(L to R) Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias, Ciudadanos leader, Albert Rivera, Spanish Socialist Party leader, Pedro Sanchez and Spanish Prime Minister and Popular Party leader, Mariano Rajoy speak during their electoral campaign. (AFP Photo)
Polling stations opened across Spain today in what is expected to be one of the most closely-fought contests in its modern history, as two dynamic new parties take on the country's long-established giants.
Voting began at 9:00 am (0800 GMT) and will continue until 8 pm (1900 GMT), with partial official results expected some two hours later.