Iona Napier
PODEMOS isn’t going to let Andalucia go to the Socialists without a fight.
The anti-austerity party has announced a €600,000 campaign solely to nurture support in Andalucia.
Meanwhile the party has confirmed that MEP Teresa Rodriguez, from Cadiz, will be standing against current Junta president Susana Diaz in the regional elections on March 22.
If Rodriguez wins the presidency, the party’s profile – already topping opinion polls – will be significantly bolstered in the lead up to the national elections in November.
Andalucia will be the first region in the country to vote and the early elections will be a key indicator of the political forecast.
Diaz’s decision to bring the elections forward to March was a tactical bid to claim Andalucia – a PSOE stronghold – before Podemos fever takes over.
That said, the latest poll this week in Cadena Ser put Podemos as Spain’s top party with 24.6%, against the PP’s 22.5% and PSOE’s 19.5%.
The biggest rise came for centre right party Ciudadanos which has grown from 5% in January to a massive 13.4% this month.
