Andalucians to vote in election seen as gauge of Spain's wider political change

"Voters in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia will cast their ballots in an election this weekend that is likely to deliver an absolute majority to the conservative People's party (PP) and inflict another debilitating defeat on Pedro Sanchez's embattled socialists in what was previously one of their proudest strongholds."

"Sunday's election in Spain's most populous region the last big poll before next year's general election will serve as a barometer of wider electoral opinion and could also reveal whether the popularity of the far-right Vox party is beginning to peak."

"The PP, which has governed the former socialist bastion for the past seven years, is seeking to frame the election as a referendum on Sanchez, the country's prime minister, whose inner circle, party and administration are facing an array of corruption allegations."

"Moreno is hoping another absolute majority will mean he does not need to depend on Vox, which has been seeking to drag the PP further to the right in regional coalitions by insisting Spaniards receive priority over foreign-born people for housing and public services."

Voters in Andalucia will vote in a regional election likely to deliver an absolute majority to the conservative People’s party (PP) and further damage support for Pedro Sanchez’s socialists. The election is the last major poll before next year’s general election and may indicate broader national sentiment, including whether far-right Vox’s popularity is starting to peak. The PP has governed Andalucia for seven years and is framing the vote as a referendum on Sanchez amid corruption allegations involving his inner circle, party, and administration. Polls suggest PP could nearly match its 2022 result, while PSOE is projected to reach its worst performance. Vox is forecast to gain one or two seats, and the PP hopes to govern without relying on Vox by rejecting its push for national priority policies.

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