Socialists pass PP in approval poll for first time since 2011

Weighed down by the ongoing investigation into its former treasurer Luis Bárcenas and allegations of illegal financing, the ruling Popular Party (PP) has seen its approval ratings drop to their lowest level since Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy won the November 2011 election, a new poll shows.

And for the first time that Rajoy has been in office, the Socialists have passed the PP in the approval ratings marker, hitting their highest point in the almost two years of the current government.

According to a survey conducted by Metroscopia for EL PAÍS, the Socialists would garner 30.5 percent opposed to the PP's 30.1 percent if an election were held today. Two out of three voters believe the PP has not done enough to explain Bárcenas' allegations concerning large bonuses paid out to party members, Metroscopia said.

Since the 2011 general election, the PP has lost 14.5 percent but the Socialists have only gained some 1.8 percent, which shows that a majority of Spaniards have lost confidence in both parties.

At the same time approval ratings for the United Left coalition have jumped slightly to 11.6 percent from the 11.4 percent it registered at the beginning of August while the Union Progress and Democracy (UPyD) group continues its steady climb from 4.7 percent in November 2011 to nine percent this month.