Spain moves closer to new elections after party talks collapse

Spain moved a step closer to a new general election after the latest round of talks between the Socialist Party (PSOE) of Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the left wing Unidos Podemos party ended without an agreement on Tuesday.

The four-hour meeting concluded with both parties blaming the other for their failure to find common ground.

Adriana Lastra, parliamentary spokesperson for the PSOE, said the Socialists couldn't "see a way out of this situation."

Meanwhile, Unidos Podemos spokesman Pablo Echenique criticized the Socialists for their unwillingness to form a collation government with members of his party in the cabinet.

Sanchez's party won 123 seats in the April 28 general election and needs the support of the 42 Unidos Podemos deputies in the 350-seat Congress of Deputies to have any chance of forming a government.

Talks between the two parties ended in July as Unidos Podemos twice refused to back Sanchez in the investiture votes held that month.

Conversations between the two parties resumed at the start of September as Sanchez attempts to gain the support he needs to win another investiture vote.