Spaniards flock to polls in wide-open election after tense campaign
Fragmented parliament featuring the first bloc of far-right legislators since return to democracy in the 1970s beckons
Madrid — A divided Spanish electorate flocked to the polls on Sunday, responding to a plea from party leaders for a high turnout in what promises to be the country’s most open-ended and potentially pivotal election in decades. After a tense campaign dominated by a debate over national identity and other emotive issues such as gender equality, a fragmented parliament beckons, featuring the first bloc of far-right legislators since Spain’s return to democracy in the 1970s. The Socialists of outgoing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez are expected to finish first. But opinion polls show no single party close to winning a majority, making it likely that any coalition deal will take weeks or months to broker and feeding in turn into a broader mood of political uncertainty across Europe.
A repeat election is a distinct possibility. “Above all else today, Spaniards should vote in large numbers to send a … clear message of what we [as a nation] want over the next four years,” Sanchez told r...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.