Madrid, May 29 (AFP\/APP): Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a surprise July 23 snap election on Monday, a day after his Socialists suffered a drubbing in local and regional polls.<\/p>\n
Widely seen as a dress rehearsal for a general election that had been expected at the end of the year, Sunday’s polls saw the main opposition conservative Popular Party chalk up the largest number of local votes.<\/p>\n
The PP also scored significant gains at a regional level, seizing six regions that had been under Socialist control.<\/p>\n
In a televised address, Sanchez said he had informed King Felipe VI of his decision to dissolve parliament and “call a general election” on July 23.<\/p>\n
“I have taken this decision in light of the results of yesterday’s elections,” he said.<\/p>\n
“As the head of the government and of the Socialist party, I take responsibility for the results and I think it is necessary to respond and submit our democratic mandate to the popular will.”<\/p>\n
The polls will come shortly after Spain takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union on July 1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Madrid, May 29 (AFP\/APP): Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a surprise July 23 snap election on Monday, a day after his Socialists suffered a drubbing in local and regional polls. Widely seen as a dress rehearsal for a general election that had been expected […]<\/p>\n
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