The importance of the economy in the forthcoming general election in Spain will be highlighted on Thursday night as the first of three televised deb­ates is held between the economic figureheads of the ruling Socialist party and the opposition Popular party.

The election on March 9 is being held against a backdrop of rising inflation and unemployment, a stagnant property market and slowing economic growth. With one-third of the electorate undecided and the Socialist and Popular parties running neck-and-neck, analysts believe the debates hold the key to the election.