Miguel Riaño

Updated Sunday, February 18, 2024-12:15

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Participation in the regional elections in Galicia stands at 17.08% at 12 noon, 2.34 points below the 19.42% that had voted at that same time in the July 2020 elections. So, despite being elections marked by confinements derived from several Covid outbreaks, a very high participation, the highest at that time since there are comparative records. In 2016, for example, midday participation was 15.01%, and in 2012 it was 12.74%.

The participation of the regional elections this Sunday is at levels more similar to those of the 2005 elections (18.8% at 12 noon) or those of 2009 (16.1% at the same time).

By province, participation falls significantly in Pontevedra, 3.16 points compared to 2020. But less than six tenths in Lugo. In Orense it fell by 2.4% and in La Coruña by 2.1%.

After slowing down during the day, in 2020 the final participation in Galicia was close to 59%, and later sank to 49% after counting the votes from abroad, which were only cast by about 6,000 people of the more than 463,000 people who had the right to vote. do it. In these elections, with the requested vote already eliminated, the number of votes from abroad could increase and not have such a great impact on the final participation.

In addition, almost 59,000 people voted by mail, 20% less than in the 2020 regional elections but 37% more than in 2016.

This 2024, all candidates have already exercised their right to vote before the first participation data. The current president, Alfonso Rueda, who aspires to achieve the fifth consecutive absolute majority for the Popular Party, did so around 11:30, accompanied by his family, at the Galician Sports Technology Center in Pontevedra.

"My feelings are very good," Rueda conceded after voting, wishing for a high turnout, synonymous with people being "aware" of what is at stake. The Popular Party candidate has stressed that there are many eyes on these elections, "in Galicia and outside of Galicia."

Practically at the same time as Rueda, the PSOE candidate José Ramón Gómez Besteiro was voting in the CEIP Rosalía de Castro, from Lugo, whom the forecasts place in third position, far from the Galician Nationalist Bloc, headed by Ana Pontón, who was the earliest candidate.

"I voted with great enthusiasm, with great hope and I know that today there are thousands of Galicians who share with me that enthusiasm and hope and who will go to vote to build the Galicia that they want and dream of," Pontón said after placing his ballot in the Center's ballot box. Galego de Arte Contemporáneo, in Santiago de Compostela.

Also in Santiago de Compostela, before noon, Sumar's candidate, Marta Lois, who is fighting to get a regional deputy, voted. Same expectation as Democracia Ourensana and Vox. The solo candidacy of Podemos seems further from that objective, whose candidate, Isabel Faraldo, has also voted in La Coruña.