Edition 222
www.thecourier.es
Friday 22nd May 2015
ALL CHANGE? BIG VOTE COULD HERALD REGIONAL AND TOWN HALL SHAKE UP
ALEX TRELINSKI
S
pain goes to the polls this Sunday in the last major test of public opinion before this autumn's General Election. Most of the country's regional governments will be elected as will local municipalities with a major sea change in the country's political landscape expected with the emergence of the left-wing party, Podemos, and the centrist, Ciudadamos. On a more local level,
GARRE KNIFE EDGE
many of the municipal contests will also feature new independent groupings that pose a serious threat to the traditional duopoly of the Partido Popular and the socialist PSOE. Nationally, the vote is seen as a major test as to whether or not the PP government in Madrid, led by Mariano Rajoy, has a chance of winning a second term in office this autumn. Recent opinion polls suggest that the Partido Popular is likely to continue to be the largest single
FABRA IN FIGHT
party in both the Valencia and Murcia legislatures, but with dramatic falls. A Valencia survey for the Informacion and La Verdad newspapers says that the current PP administration led by President Alberto Fabra could be thrown out, with their seats halved from 55 to 27, with Ciudadamos picking up 19 seats in their first election. The socialist PSOE is set to lose 13 seats, as it goes down to 20, whilst Podemos will debut with 14 seats, plus smaller left- wing parties picking up representation, which suggests the possibility of a left of centre alliance that could cobble together a working majority that would be greater than say a PP/Ciudadamos combination. A big PP fall is also projected in surveys for Murcia, with President Alberto Garre predicted to lose around a third of the seats his party got in 2011, with Ciudadamos seen as the main beneficiary. Polls suggest a knife-edge result in the region between left wing and right wing parties. Non-Spaniards who are on the electoral register are entitled to vote in the local municipal elections, which like the regional
contests, are decided via proportional representation. Political pundits say that the backlash against traditional parties plus numerous local factors will make for an exciting evening, with incumbent Mayors across Spain from the PP and PSOE trying hard to fend off numerous new opponents, many of whom are fighting on anti-corruption tickets. Locally, the PP appear to have the most to lose, as they are defending control of most of the municipalities across the Southern Costa Blanca and the Murcia region. Some of the most interesting contests include Torrevieja’s PP Mayor Eduardo Dolon defending his four year reign; Antonio Perez Garcia for the PSOE in Rojales, who took control in 2011; and 24 year PSOE incumbent, Jose Maria Butron in Los Montesinos. A close call result is expected again in the unpredictable Orihuela municipality, whilst PP controlled councils in San Pedro and San Javier appear to have the main threat coming from Ciudadamos. Results will start to come in this Sunday evening after 8.00 pm.
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Courier TV Pullout 22nd May - 28th May
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