Spain’s ruling Socialists suffered their worst-ever defeat in Extremadura as scandals and voter discontent boosted the conservative PP and strengthened far-right Vox, reshaping the regional power balance.
Spain’s governing Socialists have suffered a major setback in a regional election in Extremadura, highlighting the party’s growing difficulties amid a series of scandals. The vote in the rural southwestern region, held on Sunday, saw the far-right Vox strengthen its position as support for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s party fell sharply.
The Socialists, who lead a minority coalition at the national level, won just 18 seats in the 65-seat regional assembly, down from 28. This marked their worst-ever performance in Extremadura, a region they had governed for decades before losing control in 2023.
Power balance shifts but Vox strengthens
The conservative Popular Party emerged as the largest force once again, securing 29 seats after calling the election in the hope of winning an outright majority. Falling short of that target, the PP will again depend on Vox to pass legislation. Vox increased its representation from five seats to 11, consolidating its influence in the regional parliament.
Extremadura, like other regional governments in Spain, oversees key policy areas including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and culture, making the outcome politically significant beyond the region itself.
Scandals weigh on Socialist campaign
The vote was the first regional election since a court ordered Jose Luis Abalos, a former close aide to Sanchez, to stand trial over allegations that he received kickbacks linked to public contracts. The prime minister’s wife, Begona Gomez, and his younger brother, David, are also facing graft allegations.
David Sanchez is due to go on trial in May on charges of influence peddling, alongside 10 other defendants, including the Socialist candidate for the Extremadura presidency, Miguel Angel Gallardo, who described Sunday’s result as “really bad”.
The Socialists have also faced criticism in recent weeks over claims they failed to properly address sexual harassment allegations involving senior male officials. Sunday’s election will be followed by further regional polls in Andalusia, Aragon and Castile and Leon in the first half of 2026.
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