Page 9 - AT

A9
WORLD NEWS Tuesday 4 december 2018

Far-right party shakes up Spanish politics

By ARTZ PARRA Still, analysts said that hav-
Associated Press ing Spain's right-wing side
MADRID (AP) — A regional themselves with the far-
election in Spain saw a right could backfire, es-
surge of support for a far- pecially with local, other
right party and dealt a regional and European
major setback to the ruling elections next year and a
Socialists, prompting the possible general election
prime minister on Monday that could come any time
to vow to defend democ- before 2020.
racy from fear. That's the limit of the legisla-
The anti-migrant, anti-fem- tive term for Sanchez, who
inist and euroskeptic Vox toppled former conserva-
party won 12 seats Sunday tive Prime Minister Mariano
in the 109-member parlia- Rajoy in June with a no-
ment of Andalusia, Spain's confidence vote. Sanchez
most populated region now leads Spain's weak-
and a bastion of the Social- est minority government in
ists for the past 36 years. four decades of democ-
The four-year-old Vox par- racy and there is increasing
ty, which had not previous- speculation that he could
ly held any seats in Spain, be calling an early elec-
could now be a kingmaker tion. The acting regional
and oust the Socialists from president in Andalusia, Su-
Andalusia's regional gov- In this Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 photo, supporters of Spain's far-right Vox party, wave Spanish flags as sana Diaz, blamed the So-
ernment if they strike a deal they celebrate the results during regional elections in Andalusia, in Seville, Spain. cialists' loss of support on
with conservatives and the Associated Press the high rate of abstention,
center-right to assemble a which has been interpret-
59-seat majority. sour memories of Spain's movement." 2015 and far from the ma- ed as punishment by tra-
Those leaders on Monday 20th-century dictatorship In a sharp contrast, Spain's jority of 55 needed to gov- ditional center-left voters
began talks to form a re- and a consensus over the Socialist prime minister, ern even if they could get to the corruption scandals
gional government, which European Union's benefits Pedro Sanchez, tweeted the backing of Adelante marring her party.
both parties said would in- had inoculated the country Monday that "my govern- Andalucia, the local brand "We have understood the
clude contacts with Vox. from a global wave of rising ment will continue work- of the anti-establishment message and we take
The surprising win — the populism. ing on a regenerating and Podemos party, which took note," said Diaz, who also
most favorable polls ahead French far-right leader pro-European project for 17 seats. called on other parties to
of the election predicted Marine Le Pen was one of Spain." He said the result The conservative Popular "build a firewall against the
Vox would win about five the first to celebrate Vox's will "strengthen our pledge Party came second with 26 extreme right in Spain."
seats — also launched the success, congratulating to defend the Constitution seats — down seven from "Each party must decide
party's strategy to make a the party's national lead- and Democracy against previously — and the cen- if they are against the ex-
dent in national politics and er, Santiago Abascal, in fear." ter-right Citizens party more treme right or if they will
the European elections a tweet for what she said The Socialists saw their sup- than doubled its presence rely on their support to en-
next year. It's also a blow was "a very significant result port plummet to just 33 in the regional assembly, ter into government," Diaz
to those who had felt that for a young and dynamic seats, compared to 47 in capturing 21 seats. said.q