Spain poised for shift to the right as polls open in snap election

Polls suggest conservative PP will need the support of far-right Vox party to form a government

Spaniards are heading to the polls to vote in a bitterly contested general election that could see the far right play a key role in government for the first time since the country returned to democracy after General Franco's death five decades ago.

The vote, called two months ago by Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, after his Spanish Socialist Workers party (PSOE) suffered a drubbing in May's regional and municipal elections, offers people a stark choice between the left and right blocs.