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Spain in key regional vote test | Spain in key regional vote test |
(about 3 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. | 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. | More than four million people are eligible to elect regional parliaments in Galicia and the Basque Country. Polls opened at 0800 GMT. |
Hours before polls opened, the Basque police arrested a suspected member of the militant group Eta, who was believed to have been planning an imminent attack. | |
The BBC's Steve Kingstone, in Madrid, says the 24-year-old had been under surveillance. | |
Officers later found what has been described as "bomb-making equipment" in an apartment in the town of Hernani, our correspondent says. | |
Eta has called the Basque election "anti-democratic", following a decision by Spain's Supreme Court to ban two separatist parties from fielding candidates. | |
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 Analysis: Basque race wide open | 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 Analysis: Basque race wide open |
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, our correspondent 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. |