Madrid, Jul 24 (EFE).- Spanish Prime Minister and leader of the Socialist Party (PSOE), Pedro S\u00e1nchez, said on Monday that his party “will find a formula to govern” a day after general elections resulted in hung parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
S\u00e1nchez was received by smiling colleagues at PSOE\u2019s executive meeting, despite coming second in Sunday\u2019s elections in which the conservative People\u2019s Party, led by Alberto Nu\u00f1ez Feij\u00f3o, won the most seats but failed to secure a ruling majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PSOE gained some ground on Sunday\u2019s ballot \u2013 up by two seats on the previous elections \u2013 but would need the backing of the pro-independence party Together for Catalonia (Junts per Catalunya) to govern, led by exiled politician and former regional leader Carles Puigdemont.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
S\u00e1nchez did not discuss talks with Catalan separatists with his colleagues at Monday\u2019s meeting, sources told Efe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spain “has said no to regression and setbacks,” the Socialist leader said of the election results, in a nod to the PP and far-right Vox party which lost 19 seats on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the PSOE was “a reference in Europe and in the world”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to sources at the PSOE headquarters in Madrid, “it remains to be seen” whether the PP will attempt to garner support to create a minority government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PP has secured 136 seats and Vox 33, meaning they are seven seats short of an absolute majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sanchez’s Socialists have 122 seats and the leftist Sumar party, the junior partner in the current government, 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the new parliament convenes next month, an absolute majority of 176 votes will be required to install a prime minister on the first ballot, though a simple majority will suffice on subsequent ballots.EFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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