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Spanish elections: Podemos and Ciudadanos 'make gains' Spanish elections: Podemos and Ciudadanos 'make gains'
(about 2 hours later)
Exit polls from Spain's local and regional elections have predicted gains for new challenger parties Podemos and Ciudadanos, at the expense of the country's traditional main parties. Early results from Spain's local and regional elections suggest gains for new anti-corruption movements, at the expense of the country's traditional main parties.
The governing People's Party (PP) won most votes, polls suggested, but it may have lost Madrid city council for the first time in 20 years. The governing People's Party (PP) seems to have won the most votes, but it may have lost Madrid city council for the first time in 20 years.
Full results are expected at about midnight local time (22:00 GMT).Full results are expected at about midnight local time (22:00 GMT).
The Spainish economy has been a key concern for voters. The Spanish economy has been a key concern for voters.
Many Spaniards are enraged over reports of political corruption and public spending cuts implemented by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party and before that by the Socialists. Many Spaniards are enraged over reports of political corruption and public spending cuts implemented by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party and before that by the Socialists (PSOE).
Spain has now officially come out of recession.Spain has now officially come out of recession.
Preliminary results show that the PP is on course to win the most votes nationally with 26%. The PSOE is expected to come a close second with 25.2% of the vote.
In the capital, the candidate for Ahora Madrid, backed by the leftist anti-corruption party Podemos, may have tied with the PP.
Early results also put anti-eviction activist Ada Colau in the lead in the mayoral race for Barcelona, Spain's second largest city.
Last year was the first time there has been full-year economic growth in the country since 2008, when a property bubble burst, putting millions of people out of work and pushing the country to the brink of a bail-out.Last year was the first time there has been full-year economic growth in the country since 2008, when a property bubble burst, putting millions of people out of work and pushing the country to the brink of a bail-out.
But unemployment remains high - nearly one in four workers is without a job - boosted by the government's labour reforms which reduced the cost of hiring and firing.But unemployment remains high - nearly one in four workers is without a job - boosted by the government's labour reforms which reduced the cost of hiring and firing.
Anti-austerity party Podemos could be set to gain Spain's second largest city, Barcelona, in what would be a blow to Catalan nationalist parties.
Like Podemos, pro-business Ciudadanos campaigned on an anti-corruption platform.Like Podemos, pro-business Ciudadanos campaigned on an anti-corruption platform.
More than 8,000 councils are up for grabs, with the vote seen as a key indicator for national elections later this year.More than 8,000 councils are up for grabs, with the vote seen as a key indicator for national elections later this year.
Turnout was marginally higher than in the last election, in 2007.Turnout was marginally higher than in the last election, in 2007.
Few parties are expected to win majorities, meaning many localities could have governing coalitions, something unfamiliar in Spain, where the PP and the Socialists have dominated for decades.Few parties are expected to win majorities, meaning many localities could have governing coalitions, something unfamiliar in Spain, where the PP and the Socialists have dominated for decades.