Europe

Spain political parties kick off campaigns for June 26 vote

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy waves during a rally before officially opening the General Election campaign, in front of the ancient Egyptian Temple of Debod in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, June 9, 2016. Spain's political parties are set to launch two-week campaigns leading up to a June 26, 2016 election aimed at breaking six months of political paralysis after a December election shattered the nation's two traditional two-party system and politicians failed to negotiate a governing coalition. (AP Photo/Paul White) (The Associated Press)

Spain's Socialist party leader Pedro Sanchez, centre, gestures to supporters during an election rally to officially open the General Election campaign in Madrid, Thursday, June 9, 2016. Spain's political parties are set to launch two-week campaigns leading up to a June 26 election aimed at breaking six months of political paralysis after a December election failed to negotiate a governing coalition. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) (The Associated Press)

Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy makes a speech during a rally, before officially opening the General Election campaign in front of the ancient Egyptian Temple of Debod in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, June 9, 2016. Spain's political parties are set to launch two-week campaigns leading up to a June 26, 2016 election aimed at breaking six months of political paralysis after a December election shattered the nation's two traditional two-party system and politicians failed to negotiate a governing coalition. (AP Photo/Paul White) (The Associated Press)

Spain's four major political parties have kicked off a two-week campaign ahead of a June 26 vote aimed at breaking an electoral deadlock that has left the country with a caretaker government.

Campaigning began at midnight Thursday with rallies by acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of the conservative Popular Party, Pedro Sanchez of the Socialists, Pablo Iglesias of the far-left Unidos Podemos alliance and Albert Rivera of the business-friendly Ciudadanos.

Polls suggest the Popular Party will win the most votes as it did in the last election on Dec. 20 but again fall far short of its 2011-2015 parliamentary majority.

The surveys indicate Unidos Podemos could take 2nd place and overtake the Socialists and that Ciudadanos will come in fourth.

Analysts predict the next vote could yield another political stalemate.