She identified “the unity of Spain, employment and security” as among her main concerns. Voters are to elect 350 members to the lower house of Parliament and 208 members to the Senate.Ĭarmen Acero, 62, who voted for the Popular Party, compared Sánchez to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and said she voted because “to continue with Pedro Sánchez is hell.”Īcero, who sported a Spanish flag on her phone, accused Sánchez of being an “assassin” for allying with the small Basque regional party Bildu, which includes some former members of the now-defunct armed separatist group, ETA. The main issues at stake are “a lot of freedoms, social rights, public health and education,” Bleda said after voting in the Palacio de Valdés public school polling station in central Madrid with his wife and young boy. “Given the polarization in this country, it’s to vote either for 50 years of backwardness or for progress,” he said. Vox’s Abascal said he hoped for “a massive mobilization (of voters) that will allow Spain to change direction.”Īlejandro Bleda, 45, did not say who he voted for but indicated that he was backing the leftist parties. With no party expected to garner an absolute majority, the choice is basically between another leftist coalition and a partnership of the right and the far right.įor poll favorite Feijóo, “It is clear that many things are in play, what model of country we want, to have a solid and strong government.” “For people of my generation, they are the most important elections.”Īt stake is “waking up tomorrow with more rights, more democracy and more freedom.” “A lot is at risk,” said Diáz after voting. Sumar is led by second deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz, the only woman among the top four candidates.ĭíaz called for everyone to vote, recalling that the freedom to vote didn’t always exist in Spain. The Socialists and a new movement called Sumar that brings together 15 small leftist parties for the first time hope to pull off an upset victory. “I don’t want to say I’m optimistic or not. Sánchez was one of the first to vote, casting his ballot in a polling station in Madrid.Ĭommenting later on the large number of foreign media covering the election, he said: “This means that what happens today is going to be very important not just for us but also for Europe and I think that should also make us reflect.” An election defeat for Sánchez could see the PP taking over the EU presidency reins. Sánchez had hoped to use the six-month term to showcase the advances his government had made. The election comes as Spain holds the EU’s rotating presidency. Vox, headed by Santiago Abascal, is opposed to EU interference in Spain‘s affairs. On the right, the PP, led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, is also in favor of the EU. Spain’s two main leftist parties are pro-EU participation.
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