Joe Duggan (Reporter)
PABLO Iglesias has admitted he is ‘disappointed’ as his Unidos Podemos party did worse than predicted in the Spanish general election.
With 98% of results in, the PP has won 137 seats, the PSOE 85 and Unidos Podemos 71, with Ciudadanos on 32.
Early exit polls had suggested Unidos Podemos were set to beat the PSOE into second spot and win up to 95 seats.
The result means that no Spanish party has won an overall majority for the second time in six months.
A sombre-looking Iglesias said: “In politics, you have to learn to handle the sweet moments and the not so sweet moments.
“We are disappointed. But this result is not at failure as there is no precedent for a phenomonen like ours.
“The news of the night, unfortunately, is that the PP has increased its support.”
Later, PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez appeared before cheering supporters despite his party winning the least amount of seats in its history.
The PSOE also failed to win a majority of seats in any of Spain’s regions.
He took aim at Iglesias, who had ruled out a pact with the PSOE over his refusal to surrender his demand for a Catalan referendum on independence.
“Iglesias could have supported a progressive government, but his instransisgence stopped it,” said Sanchez.
“We are the first political force of the left, but I am not satisfied.
“The PSOE will put all its efforts into the interests of the majority.”
Increased vote for PP. The electorates of our world have gone bonkers recently.
Iglesia’s Hispanic preference for orthodox ideology meets the PSOE’s and PP’s preference for orthodoxy. Each group thinks their own ‘dictatorship is better than the other group’s. The problem is close-mindedness and the inability to understand pluralistic democracy and protection of minorities.