Polls predict a PP victory in Andalucía elections

Ballot boxes are being dusted down and pencils sharpened as polling stations across the region prepare for the multitude of Andalusian citizens who’ll be casting their votes on Sunday 25 March, for what will be the third time in less than a year.

At this weekend’s election it’s the regional parliament that’s up for grabs, and if last year’s municipal elections held on May 11, and Spain’s general election which took place on November 20 are anything to go by, the Partido Popular (conservatives) look set for a victory. A socialist (PSOE) stronghold for 30 years, assuming Mariano Rajoy’s ruling PP do win in Andalucía, they will control virtually all of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions.

According to a poll published in Spanish daily El País, the Partido Popular looks likely to take 47.3% of the vote. The PP needs 55 seats for an absolute majority, with a poll published in El Mundo predicting a win of between 54 and 57 seats.

Sixty per cent of Andalusians expect a victory for the region’s PP – led by Javier Arenas – although recently introduced austerity measures and unpopular labour reforms mean that the initial enthusiasm for Spain’s new centre-right party is already cooling off.  So while voters have undoubtedly fallen seriously out of love with Zapatero’s previous socialist government, it’s by no means certain how many of them are prepared to swallow the medicine prescribed by Rajoy.

Still, we’ll find out soon enough…