Tough talks ahead after historic result

Spain's political parties are facing a struggle to form a stable government after a historic election that broke the traditional two-party dominance.

The incumbent conservatives took most votes, but the surge of two new forces stripped it of its majority. King Felipe VI will now talk to all parties before nominating a candidate for PM, who must then win a vote of approval in the hung parliament.

For decades the conservative Popular Party (PP), now led by incumbent PM Mariano Rajoy, and the Socialists (PSOE) had dominated the Spanish political scene. But a surge of support for the anti-austerity Podemos party and the centrist Ciudadanos has broken the mould.

The PP took 28.72% of the vote in Sunday's election, the PSOE 22.01%, Podemos 20.66% and Ciudadanos 13.93%.

In the 350-seat parliament this translates to: PP (123); PSOE (90); Podemos (69); Ciudadanos (40). Rajoy's immediate reaction was to insist his party was "still the number one force" and he would attempt to form an administration.

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez was equally adamant that Spain wanted "a move to the left".

Although he acknowledged Rajoy had won the right to have the first attempt at forming a government, the Socialists made it clear they would not back a Rajoy-led government.This is the beginning of a new, multi-party era in Spain. The unrivalled dominance of the PP and the Socialists, who alternated in power for 32 years, always with parliamentary majorities, is over.

Compromise and co-operation, so fundamental in Spain's transition to democracy at the end of the 1970s, but generally absent in much of the political discourse since, will have to become the new watchwords of Spanish politics. A PP-led government, or one led by the Socialists, will require long and complicated negotiations.

The new parties, particularly Podemos, would surely demand radical changes in the way Spain is governed and in economic policy, before risking being a junior partner in any government.