Spaniards go to the polls

Spaniards are voting in general elections dominated by the poor state of the economy, with polls indicating a likely win for the conservative Popular Party.

Booths opened at 9am (8am Irish Time) with the southwestern Canary Islands lagging one hour behind in a different time zone.

Voters are casting ballots to elect 350 members of Parliament and 208 senators.

Polls have pointed to defeat for the Socialists, with Mariano Rajoy’s conservative PP elected to try and steer the country from financial crisis.

Almost two years of recession have left Spain with a euro-zone high 21.5 % unemployment rate and a bloated budget deficit. The country’s key borrowing rate rose above 6 % for five consecutive days last week, just one % below a rate considered unsustainable.