Spain’s ruling Socialist Party (PSOE), led nationally by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, suffered a significant electoral setback on Sunday after recording its worst-ever performance in the Extremadura regional election, underscoring growing political challenges for the governing coalition.
The Socialists secured only 18 seats in the 65-member regional assembly, a sharp decline from the 28 seats they previously held. The result represents the party’s poorest showing in Extremadura, a traditionally Socialist stronghold in Spain’s rural southwest where the party had governed for decades.
The conservative Popular Party (PP) emerged as the largest force once again, winning 29 seats. However, the PP fell short of an outright majority and will need the backing of the far-right Vox party to govern, repeating the power arrangement formed after the 2023 regional elections.
Vox recorded one of its strongest regional performances to date, more than doubling its representation from five to 11 seats. The result highlights the growing influence of the far-right party, which has capitalised on voter dissatisfaction with mainstream parties and concerns over governance, corruption, and social issues.
The Extremadura election was widely viewed as a political barometer for the Socialist Party ahead of a series of regional contests scheduled across Spain in 2026. The party’s national leadership has been under sustained pressure due to corruption investigations and allegations of sexual misconduct involving senior figures.
The vote marked the first regional election since a Spanish court ordered José Luis Ábalos, a former transport minister and close ally of Prime Minister Sánchez, to stand trial over allegations that he accepted kickbacks linked to public contract awards. The case has drawn intense scrutiny and renewed criticism of the Socialist Party’s internal oversight.
Further complicating the political landscape, Prime Minister Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, and his younger brother, David Sánchez, are also facing graft-related investigations. David Sánchez is scheduled to stand trial in May on charges of influence peddling, alongside 10 other defendants, including Miguel Ángel Gallardo, the Socialist candidate for the Extremadura regional presidency. Following Sunday’s results, Gallardo described the outcome as “really bad,” acknowledging the depth of voter discontent.
In recent weeks, the Socialists have also faced criticism over allegations that party leadership failed to adequately respond to complaints of sexual harassment involving senior male officials, further eroding public confidence.
Regional governments in Spain wield substantial authority, overseeing key policy areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and cultural affairs. As a result, shifts in regional power balances often have broader political implications at the national level.
Sunday’s election sets the stage for a critical political period ahead, with regional elections scheduled in Andalusia, Aragon, and Castile and León during the first half of 2026. Analysts say the results in Extremadura could influence voter sentiment in those regions and shape the national political debate in the months to come.