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| Spain in key regional vote test | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Spaniards are voting in regional polls in the Basque Country and Galicia - the first political test since Spain slid into recession in 2008. | |
| In the Basque Country, Spain's ruling Socialists seek to be the first non-nationalist party to form the cabinet. | In the Basque Country, Spain's ruling Socialists seek to be the first non-nationalist party to form the cabinet. |
| The Socialists have been focusing their campaign on the economy there rather than issues of national identity. | The Socialists have been focusing their campaign on the economy there rather than issues of national identity. |
| In Galicia, the Socialists hope to remain part of the governing coalition with the Galician Nationalist Bloc. | In Galicia, the Socialists hope to remain part of the governing coalition with the Galician Nationalist Bloc. |
| More than four million people are eligible to elect regional parliaments in Galicia and the Basque Country. Polls opened at 0800 GMT. | |
| Job concerns | Job concerns |
| In the Basque Country, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) has been in power since Spain returned to democracy three decades ago. What kind of unemployment do people prefer, 8%, as we have here, or 14%, as they have in Madrid? Miren AzkarateBasque Nationalist spokeswoman | In the Basque Country, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) has been in power since Spain returned to democracy three decades ago. What kind of unemployment do people prefer, 8%, as we have here, or 14%, as they have in Madrid? Miren AzkarateBasque Nationalist spokeswoman |
| The party has sought to loosen constitutional ties with the central government in Madrid and assert the rights of Basques to decide their own political future. | The party has sought to loosen constitutional ties with the central government in Madrid and assert the rights of Basques to decide their own political future. |
| However, the Socialist Party of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is seeking to score a historic victory in the region. | However, the Socialist Party of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is seeking to score a historic victory in the region. |
| With the country in recession, polls suggest that Basques are more concerned about jobs than legalistic arguments about sovereignty, the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Spain says. | With the country in recession, polls suggest that Basques are more concerned about jobs than legalistic arguments about sovereignty, the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Spain says. |
| The Socialists have portrayed the leader of the current Basque government, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, as out of touch with real issues. | The Socialists have portrayed the leader of the current Basque government, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, as out of touch with real issues. |
| The PNV rejects the claims, saying that the Basque economy is doing so much better that the rest of Spain. | The PNV rejects the claims, saying that the Basque economy is doing so much better that the rest of Spain. |
| Unemployment is lower in the region than the national average, and Basque incomes are among the highest in Spain, our correspondent says. | Unemployment is lower in the region than the national average, and Basque incomes are among the highest in Spain, our correspondent says. |
| The outlawed parties, D3M and Askatasuna, were barred from fielding candidates earlier this month by Spain's supreme court, after prosecutors accused them of links to Eta militants. | The outlawed parties, D3M and Askatasuna, were barred from fielding candidates earlier this month by Spain's supreme court, after prosecutors accused them of links to Eta militants. |
| Eta is blamed for more than 800 deaths in a 40-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland. | Eta is blamed for more than 800 deaths in a 40-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland. |
| In Galicia, the Socialists are hoping to hold on to power in a coalition with the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG). | In Galicia, the Socialists are hoping to hold on to power in a coalition with the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG). |
| The polls close at 1900 GMT and the first results are expected later on Sunday. | The polls close at 1900 GMT and the first results are expected later on Sunday. |