Spanish Congress To Be Dissolved, New Elections Confirmed

The Spanish Congress will be dissolved at midnight on Tuesday with a new general election set for June 26 following the failure of its political parties to form a coalition government, local media reported Monday.
Over four months of talks between the People's Party, the Socialists, Podemos and Ciudadanos ended in failure.
A pact between the Socialists and Ciudadanos was not enough for Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez to win either of the two investiture debates held in Congress at the start of March.
People's Party leader Mariano Rajoy, who remains acting Prime Minister, was unable to find support from any other parties, despite constant calls for a grand coalition between his party, Ciudadanos and the Socialists.
According to opinion polls, fresh elections may point to Podemos and the United Left forming an electoral pact, making them Spain's second biggest political force. Many voters are expected to abstain in the upcoming elections. (Cihan/Xinhua)