Spain's ruling Socialist party was on Tuesday celebrating the conquest of the northwest region of Galicia following a cliff-hanger election that ousted the centre-right Popular party and its octogenarian president, Manuel Fraga, from power.

The contest in Galicia a conservative bastion and the birthplace of Francisco Franco, the Spanish dictator, as well as the present Popular party leader, Mariano Rajoy had all the drama and suspense of the Florida vote recount in the 2000 US presidential elections.