The PP called the election in the hope of jettisoning the previous centrist partner it ran the region with by winning an absolute majority.
However, the PP failed, securing just 31% of the vote to the 30% of the Socialists - the national ruling party - and Vox's 17%.
Vox's national chief Santiago Abascal said the party's local leader could become the deputy regional president in Castile and Leon.
"Vox has the right and the duty to form a government in Castile and Leon," he told a political rally on Sunday evening.
The result is a blow for the PP, which until a decade ago was the only conservative force in Spain but saw its vote split by a series of corruption scandals, and a boon for Vox, which was started in 2014 and is now the third largest party in parliament.
It is also another gain for the far right in Europe, which has extended support in countries such as France, Italy and Portugal by taking aim at immigration, feminism and LGBT or other minority communities.
Under Spain's quasi-federal system, the regions have their own parliaments and governments with powers over areas like Health and Education.
Vox has previously lent its votes to conservative regional governments in regions like Madrid or Andalusia on specific legislative topics, but has never before joined a regional government formally.
Vox's foothold in Castille and Leon could foreshadow another rise in support in Andalusia, Spain's most populous region, which will hold elections in the coming months, and eventually in national elections due in 2023.
Castile and Leon's current regional president, the PP's Alonso Fernandez Manueco, said he would talk to all political parties to form alliances without referring directly to Vox.
6 comments
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Great news, we need some conservatism and common sense. Socialism doesn't work. It ends up looking more like communism. Look at USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. All supposedly democratic socialist. Acting more like communists. I welcome change. Bring it on.
Vox means going back to the dark ages. They are not far right, just far dumb.
@zoltan Like every thing, political views are relative. If you're from the far left, centre-right looks fascist. If you're a fascist, centre-right looks like Soviet communism. If you live in the extreme, everything looks extreme. And it's very divisive. I've come to the realisation that all of this "us and them" is pathetically unproductive. So, I really don't care which side of the political spectrum you subscribe to. But if your views aren't even remotely grounded in truth or reality, then that's not going to be helpful to anyone, lest yourself, in fact, as a matter of historical record, it never has been. Regardless of which "side" you're on. Quit being on one side or the other. It's surprisingly liberating and clarifying.
Yeah, and go back to arresting gays, right? So much for the freedoms you were mentioning not long ago...
@Adam You think it's good news that the fascist anti immigrant vox party are on the rise? I presume you are an immigrant in Spain so don't complain when they deport you. And why does the DB call the PP centre right? They are right wing not centre right.
Finally some good News hopefully the trend continuies !