Spanish voters go to the polls in closest election in years

Spaniards go to the polls Sunday in what is expected to be one of the most closely-fought contests in modern history, as two dynamic new parties take on the country’s long-established giants. After a 14-day marathon campaign, the conservatives of incumbent Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy are hoping for re-election despite stiff competition not just from their traditional Socialist rivals, but by two upstart parties vying for change – the centrist Ciudadanos and anti-austerity Podemos. About one in three of the 36.5 million eligible voters are still undecided.

These are the most interesting elections that I’ve seen in the past decades in the Western world.

Francisco Oliva-Velez, 29

Opinion polls show the ruling conservative People’s Party 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. Sky-high unemployment, inequality, corruption and an ever-rising separatist drive in the northeastern region of Catalonia are just some of the issues at stake in a country deeply scarred by a financial crisis.

Europe Spain election