Spain's ruling conservative Popular Party won the most votes in a general election Sunday but lost its absolute majority in parliament, ahead of the Socialists, partial results showed with over 70 percent of votes counted.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Popular Party had 28.2 percent of the vote, giving it 124 seats in the 350-seat parliament, the Socialists had 22.5 percent and upstart anti-austerity party Podemos had 20.5 percent. 

An exit poll for public television TVE had earlier put Podemos in second place behind the Popular Party.