Spain: Socialists Win

[Frodo]

Socialists win Spanish elections

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's ruling Socialist Party has won Spain's general elections, with the conservative Popular Party (PP) conceding defeat.

It remains unclear if the Socialists have secured the 176 seats needed for an absolute parliamentary majority.

With 75% of votes counted, the Socialists were projected to win 168 seats to 154 for Mariano Rajoy's PP.

"We can say with confidence that the Socialist Party has won," said party secretary Jose Blanco.

To the cheers of euphoric government supporters wielding flags in the Socialist red and white colours outside the party's Madrid headquarters, Mr Blanco said: "It is a great victory."

He added that Mr Zapatero was "in a better position to govern over the next four years and begin a new period of change and progress with a Socialist government".

Conceding defeat, Pio Garcia Escudero, the PP's campaign coordinator said: "I'd like to congratulate the Socialists. If these preliminary votes are confirmed this is a clear victory for the Socialist party."

But correspondents say the result may force the Socialist party to re-forge an uncomfortable alliance with smaller regional nationalist parties.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Stupid

[Hash]

As said in the other thread, I'm very happy that the PSOE defeated the Francoists by a good margin.

[Speed of Sound]

Stick it to 'em Zapatero! Youre the man! Viva la Socialista!

[Platypus]

A good result. Socialist win without unfettered power.


Muy bien.

[Daniel Adams]

Que decepcionante. I expected the Socialists to win, but not by such a commanding margin. This sucks.

[War on Want]

Yay!!!! Socialism is good and I am glad most Spainards understand this.

[Lief 🗽]

Well, their allies in the parliament (the IU and ERC) were destroyed, so I don't see how they're supposed to govern, but a win's a win.

[Hash]

Well, their allies in the parliament (the IU and ERC) were destroyed, so I don't see how they're supposed to govern, but a win's a win.

CiU apparently.

[Bono]

I'd like someone to explain to me how the PP is francoist--aside from some mythology, or some of the supporters having transitioned, what specific policies of the P are francoist?
I'm not a huge fan of them given their penchant for centralization, but plenty of right-wing parties in Europe aren't fans of that either, so what specifically triggers this aside from some need to hurl cheap insults at people?
Yes, I'm aware some people would never vote for the PP because of civil war politics, like there are some people in Portugal who think the Portuguese PP is still a Salazarist party, but no one takes these people seriously in Portugal, so why would the situation in Spain be any different?

[GMantis]

I'd like someone to explain to me how the PP is francoist--aside from some mythology, or some of the supporters having transitioned, what specific policies of the P are francoist?
I'm not a huge fan of them given their penchant for centralization, but plenty of right-wing parties in Europe aren't fans of that either, so what specifically triggers this aside from some need to hurl cheap insults at people?
Yes, I'm aware some people would never vote for the PP because of civil war politics, like there are some people in Portugal who think the Portuguese PP is still a Salazarist party, but no one takes these people seriously in Portugal, so why would the situation in Spain be any different?

For starters, you didn't have a civil war.

[minionofmidas]

I'd like someone to explain to me how the PP is francoist--aside from some mythology, or some of the supporters having transitioned, what specific policies of the P are francoist?
I'm not a huge fan of them given their penchant for centralization, but plenty of right-wing parties in Europe aren't fans of that either, so what specifically triggers this aside from some need to hurl cheap insults at people?
Yes, I'm aware some people would never vote for the PP because of civil war politics, like there are some people in Portugal who think the Portuguese PP is still a Salazarist party, but no one takes these people seriously in Portugal, so why would the situation in Spain be any different?

Actually, you've already mentioned the main point. Although you understated it. Basically, a continuous unthinking hostility towards the sizable chunk of Spain that is not Castilian in language and culture that is part of their Franquist heritage.

Mind you, I would consider the claim that "they are Franquist" as a massive overstatement. In the end, I prefer a postfascist conservative party (like them, or AN) to a protofascist one (like FI).