The nationalisation of subnational elections in polarised Spain: the May 2023 regional and local elections

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examines the May 2023 regional and local elections in Spain. The vote confirmed the territorial retrenchment of the left-leaning national government coalition members (PSOE and UP) and sparked a call for snap general elections. The outcome of these sub-national elections was notably shaped by the divergent trajectories of the newer parties (Cs, UP, and Vox), as well as by the considerable increase in the support of the main opposition party (PP). This report shows how the existing high levels of political polarisation contributed to nationalising the campaign and electoral results in May 2023.