Spain voted in local, regional and European elections on Sunday seen as a "second round" for acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as he seeks to form a new government and gain influence in the EU.
The polls come a month after general elections on April 28 in which Sanchez's Socialist Party (PSOE) came first but fell short of a majority in parliament.
He is hoping the party will perform well on Sunday so he can opt for his preferred plan of forming a minority government with the support of other parties on a case-by-case basis when passing laws.
But he will also be looking to the European Union, where Sanchez has emerged as the big hope for European social democrats, the second largest bloc in the European parliament.
Turnout at around 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) stood at around 35 percent, or 11 points more than at the same time during the last EU elections in 2014, but hardly more than seen in Spain's city and regional polls in 2015.
The fact that the polls coincide with EU elections has probably boosted turnout, said electoral official Miguel Angel Oliver.
Spain could be the only major EU member state with socialists coming out on top in the European parliament elections.
On Friday, outgoing Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, whom Spain could push to become the next EU foreign policy chief, told supporters that Sanchez was going to "lead the resurgence of social democracy in Europe".
In a sign of Spain's increasing assertiveness in the EU and as Sunday's polls neared, the government on Friday reacted strongly to British Prime Minister Theresa May's resignation.
"Under these circumstances, a hard Brexit appears to be a reality that is near impossible to stop," Spanish government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa warned as May's resignation appeared to pave the way for hardliners to take over.
She added that Britain's anticipated "disorderly exit" from the EU was "a clear example of what can happen if we let ourselves get swept along by extremes".
- Podemos or not? -
On the domestic front, the results of local and regional elections may determine what Spain's new government looks like, and Sanchez has urged supporters to "finish the work" of the general election and turn out in force.
"I'm asking for a vote on May 26 that is coherent with that of April 28," he said Friday.
After casting his ballot on Sunday, Sanchez called on political actors to "leave behind the electoral dialectic and look towards a horizon of stability in which we will all contribute to the governance of our country."
While Sanchez wants to rule alone in a minority government, Pablo Iglesias, the leader of far-left party Podemos, is pushing him to form a coalition.
Whether Sanchez accepts may depend on how both parties fare.
The Socialists "might need the support of Podemos to retain power in some regions, which Iglesias might use to pressure Sanchez into forming a coalition," said Teneo analyst Antonio Barroso.
But "Iglesias' party is on the decline according to the most recent polls, and PSOE might enjoy a certain 'honeymoon effect' after its victory in the April legislative election.
"If the distance between the two parties widens after Sunday, Sanchez will be in an even stronger position to head a minority government."
Polls suggest the Socialists will win in most of the 12 regions going to the polls on Sunday.
But all eyes will be on Madrid, which could swing left after being governed by the conservative Popular Party for 24 years.
Spain voted in local, regional and European elections on Sunday seen as a “second round” for acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as he seeks to form a new government and gain influence in the EU.
The polls come a month after general elections on April 28 in which Sanchez’s Socialist Party (PSOE) came first but fell short of a majority in parliament.
He is hoping the party will perform well on Sunday so he can opt for his preferred plan of forming a minority government with the support of other parties on a case-by-case basis when passing laws.
But he will also be looking to the European Union, where Sanchez has emerged as the big hope for European social democrats, the second largest bloc in the European parliament.
Turnout at around 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) stood at around 35 percent, or 11 points more than at the same time during the last EU elections in 2014, but hardly more than seen in Spain’s city and regional polls in 2015.
The fact that the polls coincide with EU elections has probably boosted turnout, said electoral official Miguel Angel Oliver.
Spain could be the only major EU member state with socialists coming out on top in the European parliament elections.
On Friday, outgoing Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, whom Spain could push to become the next EU foreign policy chief, told supporters that Sanchez was going to “lead the resurgence of social democracy in Europe”.
In a sign of Spain’s increasing assertiveness in the EU and as Sunday’s polls neared, the government on Friday reacted strongly to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s resignation.
“Under these circumstances, a hard Brexit appears to be a reality that is near impossible to stop,” Spanish government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa warned as May’s resignation appeared to pave the way for hardliners to take over.
She added that Britain’s anticipated “disorderly exit” from the EU was “a clear example of what can happen if we let ourselves get swept along by extremes”.
– Podemos or not? –
On the domestic front, the results of local and regional elections may determine what Spain’s new government looks like, and Sanchez has urged supporters to “finish the work” of the general election and turn out in force.
“I’m asking for a vote on May 26 that is coherent with that of April 28,” he said Friday.
After casting his ballot on Sunday, Sanchez called on political actors to “leave behind the electoral dialectic and look towards a horizon of stability in which we will all contribute to the governance of our country.”
While Sanchez wants to rule alone in a minority government, Pablo Iglesias, the leader of far-left party Podemos, is pushing him to form a coalition.
Whether Sanchez accepts may depend on how both parties fare.
The Socialists “might need the support of Podemos to retain power in some regions, which Iglesias might use to pressure Sanchez into forming a coalition,” said Teneo analyst Antonio Barroso.
But “Iglesias’ party is on the decline according to the most recent polls, and PSOE might enjoy a certain ‘honeymoon effect’ after its victory in the April legislative election.
“If the distance between the two parties widens after Sunday, Sanchez will be in an even stronger position to head a minority government.”
Polls suggest the Socialists will win in most of the 12 regions going to the polls on Sunday.
But all eyes will be on Madrid, which could swing left after being governed by the conservative Popular Party for 24 years.
