Madrid, 27 September 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Spain's conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has failed in his first attempt to form a government.

The lower house of parliament blocked his bid to become the new prime minister by 178 votes to 172 on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old leader of the People's Party (PP) needed the votes of at least 176 lawmakers to have a chance of being elected premier.

On Friday, Feijóo has his next chance to replace incumbent Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, but even then he is expected to fail in his bid, again with little chance of winning a majority. Main TV station RTVE said it was an "impossible candidacy."

In the July 23 election, the People's Party won the most votes and most seats ahead of Sánchez's Socialists (PSOE).

Sánchez's Socialists and other parties have accused Feijóo of having "robbed Spain of valuable time" with his candidacy, which they considered hopeless.

This political uncertainty in the Eurozone's fourth-largest economy threatens a domestic deadlock, but also overshadows Spain's EU Council presidency until December 31.

Since neither party initially received sufficient support from other parties to form a majority capable of governing, King Felipe VI decided that the winner of the election would be allowed to try to form a government first.

However, Sánchez is considered to have a better chance. The Socialist - in power since 2018 - needs an agreement with Catalan separatists, who will demand an amnesty for those who took part in a failed secession attempt in 2017.

Feijóo's failure to attract wider support was mainly attributed to the fact that he was backed by the 33 MPs of the right-wing populist party Vox. Without them, he would not have had a chance anyway, as his PP only has 137 seats. Only two small conservative regional parties voted for Feijóo with one vote each, despite the "common cause" with Vox.

A "grand coalition" between the PP and the PSOE is considered impossible in Spain, as the two traditional parties are ideologically distanced. Therefore, the choice for Spain is either a new Sánchez government or a blockade lasting months.

According to the constitution, Feijóo and Sánchez only have until November 27 before new elections are called.

The Spanish then would have to take to the polls again on January 14.

Photo: EPA