Spain likely to head to the polls Dec 20 but Catalan regional vote first
The election in Spain is being billed as the most important one in Europe this year. Two new parties -- Citizens and Podemos -- will sap votes from the traditional powers.
Citizens is likely to obtain 11% of seats and Podemos about 15% if current polls stand. Earlier in the year Podemos led in the polls but has faded with the People's Party taking the lead.
Rajoy's conservative People's Party and the opposition PSOE socialist workers party have shared power since 1982. Rajoy is polling around 25-30% but opposition parties are likely to try and build a coalition with each other.
No date has been set for the election yet but it must be held by Dec 20 at the latest.
The subplot in Spanish politics is always the Catalonia separatist movement. A regional vote takes place this Sunday shows around 41% of voters planning to vote for the main separatist party and winning 63-67 seats. That's not enough to hold a majority in the 135-member parliament but it would have a coalition majority with the help of the radical left.
