By Andreas Bulow
When Pedro Sánchez gave his (somewhat boring) speech on election night last night, he was interrupted by thunderous battle cries: NO PASARÁN, NO PASARÁN. This was a cry that also prevailed during the Battle of Madrid during the Civil War in 1936 and which encapsulates the strong anti-fascist tradition that exists in Spain.
Although yesterday’s election cannot, of course, be compared to then, it still shows very well why the result turned out the way it was: a massive voter mobilization prevented the extreme right party, VOX, from becoming a participant in government. Although the right wing advanced overall: the PP took the votes of the Ciudadanos plus a little extra, VOX went back. The right did not succeed in gaining an overall majority.
The PSOE advanced a little, Movimiento Sumer (‘unite movement’), a leftish platform, including remnants of the former Podemos, went a little bit back as did the Catalan nationalists, especially the ERC. The Basque nationalists achieved about the same result as last in the last election. There was clearly a concentration around the PSOE which, despite a very mixed period in government, was seen as a bulwark against the far right.
However, Sánchez cannot fully breathe a sigh of relief, because he can only form a government if the Catalan separatists in the Junts party abstain from voting against his inauguration.
It may well be a difficult negotiation process and there is the possibility of new elections in a few months’ time.
