Elecciones generales en España

Simpatizantes del partido socialista

The opposition Socialist Party has won the general election in Spain.

Voters appeared to turn against the governing Popular Party for the way it reacted to last week's bomb attacks.

This report from Chris Morris:

A week ago no-one would have predicted it -a triumph for the Socialists, a disaster for the Popular Party. The bomb attacks in Madrid did more than shock this country to the core; they proved to be the decisive factor in the general election.

The Socialist party leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said his first priority as prime minister would be to tackle terrorism in all its forms. But he's likely to do it in a very different way than the outgoing government. He was a vocal opponent of Spain supporting the US-led war in Iraq and in power he may seek to withdraw Spanish troops who are serving in Iraq now.

The late swing to the Socialists also raises one disturbing thought. If al-Qaeda was responsible for Thursday's attacks, it appears to have had significant influence in changing the government of a leading western democracy.

Chris Morris, BBC

a triumph
un gran éxito

shock this country to the core
conmocionó al país

the decisive factor
el factor decisivo

his first priority
su prioridad, lo que debe hacer antes que nada

the outgoing government
el gobierno saliente

a vocal opponent
alguien que se opone a algo y lo critica públicamente

seek to
intentar

late swing
un cambio de último momento

disturbing
preocupar, perturbar

significant influence
influencia importante en algo