Spain is expected to shift to the right in the local and regional elections — widely seen as a barometer of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's fortunes in the year-end national vote, EDnews informs.
Polls opened Sunday in elections for 12 of Spain's 17 regional assemblies — 10 of which are currently run by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist PSOE Party.
Voting began at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) with 18.3 million people eligible to cast a ballot. Local elections are being held alongside — with a potential electorate of almost double the size.
Polling stations will close at 8 p.m. and with no exit polls, initial results are due two hours later.