A look at Sunday’s close general election race in Spain

The biggest difference between this weekend’s crucial Spanish elections and ballots past: It’s no longer a two-horse race.

In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 picture people wave Spanish flags and Popular Party flags while Spain’s Prime Minister and right wing Popular Party candidate Mariano Rajoy speaks during a campaign rally at Las Rozas bullring, near Madrid.

Although the conservatives recently increased in the polls-leading at 25 percent-they still would fall short of obtaining a majority to govern, even with the support of what would be its natural ally, Ciudadanos.

But 21 percent unemployment and Spaniards’ disenchantment with the two main parties’ handling of the crisis, as well as their perceived involvement in myriad corruption cases, has given rise to two new parties, the center-right Ciudadanos and the far-left Podemos party.

Pablo Iglesias of Podemos, 37, promises to defend “the lower classes” while Rivera pledges “reasonable change”, more investment in education and less precarity in the workplace.

Saturday is an obligatory “day of reflection” ahead of the vote and no campaigning is allowed.

The prime minister, 60, was unharmed, a Individuals’s Social gathering spokesman stated, however Rajoy appeared later with a deep purple mark on his face.

Spanish television showed Rajoy surrounded by Germany’s Angela Merkel and Britain’s David Cameron on the sidelines of the summit.

“Miserable wretch”, Rajoy responded angrily, losing his legendary calm.