Andalucía Holds Regional Election as Conservatives Seek Majority

Voters in the southern Spanish region of Andalucía cast ballots on Sunday in a regional election. The vote is expected to deliver an absolute majority to the conservative People’s Party. The election is the last major regional contest before Spain’s national vote next year. It is also expected to show whether support for the far-right Vox party is continuing to grow.

The People’s Party has governed Andalucía for the past seven years. Party candidate Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla is seeking to retain the regional presidency. Polls indicate the party is on track to win a similar number of seats as in the 2022 election, when it secured 58 of 109 seats in the regional parliament.

The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party is projected to win fewer seats than in 2022. The party held 30 seats after the last regional vote. Vox is forecast to gain one or two seats from the 14 it won four years ago.

Healthcare and housing have been prominent issues during the campaign. Regional health services have faced criticism over delays in cancer screening results and longer waiting times for appointments. Local residents’ groups have also raised concerns about the effects of tourism on housing availability in cities including Seville, Málaga, and Granada.