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06-26-2016, 11:13 PM
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Tur**ut low as Spain votes to break political deadlock
MADRID: Spaniards voted on Sunday in a parliamentary election in which anti-austerity party Podemos is seen making big gains, potentially delivering a new jolt to Europe's political mainstream days after Britain voted to leave the European Union.
The last election, in December, broke the mould of 40 years of stable conservative or socialist majorities and failed to produce a government, as start-up political parties channelled the growing resentment of the establishment following an eco**mic crisis and a ****** of corruption scandals. By 1600 GMT, two hours before voting booths were due to close, Tur**ut was on track to be the lowest in Spain's democratic history on a hot summer's day with most polls predicting the same deadlock as in the December vote. Exit polls at 1800 GMT and the first results at 2030 GMT. Voters said they were jaded with the political stand-off that resulted from the last election and the inability of party leaders to form a coalition government. "I'm disappointed. The people voted in December for a greater range of parties and in the end all the politicans wanted was an absolute majority and they were unable to respond to what the people wanted," said 35-year-old administrative clerk Sonia Hontoria, who said she would leave her vote blank. GRAND COALITION? Four big parties and six smaller regional ones are likely to win seats in the 350-strong assembly, with **ne of them seen coming close to a majority. The centre-right People's Party (PP) looks set to be the biggest party again, with about 120 seats, and is expected to benefit from a low tur**ut. But its natural coalition partner, the liberal Ciudada**s ("Citizens"), is likely to win only about 40 seats, leaving them well short of the 176 needed for a majority. In theory, the rise of Unidos Podemos ("Together We Can"), a leftist alliance led by Podemos, could offer a way out. The 90 seats it is expected to win, combined with about 80 for the Socialist Party (PSOE), would be close to a majority. Support from some of the regional parties could enable them to form a government. Many analysts believe, however, that the 137-year-old Socialist Party would prefer to form a grand coalition with the PP, led by the acting prime minister, Maria** Rajoy, or give passive support to a mi**rity PP government, rather than combine with a group that threatens their existence. "This is a crucial time for the left. Our time has come. We have an opportunity for change," said Carlos Martinez, a retired administrative clerk who cast his ballot for Unidos Podemos in the Arganzuela neighbourhood, in the south of Madrid. ECHOES OF GREECE However, 77-year-old Martinez, who voted in December for the former communists of United Left, **w part of Unidos Podemos, said the anti-austerity alliance might find it hard to govern because other parties may team up to block it. Such a scenario would have echoes of Greece, where a long-established centre-left party, PASOK, joined a conservative-led government in 2012, only to find itself subsequently humiliated by the rise to power of the far-left Syriza party - which is close to Podemos. After Britain's vote to quit the EU, Greece's Syriza prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, and Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias called for a re-launch of the European Union based on improved democracy, social protection and solidarity. It is **t clear what impact the result of the British referendum will have on the Spanish election. Some voters said on Sunday they went for a safe option by backing the historically dominant PP and PSOE. Others said they were encouraged to vote for Podemos. Like Martinez, though, many signalled the Brexit vote did **t influence their choice. أكثر... ??????? ??????: Tur**ut low as Spain votes to break political deadlock || ??????: ahlam1399 || ??????: اسم منتداك
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