The most likely government to emerge - most analysts predict - will be a coalition including a hard-right nationalist party for the first time in Spain since the death of fascist dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.
More left-leaning Spaniards are frantically texting contacts, urging them to make sure to vote - despite the heat and it being holiday time for many - to “stop the fascists” in their tracks.
The rhetoric this election season has been toxic, with voters becoming increasingly polarised.
It’s a fight over values, traditions and about what being Spanish should mean in 2023.
This kind of heated identity debate isn’t peculiar to Spain. Think of Italy, France, Brazil or the post-Trumpian debate in the US.
I live in Spain
The main issue for the left is the right wing press continuously attacks and they don’t have much to counter it. This pushes the swing voters towards the PP (Party Popular) which was in government until brought down by Sanchez in a vote of no confidence following a scandal. PSOE subsequently one an election and governs with other left wing parties.
The left, at least, has Yolanda Díaz. She has united the left that are not PSOE into an alliance called Sumar that’s pushing back hard against the right. She’s a labour lawyer and has done a lot for the working class. Hopefully they’ll remember this tomorrow.
