Spain's Sanchez loses first bid to get parliament backing to form govt

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez failed, as expected, on Tuesday in a first attempt to get parliament's backing to form a government, leaving him two days to try and strike a deal with the far-left Podemos ahead of a second vote.

Sanchez, who has been acting prime minister since an inconclusive election in April, needed an absolute majority of at least 176 votes in his favour in the 350-seat house to be confirmed as prime minister but failed to get it.

On Thursday, Sanchez will only need a simple majority - more 'yes' than 'no' votes - and much can change until then.

(Reporting by Belen Carreno, Emma Pinedo, Jose Elias Rodriguez; Eriting by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Andrei Khalip)