Sánchez’s Socialists defy the polls to finish strong second in regional vote – POLITICO

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s governing Socialist Party defied the polls to secure a surprisingly good second-place finish in Sunday’s regional election in Castilla y León.

The unexpected result comes after Sánchez emerged as a figurehead of European opposition to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, clashing with President Donald Trump in the process.

Ahead of the vote, Spain’s governing party was expected to suffer a major defeat that would have added on to the socialists’ recent electoral debacles in Extremadura in December and Aragón last February. And exit polling conducted by Sigma Dos for El Mundo projected Sánchez’s party would lose up to three seats and end up with one of its worst electoral results since elections were first held in Castilla y León in 1983.