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Socialists stand to lose traditional strongholds in May elections

A Poll shows party short of absolute majority in all regional races; PP told to pull down signs before campaign began at midnight

The Socialists are poised for a heavy defeat in local elections on May 22 and stand to lose traditional strongholds such as Castilla-La Mancha, according to a CIS poll released on Thursday. Such a result could put a heavy burden on Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's ability to win support for his measures as he faces the last leg of his term.

The survey, taken between March 17 and April 17 in the regions and seven of the cities where Spaniards will vote, shows that the Socialists will not win an absolute majority anywhere and may lose the premierships in Castilla-La Mancha, the Balearic Islands and Asturias, as well as Barcelona City Hall.

In other traditional strongholds, such as Seville, the Socialist Party may get very few votes, the poll reveals.

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In Valencia, where the Socialists are hoping the Gürtel corruption investigation will have an impact on Popular Party (PP) regional premier Francisco Camps' bid for reelection, the poll shows Camps winning with at least 53 percent of the vote. The Socialists could also lose five of the 38 seats they hold in the regional parliament.

The elections come as Spain is deeply mired in one of the worst economic crises in recent history, with unemployment touching 21 percent in the first quarter of the year. Zapatero has said he will not run for a third term as prime minister next year.

Campaigning for the local races officially began at midnight Thursday but the PP was accused of jumping the gun in some regions by hanging up signs hours before the official start time prescribed by law. In Toledo and Seville the PP was told by the local electoral boards to remove the candidacy posters.

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