Pony-tailed Spanish politician Pablo Iglesias abruptly retired from politics on Tuesday night, a month after stepping down from his post as deputy prime minister of the central government.

The 42-year-old founder of the leftist Podemos party made a surprise move a few weeks ago to run in the capital region's elections, which ended in a landslide victory for conservative candidate Isabel Díaz Ayuso on Tuesday night.

"I'm leaving all party politics... I won't be an...