The Spanish government called a General Election, firing the starting gun on a campaign widely expected to be one of the most fiercely contested in the country's 30-year democratic history. With less than two months to go until the March 9 vote, opinion polls show that the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, 47, is facing a tough fight to secure a second term in office. His Socialist Party's lead over the conservative Popular Party in Opposition has shrunk to only three percentage points, according to the latest study by Instituto Opina, released yesterday. Government strategists take heart in poll data showing that the Prime Minister remains personally far more popular than his principal opponent, Mariano Rajoy, 52. The Leader of the Opposition has long received low marks for likeability, despite recent efforts by image-makers to give the bearded and bespectacled politician a makeover. The candidates have agreed to participate in two televised debates, the first in a Spanish national election since 1993.
The Spanish government called a General Election, firing the starting gun on a campaign widely expected to be one of the most fiercely contested in the country's 30-year democratic history.
With less than two months to go until the March 9 vote, opinion polls show that the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, 47, is facing a tough fight to secure a second term in office. His Socialist Party's lead over the conservative Popular Party in Opposition has shrunk to only three percentage points, according to the latest study by Instituto Opina, released yesterday.
Government strategists take heart in poll data showing that the Prime Minister remains personally far more popular than his principal opponent, Mariano Rajoy, 52. The Leader of the Opposition has long received low marks for likeability, despite recent efforts by image-makers to give the bearded and bespectacled politician a makeover.
The candidates have agreed to participate in two televised debates, the first in a Spanish national election since 1993.
MADRID: The government dissolved Parliament on Monday and called general elections for March 9, officially opening what promises to be a close race between the governing Socialists and the opposition Popular Party. The cabinet of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero held a special meeting to name the election date, and Zapatero then met with King Juan Carlos for official approval. Spain's two main parties look set for a fairly tight contest in which both will woo voters at the political center, analysts here say. Polls in recent days give the Socialists a narrow lead over the Popular Party. That spread widens when voters are asked whether Zapatero or Mariano Rajoy, the opposition leader, is the more appealing candidate.
MADRID: The government dissolved Parliament on Monday and called general elections for March 9, officially opening what promises to be a close race between the governing Socialists and the opposition Popular Party.
The cabinet of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero held a special meeting to name the election date, and Zapatero then met with King Juan Carlos for official approval.
Spain's two main parties look set for a fairly tight contest in which both will woo voters at the political center, analysts here say. Polls in recent days give the Socialists a narrow lead over the Popular Party.
That spread widens when voters are asked whether Zapatero or Mariano Rajoy, the opposition leader, is the more appealing candidate.
