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MADRID - SPAIN'S Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero appealed for a high turnout as he cast his ballot on Sunday in general elections in which he is tipped to win a second term.
Accompanied by his wife - opera singer Sonsoles Espinosa - Mr Zapatero voted at a polling station near Madrid's Moncloa Palace, the prime minister's official residence.
Wearing a dark suit and open-necked shirt, the relaxed and smiling 47-year-old shook hands with election workers in the room, which was filled with journalists, before casting his ballot at 10.30am (5.30pm Singapore time).
'Spain is stronger if democracy is stronger, and democracy is stronger if all citizens vote, exercise this right that gives us the ability to decide the future of our country,' he said.
'I hope therefore that it will be a day of high participation, a democratic day for an exemplary country like Spain.'
Mr Zapatero emerged a few minutes later to applause from voters outside. A few however jeered and shouted 'Zapatero out!'
Opinion polls indicate his Socialist Party will defeat the conservative opposition Popular Party (PP) led by Mariano Rajoy. But a high turnout is considered critical to the Socialists' chances of success.
Some 35 million voters are eligible to vote to elect the 350 members of the Cortes, the lower house of parliament, as well as 208 of the 264 members of the Senate, or upper house.
Polling stations opened at 9am (4pm Singapore time) and are scheduled to close at 8pm (3am on Monday Singapore time).
The election has been clouded by the killing on Friday of a Socialist former politician by suspected Basque separatists, an attack which prompted political parties to end campaigning early. -- AFP
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