Spanish regional elections fail to break political deadlock

By Miguel Vidal and Vincent West SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA/BILBAO, Spain (Reuters) - Spain's regional elections reinforced the center-right People's Party (PP) on Sunday while dealing a blow to the opposition Socialists but failed to signal a clear path to avoid a third nationwide vote in December. The ballots in the northern regions of Galicia and the Basque Country boosted acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy while the Socialists lost seats in both regions, but it remains to be seen if the results lead the Socialists to abstain in any future parliamentary vote of confidence to allow Rajoy a second term as leader. Rajoy's PP easily romped to an absolute majority in his native Galicia, a conservative stronghold.