Spanish election: victory for Socialists as Vox surge fragments right-wing vote

Sánchez seeks to build alliances but not a formal coalition as the Socialists win but fall short of an absolute majority, writes Caroline Gray

Spain’s left-wing parties have beaten the right in the country’s most polarised election in decades. With the Socialist party (PSOE) winning 123 of the national parliament’s 350 seats, and far left Unidas Podemos winning 42, the statewide left combined to take 165 seats.