Madrid, December 24, 2025 – Spain is bracing for potential political turmoil after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s bid for a new term in office faltered on Tuesday, leaving the country potentially headed for a repeat election. The Socialist leader failed to garner enough parliamentary support during his investiture vote, deepening a political deadlock that has gripped the nation for months.
A Fragile Coalition and a Failed Vote
Table of Contents
The investiture vote underscores the challenges facing Sánchez in forming a stable government after July’s inconclusive general election.
Sánchez needed an absolute majority – 176 votes – in the 350-seat Congress of Deputies to be sworn in as prime minister. However, he secured only 172 votes, falling short of the required threshold. This outcome throws the future of the Spanish government into uncertainty and raises the specter of another electoral contest. The vote followed days of intense negotiations with various political parties, including the Catalan separatist parties, whose support proved crucial but ultimately insufficient.
The Role of Catalan Separatists
The prime minister’s reliance on the support of Catalan separatist parties, particularly Junts per Catalunya, has been a major point of contention. Sánchez offered a conditional amnesty for those involved in the 2017 Catalan independence referendum in exchange for their backing, a move that sparked fierce opposition from conservative and right-wing parties.
The amnesty proposal, intended to ease tensions in Catalonia, has become a lightning rod for criticism. Opponents argue that it is a concession to separatists and undermines the rule of law. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the conservative People’s Party (PP), who won the most votes in the July election but lacked sufficient allies to form a government, condemned the amnesty as a “shameful bargain.”
What Happens Next?
With Sánchez’s investiture failing, a second vote will be held on Thursday. However, the outcome is expected to be the same, as it only requires a simple majority – more votes in favor than against – to succeed. Given the current parliamentary arithmetic, Sánchez is unlikely to secure the necessary support in the second round.
If Sánchez fails to be invested as prime minister after the second vote, King Felipe VI will be obligated to call a new general election, which would likely be held in the new year. This would be the second election in Spain in just over six months, further exacerbating the political instability.
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez failed to secure enough votes for investiture.
- The outcome raises the possibility of another general election in Spain.
- The conditional amnesty for Catalan separatists remains a contentious issue.
- Opposition parties strongly criticize the proposed amnesty.
- King Felipe VI would be responsible for calling a new election if Sánchez fails.
The political landscape remains fluid, and the coming days will be crucial in determining the future of Spain’s government. The failure of the investiture vote underscores the deep divisions within Spanish society and the challenges of forging a stable coalition in a fragmented political environment.
