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Basque, Canarian MPs hope to become key players in Spanish government formation
PNV demands "deep reform" to accommodate "nations like Euskadi and Catalonia" · Canarian Coalition demands the implementation of a "Canarian agenda"
The first option would be a grand coalition, be it in active or passive mode. That would imply an agreement including PP (137 seats), left-of-centre PSOE (84), and perhaps right-of-centre Citizens (C's, 32) either to form a coalition government or to allow a PP minority government with external support from PSOE, C's or both.
The second possibility would be an agreement including PP, C's, the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV, 5 seats) and two Canarian parties (2 seats). The five parties altogether totaling 176 seats, they would have one more than the absolute majority.
Under such a scenario, PP would likely see itself forced to agree on a government program with C's, and furthermore to deal with specific Basque and Canarian agendas.
Even if the five parties did not agree to an overall agreement for the whole 4-year term, those 176 seats would continue to be essential for PP in order to eventually pass any laws. The alternative to the 5-party deal would be PP-PSOE negotiations on a bill-by-bill basis.
Stateless nations' parties and alliances
Parties and alliances (some of them including Spain-wide parties) of the Catalan Countries got a combined 40 seats in yesterday's election. Besides them, only parties from the Basque Country, Galicia and the Canary Islands managed to win seats.
Basque parties won 7 seats. Right-of-centre PNV secured 5 seats while left-wing EH Bildu took 2 seats. PNV President Andoni Ortuzar said his party will be pushing for a "deep reform" of the Spanish state in order to accommodate "nations like Euskadi and Catalonia, [who] are demanding a democratic agreement that respects and recognizes them."
The Galician alliance En Marea (brings together Spain-wide parties Podemos and United Left plus Galician pro-independence party Anova) took 5 seats, one less than six months ago. After the vote, En Marea's leaders claimed their alliance is the only "alternative to PP" in Galicia, but admitted they should do better in order to reach more voters.
In the Canary Islands, two parties managed to secure one seat each -left-of-centre New Canarias (NC, under a joint alliance with PSOE) and right-of-centre Canarian Coalition (CC, on its own).
Canarian Coalition MP Ana Oramas said today she will consider supporting a PP government if that party agrees to introduce "changes to social policies" and to pursue a "Canarian agenda." The Canarian party calls for improvements in the Canarian government funding and for new agreements on the archipelago's infrastructures and labour market.