In Sunday’s regional elections, the conservative People’s Party (PP) came first with 53 seats in the 109‑seat Andalusian parliament, according to official data with 96% of the vote counted. Although the PP remained the dominant political force, it lost ground compared to the 2022 elections, when it had secured 58 seats.
The Socialists (PSOE) of Pedro Sánchez were limited to 28 seats, down from 30 four years ago. According to Bloomberg, the Spanish prime minister had invested politically in the vote, nominating former finance minister María Jesús Montero as the party’s regional candidate, in an attempt to regain support in what had been a Socialist stronghold for more than three decades until 2018.
What the result means for Sánchez
The outcome takes on greater significance as it comes just months after a deadly railway accident in Andalusia that claimed more than 40 lives.
The incident remains under investigation but triggered strong criticism of the central government, which is responsible for rail infrastructure and services.
At the same time, Sánchez’s government has faced a series of investigations over the past two years involving close associates of the prime minister and his wife, affecting his popularity. Controversy has also surrounded concessions made to Catalan nationalists.
Andalusia is Spain’s largest region, with around 8.7 million residents out of a national population of nearly 50 million. Around 6.8 million citizens were eligible to vote in Sunday’s election.
The result means the PP, which has governed Andalusia for the past eight years, will need the support of the far‑right Vox party to form a government.
Vox came third with 15 seats, one more than in the previous election, while two left‑wing alliances secured a combined 13 seats.
