Spain’s leading parties feel voter anger seen across Europe

FILE - In this March 20, 2015, file photo, Pablo Iglesias, the leader of Spain's new and growing far left 'Podemos' ("We Can") party, raises his arm and sings the Andalusian anthem during an electoral campaign rally in Dos Hermanas, Sevilla, Spain. Two upstart parties that have emerged over the past year are mounting an unprecedented challenge to the governing Popular Party and the Socialist Party, which for four decades have dominated Spanish politics. A survey of voter intentions published Sunday in El Pais placed Podemos (“We Can”) and Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) roughly neck-and-neck with their long-established rivals ahead of next month’s local and regional elections. The four were separated by less than three percentage points. (AP Photo/Laura Leon, File) FILE - In this March 20, 2015, file photo, Pablo Iglesias, the leader of Spain's new and growing far left 'Podemos' ("We Can") party, raises his arm and sings the Andalusian anthem during an electoral campaign rally in Dos Hermanas, Sevilla, Spain. Two upstart parties that have emerged over the past year are mounting an unprecedented challenge to the governing Popular Party and the Socialist Party, which for four decades have dominated Spanish politics. A survey of voter intentions published Sunday in El Pais placed Podemos (“We Can”) and Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) roughly neck-and-neck with their long-established rivals ahead of next month’s local and regional elections. The four were separated by less than three percentage points. (AP Photo/Laura Leon, File)

By Associated Press April 14, 2015 4 min read

MADRID (AP) – Europe’s political upheavals are knocking on Spain’s door. Two upstart parties that hardly registered one year ago are mounting an unprecedented challenge to the governing Popular Party and the main opposition Socialist Party – which for four decades have dominated Spanish politics.

A poll published Sunday in El Pais placed the radical-left Podemos (“We Can”) and the grass-roots movement Ciudadanos (“Citizens”) roughly neck-and-neck with their established rivals ahead of next month’s local and regional elections. The four were separated by less than three percentage points.

It’s the latest in a political sea change seen across Europe – from Greece to Britain – as voters express frustration with traditional parties struggling to reverse economic hard times brought on by the continent’s financial crisis.

“The political effects of the crisis are going to be long-lasting,” said Antonio Roldan of think-tank Eurasia Group. “There is definitely a deep transformation.”

Greece’s Syriza government – a new coalition of the radical left and nationalist right – was elected in January on promises to scrap the austerity measures imposed in return for Greece’s two international bailouts, worth a total of 240 billion euros ($253 billion). Hard bargaining with Greece’s creditors has made Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ government popular, with many Greeks saying they have regained a sense of national pride.