European voting

We got our postal voting papers this morning. Two envelopes, one to the polling station the other in which to enclose the vote, a certificate to prove to the polling station that we are registered voters and about 40 slips with the list of candidates for each of the parties standing.

The Spanish system is that each party prepares a list of its candidates. They put their key candidate at the top of the list and so on down to something like their 49th choice. Dependant on what percentage, if any, of the vote they achieve then their candidates go forward as MEPs for Spain.

I haven't been through all the lists but there are some odd ones, The Falange - the old state Fascist party, the Communists, The National Front and The Greens are there as are all the separatist movements, the Feminist Alliance and the parties that will actually get most candidates elected - The Partido Popular ("Conservatives") and the Partido Socialista Obrero Español ("Labour").

Not quite as exciting as turning up and putting our envelopes in the ballot box but participation nonetheless.