Spanish prime minister announces general elections

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Spanish prime minister announces general elections

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar announced on Monday that general elections would be called by March 14.

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Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar announced on Monday that general elections would be called by March 14.

On the same day, King Juan Carlos gave his royal assent to the dissolution of parliament, paving the way for the general elections.

Aznar, 50, prime minister since 1996, is stepping down voluntarily, having handed the leadership of his conservative Popular Party (PP) to Mariano Rajoy last autumn .

Rajoy, Aznar's former deputy premier, will contend with his main rival, Socialist Party leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in the election.

The Socialists, who in opinion polls Monday trailed the PopularParty 38 to 42 percent in voting intentions, hope to overturn the absolute majority the PP have enjoyed in the outgoing parliament by attacking Aznar's dogged support for United States policy in Iraq, a stance which enjoys scant public support.

Aznar staunchly supported the US decision to go to war in Iraq,bringing Spain closer to the United States. The opposition Socialists have accused Aznar of breaking with Spain's traditionalallies, France and Germany, of taking an authoritarian stance and ignoring popular opinion against the war in Iraq.

The elections on March 14 will be the 9th legislative ones since the return of democracy in Spain, after those celebrated in 1977,1979, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1996 and 2000.

Source: Xinhua

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