MADRID (AP) 鈥 Spain鈥檚 right-wing opposition leader put Socialist Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez on the defensive in an election TV debate that saw both leaders accusing each other of pacting with parties they deem dangerous for Spain.
The debate late Monday between Popular Party leader Alberto Feij贸o and S谩nchez, watched by some 6 million, was the first and only between the two main candidates ahead of Most polls tip the Popular Party, or PP, to win the elections but it will likely need the support of the extreme right-wing party Vox to form a majority.
Such a victory would bring an end to the Socialist-led leftist minority coalition in power since 2019, and see yet another European country swinging to the right.
The 100-minute unruly debate featured both leaders interrupting and accusing each other of telling lies and misleading voters.
Experts in Spain say debates rarely shift voter intention.
S谩nchez tried repeatedly to get Feij贸o to confirm or deny that he would enter into a post-election deal with Vox, a party that is anti-European and opposed to gender violence and climate change laws.
He highlighted Spain's strong economic performance in recent years and its socially progressive laws.
鈥淲hat is at stake is whether Spain continues advancing as it has done during these last 40 years or you place us, Mr. Feij贸o, in a sinister time tunnel in which who knows where we will end up,鈥 said S谩nchez.
Feij贸o accused S谩nchez of pacts with regional parties, several of whom would like to break away from Spain.
He said that the best option was for the electorate to vote in great number, adding that 鈥渁 strong majority without need to count on extremists, is fundamental to advancing.鈥
S谩nchez called the snap election a day after his party and small far-left coalition partner Podemos (We Can) took a severe beating in
The PP and Santiago Abascal鈥檚 Vox have cemented accords in many town halls and regional governments since then, and Feij贸o has said he will take Vox's support if he must.
The Socialists, who are open to forming a coalition with the have narrowed the PP's winning gap in recent polls.
