Madrid: Jose Luis Rodriguez’s ruling Socialist Party has won the Spanish general election, but looks to have fallen a little short of the number needed for an absolute majority.

Mr Zapatero’s party won 169 seats and said he would now open a “new period” in Spanish politics.

The conservative Popular Party, led by Mariano Rajoy, looked set to take 153 seats – five up from the last election.

The target for an absolute ruling majority in the Spanish parliament was 176 seats, meaning the socialists will need to form informal coalition.

This election campaign has been marked out by its bitterness, with the PP attacking the government on the economy, immigration and accusing them of being soft on terrorism.