Andalusia warm-up sees parties jostle for power

A regional vote on the 22 March 2015 in Andalusia, one of the poorest parts of Spain, was seen as a key test ahead of the country's most unpredictable general election in decades later in 2015.

In the event, the main opposition Socialist Party in Spain as a whole, in power in Andalusia since 1982, led the poll with 35.4% of the vote. The conservative Popular Party were second with 26.7%. The new parties progressed, but did not break the mould of Spanish politics - Podemos with 14.8% of the vote and Ciudadanos 9%.

ESO: Background information: Spain: A four-party country? http://www.europeansources.info/record/spain-a-four-party-country/

Wikipedia: Andalusian parliamentary election, 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andalusian_parliamentary_election,_2015

The Local.es, 23.03.15: Socialists win Andalusia election, newcomer Podemos scores high http://www.thelocal.es/20150323/podemos-fails-to-break-two-party-hold

EurActiv, 23.03.15: Socialists win Andalusia election, newcomer Podemos scores high http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/socialists-win-andalusia-election-newcomer-podemos-scores-high-313144

EUObserver, 21.03.15: Crucial year for Spanish politics starts Sunday https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/128097

The Guardian, 23.03.15: Spanish anti-austerity party Podemos wins 15 seats in Andalusia http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/23/spanish-anti-austerity-party-podemos-wins-15-seats-andalusia

Deutsche Welle, 23.03.15: Spanish conservatives digest defeat in Andalusia, Socialists top polling http://dw.de/p/1EvR0

The Local.es, 23.03.15: Regional vote proves political game-changer http://www.thelocal.es/20150323/andalusia-proves-political-game-changer

ABC, 23.03.15: Podemos election result no cause for panic (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE160389-Podemos-election-result-no-cause-for-panic

El País, 23.03.15: Socialists win in Andalusia but party still falls short of majority http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/03/23/inenglish/1427096887_776764.html

El País, 23.03.15: [Editorial]: The Socialists deliver the first blow http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/03/23/inenglish/1427109991_764500.html

BBC News, 23.03.15: Spain Socialists win Andalusia vote amid Podemos push http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32017018

Euronews, 23.03.15: Andalusia election ushers in new pressures on governing Socialists http://www.euronews.com/2015/03/23/andalusia-election-ushers-in-new-pressures-on-governing-socialists/

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 01.04.15: The Andalusian Test https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/lasse-thomassen/andalusian-test

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