STORY: Spaniards express expectations for new government on election day
DATELINE: July 24, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:52
LOCATION: Madrid
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of poll stations
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): JAVIER MORIS, Voter from Madrid
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): JESUS SANZ, Voter from Madrid
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): MARIA JESUS and ALEJANDRO, Married couple from Madrid
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): ALEJANDRA BELGONDA, Voter from Madrid
6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Spanish): ALEJANDRO CRUZ, Voter from Madrid
 
STORYLINE:
 
Voters went to the polls in Spain on Sunday for a snap general election, and 37.4 million Spaniards who have the right to vote, have been urged to go to the polls.
 
They expressed their interests and concerns for the future of the country. 
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): JAVIER MORIS, Voter 
"Above all, they give importance to employment, which is what we workers need."
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): JESUS SANZ, Voter 
"I would ask that all the problems that our society has today be solved, that unemployment continues to decrease, that the economy grows, that there is not too much inequality and that we improve."
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): MARIA JESUS and ALEJANDRO, Married couple 
"Climate change is very important. The economy I think is on the right track. I also ask that there are no spikes in censorship, which I think is very worrying."
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (Spanish): ALEJANDRA BELGONDA, Voter 
"I just voted, and I would like them to change certain things, especially in education. I feel they are not investing as they should."
 
SOUNDBITE 5 (Spanish): ALEJANDRO CRUZ, Voter
"I hope that those who come out care more about the citizens, especially the elderly, to raise pensions, improve health and education, which is very important."
 
The snap election was called by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party's (PSOE) poor display in the local elections held at the end of May.
 
The election was the first held in the middle of the summer holiday season, and this led to over 2.6 million people requesting a postal vote, with post offices working seven days a week and staying open until 22:00 in order to process the requests.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Madrid.
(XHTV)