Spain’s Ruling Party Suffers Second Ballot Loss in Two Months

Pilar Alegria, Socialist Party candidate for the Presidency of the Government of Aragon, speaks during a press conference at the party’s regional headquarters in Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, on Feb. 8.Photographer: Marcos Cebrian/Europa Press News/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

February 8, 2026 at 9:39 PM UTC

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist party sustained its second major loss in two months in a snap regional election, underlining the government’s waning support in large parts of the country.

The conservative People’s Party won 26 seats in Aragón’s 67-strong parliament on Sunday, down from 28 seats in 2023, according to local government data with 98% of votes counted. The Socialists had 18 seats, down from 23, while the far-right nationalists of Vox doubled to 14 to take third place.