I/II. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35144186
Spain holds most open election for decades 2 hours ago Spaniards are to go to the polls in a landmark election that will see more than two parties compete for power for the first time in decades. Newcomers Podemos, an anti-austerity party, and Citizens, a liberal party, are challenging the ruling Popular Party (PP) and the Socialists. Opinion polls have put Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's PP narrowly ahead. While he has been in power, Spain has emerged from a financial crisis into a period of economic growth. The conservative PP currently has a majority in Spain's lower house of parliament. New parties Citizens and Podemos are fielding national candidates for the first time. [Video: Two new political parties in Spain hope to do well in Sunday's general election. Tom Burridge analyses their rise to frontline politics] However, the BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid says both Podemos and Citizens look set to take a take a large chunk of the vote, ending the power monopoly of Spain's traditional heavyweights. It is almost certain that no party will get a majority of MPs in the parliament, our correspondent says, meaning some form of coalition will have to be agreed before a government can be formed. Return to growth Spanish politics have been dominated by the economy, corruption allegations and a separatist drive in the prosperous northeastern region of Catalonia. Mr Rajoy's administration adopted unpopular austerity measures and job reforms that have been credited with returning the Spanish economy to growth. The men who would govern Spain >From L to R: Pablo Iglesias of Podemos, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, Albert Rivera of Citizens and PP leader Mariano Rajoy Pablo Iglesias, 37, university lecturer, leader of new anti-capitalist party Podemos. Sound-bite: "The problem isn't Greece, the problem is Europe. Germany and the IMF are destroying the political project of Europe" Pedro Sanchez, 43, academic, leader of established Socialist party (PSOE). Sound-bite: "The head of the government, Mr Rajoy, has to be a decent person, and you are not" Albert Rivera, 36, lawyer and former competitive swimmer, leader of new Citizens (Ciudadanos) party. Sound-bite: "They [Podemos] blame the system - we blame the people who have corrupted the system" Mariano Rajoy, 60, prime minister and leader of established, conservative Popular Party. Sound-bite: "Who today is talking about bailout Spain? No-one" Corruption dominates debate New faces in politics New political era However, unemployment remains high at 21%, the second-highest rate in the EU after Greece, although it has fallen from its 2013 peak of 27%. The PP has also been damaged by corruption scandals. Friction with Catalonia The central government in Madrid has also had to contend with an attempt by Catalonia to break away from the rest of Spain. Pro-independence parties in Catalonia won an absolute majority in regional elections in September and a month later passed a motion to begin the process of declaring independence. Spain's Constitutional Court has revoked that motion, but Catalonia's leaders said they would ignore it. Mr Rajoy has vowed to quash the threat to Spanish unity, but other parties favour negotiations to devolve more power to the region, which accounts for about a fifth of Spain's economic output. Day of reflection Ahead of the vote, the party leaders made a point of relaxing as they observed a "day of reflection". Mr Rajoy said he wanted some fresh air and went for a jog around the official prime minister's residence. However his campaign was marred last week after a teenager punched him in the face during a visit to the town of Pontevedra in the northwest. Polls say up to 40% of voters do not know who they will vote for Mr Rajoy has also raised questions about his future by including his deputy, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, on campaign posters and fielding her in his place during a leaders TV debate. Meanwhile Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, a 43-year-old former basketball player, wathed his daughters play basketball match and Pablo Iglesias booked a ticket for the new Star Wars film. Polling stations open at 9am and close at 8pm. Exit polls are expected minutes afterwards and complete results are due two days later. II. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-election-idUSKBN0U300120151220 World | Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:51pm EST Related: WORLD Spain goes to the polls in too-close-to-call election MADRID | BY JULIEN TOYER [Video] Spaniards vote on Sunday in a parliamentary election in which new parties are loosening the grip of the once-dominant conservatives and Socialists, raising the possibility of a new era of consensus politics - or a period of instability. With many people saying they are willing to shake up a political system they consider corrupt and unable to resolve Spain's economic woes, the outcome is the most uncertain in the 40 years since the end of the Franco dictatorship and the return of democracy. About one in three of the 36.5 million eligible voters are still undecided. Opinion polls show the ruling conservative People's Party (PP) of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will win the vote but fall well short of an absolute majority. The Socialists are expected to come second with anti-austerity party Podemos ("We Can") and a second major newcomer, liberal Ciudadanos ("Citizens"), vying for the third place which would make them kingmakers in post-election talks. That prediction makes any of three outcomes possible - either a right-wing or left-wing coalition government or a minority administration. Rajoy said on Wednesday he would consider a cross-party pact to ensure a stable administration over the scheduled four-year term, but all the other main parties have come out against joining the PP in a coalition. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
