Spain's centre-right People's Party (Partido Popular) leader Mariano Rajoy (C) acknowledges supporters from a balcony of the party headquarters surrounded by his wife and members of his party after claiming victory in Spain's general elections in Madrid November 20, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Meanwhile Union Progreso y Democracia (UpD) also saw its share of the vote rise in comparison with 2008 and will have five representatives in Spain's Congress.

Catalan Nationalists CiU are the third strongest group in Congress after polling almost a million votes in Catalonia. CiU have 16 people while the more radical Catalan nationalist party, Ezquerra Republicana have three.

The end of violence from Basque Separatist group ETA was also a key factor in the Basque region with radical nationalist coalition Amaiur winning seven seats.

It is the first time that a party representing the Izquierda Abertzale has been able to stand at a general election since 2000 and that was reflected in an increase in the number of people voting in the region, which was the only part of Spain where the turnout was higher than in 2008.

The more conservative Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) will be disappointed to have lost ground to Amaiur, but will have five members in Congress.

Elsewhere various other minority parties, such as the Gallician Nationalists, (BNG), have two members, the same as the CC-NC-PNC (The Canary Islands Party), while three more parties, FORO, Compromis-Q and GBAI have one member each.

Spain will now be in the hands of a provisional government until December 13 when Parliament reconvenes with Rajoy as its new leader. Rajoy will be sworn in as prime minister on either December 20 or 21.