(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) is still the top political organization in Spain, according to a poll by Instituto Opina released by Cadena Ser. 44 per cent of respondents would support the PSOE in the next general election, while 39 per cent would vote for the conservative Popular Party (PP).

The PSOE's José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was sworn in as president of the government in April 2004, following his party's victory in the legislative ballot. The PP had administered the government under José María Aznar since 1996. Support for the conservatives increased by two points since early September, while backing for the Socialists fell by one point.

The coalition of United Left (IU) and Initiative for Catalonia-Greens (IC-V) is third with 3.7 per cent, followed by three regional parties: Catalonia's Convergence and Union (CiU), the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV).

In April, the PSOE-dominated Congress of Deputies approved a bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, divorce and adopt children. In June, the bill became law after a 187-147 vote. Spain became the third country in Europe—after Belgium and the Netherlands—to permit same-sex marriage.

Earlier this month, current PP leader Mariano Rajoy signalled his intention to launch a legal challenge to the same-sex marriage law, declaring, "This is not about removing anyone's rights, but it is a different thing when these unions are defined as marriages." Rajoy's 2004 campaign platform included a proposal to allow civil unions.

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