Spanish elections briefing

The fall of the PSOE holds many lessons for social democrats across Europe. Our in-depth election briefings analyse the campaign and the reasons behind the heavy loss.

Jonás Fernández Álvarez breaks down Spanish socialism's historic defeat writing that a double U-turn on structural reform saw the PSOE evade difficult leadership decisions and ultimately lose its political and economic credibility.

Manuel de la Rocha-Vázquez writes that, in the eyes of the voters, the party responded too little, too late to the crisis and duly lost the confidence of both its left and right wing support amidst obstructionist conservative opposition tactics.

Image: isafmedia 2011