No majority in Spanish election as far left gains

Spain’s conservative Popular Party collected most votes in the country’s general election yesterday but did not get enough seats in parliament to form a government on its own, an exit poll for Spain’s public broadcaster indicated.

The incumbent Popular Party earned 28.5% of the vote, giving it between 117 and 121 seats in the congress of deputies, Spain’s Parliament, according to the poll by Sigma Dos for broadcaster Radiotelevision Espanola.

That meant the party which has governed for the past four years fell short of a majority of 176 needed in the 350-seat parliament and will need to negotiate agreements with rival parties if it wants to return to power.