Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Madrid community, voted: “Today we choose the model of the country we want”

The regional president of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, celebrated this Tuesday the influx of voters in the local elections and he urged to participate en masse, after voting in a college in the capital.

“There are huge queues and that means there is a great turnout and that makes us proud. We keep asking you throughout the day, with patience, that you go to voteHe told reporters, highlighting the protocols for protection against the pandemic.

“Today we choose the model of Community and country that we want tomorrow and I only want it to be in coexistence“He added.

Díaz Ayuso: “There is a great participation rate and that fills us with pride”

Voting tables opened at 9 a.m. local time, 7 GMT and will receive voters until 8 p.m., with more than five million citizens summoned to participate.

The elections come early, after Díaz Ayuso of the conservative Popular Party dissolves parliament for fear that a vote of no confidence will overthrow his executive coalition with the Liberals of Ciudadanos, a formation in off-hours that even could end up without representation according to polls. According to surveys, The People’s Party could double its seats in the regional parliament and, although it does not achieve an absolute majority, it could govern if it obtains the support of Vox’s far-right..

Previously, the United candidate Podemos had voted, Pablo Iglesias. “In these elections We risk stopping lies, hatred and the extreme right which wants to parasitize our institutions and destroy public services“, Held.

The former vice-president of the government Pedro Sánchez, who left office for the candidacy in Madrid, assured that the city will give “a great democratic lesson” to the right. “We hope for massive participation which is a democratic and civic response to lies, violence and provocations,” he added.

Pablo Iglesias, United We Can: “We risk stopping lies, hatred and the far right”

In turn, the candidate of More from Madrid, leftist Mónica García, who has risen in points in recent polls, said “it could be a historic day” to “turn applause into votes”. García had already voted by correspondence, but accompanied his father, respecting a “family tradition”.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Rocío Monastery, candidate of Vox, was approached by activists from the Femen group who protested topless against fascism. “The streets must be clean and tidy. But they are not going to silence us, ”said the Monastery.

Meanwhile, the candidate of Citizens, Edmundo BalHe said: “I have already voted for common sense and harmony. Today Madrid is celebrating our democracy in the best possible way: to go to the polls to decide together on the future. We play a lot ”.

Elections in the region, which is the country’s economic engine and the third largest with the largest population of some 6.7 million, are followed by around 20 candidates, although polls only show five or six have l ‘option to obtain one of the 136 deputies of the regional parliament, in which he will then have to be invested in the new government.

Rocío Monasterio, Vox candidate: “The streets must be clean and tidy. But they won’t shut us up “

The national repercussion is also marked by the political rivalry between the regional president and the head of the Spanish executive, the socialist Pedro Sánchez; the unknown about the future of left-wing politician Pablo Iglesias, who left the national coalition government with the PSOE socialists to run for United We Can in Madrid; and the wait for Ciudadanos’ results, which is at stake for much of its future following the debacle of the previous elections.

Left-wing parties see the election as an opportunity to stop the rise of Vox’s far-right, which has become the third force in Congress, Spain’s lower house of parliament, and polls show his support could be key to the conservatives maintain power in Madrid, where they ruled for a quarter of a century.

From the right, they are seen as a first step in making a shift in the electorate which, in the future, will allow them to return to power in Spain.

(With information from EFE and AFP)

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