Can Spain end political stalemate with fourth election in four years?

Spaniards are gearing up to vote in the second general election this year
Spaniards are gearing up to vote in the second general election this year Copyright Reuters
By Manuel TerradillosLuke Hurst, Sofía Sanchez with Reuters
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Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Socialists, failed to put together a workable coalition following the last election, held only months ago in April of this year.

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Spanish voters are preparing to choose their representatives once again as the fourth general election in just four years looms.

Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Socialists, failed to put together a workable coalition following the most recent national election in April.

The country has since seen further political fragmentation, and a failure on the part of political parties to negotiate.

The recent events point to a difficult fight ahead for the Socialists, partly due to the recent chaos in Catalunya, voter fatigue, and a slowing economy.

However, the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research suggests a very different scenario in its last opinion poll. According to this, the Spanish Socialist Party would gain support in this repeat vote and could easily reach a majority by forming a coalition with far-left party Podemos or the right-liberal party Ciudadanos. 

More: Tens of thousands protest against Catalan separatism in Barcelona

More: Franco's exhumation 'step towards reconciliation' says Sanchez

Catalunya, which has seen weeks of protests and riots over the sentencing of former Catalan leaders responsible for holding an illegal independence referendum, could be a key battleground in the election.

Vox, the first far-right party to enter in the Spanish Parliament,  is preparing to launch its campaign there, and Pedro Sanchez plans to wrap up his party’s campaign in the region.

The last three elections have all produced minority or short-lived governments as political leaders struggled to adapt to the new parties that ended years of dominance by the conservative People’s Party and Socialists.

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