Frustration over a fresh election would benefit PP, survey shows

A fresh election in Spain would likely yield lower voter turnout and benefit the acting government of the Popular Party (PP), a new opinion survey shows.

Frustrated Spaniards who have watched political parties fail to reach governing deals since the inconclusive election of December 20 are less motivated to go vote again, according to an analysis for EL PAÍS by polling firm Metroscopia.

Supporters of the conservative PP, however, seem more motivated than others to return to the polling stations in late June – when a hypothetical new election would take place if a deal is not reached by May 2. This could play in the PP’s favor, increasing its lead over other groups in Congress, where it holds 123 seats compared with 90 for the Socialists, 65 for Podemos and 40 for Ciudadanos.

Spaniards feel that the political situation is even worse than the economic one

In general, Spaniards feel that the political situation is even worse than the economic one, despite the recent crisis that shook the foundations of society. After 100 days of deadlock, 94% of respondents said they were unhappy about the political scenario, 17 points higher than those unhappy with the economic situation.

However, the April survey also shows that 70% of Spaniards are glad about the emergence of new parties that have broken the old system by which the PP and the Socialists simply took turns in power for the last 40 years.

A majority of citizens, 64%, feels that parties should make concessions in order to reach a governing deal that will break the current stalemate. But 76% also think that parties are not up to the task, and that there will ultimately be a fresh election on June 26.

Eighty-five percent of respondents said the PP was not making enough efforts to reach deals, while 75% felt the same way about Podemos, 56% about the Socialist Party and 28% about Ciudadanos.

Another recent survey shows that a new election would not break the political stalemate, and that political leaders would once again be forced to reach cross-party deals.

English version by Susana Urra.