Zapatero Wins Spain Election

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his Socialist party, defeated the Conservative Popular Party lead by Mariano Rajoy in yesterdays Spanish election., and will continue in office for the next four years.

Zapatero's 169 seats to Rajoy's 153 is not enough to have an absolute majority, but the Socialists collected five more seats than in the last election.

Zapatero however spoke of a clear victory and urged unity in this 'new period' in Spanish politics. "The Spanish people have spoken clearly and have decided to open a new period without tension, without confrontation," Mr Zapatero told the flag-waving crowd gathered outside his party's Madrid headquarters.

The Prime Ministers programme of liberal reforms during the last four years, including gender equality law, same sex marriages and fast track divorces, would appear to have been endorsed by the voting public, despite opposition from the Catholic church.

The Popular Party who lost the last election over the Iraq war programme and moreover the Madrid bombings, accepted defeat and leader Rajoy sent a message to his rival wishing him luck 'for the good of Spain'.