CIS Barometer Reveals Political Landscape and Public Sentiment in Spain

The latest barometer from the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS), published this Friday, offers a comprehensive view of the current political climate in Spain. This study indicates a significant gap between the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) and the main opposition, the Popular Party (PP), with the PSOE leading by an impressive 87 points. The results from recent regional elections in Extremadura are not expected to have a major impact on the national context, according to the pollster, with only weeks remaining until elections in Aragón. In hypothetical future general elections, the Socialist Party, led by Pedro Sánchez, is projected to secure 317 seats. The Popular Party, under the leadership of Alberto Núñez Feijóo, is anticipated to receive 23% of the votes. Meanwhile, the far-right party Vox, led by Santiago Abascal, continues its upward trend, albeit at a slowed pace, with a predicted 17.7% vote share, marking a slight increase from December. Further analysis of the survey reveals that the second party in the government coalition, Sumar, would capture 7.2% of the votes, while its leftist counterpart, Podemos, is expected to receive 3.5%. Additionally, the party started by Alvise Pérez, Se Acabó La Fiesta, is making its mark with an approaching 2% share of the votes. Interestingly, despite the PSOE's historical low in Extremadura and the PP's close call for an absolute majority, voter sentiment remains largely unchanged. The ongoing influence of Vox is crucial, suggesting a similar dynamic could recur in upcoming regional elections in 2026. In terms of international factors, the recent turmoil in Venezuela has not significantly altered domestic political perceptions. Following Nicolás Maduro's controversial removal by the U.S., the Spanish public was surveyed about their views on President Donald Trump's military intervention. A majority, 50.3%, disapproved of the action, with only 13.6% believing it was justified. Additionally, the survey indicated that 61.5% feel that Trump’s actions have jeopardized global peace, with women being more inclined to express concern than men. Criticism has also been directed towards the European Union's response to the situation in Venezuela. A significant portion of respondents, 48.9%, rated the EU's initial reaction as poor or very poor, while only a fraction felt it handled the situation effectively. When it comes to pressing domestic issues, housing remains the predominant concern for Spaniards, having increased by three points from previous surveys to 42.6%. This is followed by economic issues at 21.2%, and government-related concerns at 16.6%. Immigration is assessed as the fourth main issue, maintaining its rank since December. Overall, the CIS barometer underscores the ongoing political dynamics in Spain amid international tensions and domestic challenges, revealing a society that is keenly aware of the political implications surrounding them. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2