The thoughts of Jon Lee Anderson of the New Yorker:
Podemos could turn out to be the key party in Spain where, without a doubt, things have changed.
#Podemos podria resultar el partido clave en #Espana, donde, sin duda, las cosas han cambiado.
— Jon Lee Anderson (@jonleeanderson) December 20, 2015
Update:
Actually Socialists/Podemos/Ciudadanos probably not that stable, but more so than other options. Spaniards want a clean-up of the system
— Giles Tremlett (@gilestremlett) December 20, 2015
OK. So 97.65% of the vote now counted.
A stable option for Spain is Socialists/Podemos/Ciudadanos. All can back anti-corruption & cronyism moves. Catalonia & social rights tougher
— Giles Tremlett (@gilestremlett) December 20, 2015
This is the wall of photographers that Mariano Rajoy can look forward to seeing. Probably the last thing on his mind right now, though.
Los fotógrafos esperando a Rajoy pic.twitter.com/Wd7jvbhXzS
— Cristina G Bolinches (@CBolinches) December 20, 2015
So what happens next? This from Alberto Nardelli:
The king will propose a PM-candidate. He or she must win an absolute majority in parliament, or a simple majority within 48 hours after the first vote, in order to form a government. If they fail, the king can propose other candidates. Parliament is dissolved and new elections called if no candidate has the numbers to form a government within two months of the first investiture vote.
But Podemos behind socialists in votes and seats. The ball is very much in the socialist court. Pedro Sanchez PM? Not for a while, if at all
— Giles Tremlett (@gilestremlett) December 20, 2015
Giles Tremlett has been listening to Iglesias in Madrid:
The pony-tailed one speaks. From political margins to centre-stage in 2 years. Spain is major euro zone economy. It matters more than Greece
— Giles Tremlett (@gilestremlett) December 20, 2015
Iglesias says he wants promises on constitutional reform before backing a government. Insists on “plurinational” Spain. A nod to Catalonia
— Giles Tremlett (@gilestremlett) December 20, 2015
Iglesias says that Catalonia is different and needs to be "fitted differently” into Spain’s constitution ("encaje constitucional diferente")
— Giles Tremlett (@gilestremlett) December 20, 2015
Pablo Iglesias of Podemos has just been speaking and hailing the birth of “a new Spain” and the death of two-party politics.
Podemos and the forces of change … have won more than 20% of the vote. We are the primary power in Catalonia and the Basque country … Once again, we’ve seen the forces of change gain ground … We have 69 seats from which to defend social justice and fight corruption.
Lol. The first (PP) has lost, the third (Podemos) has won, and the second (PSOE) could be president https://t.co/4aeEnwYOY7
— dan hancox (@danhancox) December 20, 2015