PP hits new low in polls, but would still win elections

With the Popular Party (PP) approval rating at an all-time low, the ruling party would still win the general elections if the race were held today, according to a new Metroscopia poll that was carried out for EL PAÍS.

In a context of terrible economic indicators and a wave of corruption allegations facing the PP, the Socialists at this stage would not be able to win back the voters' confidence, according to the poll.

Metroscopia concludes that the PP has a nearly five-percent lead over the Socialists - the same margin of error for the survey. Just a month ago, the Socialists found their approval rating less than a decimal point above the PP. But that poll was taken in the midst of news stories about a corruption case involving former treasurer Luis Bárcenas, who claims to have made bonus payments to PP leaders, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, over a period of around 20 years.

The latest survey shows that the PP would receive 34.1 percent of the votes while the Socialists would garner 29 percent. The opposition's approval rating has dropped slightly from 30.5 percent in September while the PP's has risen four percentage points from a month ago.

The poll also revealed that at least 57 percent of Spaniards believe that the road to economic recovery is still a long one, while 34 percent said that the situation will get worse before it gets better.

Defense Minister Pedro Morenés is the current Cabinet official who gained the highest approval rating out of all of Rajoy's officials in the Metroscopia poll.