A snap general election will be held in Spain this weekend. On April 28, Spaniards will vote for a new leader for the third time in just four years. While the socialists are currently ahead in the polls, it’s likely to be the closest Spanish leadership race in years.
The snap election was called by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE)in February.
He called the election after Catalan pro-independence parties united with the centre-right opposition and rejected the government’s 2019 budget proposals.
There are several key parties running in this year’s Spanish election.
The left-wing PSOE party is currently ahead in the polls.
These are the key parties in Spain’s 2019 election:
-The left-wing Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE)
– The center-right People’s Party (PP)
– The far-left Unidos Podemos (United We Can) party
– The centrist Ciudadanos (Citizens’ Party, or Cs)
– The populist, far-right Vox party
The right-wing nationalist Vox Party is a newcomer on Spain’s political landscape.
But according to polls, it could become the first nationalist party to sit in Spanish parliament since 1982.
With no single party close to winning a parliamentary majority, the election’s outcome is uncertain.
Polls have shown that up to four in 10 voters have yet to decide whom to cast their ballot for.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sanchez looks best placed to form a government if his Socialist Party wins the around 30 percent of the vote, as polls have suggested.
But he would need to join forces with one or more other parties to form a parliamentary majority, and on Tuesday he distanced himself from one option.
When do the polls close?
Polling stations will open on Sunday open at 9am and close at 8pm.
After they close their doors the provisional counting of results will begin.
What time will we have a result?
The counting of votes will begin next Wednesday after ballot papers arrive from abroad.
The deadline for the count to finish is Sunday May 4.
While it is likely there will be some indication of who win the election after the provisional votes are counted, official results will be declared no later than Monday May 13.
The new members of the Congreso are set to meet on Tuesday May 21.