Voters begun heading to the polls in Spain
Voters begun heading to the polls in Spain
Voters in Spain have begun heading to the polls in an election expected to bring in a new conservative government to tackle the country's finances.
Opinion polls have given the centre-right Popular Party, led by Mariano Rajoy Brey, a clear lead over the governing Socialist Party.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero - who is not standing for re-election - called the election amid concerns over the economy.
Mr Zapatero has led Spain since 2004.
With slow growth and almost five million unemployed, the economy has been at the heart of the election campaign.
Borrowing rates this week have passed 6% for most of this week, perilously close to the 7% level which is seen as unsustainable.
Mr Rajoy, 56, has won support by promising to mend the country's economic problems and cut unemployment.
But former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the candidate for the Socialist Party, has accused Mr Rajoy of planning to make severe cuts to health and education.
Analysts say the winner must move quickly to reassure markets that Spain is committed to repaying its debt.
Polls conducted in November indicate the Popular Party will win more than 45% of the vote, some 15% ahead of the Socialists.
Correspondents say many are angry with the Socialists for failing to allowing the economy to deteriorate and then for introducing tough austerity measures.
But eyes are today also looking to the Basque Country. Because today's vote will determine the balance of forces with which steps will be taken in the new era opened in Euskal Herria (Basque Country) after ETA's decision to abandon the armed struggle. The election of deputies and senators is just the instrument. These ballots will go to Madrid but will return to Euskal Herria. The seats are going to be assigned this time by a few votes, so each ballot becomes a destabilizing element to add to or subtract from one party or another.
A total of 3751 polls today are waiting today for 2,194,257 Basque citizens. In elections that are known to eventually lead to Mariano Rajoy going to La Moncloa, the vote in Euskal Herria acquire its own dimension, because it will serve to build the foundation on which to build the country's democratic standards.
Opinion polls have given the centre-right Popular Party, led by Mariano Rajoy Brey, a clear lead over the governing Socialist Party.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero - who is not standing for re-election - called the election amid concerns over the economy.
Mr Zapatero has led Spain since 2004.
With slow growth and almost five million unemployed, the economy has been at the heart of the election campaign.
Borrowing rates this week have passed 6% for most of this week, perilously close to the 7% level which is seen as unsustainable.
Mr Rajoy, 56, has won support by promising to mend the country's economic problems and cut unemployment.
But former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the candidate for the Socialist Party, has accused Mr Rajoy of planning to make severe cuts to health and education.
Analysts say the winner must move quickly to reassure markets that Spain is committed to repaying its debt.
Polls conducted in November indicate the Popular Party will win more than 45% of the vote, some 15% ahead of the Socialists.
Correspondents say many are angry with the Socialists for failing to allowing the economy to deteriorate and then for introducing tough austerity measures.
But eyes are today also looking to the Basque Country. Because today's vote will determine the balance of forces with which steps will be taken in the new era opened in Euskal Herria (Basque Country) after ETA's decision to abandon the armed struggle. The election of deputies and senators is just the instrument. These ballots will go to Madrid but will return to Euskal Herria. The seats are going to be assigned this time by a few votes, so each ballot becomes a destabilizing element to add to or subtract from one party or another.
A total of 3751 polls today are waiting today for 2,194,257 Basque citizens. In elections that are known to eventually lead to Mariano Rajoy going to La Moncloa, the vote in Euskal Herria acquire its own dimension, because it will serve to build the foundation on which to build the country's democratic standards.
