Just three days after the tragic terrorist attacks in Madrid which killed 200 people and injured another 1,500, the Spanish government was yesterday defeated in a dramatic swing to the left. Jane Walker reports from Madrid
Until the bombs exploded in four commuter trains early on Thursday morning, all opinion polls had shown that the governing Popular Party (PP) would be returned to power, although perhaps with a reduced majority. But in a record turnout of over 63 per cent, it lost power to the socialist party (PSOE) led by Mr Jose Luis Zapatero.
The PP had realised that if it could be shown that the bombs had been planted by the Basque terrorists, Eta, it would be to their advantage as they have the reputation of being tougher on terrorism. But if Islamic terrorists were responsible, then the Socialists would gain, thanks to the PP's decision to support the Bush-Blair alliance over Iraq.
The steady stream of information which the PP allowed to dribble out gave increasingly more convincing evidence of at least an Arab link. First the discovery of an audio tape in Arabic in the van used by the terrorists, and then a communique sent to an Arab newspaper in London caused some to question the government's insistence that Eta was behind the attacks. But Saturday evening's revelations that five people including three Moroccans had been arrested in connection with the investigation into the bombings and the discovery of a tape with claims by al-Qaeda that it carried out the bombings caused people to question the motives behind the government line. It was probably the final nail in the PP's coffin.
With 94 per cent of the votes counted last night the socialists had won 163 seats in a 350-seat parliament and the PP only 148 - a reversal of 2000 when the PP swept to power with 183 seats, against the socialists' 124.
Shortly after 10.30 p.m., the PP leader Mr Mariano Rajoy conceded defeat when he appeared on television to say he had telephoned Mr Zapatero to congratulate him on his victory. Accompanied by the outgoing prime minister Mr José María Aznar and his deputy, Mr Rodrigo Rato, Mr Rajoy said: "The election has been marked by the tragic results of recent days." He praised the Spanish people who had, he said, "demonstrated a true serenity which is a tribute to those who died." He promised a peaceful and cooperative handover to his successor.
Half an hour later, Mr Zapatero accepted victory in an unusual manner. "My first words are for the hundreds of people still waiting for news in hospital waiting rooms, and for those who weep their dead." He called for a minute's silence as a tribute to those victims. Only then did his supporters begin the celebrations.
A large part of the campaign waged by the PSOE centred on persuading the electorate to vote, and it appears to have borne fruit. One of the party's slogans had been to appeal to the "vota util" (the useful vote), calling on all left wing voters to support PSOE to defeat the conservatives.
The former Communist alliance of the United Left (IU) lost four seats, down from nine in 2000. IU leader Mr Gaspar Llamazares described the night as "bittersweet - a new stage for the left after a dark period of authoritarianism. We welcome the victory of the left as being our's," he said.
He will very likely have an important role to play in forming a new government.
Mr Zapatero will have to find allies or even a coalition to hold sufficient votes in the parliament to win his vote of confidence, and Mr Llamazares may well hold the key. But he may also find himself turning to regional parties from the Basque and Catalan regions to support his minority government