Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has announced that the general election will be moved forward to November 20th 2011, adding that the decision is not based on party interests.
The announcement follows the publication on Wednesday of the latest opinion poll which indicates that the Socialist candidate Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba is gaining ground on the PP candidate Mariano Rajoy. Obviously no connection there then, pure coincidence.
An election in November means that a new government could begin functioning on January 1st.
In Andalucia, PSOE president José Antonio Griñán has indicated a desire to remain in power for the full term of the legislature which means that the regional elections will go ahead on March 4th 2012 as planned.
However, when quizzed as to whether Griñan’s decision on the matter was irreversible, the government spokesman is reported as answering, ‘It is the president who has the power to call an election’. A typical politician’s answer which tells you nothing.
In eight elections in Andalucia, four have coincided with general elections and four have not.
The national parliament is due to be dissolved on September 27th, allowing three weeks for the completion of reforms already in progress.
Campaigning will begin at midnight on November 4th 2011.