Seville (Reuters) – Andalusia, the Commonwealth more grande Spain, voted Sunday in regional elections that give the power to the PP for the first time after three decades of Socialist rule, according to opinion polls, which would be an important endorsement of the reforms and cuts in the Conservative Government of Mariano Rajoy.
The PP of Javier Arenas, presented for the fourth time to the Presidency of the Junta de AndalucÃa, would obtain an absolute majority of up to 59 members while the PSOE in José Antonio Griñán would lose 15 posts in the Chamber, which would also benefit IULV-CA (United Left Los Verdes-Convocatoria in Andalusia) with a rise of up to nine seats in a Parliament of 109,.
However, a survey by the Centre of sociological investigations (CIS) of mid-March pointed out that the PP was on the verge of an absolute majority, leaving the door open to a possible coalition between the PSOE and IU Government.
Turnout in the elections was the 29,29 percent at 14: 00, nearly ten points less than the 39,08 of the 2008 elections, according to data from the Junta de AndalucÃa. The big difference could be due to a lack of interest, although it is possible that the change to DST, which clocks ahead an hour at dawn on Sunday, was influencing the data.
Sands was the first candidate to vote, going to the polling around eleven in the morning with his wife and daughter.
“a very quiet morning, hoping that there is a lot of participation, polls to swell of enthusiasm and hope for the future, and that starting tomorrow, it no matter what happens today, all we are struggling against the economic crisis and unemployment”, said in statements collected by National Radio.
The current President of the Board and the candidate of the PSOE, José Antonio Griñán, voted at midday by making a call to participation.
“I hope to be a day of voting, everyone decides the next four years because they are four critical years for Andalusia,” noted.
Ãlvaro Morales, an unemployed person aged 39 which has changed his vote to a minor party, showed helpless before the elections.
“I’m not optimistic for the future of Andalusia and don’t see my vote changing much.” “This is a much more global crisis and will not be solved by more cuts, said.
“30 years is too long”
A total of 6.4 million voters are called to the polls of a population of almost eight million and a half inhabitants that since the restoration of democracy has opted always for the PSOE, a party low hours faced in Andalusia to a loss of territorial and institutional power nearly absolute after the electoral debacle in the municipal and General last year.
The economic crisis, the great rate of 31 per cent unemployment, the mayor of Spain, and cases of corruption have discouraged the Andalusians who seem ready to punish the Socialists and change the PP to come further cuts in the welfare state.
“Andalusia needs a change,” said Sunday in Seville Alberto Fernández, taxi driver. We have to try it anyway, although people are mosqueada with so much talk of cuts. “Perhaps that is why not win majority”.
Meanwhile, César Chaparro, computer for 35 years, said that “the Socialists are going to pay hard by unemployment and the scandals of corruption, of all modes have all parties.” But 30 years is too long for any party. “There is a deep crisis here and I do not see improving during years”.
Andalusian elections are held four days before a general strike by the labor reform and measures of austerity and five days before that Rajoy present its 2012 budget with major cuts.
