Lorraine Williamson
Despite criticism over its handling of a nationwide power outage on 28 April, Spain’s Socialist Party (PSOE) has extended its lead over the opposition Partido Popular (PP), according to the latest poll by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS).
The CIS survey shows that the PSOE, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, now commands 34.8% of voter support. This represents a 2.2 percentage point increase from the previous month. In contrast, the conservative PP, while also growing, trails with 27.5%. The results were first reported by Spanish news outlet 20minutos.es.
CIS poll shows PSOE support rising
The PSOE’s rise in the polls comes despite widespread public dissatisfaction with the government’s response during the blackout. Nearly 60% of those surveyed said they felt the government failed to provide adequate information during the crisis. However, this has not translated into a loss of support for the ruling party. Instead, the data suggests a consolidation of PSOE’s voter base.
Mixed results for other political parties
The far-right party Vox saw its support rise to 15.9%. Meanwhile, the left-wing parties Sumar and Podemos both declined slightly, losing 0.5 percentage points each. Among regional parties, Junts, ERC, and EH Bildu held steady, but the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) recorded a further decline in support.
Criticism over government’s communication during blackout
Although the PSOE has gained in the polls, political opponents have criticised Prime Minister Sánchez for his handling of the blackout. Opposition leaders accused him of providing unclear information and even suggested deliberate misinformation. These accusations have not yet had a measurable effect on the Socialist Party’s popularity.
Voter uncertainty remains high
Spain continues to experience a high level of voter indecision. According to the CIS, 21.9% of respondents remain undecided. Additionally, 10.7% of those surveyed say they do not intend to vote in the next national election. This signals ongoing political fragmentation and volatility in the electorate.
The recent power outage may have tested the government’s crisis communication, but it has not dented the Socialist Party’s electoral standing—for now.