Much more than a tale of two cities in Spain, where the big parties’ grip on power in both Madrid and Barcelona has been broken in local and regional elections.
The parties that have run Spain since the end of the Franco dictatorship have seen their bastions fall under assault from new left-wing and centre-right parties. Now comes the unfamiliar task of coalition building.
“We’ll work with anyone, but whoever wants to reach an agreement with us must assume that the way of doing politics has to be different from what’s been done until now,” said Podemoos leader Pablo Iglesias.
The ruling Popular Party’s Cristina Cifuenes thinks she can hang onto the Madrid region, even if the city is lost. But she will need a coalition ally, most likely the centre-right Ciudadanos.
Elsewhere it will be the left-wing Podemos calling the shots, and allying with the Socialists. But no-one wants to make a false move before the November general election.
“Ciudadanos.won’t take part in governments
