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| Spanish leaders in angry debate | Spanish leaders in angry debate |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Spain's prime minister and the leader of the conservative opposition have clashed angrily in a final TV debate ahead of Sunday's general election. | Spain's prime minister and the leader of the conservative opposition have clashed angrily in a final TV debate ahead of Sunday's general election. |
| Mariano Rajoy, who leads the opposition Popular Party, accused the government of weakness on the issue of immigration. | Mariano Rajoy, who leads the opposition Popular Party, accused the government of weakness on the issue of immigration. |
| But the contribution of immigrants to Spanish society was defended by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. | But the contribution of immigrants to Spanish society was defended by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. |
| His governing Socialist Party remains ahead in the opinion polls. | |
| This bad-tempered encounter saw the prime minister and leader of the conservative opposition clash on issues as diverse as terrorism, regional policy, education and foreign affairs. | This bad-tempered encounter saw the prime minister and leader of the conservative opposition clash on issues as diverse as terrorism, regional policy, education and foreign affairs. |
| On several occasions, the candidates accused each other of lying to the Spanish people. | On several occasions, the candidates accused each other of lying to the Spanish people. |
| New electoral territory | New electoral territory |
| Going into the debate, the Popular Party had trailed the Socialists by four percentage points in several opinion polls. | |
| On Monday, Mr Rajoy chose immigration as his main line of attack. | |
| "Uncontrolled immigration is a danger," he said. "And some Spaniards may feel that they are negatively affected - when they try to access to healthcare or housing, or find a place in school for their children. Your policy has been weak." | "Uncontrolled immigration is a danger," he said. "And some Spaniards may feel that they are negatively affected - when they try to access to healthcare or housing, or find a place in school for their children. Your policy has been weak." |
| In response, Mr Zapatero pointed to partnership agreements with African governments that had helped reduce the flow of illegal immigrants. | |
| And he explained that foreigners residing legally in Spain were net contributors to social security and had helped stimulate the economy. | And he explained that foreigners residing legally in Spain were net contributors to social security and had helped stimulate the economy. |
| Spain accounts for well over a third of all net immigration into the European Union. | |
| But by focusing on the issue in such stark terms, Mr Rajoy is taking Spain into new electoral territory. His hope is that Spaniards already coping with rising food prices and unemployment may quietly agree that too many foreigners are not helping the situation. | But by focusing on the issue in such stark terms, Mr Rajoy is taking Spain into new electoral territory. His hope is that Spaniards already coping with rising food prices and unemployment may quietly agree that too many foreigners are not helping the situation. |
| That has enabled the government to accuse Mr Rajoy of xenophobia - and without doubt, his tough line is a gamble. | |
| Mr Rajoy will find out on Sunday if it pays off. |