Spain's Voters at Loggerheads

Vandalized posters in Burgos, Spain, show Socialist Premier Jos¿ Luis Rodr¿guez Zapatero, right, and conservative opposition chief Mariano Rajoy. (By Israel L. Murillo -- AP)

The government accused the church of meddling in electoral politics. Several analysts said the church demonstration may have backfired. Although the vast majority of Spaniards are Catholic, polls show that the country's 45 million people are increasingly straying from the church's teachings. Abortions and divorce are rising, while church attendance and family size are shrinking. Although the Popular Party probably doesn't mind the church's tacit support, some analysts say, the nearly explicit embrace of the party may hurt it more than help it. "When you have such an active church in the state, it mobilizes the left," said Socialist leader Elena Valenciano.

"The Socialists are using this to their advantage by painting the PP as a clericalist, ultra-reactionary party, with some success," Powell said.

Two key issues that dovetailed to the Popular Party's advantage in the campaign were immigration and the economy. Spain has enjoyed 14 years of rapid economic growth, which coincided with a large increase in immigrants, many of whom work in the construction industry. But starting last year, the housing industry collapsed and credit tightened. Now unemployment is rising faster than anywhere else in Europe, and inflation is increasing.

Rajoy, 52, blasted Zapatero, 47, for granting amnesty to 600,000 illegal immigrants in 2005. The Popular Party leader argued that an uncontrolled influx of foreigners had led to higher crime, overcrowded schools, a lack of affordable housing, higher unemployment for Spaniards and strains on the country's health-care system. If elected, Rajoy said, he would require immigrants to sign an "integration contract" under which they would agree to obey the law, learn Spanish, abide by Spain's customs and remain employed, or else they could be sent home.

"We're saying, 'Great, welcome, you have exactly the same opportunities and rights as Spaniards, but in exchange we want you to obey the law,' " said Gustavo de Aristegui, a senior Popular Party official.

Although the Socialist Workers' Party called the plan racist and xenophobic, polls showed that many of the party's supporters approve of it.

Both parties have meanwhile engaged in economic one-upmanship, promising deep tax cuts, massive affordable housing construction and jobs programs for millions.

In one of the more curious promises, the Socialists vowed to plant 45 million trees during their administration, about one for each resident of the country. The Popular Party countered by promising to plant 500 million trees in four years, or about 238 per minute.