Right-wing party ahead in polls as Spain goes to early elections

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for early elections after his party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and its small far-left coalition partner, Unidas Podemos ("United We Can"), lost in local and regional elections.

In the 28 May elections, the center-right Popular Party (PP) won. Polls for the general elections consistently put the PP in first place. However, it will be difficult for the PP to form a government alone. For that, it could form an alliance with the far-right Vox party.

RIGHT-WING COALITION POSSIBLE

If such a coalition materializes, the country, which became a democracy after nearly 40 years under dictator General Fransizco, would be governed by a far-right force for the first time since Fransizco's death in 1975.

Since May, the Popular Party and Vox have agreed to jointly govern around 140 cities and towns. The PP's leader, Senator Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has not ruled out a partnership at the national level.

Analysts agree that if the two parties fail to reach an agreement this time, new elections are a distinct possibility.

Polls open at 9:00 am on Sunday. The total number of registered voters is 37.4 million, including 2.3 million abroad and 1.6 million first-time voters. Polls will close at 8:00 pm.

Source: AP - Investing