Spain to vote, Sanchez at the crossroads: right-wing favourites, but to govern he must ally himself with the extremists

37.4 million Spaniards are called today to elect the 350 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 208 of the 265 members of the Senate . Polling stations open from 9 to 20.

A scorching vote, the first held in the middle of summer with temperatures well over 35 degrees. In the polling stations many fans and thousands of bottles of water. Eyes also focused on the turnout, 2.4 million citizens have chosen to vote by mail .

The vote was reached because President Pedro Sanchez, after the heavy defeat of the Socialist Party (PSOE) in the municipal and regional elections of last May 28 , called early elections . The natural deadline of the legislature was in December 2023.

The latest polls show the center-right People's Party in the lead with around 33% , followed by the PSOE at 29% . Sumar (radical left, led by Yolanda Diaz) and Vox (extreme right, led by Santiago Abascal) vie for third place and are given around 12-13% . Then the galaxy of minor parties, in addition to the pro-independence parties who will obtain important results in the Basque Country and in Catalonia. The percentage of the undecided is high.

The electoral system is a "correct" proportional system, without preferences and with blocked lists. Each constituency (there are 52 in total) elects a minimum of two deputies, the remaining seats are assigned in proportion to the population. There is a threshold threshold of 3% in the single constituency.

To govern , an absolute majority of 176 seats must be reached in the Chamber. And, according to polls, no one is able to get it, not even the People's Party. The PP could only reach it by allying itself with Vox . PP president Alberto Nunez Feijòo proposed to Sanchez a "neutrality pact" between the two major parties that would allow the list that gets the most votes to govern alone, without having to ally with the extremists. Proposal rejected by the head of the Spanish government.

Already at 20 we will have the first exit polls, for the first official data we have to wait until 21, after the closure of the polling stations in the Canary Islands , which have the time zone moved by an hour.

(Unioneonline/L)