Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialist party has been re-elected but with a smaller majority following a campaign that featured threats by the conservative Popular Party to overturn Spain's same-sex marriage law and accusations that the Vatican was meddling in Spanish affairs.
The Socialists won 169 seats with the PP gaining 153. Zapatero will have to depend on support from smaller parties to remain in office.
When Zapatero called elections he said that enacting the same-sex marriage law in 2005 was one of his greatest achievements. But it pitted him against the Vatican and the Popular Party.
Both the PP and the Catholic Church held massive rallies in Madrid in the days leading up to the marriage vote. When it failed to defeat the bill in Parliament the PP vowed to continue the fight into the next election.
During the campaign PP leader Mariano Rajoy hammered away at what he called a watering down of morals under Zapatero.
Last month Roman Catholic bishops urged voters to shun the Socialists.
The Spanish Bishops Conference in a statement to the faithful said that voters should not back parties that support gay marriage or other policies contrary to church teaching, nor should they support talks with armed Basque militants - clearly references to the governing Socialists.
The Socialists won 169 seats with the PP gaining 153. Zapatero will have to depend on support from smaller parties to remain in office.
When Zapatero called elections he said that enacting the same-sex marriage law in 2005 was one of his greatest achievements. But it pitted him against the Vatican and the Popular Party.
Both the PP and the Catholic Church held massive rallies in Madrid in the days leading up to the marriage vote. When it failed to defeat the bill in Parliament the PP vowed to continue the fight into the next election.
During the campaign PP leader Mariano Rajoy hammered away at what he called a watering down of morals under Zapatero.
Last month Roman Catholic bishops urged voters to shun the Socialists.
The Spanish Bishops Conference in a statement to the faithful said that voters should not back parties that support gay marriage or other policies contrary to church teaching, nor should they support talks with armed Basque militants - clearly references to the governing Socialists.
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