Mariano Rajoy hopes for a rally-round-the-flag effect / Final polls predict election win for Spanish government in tight race

Spain’s staid 60-year-old Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy appeals to voters’ need for security in the December 2015 general election. A poll after the 13 November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris saw support shift back towards the traditional two parties in Spain - the conservative Popular Party (PP) and the socialist PSOE. The Catalan independence campaign was thought to also help Mr Rajoy's campaign in other parts of Spain.

However, yet another poll released by the end of the month showed the two parties were sharing the top position together with the newly-formed Ciudadanos party.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Prime Minister sets December 20 as Spanish general election date http://www.europeansources.info/record/prime-minister-sets-december-20-as-spanish-general-election-date/

ESO: Key Source: Spanish general election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/spanish-general-election-2015/

The Local.es, 23.11.15: Paris terror attack fears boost voter support for 'experienced' parties http://www.thelocal.es/20151123/paris-terror-attacks-pushes-spanish-voters-towards-more-experienced-parties

ESO: Background information: Another historic 9-N to start building a new country / The Parliament declares the start of the independence process http://www.europeansources.info/record/another-historic-9-n-to-start-building-a-new-country-the-parliament-declares-the-start-of-the-independence-process/

Politico, 30.11.15: Spanish poll points to three-way election heat http://www.politico.eu/article/spanish-poll-points-to-three-way-election-heat-rajoy-rivera/

EUObserver, 01.12.15: PM Rajoy skips Spanish election debate https://euobserver.com/political/131320

EurActiv, 08.12.15: Corruption accusations heat up Spanish election debate http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/corruption-accusations-heat-spanish-election-debate-320204

El País, 08.12.15: Opposition leaders rail against deputy PM over corruption in TV debate http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/08/inenglish/1449569506_861580.html

El País, 09.12.15: Rajoy suggests there could be 'a surprise' on December 20 http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/09/inenglish/1449676028_596734.html

The Local.es, 04.12.15: Spanish PM launches re-election campaign in tightest race ever http://www.thelocal.es/20151204/spanish-pm-launches-re-election-campaign-in-tightest-race-ever

The Local.es, 14.12.15: Final polls predict election win for Spanish government in tight race http://www.thelocal.es/20151214/final-polls-show-election-win-for-spanish-government-in-tight-race

El País, 14.12.15: PP consolidates in first place and Ciudadanos falls to fourth — latest poll http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/14/inenglish/1450083519_429483.html

EurActiv, 15.12.15: Corruption takes centre stage in heated Spanish election debate http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/corruption-takes-centre-stage-heated-spanish-election-debate-320439

El País, 15.12.15: Socialist leader corners PM on corruption in one-on-one TV debate http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/15/inenglish/1450168691_568970.html

The Local.es, 15.12.15: 'I'm an honest politician' insists PM in televised head-to-head with rival http://www.thelocal.es/20151215/im-an-honest-politican-rajoy-spain-tv-debate

EUObserver, 16.12.15: Spanish election: Conservatives resist call for change https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/131532

Blog: Open Europe, 16.12.15: Spain heads to its most unpredictable election in decades http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/spain-heads-to-its-most-unpredictable-election-in-decades/

El País, 16.12.15: PM steers clear of post-election pacts talk: 'All the parties are tied at zero' http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/16/inenglish/1450274173_074770.html

The Local.es, 16.12.15: Rajoy's Spain: From the edge of the abyss to the road to recovery? http://www.thelocal.es/20151216/from-the-edge-of-the-abyss-to-the-road-to-recovery

Politico, 17.12.15: Rajoy’s hometown challenge http://www.politico.eu/article/rajoys-hometown-challenge-spain-general-election-pp-podemos-ciudadanos/

Politico, 17.12.15: Spanish prime minister punched in face http://www.politico.eu/article/spanish-prime-minister-punched-in-face-rajoy-galicia/

---