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| Socialists win Spanish elections | Socialists win Spanish elections |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's ruling Socialist Party has won Spain's general elections, with the conservative Popular Party (PP) admitting defeat. | Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's ruling Socialist Party has won Spain's general elections, with the conservative Popular Party (PP) admitting defeat. |
| But with 92% of votes counted, the Socialists looked set to fall short of the 176 seats needed for an absolute parliamentary majority. | |
| They were projected to win 168 seats, compared to 154 for Mariano Rajoy's PP. | |
| Mr Zapatero thanked jubilant supporters for handing his party a "clear victory" in the elections. | Mr Zapatero thanked jubilant supporters for handing his party a "clear victory" in the elections. |
| "The Spanish people have spoken clearly and have decided to open a new period without tension, without confrontation," he told the flag-waving crowd gathered outside his Socialist Party's Madrid headquarters. | "The Spanish people have spoken clearly and have decided to open a new period without tension, without confrontation," he told the flag-waving crowd gathered outside his Socialist Party's Madrid headquarters. |
| Mr Rajoy, the prime minister's leading rival, conceded defeat and congratulated Mr Zapatero. | |
| "I have called the candidate of the Socialist Party and I have wished him luck for the good of Spain," he said. | |
| High turnout | High turnout |
| But Pio Garcia Escudero, the PP's campaign coordinator said Sunday's elections had given the PP a good result. | |
| "The number of votes we have won has risen considerably from 2004, as has the number of seats," he said. "That gives us enormous satisfaction." | "The number of votes we have won has risen considerably from 2004, as has the number of seats," he said. "That gives us enormous satisfaction." |
| Mr Zapatero's campaign was based on his strong economic record | |
| Correspondents say the result may force the Socialist party to re-forge an uncomfortable alliance with a smaller regional nationalist party. | Correspondents say the result may force the Socialist party to re-forge an uncomfortable alliance with a smaller regional nationalist party. |
| The elections were marred by Friday's killing of the former Socialist councillor, Isaias Carrasco, in the Basque Country. | The elections were marred by Friday's killing of the former Socialist councillor, Isaias Carrasco, in the Basque Country. |
| Police have blamed Basque separatists for the shooting, which brought election campaigning to an early close, but so far no group has claimed responsibility. | Police have blamed Basque separatists for the shooting, which brought election campaigning to an early close, but so far no group has claimed responsibility. |
| There had been a high turnout before polling stations closed at 2000 (1900 GMT). | There had been a high turnout before polling stations closed at 2000 (1900 GMT). |
| Credit crunch | Credit crunch |
| In 2004, voters turned out in high numbers - galvanised by the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people three days earlier - to give Mr Zapatero a surprise victory over Mr Rajoy's conservative government. | In 2004, voters turned out in high numbers - galvanised by the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people three days earlier - to give Mr Zapatero a surprise victory over Mr Rajoy's conservative government. |
| This time, the faltering economy, rising inflation and unemployment, and immigration have all been high-profile campaign issues. | This time, the faltering economy, rising inflation and unemployment, and immigration have all been high-profile campaign issues. |
| After a decade of good growth, Spain's economy is stuttering. Inflation is at a 10-year high and unemployment is the highest this century. | After a decade of good growth, Spain's economy is stuttering. Inflation is at a 10-year high and unemployment is the highest this century. |
| Sunday's turnout nearly matched the level of Spain's 2004 elections | |
| The Spanish housing boom is dwindling, exacerbated by the global credit crunch. | The Spanish housing boom is dwindling, exacerbated by the global credit crunch. |
| Mr Rajoy's conservative opposition party focused on immigration, a bigger issue than in previous polls. | Mr Rajoy's conservative opposition party focused on immigration, a bigger issue than in previous polls. |
| The Socialists, meanwhile, highlighted the liberal reforms of their time in office, including the introduction of a gender-equality law, fast-track divorces and same-sex marriage. | The Socialists, meanwhile, highlighted the liberal reforms of their time in office, including the introduction of a gender-equality law, fast-track divorces and same-sex marriage. |
| Spain's 35 million voters were electing 350 members of the Cortes, or lower house of parliament, and 208 members of the 264-member upper house, the Senate. | Spain's 35 million voters were electing 350 members of the Cortes, or lower house of parliament, and 208 members of the 264-member upper house, the Senate. |
| The remaining 56 Senate seats are decided by indirect election by assemblies in Spain's 17 autonomous regions. | The remaining 56 Senate seats are decided by indirect election by assemblies in Spain's 17 autonomous regions. |