The first round of the new electoral cycle leaves Alberto Núñez Feijóo still tied to Vox, Pedro Sánchez weakened, and Santiago Abascal catapulted to power. The people of Extremadura went to the polls after eighteen months without national elections and sent a message that could have echo in Spanish politics and repercussions in the upcoming elections – in the coming months there will be elections in AragonCastile and León and Andalusia—. Although they were regional elections, the PSOE was taking a gamble after the latest cases of alleged corruption and the cascade of sexual harassment allegationsHe pinned all his hopes on Miguel Ángel Gallardo, a candidate who will go to trial alongside the Spanish president's brother, and the defeat has been resounding. An "unmitigated" defeat and "very adverse" results, as he himself acknowledged. However, the PP's victory—its second triumph in Extremadura elections in 43 years—is bittersweet: María Guardiola is nearing an absolute majority, but gains only one seat after the early election The victory was triggered by Vox's rejection of the budget and continues to depend on the far right, which doubled its vote share. However, the party leadership in Madrid is presenting the victory as a "landrending victory for the ages."

Four parties have a chance of gaining parliamentary representation in the Assembly of Extremadura. In descending order of support, according to the polls, they are the PP, PSOE, Vox, and Unidas por Extremadura. We review their candidates for regional president.

On the eve of the Extremadura elections, ARA spent three days exploring a "forgotten" region that is now in the spotlight as it kicks off the new electoral cycle. All polls predict that the PSOE, the party that has historically dominated Extremadura, will lose its top spot to the PP for the second time in 40 years, with Vox on the rise. In addition to explaining the candidates' profiles and providing the latest information, we analyze the socioeconomic characteristics of a region marked by depopulation and the export of raw materials.