THE run-up to the regional elections in Andalucia has stepped up a gear after a new poll cemented the current governor as the clear frontrunner.
A survey of 8,000 people by Fundacion CENTRA puts Juanma Moreno, of the right-wing Partido Popular, firmly ahead with a commanding 42% of the vote.
He is followed by socialist Maria Jesus Montero of the PSOE on 20%, while Vox sits in third on 14%.
Further behind are left-wing coalition Por Andalucia on 8%, and progressive Adelante Andalucia on 7%.
The results, published on Tuesday, come less than two weeks before voters go to the polls on May 17.
The vote will decide control of the Junta de Andalucia, with all 109 seats in the regional parliament up for grabs. A majority requires 55 seats, meaning the outcome will determine whether Moreno can govern outright or needs backing from other parties.
It follows a high-stakes move from Vox last week, when the party set out its so-called ‘national priority’ plan as a condition for any potential coalition deal with the PP if support is needed to form a government.
The proposal would prioritise access to public services such as healthcare, education and housing for people with what the party describes as ‘Spanish roots’ or a ‘genuine, lasting and verifiable connection’ to the country.
The policy has triggered controversy over its wording and implications, with critics accusing Vox of introducing exclusionary criteria into core welfare services.
Party leader Santiago Abascal, however, defended it as a straightforward principle of ‘putting Spaniards first in their own country.’
The electoral campaign so far has been dominated by a row over the public health service, which emerged as the central battleground in the region’s first televised debate on Monday.
During the clash, Juanma Moreno faced sustained criticism from opposition rivals, who accused his government of failing to address worsening waiting lists, staffing shortages and wider strain in the system.
The most heated exchanges focused on a major controversy over cancer screening delays, with opponents repeatedly demanding answers about what they described as a ‘crisis in the screening programme.’
Moreno insisted his administration was investing more resources into the health service, but avoided giving detailed explanations on the specific allegations.
The governor called the snap election for May 17 after opting to bring the vote forward in a bid to secure a fresh mandate at the peak of his popularity.
The move followed a period of relatively stable polling for his PP government and growing pressure to consolidate control in Andalucia without waiting for the full end of the legislative term.
Critics also widely interpreted it as a strategic decision to capitalise on opposition fragmentation and avoid a longer campaign period dominated by rising tensions over public services.
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