Although as regards to democracy, theory tells us that any number of parties may participate in elections.

The de-facto truth is that too many parties and candidates confuse the voter, who prefers small numbers and simple but cheap slogans (“Vote for Change!!” for example), which is why so many democracies have only two viable (that is, electable) parties that are very similar to each other in political aims: to put it another way, that’s only one more party than a totalitarian state has.

The US has the Democrats and Republicans, the UK Labour and Tory, and here in Spain the Socialists and the PP. It’s a pendulum politics – or should be.

The Socialists, however, have ruled Andalucia for thirty years, but it now looks as if the PP will sweep the coming elections, should recent polls hold true through to next year, because with over one million unemployed in Andalucia alone, the Junta is square in the crosshairs of the electorate; add to the mix the soaring unpopularity of Zapatero and his Socialist minions at the top, and a PP victory looks guaranteed.

With today’s numbers they would gain an absolute majority. Although the PP has gained some points, their attractive lead owes more to the free-falling status of the Socialists. But the joke is that, while discontent can push the people from party A to party B, as will probably happen in much of Spain next year, in a short time the people will start complaining again and return to the party they used to hate, that is, to the other side of the same coin.

I use the word ‘coin’ because it’s all about money and nothing or extremely little to do with change and or improvement. Andalucia could well do with a change after 30 years of the PSOE, but most wouldn’t even consider the Izquierda Unida. (a more traditional leftwing, as opposed the centre-left PSOE).

Whoever wins, unemployment will eventually lessen, but more because of the cyclical nature of economics rather than a controlling hand. Unimpeded, endless growth, after all, is simply not possible.

So good luck Javier Arenas and Mariano Rajoy. The former’s a good-looking guy with much experience; the latter, who would be President, seems only capable of disagreeing for the sake of electoral advantage. It’s sad that someone with such low approval ratings will likely be this country’s next leader.