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Spanish voters head back to polls in bid to break deadlock Spain election: PP short of a majority and Unidos Podemos second
(about 7 hours later)
Elections are being held in Spain after the four main parties failed to break the political deadlock from December's inconclusive general election. The conservative People's Party of acting PM Mariano Rajoy has won most seats in Spain's parliamentary election but is well short of a majority, an exit poll suggests.
Opinion polls suggest the conservative Popular Party (PP) will win, but fall short of a parliamentary majority. The left-wing Unidos Podemos coalition would have the second most seats, the poll by state broadcaster TVE forecast.
The left-wing Unidos Podemos alliance is tipped to beat the Socialists (PSOE) into second place, with the coalition between the two a possibility. The Socialists were in third place, with centre-right Ciudadanos fourth.
The poll was held after the four main parties failed to break the deadlock from December's inconclusive poll.
The vote comes days after the UK voted to leave the EU.The vote comes days after the UK voted to leave the EU.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has sought to portray the poll as a choice between economic stability and the uncertainty offered by Unidos Podemos, a party that emerged just two years ago in protest against austerity measures demanded by Brussels. Prime Minister Rajoy had sought to portray the election as a choice between economic stability and the uncertainty offered by Unidos Podemos ("Together We Can"), a coalition led by anti-austerity party Podemos that emerged just two years ago in protest against austerity measures demanded by Brussels.
Podemos' leader, Pablo Iglesias, has denied his party is eurosceptic, telling the BBC he was "sad" to see the referendum results. Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias has denied his party is Eurosceptic, telling the BBC he was "sad" at the outcome from Britain's referendum.
"We hope for a different Europe, we will fight for a Europe with social rights as a reality and we are for Europe and the people in Europe.""We hope for a different Europe, we will fight for a Europe with social rights as a reality and we are for Europe and the people in Europe."
Analysts say many voters are disillusioned and a high turnout is not expected. December's election was a watershed for Spain, because the PP and the Socialist PSOE party had previously alternated in power since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s.
December's election was a watershed for Spain, because the PP and the PSOE had previously alternated in power since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s.
But after months of talks no party was able to form a coalition or minority government.But after months of talks no party was able to form a coalition or minority government.
Unidos Podemos (United We Can) and other leftists argue that the PP, under acting Prime Minister Rajoy, has been discredited because of austerity and the chronic unemployment that has plagued Spain since the 2008 financial crisis. Unidos Podemos and other left-wing groups argued that the PP, under Mr Rajoy, had been discredited because of austerity and the chronic unemployment that has plagued Spain since the 2008 financial crisis.
The PP, however, says Spain's improved economic performance is proof that its policies have worked.The PP, however, says Spain's improved economic performance is proof that its policies have worked.
Casting his vote, Mr Rajoy urged Spaniards who "love and feel for their country" to make their voices heard. Casting his vote on Sunday, Mr Rajoy urged Spaniards who "love and feel for their country" to make their voices heard.
"Spain will be what the Spanish people want it to be, it will have the government and the members of parliament the people want," he said."Spain will be what the Spanish people want it to be, it will have the government and the members of parliament the people want," he said.
The centre-right, pro-business party Ciudadanos (Citizens) is forecast to take fourth place.
Polls close at 18:00 GMT with results expected two to three hours later.