Spain’s new parties, the anti-austerity Podemos and market-friendly Ciudadanos have made strong headway in regional elections in another setback for the mainstream parties.<br /><br /> In Barcelona a left-wing coalotion backed by Podemos beat pro-independence parties in a setback for the separatist movement.<br /><br /> But the big losses were for the ruling People’s Party. It looked set to lose its absolute majority in regional bastions Madrid and Valencia, where potential left-wing coalitions could send the party into opposition for the first time in 20 years.<br /><br /> Nationally the PP got more votes than any other party, but the result punishes<br />Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy for spending cuts and a series of corruption scandals – in spite of an economic rebound.<br /><br /> Coalitions and compromises now beckon for the main parties in most Spanish regions ahead of national elections expected in November.
