European elections to be held in Spain on Sunday have been timed to coincide with the municipal and regional elections. As a result there is greater interest in the names of new mayors, city councils or regional parliamentarians than in those who will take their seats in Strasbourg.
Women play an important part in the tickets of both major parties - possibly because the parties do not consider Europe to be of prime importance and can score points by proving their feminist credentials. The governing Popular Party have 29 women on their list of 64 candidates, while the main opposition party, the Socialists, have one more. Tough women, with feminist credentials, are at the top for both parties, and both are strong contenders for commissioners.
The leading PP candidate is the former agriculture and fisheries minister, Ms Loyola de Palacios (48), who gave up her ministerial portfolio in April to prepare her campaign. As minister in such a sensitive position, Ms de Palacios built a reputation as a tough, if somewhat erratic, negotiator, respected by some and reviled by others. She had many confrontations with Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler over fishing quotas, olive oil and citrus fruit.
Ms de Palacios comes from a deeply religious right-wing family, believed to have close ties with Opus Dei. She denies it, but few are convinced. She wastes little time on her appearance, preferring man-tailored suits, little makeup and straight hair.
The leading Socialist candidate is a woman who, until very recently, was little known outside her own Basque region. From 1991 to 1998, Mrs Rosa Diez (47) was counsellor or minister for trade and tourism for the Basque government when the Socialists governed in coalition with the Basque Nationalist Party. She made her name as a tireless worker who travelled the world promoting Basque industry, much in the same way she is now campaigning vigorously to make herself known across the country. She is quickly becoming a household name. After the recent surprise resignation of Mr Josep Borrell, Socialist candidate for prime minister in the next general elections - which must be held by next year - Mrs Diez's name has suddenly swept to the foreground and she is widely tipped as a suitable replacement. "More than an outsider," said one observer last week. "She is already firmly in the frame."
Mrs Diez is a convinced Europhile - although she is less enthusiastic about supporting her party's backing for NATO bombing in the Kosovo crisis. She has made it clear that, if elected, she is not prepared to sit back and enjoy the perks which come with a European seat. "If I go to Brussels, it will not be to retire and take things easy. I will go there to get things done," she said recently.
Spanish support for Europe is fairly widespread, although cracks are beginning to show. After many years of virtual isolation during the 40 years of the Franco dictatorship, the country enthusiastically embraced any international organisation willing to accept it, whether it be NATO, WEU or the European Community.
It was one of the few countries where European membership was almost universally approved, with a few exceptions on the far right and far left. European funds brought prosperity to formerly depressed regions and industries, but the country was also prepared to make enormous sacrifices to meet European convergence requirements to join EMU. However, in recent years questions are being asked as to whether the cost of membership is becoming too high.
Those who take their seats in Strasbourg will be the ones who will have to cut the costs.