The last political survivor of Francisco Franco's dictatorship risks losing power in a Spanish regional election today.
Manuel Fraga, 82, has ruled Galicia virtually unopposed since 1989, making it a fiefdom of the centre-right Popular Party which he founded. Opinion polls show the outspoken politician may lose his majority in the 75-seat regional legislature. With none of the main parties prepared to form a coalition with the PP, it could open the door to the Socialist Party, led in Galicia by Emilio Perez Tourino. The Socialists could form a coalition with the regional nationalists led by Anxa Quintana.
Galicia is one of the poorest of Spain's 17 regions and is highly dependent on EU structural aid. For decades it was a major source of emigration to South America and the size of the postal vote, which traditionally goes to the PP, could be decisive. Reflecting how important the vote is, PP leader Mariano Rajoy has returned to his native Galicia to campaign alongside Fraga. Rajoy led the PP into last year's general election which saw them lose power to the Socialists. Fraga, a minister under Franco in the 1960s, lost popularity over his handling of the Prestige oil tanker disaster of 200 2. Polls suggests most conservative voters would have preferred another candidate.
(Euro News)
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