Majority of Spaniards Favor Early Elections Amid Government Scandals and Political Fatigue

A recent survey by the 40dB institute for EL PAÍS and Cadena SER reveals that 59.3% of Spaniards believe early general elections should be called due to the current legislative turmoil and concerns about the governability of the country. This marks a significant public desire to move elections forward, originally scheduled for 2027, amid a government struggling with scandal and political fragmentation. Despite this, 70.4% of respondents think early elections will not be held, resonating with President Sánchez’s insistence on completing his term despite the challenges, including Junts' departure from the coalition and the imprisonment of former minister José Luis Ábalos.

Political sentiment is sharply divided along party lines. While 90% of PP voters and 87.8% of Vox supporters call for elections, only 26.8% of PSOE voters and 35.6% of Sumar supporters agree. The survey also underscores electoral risks for the government camp, with PSOE projected to lose nearly four percentage points and Sumar almost seven, while Vox could gain five points, strengthening its potential coalition with PP.

Compounding this political uncertainty is a broader institutional weariness. Spain faces a marked erosion of confidence in governing bodies, intensified by scandals such as the “Salazar case,” which has sparked unprecedented internal dissent within PSOE. This scandal, involving sexual harassment allegations against a close collaborator of Sánchez, contrasts starkly with the party's prior political apathy and highlights diminishing faith in the government’s leadership.

Further eroding public trust, 52% of Spaniards view the 1978 Constitution as no longer valid, and 79% support its reform—an alarming figure that also includes 60% of socialist voters. This sentiment points toward a potential crisis of legitimacy not only within the current government but across Spanish political institutions.

President Sánchez, in an interview with EL PAÍS last November, expressed confidence that parliamentary complexity "is a reality in Europe, Spain, and Catalonia that can be aligned with good governance," citing positive economic and social trends over seven years. However, mounting scandals and voter disillusionment cast a shadow over his plans to complete the legislative term.

In this context of political fatigue, scandal, and contested public opinion, Spain’s governance faces growing challenges as the 2027 elections loom, with a significant portion of the electorate urging an early referendum on leadership and the future direction of the country.