(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Mariano Rajoy has gained a significant amount of popularity among Spaniards, according to a poll by Instituto Opina released by Cadena Ser. 43.3 per cent of respondents approve of Rajoy’s role as leader of the opposition Popular Party (PP), up 11.4 points since mid-June.

Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has lost public support. 42.3 per cent of respondents approve of Zapatero’s job as the country’s head of government, down 2.1 points in two weeks.

Zapatero, leader of the Socialist Worker’s Party (PSOE), was sworn in as president of the government in April 2004, following his party’s victory in the legislative ballot. The conservative PP had administered the government under José María Aznar since 1996. Rajoy took over as PP leader in August 2003.

In March, Spain held a general election. The PSOE secured a new term in office with 43.36 per cent of the vote and 169 seats in the lower house, followed by the PP with 39.85 per cent and 153 mandates. Zapatero retained his post as head of government.

On Jun. 21, Rajoy was re-elected as his party’s leader with the support of 84 per cent of the delegates who attended the convention. Just before the vote, Rajoy declared: "That is what I want—a party that serves all of Spain. (...) I don’t think this party should change even a comma in its principles."

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero as president?

Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of Mariano Rajoy as opposition leader?

Source: Instituto Opina / Cadena Ser
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Spanish adults, conducted on Jun. 26, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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