ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 4, 1996 TAG: 9603040130
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MADRID, SPAIN
SOURCE: Associated Press
The conservative Popular Party - the party tied to the 1939-75 fascist dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco - declared victory in Spain's elections Sunday, saying it had ended the scandal-plagued Socialists' 13 years in power.
Jose Maria Aznar, leader of the Popular Party, told thousands of followers in a victory speech that he would represent ``all Spain'' as prime minister and pledged to offer ``a hand held out in tolerance.''
Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez all but conceded defeat, congratulating the Populists for their ``apparent'' victory.
``We will be a rigorous but responsible opposition,'' Gonzalez told followers at party headquarters. He clutched a rose, the Socialists' trademark.
With 99 percent of the vote counted, the election commission said the Popular Party was winning 157 seats to the Socialists' 140 seats. The Communist-led United Left had 21 seats. Convergence and Union, a coalition from northeast Spain's Catalonia region, won 16. Seven small regional parties split the remaining 16 seats.
The party with the most seats gets to form a government and choose a prime minister.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB