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 Spain’s ruling Socialists triumphed in a national election on Sunday, giving Prime Minister Luis Rodríguez Zapatero a fresh mandate to pursue his agenda of sweeping social and political liberalization.
The outcome was a validation of Mr. Zapatero’s boldest decisions, including the withdrawal of Spain’s troops from Iraq, the granting of more autonomy to Spain’s regions, and changes that include fast-track divorce and the legalization of same-sex marriage. “I will govern by continuing with the things that we’ve done well and correcting mistakes,” Mr. Zapatero said in accepting victory outside his party headquarters. He added, “I will govern for all, but thinking above all of those people who do not have everything.”
The outcome was a validation of Mr. Zapatero’s boldest decisions, including the withdrawal of Spain’s troops from Iraq, the granting of more autonomy to Spain’s regions, and changes that include fast-track divorce and the legalization of same-sex marriage. “I will govern by continuing with the things that we’ve done well and correcting mistakes,” Mr. Zapatero said in accepting victory outside his party headquarters. He added, “I will govern for all, but thinking above all of those people who do not have everything.” In particular, Mr. Zapatero said he would work to fulfill the aspirations of women and young people and provide more support for the country’s elderly. With 96 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Zapatero’s party won 43.7 percent of the vote, and the conservative Popular Party 40.1 percent, according to the Interior Ministry. Turnout was high — an estimated 75.4 percent of the country’s 35 million eligible voters — only a shade below the 75.7 percent turnout in 2004. The election was a rematch of the bitter contest four years ago between Mr. Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy, the head of the Popular Party. Throughout the last four years, Mr. Rajoy and his party called into doubt Mr. Zapatero’s legitimacy and relentlessly tried to block his ambitious progressive agenda. So it was not surprising that in his speech conceding defeat on Sunday night, Mr. Rajoy stood firm on principle, but said nothing about the need for national unity. “Everyone knows we are predictable,” he said. “Everyone knows what we stand for. Everyone knows what I believe in.” Mr. Zapatero appealed for a high turnout as he voted Sunday morning at a polling station near Moncloa Palace, the official residence. “Spain is stronger if democracy is stronger; democracy is stronger if all citizens turn out to vote, to exercise our right to choose the future of our country,” he said. Spain is perhaps more polarized politically now than it has been in decades, and when Mr. Zapatero emerged, he was met with both hearty applause and angry shouts of “Out! Out! Out!” The voting was overshadowed by the slaying of a Socialist politician in the Basque region on Friday, a killing that both the government and the opposition blamed on the outlawed Basque separatist group ETA. But it is too soon to say what impact the slaying may have had on the vote. After casting his ballot, Mr. Rajoy expressed hope that the will of the people would prevail — without disruption. “All I wish is that the only news today is that we have held elections, and that those who the people of Spain want to win will win,” he said. |
