he majority of polls have closed in Spain in a general election that could see the country became the latest European nation to shift towards the right.
The mainstream conservative Popular Party (PP) is expected to win the largest share of votes but fall short of a majority, raising the possibility of a coalition with the far-right Vox.
Voter surveys conducted by GAD3 for media group Mediaset, published shortly after mainland voting ended at 6pm GMT and based on 10,000 voter intentions collated over the course of the election campaign through Saturday, showed the PP would win 150 seats, and Vox 31.
The leftist coalition, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialists, would get a combined 149 seats in the 350-seat lower chamber, GAD3 said.
A survey of 17,000 people by Sigma Dos was less conclusive, predicting 145-150 seats for PP and 24-27 seats for Vox.
The Socialists were set to win 112 seats, according to GAD3, and 113-118 seats according to Sigma Dos, while the far-left platform led by Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz had either 27 seats or 28-31 seats.
PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo has indicated that he would prefer to govern alone, but PP and Vox have already teamed up to govern in dozens of regions and cities since local elections in May.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal has said he is open to “creating an alternative” to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing coalition government.
Vox, founded in 2013, has proposed the expulsion of illegal migrants and a naval blockade to stop them arriving, and the closure of mosques promoting “radical Islam or jihad”.
It has also vowed to repeal progressive laws on transgender rights, abortion and animal rights, along with climate protections promoted by Mr Sanchez.
PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo has focused his campaign on attacking Mr Sanchez’s own political deals.
Mr Sánchez called the early election a day after his Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party and its small far-left coalition partner, Unidas Podemos (United We Can), took a hammering in local and regional elections on May 28.
He had previously insisted he would ride out his four-year term, indicating that an election would be held in December.
