Readers can follow the Spain 2015 election results live online and see what many political experts predict will be the closest race in the nation’s recent history.
Sunday’s election will be a major test since the political landscape shifted dramatically in 2011, the year that voters handed a huge victory to the People’s Party and knocked the Socialist Workers’ Party out of power. Now there are two relatively newer parties — Podemas and Cuidad-anos — looking to make gains and challenge the long-standing parties.
There are a number of other issues underlying Spain’s 2015 election, including high unemployment and a seething tension brought on by income inequality. There are also corruption scandals and a brewing independence movement in Catalonia, Al Jazeera noted, adding even more drama to the election.
The nation’s political power could also be shifting upward, with young people hit particularly hard by the unemployment rate and taking a keen interest in this year’s general election.
The U.K.’s Independent captured the sentiment from young voters, who are longing for a change and a response to the economic downturn.
“It’s time to move on from what we’ve seen for so long,” said Adriana Hernando Sierra, an 18-year-old who is voting for the first time in her life. “It’s about giving a chance to new people with different ideas about how to run this country.
“Many of my friends are keen to vote because they see this as an opportunity for real change. We’re all talking about that.”
The People’s Party seems to be getting the brunt of criticism from these younger voters, with 58.2 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds polled saying they would never vote for the right-of-center party. Resentment was even higher among 25- to 34-year-olds, with 64.2 percent saying they would never vote PP.
#Spain to hold general election on Sunday https://t.co/yoHkMJQc2b #SpainElection pic.twitter.com/3Xxcw47hVt
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) December 20, 2015
Así queda el promedio de todos los sondeos públicos antes del 20D. pic.twitter.com/KKKaHP2f4n
— Kiko Llaneras (@kikollan) December 14, 2015
That could mean trouble for the PP, which has held a parliamentary majority for the last four years and has Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in power.
It could also be a boon for the anti-austerity Podemos party, which has double-digit support despite being founded only last year. This group polls particularly well among young people, and could stand to make gains in parliament if these voters show up in big numbers to the polls.
As the Independent explained, the Spain 2015 election live results are likely to reflect a very tight contest with all of the parties tightly packed in polls.
“Asked which party they would vote for if elections were held the next day, 14.2 per cent said Ciudadanos – compared with just 1.9 per cent this January; the PP trailed in fourth place, at 9.9 per cent. However, in another indication of why these elections are considered the most unpredictable in Spanish modern democracy, 52.9 per cent of 18- to 34-year-olds said they were still undecided which party to vote for, more than 10 points higher than the national average.
“According to the latest polls, the PP is expected to gain the most parliamentary seats following the vote, but lose its majority. But, all four parties – the PP, PSOE, Ciudadanos and Podemos – have received between 18 and 26 per cent support in recent polls.”
Those who want to follow live results from the 2015 Spain election will have a number of options, which the International Business Times compiled in its rundown of the election. The U.K.’s Guardian will run a live blog of the election results, and the Spain Report will have its own live results here . Official results from Spain’s election will be posted by the interior ministry .
[Picture by John Moore/Getty Images]