Spain's failed electoral gamble

Spain went to the polls today in the second elections this year, after the Socialists (who had come to power in a confidence vote, then gone to the polls in April) rejected the offer of a coalition with the left-wing PoDemos, and instead decided to gamble n a better outcome by forcing Spaniards to vote again. Judging from the results, that gamble has failed; the Socialists have lost a few seats, PoDemos have lost a lot more, and the "centrist" (but actually right wing) Citizens, who the Socialists saw as a better coalition partner, were wiped out. Instead, the big winners have been the Popular Party (which was founded by fascists), and the misogynistic, Islamophobic Vox (actual fascists). And the reason for that can be laid squarely at the feet of the Socialists, and their decision to run on a hate campaign against Catalonia.

Meanwhile, in Catalonia, pro-independence parties won more seats than ever before, and again saw off the Socialists to be the largest party. Despite the wishes of the Spanish parties, Catalans are not simply going to go away. If they want a government which doesn't involve fascists or the children of fascists, they need to actually sit down and talk. Sadly, I expect they'll try and beat people into submission instead.