Final rush for votes
Left-wing government forecast - but nationalists' support needed
POLITICAL leaders are on a mad rush throughout Spain to convince the remaining undecided voters ahead of Sunday's general election.
The latest poll surveys show that up to 30% of the electorate has still not decided who they will vote for.
The high number leaves the outcome of the elections in serious doubt, even though surveys indicated a narrow victory for current PM Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist party (PSOE), meaning they would require the support of left-wing party Podemos and probably Basque and Catalan nationalists parties.
Despite the arrival of farright party Vox, a right-wing coalition with the Partido Popular (PP) and liberals Ciudadanos (Cs) is unlikely to become a reality, according to the polls.
Live TV debates
The exclusion of Vox from live TV debates as the party did not have parliamentary representation, according to an electoral commission ruling, resulted in two live TV debates on Monday (on state-owned TVE1) and Tuesday (on private station Antena3) with just four candidates – Pablo Iglesias (Unidas Podemos), Pablo Casado (PP), Albert Rivera (Cs), and Pedro Sánchez (PSOE).
Sr Sánchez had initially only accepted a debate on TVE1, but after all other parties agreed to the Antena3 debate the following day, he came under criticism and eventually agreed to take part.
Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera was the unofficial 'winner' of Monday’s debate according to viewers and experts.
Tuesday debate on Antena3 was much more lively although candidates mainly concentrated on attacking rivals and experts agree there was no clear winner.
Today (Friday), all candidates will be holding their endof-campaign meetings and tomorow (Saturday) no campaigning is allow and Spain had the tradition 'Day of Reflexion' before the ballot on Sunday.