Summary

When Spain’s Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) scored a resounding victory in April general elections, it was presumed that leader Pedro Sánchez would be able to put aside personal acrimony and form a coalition with the ideologically like-minded Podemos party. After all, the result was as close to decisive as the newly fractured Spanish political landscape could possibly provide, and who would want to be blamed for dragging the public out to the polls for the fourth time in so many years?

It turns out these assumptions overlooked the extent of the antipathy between Pedro Sánchez and Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias.

Now voters will head back to the polls for a re-run in November 10. Sánchez is hoping to increase his party’s vote take and form a government with minor partners. But the upcoming re-run may end up more bust than boon for PSOE.