July 25, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The popularity of Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has taken a hit, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Expansión. 41 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of Zapatero, down 10 points since May.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The popularity of Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has taken a hit, according to a poll by Ipsos published in Expansión. 41 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of Zapatero, down 10 points since May.

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 Popular Party (PP) had administered the government under José María Aznar since 1996. Mariano 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 Jul. 23, Zapatero and Rajoy failed to agree on policies to address a sharp economic slowdown that is affecting Spain. Zapatero decried the PP’s proposal to cut public spending, saying that the country’s finances are at "one of their best moments" since democracy was restored in the 1970s. Rajoy claimed that the government "continues to believe that things fix themselves."

Polling Data

Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s performance as president?

	Jul. 2008	May 2008
Favourable	41%	51%
Unfavourable	51%	44%

Source: Ipsos / Expansión
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Spanish adults, conducted from Jul. 1 to Jul. 13, 2008. No margin of error was provided.