electoral

The regime’s domestic security architecture and control of courts, prosecutors and the electoral council make a sudden elite split unlikely.

Mazón has become an increasingly problematic figure for the PP over the last year, with concerns that his unpopularity threatened to undermine the party's electoral prospects not just in the Valencia region but nationwide.

Chadema - which was barred from competing - rejects the results announced by the electoral commission, saying they had "no basis in reality as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania".

"Washington expects the next prime minister to deliver tangible steps that limit Iranian influence, regardless of the electoral outcome," said Tamer Badawi, an analyst with the UK defence think tank RUSI.

City leader John Lee last week criticised those who "intentionally distorted" the changes in candidate lineups, adding it was natural for Beijing authorities to "express their care" on electoral issues.