Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, leader of the conservative People’s Party (PP) and candidate for the presidency of the government.
(Photo: dpa)
Madrid The turnout in the parliamentary elections in Spain is slightly higher than in the last election in 2019. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the turnout on Sunday around 2 p.m. (CEST) was around 40.5 percent. In the elections in November 2019, it was only 37.9 percent at this time. A total of 37.4 million Spaniards can vote on the two chambers of parliament – the House of Representatives and the Senate. The new elections are also being followed with interest internationally, as according to polls they are likely to bring about a shift to the right.
According to surveys, the socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has been in power since 2019, must expect to be replaced. “I don’t want to say whether I’m optimistic or not,” said Sánchez after casting his vote in Madrid that morning. He referred to the great international interest in the election. “It means that what happens today will be very important not only for us, but for Europe and that should make us think.”
The conservative People’s Party of his challenger Alberto Nuñez Feijoo is ahead in the polls. For an absolute majority in the 350-seat House of Representatives, however, Feijoo is likely to depend on the votes of the right-wing populist party Vox.
This wants to expel illegal immigrant migrants and, among other things, repeal laws on transgender rights, abortion and animal rights. In addition, the party led by Basque politician Santiago Abascal wants to roll back the climate protection measures promoted by Sanchez.
Spanish People’s Party can hope for up to 151 mandates
The elections come at a tricky political time when Spain has just taken over the six-monthly rotating EU presidency. The European Union is currently working on a reform of the budget and debt rules.
According to pollsters, the Spanish People’s Party can hope for 131 to 151 mandates. A series of polls show that Vox should win enough seats to give a right-wing coalition an outright majority. At least 176 mandates are required for this. However, according to some pollsters, PP and Vox could also stay just below this mark.
According to the polls, Sanchez’s socialist PSOE only has 98 to 115 seats. Vox is practically neck and neck with Sumar, a new coalition of leftist groups. According to the polls, Sumar would get between 25 and 39 seats. That would not be enough for a left-wing majority.
Beginning of elections: Is Spain facing a shift to the right?
The ballot was originally scheduled for December. But Prime Minister Sanchez called new elections after the left suffered a defeat in regional elections in May.
More: Pedro Sánchez lost a lot of trust