Keuze van zwevende kiezer zal doorslag geven tijdens Spaanse verkiezingen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - With less than a week to go until Spaniards go to the polls and the gap between the incumbent government and the opposition socialist party closing, the battle is on to capture undecided voters.

Although the conservative Partido Popular (PP) led by Mariano Rajoy is expected to win next Sunday's vote, according to recent polls, an absolute majority is unlikely and both sides are trying to win over the 'undecideds'.

Almost one fourth of voters say they have not yet chosen who to vote for.

An El Mundo-commissioned poll, released on Monday showed that PP would get between 168 and 173 of the 350-seat congress, just shy of the 176 needed for an absolute majority.

This is against a predicted 138-144 seats for the socialists up from 125 at the last elections in 2000.

The Female vote

On Monday - international women's day - the focus shifted to female voters with both Mr Rajoy and his socialist opposition Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero trying to woo the female vote.

Speaking in the south of the country Mr Zapatero vowed to fight for maltreated women and for gender equality, which continues to be a major political issue in Spain.

Six years younger than his conservative counterpart Mr Rodriguez Zapatero has fared better among younger and female voters, although in general many Spaniards believe he has not yet been tested.

If the polls are correct, it looks like Spain's regional parties from the Basque Country, Catalonia and the Canary Islands, will hold the key to a absolute majority, however both major parties have said they will not seek to govern in a coalition.

Helping hand

Beside Mr Rajoy and throughout the campaign has been the two-time President José Maria Aznar, who is stepping down, after electing Mr Rajoy his successor.

Mr Rajoy is not expected to change his policy to Europe much, as Mr Aznar still appears to have his hands firmly on the reins.

In an interview with the French Daily, Le Monde on Monday Mr Aznar said that it would be unwise to think that Spain would back down from its hard-line stance on voting weights in the EU's planned Constitution.

A win for the PP would mean a third consecutive term in office.