Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) took a battering in regional and local elections on Sunday after voters punished prime minister Mariano Rajoy for four years of severe spending cuts and a string of corruption scandals. In a test of the national mood ahead of general elections expected in November, the PP suffered its worst result in more than 20 years to herald an uncertain era of coalition as new parties rose to fragment the vote. Spaniards rejected the stability offered by the PP and rival Socialists which have alternated in power since the end of dictatorship 40 years ago and opted for change in the shape of new ... (full story)