Spain's Political Landscape Shifts in Recent Elections

Spain's opposition conservative People's Party (PP) is expected to make major gains in regional and municipal elections, strengthening its hold on Madrid and potentially taking the regions of Valencia and Aragón from the ruling Socialist Party. The elections will serve as a gauge of the political mood ahead of December's general election and are expected to signal a return to the two-party system. The PP has sought to use the elections as a referendum on the Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and his style of government. The far-right Vox party is also expected to gain more power and be in more regional parliaments and councils than in 2019.