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King of Spain dissolves parliament and calls new election

Xinhua, May 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

King Felipe VI of Spain on Tuesday morning signed a decree to dissolve the Spanish parliament and convoke a new general election for June 26.

The signature was a matter of protocol after Spain's main political parties failed to reach agreement over the formation of a coalition government by midnight on Monday, meaning parliament had to be dissolved under the terms of the Spanish Constitution.

Felipe signed the decree in the presence of parliamentary speaker Patxi Lopez, meaning Spaniards are heading for the polls for the second time in just about six months following the inconclusive vote on December 20 last year.

Lopez lamented that the country's political leaders had been "unable to fulfil the mandate the people gave us."

The December vote saw the People's Party(PP) of Mariano Rajoy won 123 seats in the 350-seat Congress, while the Socialists won 90. The recently formed left wing party Podemos won 69, while center-right formation Ciudadanos took 40.

Although the Socialists and Ciudadanos did sign a post electoral pact, the antipathy between Ciudadanos and Podemos meant chances of a "progressive coalition" failed, while no party was willing to pact with the PP.

Latest opinion polls suggest little chance in voter intentions over the past four months, but with the Spanish people tiring of political debate there could be a lower voter turnout in June -- something which traditionally favors the PP. Enditem