Spanish prime minister announces dissolution of parliament

Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- Spain's Socialist Prime Minister announced Monday the dissolution of parliament in order to hold early elections on November 20, which polls indicate the opposition conservatives will win handily during Spain's deep economic crisis.Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said last April he would not seek a third term. He has been squeezed by the nation's prolonged economic downturn. The unemployment rate is almost 21%, and almost 5 million are jobless.


POLLS = ENCUESTAS...................SQUEEZED = PRESIONADO..................................JOBLESS = SIN TRABAJO
HANDILY = HOLGADAMENTE........DOWNTURN = DESCENSO
SEEK = PERSEGUIR.....................UNEMPLOYEMENT RATE= TASA DE DESEMPLEO

...  Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy, 56, said over the weekend that if elected, he would install a 100-day shock plan of "austerity and efficiency"...

The Socialist candidate is Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, 60, who served under Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez and most recently under Zapatero, rising to the positions of deputy prime minister and interior minister.

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