Elections in Spain get underway
December 20, 2015
Voting stations open at 9am local time (08.00 UTC) on Sunday as Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his conservative People's Party (PP) brace for a major fight.
For the first time since the era of dictator Francisco Franco came to an end and democracy was introduced, outside parties threaten to upend the country's two-party system.
The PP is running for a consecutive four-year term in office. However, the emergence of two new left-leaning parties - Podemos and Ciudadanos - is posing a major challenge.
Ciudadanos ("Citizens") lies to the right of the Socialist Party (POSE) in Spain's political spectrum. Its polished leader, Albert Rivera, is known to be pro-business and socially liberal.
Podemos, the other party to burst onto the scene, was formed in 2014 and has gained popularity thanks to its aggresive anti-austerity platform.
Finally, there is the Socialist Part (PSOE), the PP's traditional rival. Pedro Sanchez, the PSOE's current leader, has a lot to prove after the party's humiliating defeat in 2011. The PSOE is widely expected to come in second place.
Polling stations close at 8pm local time (1900 UTC).
blc/jm (Reuters, AFP)