Opposition widens voter intention lead to 10.4 points

The Popular Party (PP) holds a 10.4 point advantage over the Socialists in voter intentions, according to the latest barometer of public opinion carried out by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS).

The opposition conservatives slightly improved their lead to 43.8 percent of the vote if elections were to be held now, compared with 33.4 percent for the ruling Socialist Party.

Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's announcement in early April that he would not run for re-election next year seems to have had no effect on voter sentiment, since the CIS survey was carried out that same week yet failed to produce significant changes in voter intentions.

As for popularity ratings, Zapatero obtained 3.41, well below his deputy Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, who posted a score of 4.72. Opposition leader Mariano Rajoy came in slightly ahead of Zapatero for the first time, with a 3.46 rating.

Despite its wide lead, the PP continues to reject televised debates with the Socialists.