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MADRID (AP) — Spain has missed the deadline for its politicians to form a new government following inconclusive elections held Dec. 20 so King Felipe VI must now dissolve parliament before a new election on June 26.
Since no political party had enough support to form a government and all parties failed to reach coalition agreements by midnight Monday — the deadline — the stage is set for an unprecedented repeat of general elections, six months after the previous ballot ended Spain's two-party system.
The king will sign a decree dissolving parliament Tuesday.
Spain has been in a political stalemate, governed by a caretaker government with Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy as prime minister since Dec. 20, when newcomer parties Podemos and Ciudadanos upset the longstanding dominance of the Popular Party and Socialists.
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