Spain’s Regional elections reaffirm Rajoy in Galicia

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party and the Nationalist Basque Party have won majorities in each region’s 75-seat parliaments.

This round of regional elections are of particular importance for Spain’s political elite, as they could provide for alliances that could end nine months of political deadlock.

Rajoy has been running a caretaker government for almost a year after two inconclusive rounds of national elections in December and June. His Popular Party won the most seats in both, but lacks the votes in Parliament to form a new government.

The Popular Party hopes the strong showing in Rajoy’s home region of Galicia on Sunday could demonstrate the conservative electorate backs him and his party despite recent corruption scandals, and pave the way for additional votes to support his bid for a minority government.