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Spanish regional elections: Voting under way | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Spaniards are voting in regional and municipal elections that could challenge the grip of the country's two main parties. | Spaniards are voting in regional and municipal elections that could challenge the grip of the country's two main parties. |
Seats in all of the local councils are at stake, as well as places in 13 of the 17 regional parliaments. | Seats in all of the local councils are at stake, as well as places in 13 of the 17 regional parliaments. |
Opinion polls suggest that the ruling party and its main rival could both be punished by voters. | Opinion polls suggest that the ruling party and its main rival could both be punished by voters. |
Sunday's vote is seen as an important barometer of opinion ahead of national elections later this year. | Sunday's vote is seen as an important barometer of opinion ahead of national elections later this year. |
"There is no doubt that a majority of Spaniards want change. What they want now are governments that make pacts and engage in dialogue," Jose Pablo Ferrandiz, from pollster Metroscopia, told the AFP news agency. | |
Disenchantment about the main parties weighed heavily among voters - one man described them as the "usual parties always doing the same thing". | |
Casting his ballot, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged all Spaniards to vote for "whoever they see fit". | |
Spain's economic crisis and a series of corruption scandals have damaged the reputations of both Mr Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP) and the leading opposition, the Socialists (PSOE) party. | |
Analysts say that the PP could lose its majority in almost all of the 10 regions it currently controls. | Analysts say that the PP could lose its majority in almost all of the 10 regions it currently controls. |
The vote could open the door for newer parties such as the centre-right Ciudadanos and the radical anti-austerity party Podemos. | |
Podemos - meaning "We can" - came third in Andalusia's regional election in March. | Podemos - meaning "We can" - came third in Andalusia's regional election in March. |
The PSOE, who have governed Andalusia for more than 30 years, were left short of a majority. | The PSOE, who have governed Andalusia for more than 30 years, were left short of a majority. |
"Tonight our city halls and regions will begin to change and Spain will also begin to change," Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias said while voting in Madrid. | |
Ciudadanos (meaning "Citizens") has a pro-business agenda and is seen as a threat to the PP. | |
"We have to vote and change things," said Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera. | |
"The power is in our hands, in the hands of citizens. So I ask Spaniards to take part so that we won't regret it tomorrow and so that those we don't like are not allowed to stay in power." | |
Final results are due by midnight local time (22:00 GMT). |