UNITED LEFT THE OVERALL WINNERS IN CASARES ELECTIONS

The United Left were the overall winners in the local elections in Casares last Sunday. The Izquierda Unida now has seven councillors, the Socialist Party has four, and the PP lost half their seats winning only two. 2,642 people cast their votes, or 62 per cent of the eligible voters, five per cent less than in 2011. In Secadero there was a much bigger turnout with over 85 per cent of the electorate coming out to vote, while in Casares itself almost 76 per cent turned out to vote. In Casares Costa apathy reigned with only 29 per cent casting their votes. The United Left won 1,292 votes or 49 per cent of the vote which gives them seven councillors. The Socialist Party got 820 or 32 per cent of the vote, doubling the number of councillors. The PP won 405 votes giving them two councillors but losing half their existing seats. The results showed that the Socialist Party were winners in Manilva where they have five councillors. Estepona remained a PP stronghold returning 17 councillors for the party, with the Socialist Party in second place with six councillors.

RADIO CASARES HOSTS FIRST OF THREE ALL PARTY DEBATES ON THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Radio Casares this week hosted the first of three planned debates on the forthcoming municipal elections. Representatives of all the political parties contesting the elections took part in the radio discussion. They included the Izquierda Unida, Partido Popular, the Socialist Party and Social Action. The first debate this week covered the economy and employment. The debate followed an agreed format with every party getting the same amount of airtime. Proposals included the Social Action plan to create a leisure park in the Utrera area, the Socialist Party plan to create more than 300 jobs tourism and agriculture, The Partido Popular concentrated on agriculture and tourism, while the Izquierda Unida highlighted developments brought about by their programme in Casares in recent years. The next debate will take place on May 7th when the parties will discuss education, health and social welfare.

RADIO CASARES GEARS UP FOR ITS COVERAGE OF THE ANDALUCIAN ELECTIONS

Radio Casares has started its special coverage of the regional elections in Andalucia. This week representatives of the different political parties seeking votes have been interviewed about their electoral platforms. A special election debate will be held on air on March 19th. The election coverage has been agreed by the different political parties with the agreement of communications councillor Juan Luis Villalon. Each day there will be an election chronicle which will report on the events and activities involved in the run up to the elections. There will also be in depth interviews daily with representatives of the different parties where they will outline their policies. These interviews will be broadcast on the morning show La Voz de la Mañana between 11.30 and 12 noon. The climax of the election coverage will be next Thursday’s special on air debate.

International news:

President Barack Obama suffered a major setback for the last two years of his term when the Republican Party scored sweeping victories in the mid term Congressional elections. The President extended the hand of friendship to the new Congress and said he wanted to work with them make the next two years as productive as possible.

International news

Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has claimed that this week’s elections in the African country were null and void because of alleged vote rigging by long time President Robert Mugabe. Final results in the presidential and parliamentary elections are not due until Monday but an independent monitoring group said the elections were marked by interference to stop many people voting.