Puigdemont Wins the Elections in Spain

The Future of Spain's Government Is in the Hands of Carles Puigdemont. With 99% of the vote counted, the scenario of a deadlock is confirmed, as the right-wing parties don't add up and PSOE finds it difficult to achieve the necessary arithmetic to govern. Pedro Sánchez has a tough time, yes, but not an impossible one.

His 122 deputies, added to Sumar's 31 and the 20 from the rest of the parties in his orbit, form a majority of 173 deputies. He would need those from Junts, Puigdemont's party, to reach the 176 that marks the absolute majority.

If Sánchez and Puigdemont don't reach an understanding, only a PP-PSOE pact or a repeat election remains. Irony has wanted the scenario dreamed of by Junts, which has already made its intentions clear. Either PSOE agrees to a self-determination referendum, or there will be no political deadlock.

Puigdemont, the Big Beneficiary

If anything is clear after the vote count, it's that neither Alberto Núñez Feijóo nor Pedro Sánchez have won the elections. The People's Party hasn't achieved the clear victory they needed to defeat "sanchismo." Vox's deputies aren't enough for him, and ironically Feijóo will only be president with Pedro Sánchez's support.

Pedro Sánchez can't be entirely satisfied either. His 122 deputies have been a pleasant surprise for Ferraz and confirm the comeback of a PSOE that everyone thought was dead. But although he has room to maneuver to negotiate his investiture, it seems unfeasible that he will end up getting Junts's support.

Meanwhile, Carles Puigdemont has in his hands the political deadlock scenario he so longed for. After some very difficult weeks for the Junts leader, he suddenly finds himself with an unexpected lifeline.

'We Won't Make Pedro Sánchez President for Nothing'

Firstly, the tables have turned and now it's no longer ERC that is the decisive force in Spain but Junts. This gives an invaluable propaganda weapon in the hands of Junts, which will be able to assert its arguments in the face of future Catalan elections.

Secondly, and more importantly, Puigdemont has won the elections in Spain. That the country's future is in the hands of Waterloo shows the fracture scenario in which Spain finds itself. Something that can only favor Junts and its handling of the territorial conflict.

It's not surprising that moments of euphoria have just been experienced at Junts's headquarters. Candidate Míriam Nogueras has stated that "we have understood the results" and that "a new stage is opening." She has called for the recovery of the unity of the pro-independence movement and has confirmed that they won't make Pedro Sánchez president "for nothing."