Spain conservatives lead polls ahead of November 29 general election

Spain's conservative People's Party leads Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialists in the latest opinion polls ahead of the November 29 general election, but would need the support of the right-wing Vox party for a parliamentary majority.

A SocioMetrica poll estimates the PP and Vox together winning about 200 of the 350 seats in the lower house, with the Socialists taking 108; it shows 832,000 voters moving from left to right. A 40dB survey puts the Socialists ahead on 29.9 percent with the gap between the two parties down to two points, yet still gives the combined right a majority of about 190 seats. A Sigma Dos poll likewise shows the PP-Vox alliance far ahead on 199 seats even if the Socialists improve to 105.

Housing, immigration and corruption are expected to play a major role in the campaign, which begins in four days, along with the fallout from last month's train crash, after which Transport Minister Oscar Puente resigned.

The chances of Sanchez remaining as head of a left-wing coalition have faded since Spain's far-left parties failed to agree a common candidate list last month. The Broad Front is placed to win 10 to 15 seats, while its rival Podemos risks losing parliamentary representation altogether, the polls suggest.