The president of the government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and the leader of the PP (Spain’s main opposition party), Mariano Rajoy, are beginning 2011 with the regional and local elections in mind following a year clearly marked by the recession.

Zapatero will tomorrwo preside over a meeting of PSOE’s Federal Electoral Commission and will later have lunch with leading members of his party while Rajoy will meet with the PP’s Management Committee.

It is expected that Zapatero will talk about the evolution of the Spanish economy which is currently being affected by the market’s suspicions over the strength of the economy, once again raising doubts over its ability to recover from the recession.

Another issue for Zapatero to consider is his party’s dire standing in the opinion polls over the last few months with a view to the regional and local elections scheduled for later this year.

Over the next few weeks the Vice general Secreatry of PSOE, José Blanco, has the responsibility of compiling the party’s complete list of candidates for the regional and local elections due to be held in May.

The PP will also be in the process of doing the same.

The first important date on the PP’s agenda for 2011 is its annual national conference which will take place this year in Seville between 21st and 23rd January. The PP will use the conference as an opportunity to present the basis of its political agenda over the next few months and also to begin its electoral campaigning.