Spain's regional elections threaten to shake-up traditional politics
- 9 years ago
Voters go to the polls in Spain this weekend. They will elect leaders for 13 autonomous regions as well councillors in thousands of towns and cities.
Sunday’s vote is seen as a litmus test for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ruling conservative Popular Party, ahead of a general election later this year.
Amid anger over sky-high unemployment and belt-tightening, the hard left, Podemos anti-austerity party is hoping to pull in voters. As is the business-friendly Ciudadanos (Citizens) Party.
The two of them are threatening to shake-up Spain’s traditional politics, with polls showing voter volatility.
Rajoy’s Popular Party and rival Socialists have alternated national power since the fall of the Franco dictatorship in the 1970s.
“I hope we have a similar outcome to the European elections, where smaller minority parties got more support in relation to the two main parties,” said a student.
A pensioner added: “I have jobless family members. My pension has gone up by a quarte
Sunday’s vote is seen as a litmus test for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ruling conservative Popular Party, ahead of a general election later this year.
Amid anger over sky-high unemployment and belt-tightening, the hard left, Podemos anti-austerity party is hoping to pull in voters. As is the business-friendly Ciudadanos (Citizens) Party.
The two of them are threatening to shake-up Spain’s traditional politics, with polls showing voter volatility.
Rajoy’s Popular Party and rival Socialists have alternated national power since the fall of the Franco dictatorship in the 1970s.
“I hope we have a similar outcome to the European elections, where smaller minority parties got more support in relation to the two main parties,” said a student.
A pensioner added: “I have jobless family members. My pension has gone up by a quarte