Dear Editor,
Opinion polls accurately predicted Spain’s electoral outcome as the Socialist government won re-election last week against tremendous odds.
Early opinion polls had the Socialists trailing the Conservatives (Popular Party) but as election day approached, polls showed the Socialists ahead of the Conservatives by 3%. Exit polls from voting also showed the Socialists ahead of the Conservatives. The actual results gave the Socialists a 3% (44% to 41%) victory beating the Conservatives by 16 seats 169-153. The outcome validates the projection of opinion polls.
As in Guyana, election to the 350 House of Deputies is by P.R. There was a high turnout of 75% almost the same as in the 2004 election.
The Socialists are seven seats short of a majority which will be obtained from a coalition of minor parties.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero feels his government would be “solid” despite failing to secure an absolute majority in elections. Zapatero, a bold, liberal, social reformer was opposed by the Catholic Church because he introduced many reforms, including abortion, opposed by the church. The Socialists campaigned on a manifesto to support gay marriage, to fast-track divorce and to promote gender equality. Apparently, voters bought into their manifesto.
Election campaigning was suspended two days before voting after former Socialist municipal legislator Isaias Carrasco was shot dead Friday. Police said the attack bore the hallmark of ETA, a separatist group which has killed over 800 people in its nearly 40-year campaign for an independent homeland.
The violence may have helped the party as it did in 2004. Carrasco’s daughter, Sandra, 20, made an emotional appeal for Spaniards to show their defiance of her father’s killers by going en masse to the polls. In March 2004, the Socialists came from behind to win the general election. Opinion polls had them trailing badly until Islamic terrorists blew up trains in Madrid’s subway killing dozens days before the general election. Opinion polls changed quickly landing the Socialists a shocking victory from the Conservatives who had governed for two consecutive terms.
The latest victory appears to be a validation of continued Socialist governance.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
