Spain's ruling centre-right People's Party won a key regional election in Galicia today, according to exit polls, providing strong support for prime minister Mariano Rajoy's national austerity drive.
The PP is set to retain its absolute majority and government in Galicia with 39 to 42 seats in the regional parliament compared with 18 to 20 seats for the Socialist Party and 15 to 18 seats for two nationalist parties.
In the Basque Country, the Basque nationalist PNV (Partido Nacionalista Vasco) was set to win with 24 to 27 seats, compared with 23 to 26 seats for Bildu, a pro-independence party, 13 to 15 seats for the Socialist Party and 9 to 11 seats for the PP, according to exit polls
Almost 4.5 million people were entitled to vote today.
Prime minister Mariano Rajoy has refrained from revealing whether his government will seek a national bailout during campaigning for the elections even though most Spaniards believe it to be inevitable.
With 2.7 million voters, Galicia is a traditional Popular Party stronghold and the homeland of Mr Rajoy, so an upset there would rock the PP regionally and nationally.
The Basque region has been wracked by decades of separatist violence.
Most observers believe Mr Rajoy will announce details of a bailout soon after the elections.
AP