Basque Country gets 57,08 percent participation rate in elections

Participation in Spain has reached 56,10%, percent, nearly three points less than in the previous general elections, in 2008.

Euskadi is the only autonomous region where at 6pm in the evening participation was higher than in previous years, getting 57,08 percent of participation, compared to the 37,30 percent in 2008.

By provinces, Alava registered 53,49 percent of participation rate, two points less than four years ago (38,52%).

In Bizkaia, participation at 6 o'clock was 57,60%, (38,49 in 2008).

Gipuzkoa, meanwhile, recorded 54,62 percent of participation rate, higher than 34,79 percent in 2008 at the same time.

In Navarre participation was 55,40%, three points less than four years ago.

1,775,537 voters called to vote

Basque voters will elect 18 seats and 12 senators among the 31 candidates taking part in Euskadi, according to data released by the Delegation of the Basque Government.

A total of 1,775,537 voters are called to vote in the municipal and autonomous community elections in the Basque Country to elect 18 seats: eight in Bizkaia, six in Gipuzkoa and four in Araba. 12 senators will also be appointed, four for each territory.

Electoral colleges in the Basque Country opened their doors at 9am so citizens can execute their right to vote to elect new government. Polls will close at 8pm.

In the general elections of 2008 there was a total of 1,781,140 voters, according to the data released by the Government Office in the Basque Country.

By territory, the main number of voters concentrates in Bizkaia (920.993), followed by Gipuzkoa (575.332), Navarre (488,208) and Alava (250.742).

In terms of regions, in Alava there are 250,742 people eligible to vote, including 246,383 Spanish voters and 4,359 foreigners.

In Gipuzkoa, there are 575,332 voters, 20,427 from overseas.

In Biscay, there are 920,993 Spanish and 28,470 residents abroad, bringing the total amount of people eligible to vote to 949, 463.

In Navarre, a total of 488,208 people are called to vote to elect five deputies and four senators from the 11 candidacies submitted. In addition, 127 councils and 29 municipalities elect their municipal representatives since any application was submitted in May elections.

35,7 million citizens are called to the polls in Spain

In total, more than 35,7 million citizens are called to the polls in Spain today to elect their representatives in Parliament. The elections will be for 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies, which will determine who becomes the Prime Minister of Spain. Elections will also be held for the 208 directly elected seats in the upper house, the Senate.

The outgoing Spanish government was led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who announced that he would not run for a third term. The deputy prime minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba was the party's candidate for Prime Minister, as he was the only candidate in the leadership election in his party.

Spaniards are voting in general elections dominated by the poor state of the economy, with polls indicating a likely win for theconservative Popular Party.

Booths opened at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT) with the southwestern Canary Islands lagging one hour behind in a different time zone.

Voters are casting ballots to elect 350 members of Parliament and 208 senators.

Polls have pointed to defeat for the Socialists, with Mariano Rajoy's conservative PP elected to try and steer the country from financial crisis.

Almost two years of recession have left Spain with a euro-zone high 21.5 percent unemployment rate and a bloated budget deficit. The country's key borrowing rate rose above 6 percent for five consecutive days last week, just one percent below a rate considered unsustainable.