PSOE Leads Polls Ahead of Spain's 2026 Elections as Political Tensions Surface
A recent CIS poll shows PSOE leading the 2026 elections with Vox's rise challenging the right, amid internal party tensions between key political figures.
- • PSOE leads with 32.6% voter intention in CIS February 2026 poll.
- • Vox reaches a record 18.9%, narrowing gap with People's Party.
- • Political expert Anna López highlights factors behind Vox's growth and voter shifts.
- • Felipe González publicly critical of Pedro Sánchez, signaling intra-party tensions.
Key details
As Spain approaches its 2026 general elections, the political landscape reveals significant shifts amid internal tensions and evolving voter dynamics. According to the latest February Barometer by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS), the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), led by Pedro Sánchez, holds a commanding lead with 32.6% voter intention. This positions PSOE 9.7 points ahead of the main opposition, the People's Party (PP), which stands at 22.9%. Meanwhile, the right-wing Vox party has surged to a record 18.9%, narrowing the gap with the PP to just four points and marking its strongest performance in CIS history.
The CIS survey, based on 4,027 telephone interviews conducted from February 2 to 6—before recent regional elections in Aragón—highlights voter volatility. Political expert Anna López explains Vox's rising momentum stems from three factors: volatility, voter loyalty, and leadership. Vox has attracted significant numbers of disillusioned voters, drawing about 1.3 million from the PP and 380,000 from the PSOE. Vox's core supporters are notably loyal, particularly among young men under 35 and first-time voters. López also pointed out that 19% of the abstainers from previous elections are now inclined to vote for Vox. Santiago Abascal’s leadership has emerged as a potent alternative on the right, challenging the PP's dominance.
Parallel to these electoral trends, political tensions within PSOE are evident. During the commemoration of Spain's 1978 Constitution, former Prime Minister Felipe González greeted current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez respectfully but maintained his criticism, openly stating he would not support Sánchez if he seeks re-election. The encounter was notably without conversation or photographs, underscoring lingering divides. González further critiqued current PSOE Secretary of Organization Rebeca Torró’s recent statements. Meanwhile, other former presidents like José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy were absent from the ceremony, with José María Aznar choosing to sit in the guest gallery rather than the main hemicycle.
These developments paint a complex picture of Spain’s political dynamics as parties vie for influence, voter loyalties shift, and internal party relations expose fractures ahead of a decisive electoral contest.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
