Spain Opposition Wins Poll

15/03/2004| IslamWeb

Spain's opposition Socialists have triumphed in general elections as the country struggles to come to terms with last week's Madrid railway massacre. Spain's interior minister, Angel Acebes, conceded late on Sunday evening that his ruling Popular Party had lost the elections. "The PSOE has won the elections with 43.01% of the vote," Acebes said. He added that he would give the Socialists 164 seats in the 350 member Chamber of Deputies, while the Conservatives would have only 148 seats. The Conservative defeat came in the highly emotional aftermath of last week's Madrid railway massacre in which 200 people were killed. **Iraq occupation*** The conservative Popular Party of outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, which was ahead in the polls only a week ago, apparently took a pasting because of its support for the United States in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Only a week ago, four public opinion polls predicted the Popular Party would win with a reduced majority. The elections came three days after a series of bomb blasts on four Madrid commuter trains that provoked high emotions among many voters against the government. The government's support for the US-led occupation of Iraq apparently proved a liability after a statement attributed to al-Qaida said this was the reason for carrying out the devastating attacks, in which 1,500 people were wounded. Up to 90% of the population was against the Iraq war and occupation, to which Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has contributed 1300 Spanish troops. **High turnout*** Aznar was stepping down after two terms as prime minister having handed over the PP reins to former deputy Mariano Rajoy, who was up against PSOE rival Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Around two-thirds of Spain's 35 million voters turned out, a relatively high proportion. The outgoing government had laid most suspicion for the attacks on the Basque separatist group ETA, which denied responsibility. But in the hours before the election attention swung to possible al-Qaida involvement after a video was discovered claiming the attacks. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Spanish Socialist Party leader Jose Rodriguez Zapatero salutes supporters outside the socialist party headquarters in Madrid March 14, 2004. (REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo)