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Mixed results in Spain elections | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nationalists have won the most votes in regional elections in Spain's Basque Country, but fallen short of a majority in parliament, final results show. | |
The results mean the nationalists, who have governed the Basque Country for 29 years, could be ousted from power by a coalition of non-nationalist parties. | The results mean the nationalists, who have governed the Basque Country for 29 years, could be ousted from power by a coalition of non-nationalist parties. |
In the north-western Galicia region, Spain's nationally-governing Socialists lost power to conservative opposition. | |
The polls were the first political test for Spain since it slid into recession. | The polls were the first political test for Spain since it slid into recession. |
Coalition talks | |
In the Basque vote, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) won 30 seats in the 75-seat parliament, with the Socialists taking 24, final results showed.The Socialists conceded defeat in the Galicia poll | |
Three other smaller nationalist parties - Aralar, Eusko Alkartasuna and Ezker Batua - which are expected to join a coalition with the PNV, won a further seven seats. | Three other smaller nationalist parties - Aralar, Eusko Alkartasuna and Ezker Batua - which are expected to join a coalition with the PNV, won a further seven seats. |
However, the conservative Popular Party won 13 seats and the small UPD won one seat, meaning a potential non-nationalist coalition would have one more seat than their rivals. | However, the conservative Popular Party won 13 seats and the small UPD won one seat, meaning a potential non-nationalist coalition would have one more seat than their rivals. |
Never has a non-nationalist party led an elected government in the region, the BBC's Steve Kingstone reports from Spain. The PNV has been in power in the region for 29 years. | Never has a non-nationalist party led an elected government in the region, the BBC's Steve Kingstone reports from Spain. The PNV has been in power in the region for 29 years. |
Much depends now on coalition talks which will take place over the coming days, our correspondent adds. | Much depends now on coalition talks which will take place over the coming days, our correspondent adds. |
In Galicia, the governing coalition of the Socialists and the Galician Nationalist Bloc lost power to the Popular Party. | |
The PP secured a majority of 39 seats in the 75-member regional parliament. | |
The Socialists came second with 24 seats, while the BNG won 12 seats. | |
Bomb alert | Bomb alert |
More than four million people were eligible to elect the regional parliaments in Galicia and the Basque Country. What kind of unemployment do people prefer, 8%, as we have here, or 14%, as they have in Madrid? Miren AzkarateBasque Nationalist spokeswoman class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7915151.stm">Analysis: Basque race wide open | |
In the Basque Country, the Socialists had focussed their campaign on the economy rather than issues of national identity. | In the Basque Country, the Socialists had focussed their campaign on the economy rather than issues of national identity. |
They had run their election campaign saying that the real issue was jobs, rather than referendums and self-rule, our correspondent says. | |
The Socialists portrayed the leader of the current Basque government, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, as out of touch with real issues. | |
The PNV rejected those claims, saying that the Basque economy was doing so much better that the rest of Spain. | |
Unemployment is lower in the region than the national average, and Basque incomes are among the highest in Spain, our correspondent says. | |
Hours before polls opened, Basque police arrested a suspected member of the militant group Eta, who was believed to have been planning an imminent attack. | Hours before polls opened, Basque police arrested a suspected member of the militant group Eta, who was believed to have been planning an imminent attack. |
The 24-year-old had been under surveillance. | The 24-year-old had been under surveillance. |
Officers later found what has been described as "bomb-making equipment" in an apartment in the town of Hernani, our correspondent says. | Officers later found what has been described as "bomb-making equipment" in an apartment in the town of Hernani, our correspondent says. |
Eta had called the Basque election "anti-democratic" following a decision by Spain's Supreme Court to ban two separatist parties from fielding candidates. | Eta had called the Basque election "anti-democratic" following a decision by Spain's Supreme Court to ban two separatist parties from fielding candidates. |
Eta is blamed for more than 800 deaths in a 40-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland. | Eta is blamed for more than 800 deaths in a 40-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland. |