition”. Despite the jubilation in the PSOE, the French newspaper believes that they will most likely lead to a “stalemate in Parliament and an ungovernable country.” And augurs new elections.
The Milanese newspaper highlights the victory of the PP but “only on paper: it has no numbers to govern”, ensures that the socialist Sánchez “denies the polls and resists” with an “incredible comeback” compared to the polls. He blames Vox’s poor result for Feijóo’s inability to govern and sees the “Junts Catalans” as decisive.
“The PP comes first but with the fall of Vox the right will not govern”, headlines the Italian newspaper, which after describing the results and in particular “with the 33 post-Franco deputies” Feijóo does not have a majority. La Reubblica points out that “the Catalan separatists are decisive” but sees a “risk of a new vote”.
“The left resists the attack of the right”, headlines the Brussels newspaper, which explains that Sánchez was saved against all odds and that the PP does not achieve the results that were expected. “The formation of a majority promises to be complicated,” warns the French-speaking Belgian progressive daily.
“Spain in political limbo after the elections do not show a clear winner”, headlines the Qatari news network, which reiterates that the PP wins the majority of the seats but it is possible that “it will not be able to force the removal” of Pedro Sánchez. Spain seems to be heading towards a “Hanging Parliament”, indicates the channel that sees the country “without a clear path to forge a new government”.
“The right-wing party wins the Spanish general elections but does not obtain a parliamentary majority”, headlines the Chinese news agency, which also reports that the PSOE-Sumar coalition would not reach a majority either. “The prospects for a coalition government now remain uncertain,” the agency warns.
