UPD: Exit polls say ruling conservatives win Spanish election, fall short of majority

Polls opened at 9 a.m. and opinion polls show no clear winner

Spaniards headed to the polls on Sunday in a landmark election. Newcomers Podemos – an anti-austerity leftist party – and the liberal Citizens are challenging the ruling Popular Party (PP) and Socialists.

The conservative PP has a majority in Spain’s lower house of parliament and is tipped to win by a narrow lead according to Opinion Polls. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy managed to take Spain from its crisis to a period of growth.

Despite this, opinion polls state that no party will get a majority and some sort of coalition may need to be created.