Spain misses deadline for new government, June election set

Madrid: Spain has missed the deadline for its politicians to form a new government following inconclusive elections held Dec 20 so King Felipe VI must now dissolve parliament before a new election on June 26.

Since no political party had enough support to form a government and all parties failed to reach coalition agreements by midnight yesterday the deadline the stage is set for an unprecedented repeat of general elections, six months after the previous ballot ended Spain's two-party system.

The king will sign a decree dissolving parliament on Monday.

Spain has been in a political stalemate, governed by a caretaker government with Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy as prime minister since Dec 20, when newcomer parties Podemos and Ciudadanos upset the longstanding dominance of the Popular Party and Socialists.