The capacity crowd that flocked to Valencia’s bull ring to hear Mariano Rajoy, leader of Spain’s Popular party, were conservatively dressed, good-natured and all fired up to vote in Sunday’s general election.

In Barcelona, meanwhile, another multitude gathered on Thursday night to cheer José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the prime minister, who appealed for a huge turnout to secure the re-election of his Socialist party. Mr Zapatero’s supporters were as prosperous-looking as their conservative peers.