Spain set for new elections after parties fail to form government
Spain has missed the deadline for its politicians to form a new government following inconclusive elections held on December 20 so King Felipe VI must now dissolve parliament before a new election on June 26.
Since no political party had enough support to form a government and all parties failed to reach coalition agreements by midnight Monday - the deadline - the stage is set for an unprecedented repeat of general elections, six months after the previous ballot ended Spain's two-party system.
The king will sign a decree dissolving parliament on Tuesday.
Spain has been in a political stalemate, governed by a caretaker government with Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy as prime minister since December 20, when newcomer parties Podemos and Ciudadanos upset the longstanding dominance of the Popular Party and Socialists.
