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Spain poll rivals neck-and-neck Dead heat for Spain poll rivals
(about 2 hours later)
Spain's governing Socialists and opposition Popular Party are running almost neck-and-neck in the country's regional and municipal elections.Spain's governing Socialists and opposition Popular Party are running almost neck-and-neck in the country's regional and municipal elections.
With almost all votes counted in the town hall poll, the Popular Party has a tiny lead, prompting deputy leader Angel Acebes to declare victory. With virtually all the votes counted, the Popular Party had 36% support, one percentage point more than the Socialists, who won more seats.
Rural results are still coming in, but seem little changed from the 2003 vote. Correspondents say Sunday's poll provided few pointers to the likely result of next year's general election.
The vote is seen as a first real popularity test for Spain's Socialists, who came to power in March 2004. The vote is seen as a first real popularity test for the Socialists.
That election came three days after train bomb attacks in Madrid that killed 191 people. They came to power in March 2004, following an election three days after train bomb attacks in Madrid that killed 191 people.
National issues such as violence in the Basque region and urban planning corruption have loomed strongly.National issues such as violence in the Basque region and urban planning corruption have loomed strongly.
For the first time, many British and German expatriates have put themselves forward as anti-corruption candidates.For the first time, many British and German expatriates have put themselves forward as anti-corruption candidates.
New partiesNew parties
The political make-up of more than 8,000 town councils and most of the country's regional governments is being decided in Sunday's polls.The political make-up of more than 8,000 town councils and most of the country's regional governments is being decided in Sunday's polls.
The Socialists retained Seville and Barcelona, while the Popular Party (PP) held onto Madrid and Valencia. But the PP's majority in Navarra was threatened by a surge by Basque nationalists.The Socialists retained Seville and Barcelona, while the Popular Party (PP) held onto Madrid and Valencia. But the PP's majority in Navarra was threatened by a surge by Basque nationalists.
In the Basque region, the moderate nationalist party, the PNV, remains the main political force.
The ANV, the party supported by Batasuna, the illegal political group linked to the militant separatists Eta, had moderate success in one Basque province, winning 15% of the vote.
The vote follows the national government's first major setback, says the BBC's Danny Shaw in Madrid.The vote follows the national government's first major setback, says the BBC's Danny Shaw in Madrid.
In December, a bomb attack by the Basque separatist group Eta put an end to the peace process led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. In December, an Eta bomb attack put an end to the peace process led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
The Popular Party wants to capitalise on that failure, our correspondent says. The Popular Party had wanted to capitalise on that failure, our correspondent says, but the election result seems conclusive.
Their leader, Mariano Rajoy, says the government has given in to Eta and is allowing Basque political parties linked to its illegal political wing, Batasuna, to field candidates in the Basque region.
The government has rejected the accusation, referring to the Supreme Court's ban of more than 100 lists of candidates linked to Batasuna.
Corruption in town planning is another big issue. A number of new political groups have been influenced by the issue.Corruption in town planning is another big issue. A number of new political groups have been influenced by the issue.
For the first time, independent political parties with more non-Spanish than Spanish candidates, including many Britons and Germans, are taking part in elections.For the first time, independent political parties with more non-Spanish than Spanish candidates, including many Britons and Germans, are taking part in elections.