Amid rising inflation and a sharply polarized political landscape, the PSOE government and the Unidas Podemos alliance find themselves splitting public opinion in Spain. This tension is reflected in the latest Spanish Barometer from the Gabinet d’Estudis Socials i Opinió Pública (GESOP) for the Prensa Ibérica group. There is no broad consensus about the six specific actions taken by Pedro Sánchez’s administration, even as public support appears strongest for a single measure: raising the minimum wage to 1,080 euros per month.
According to the survey, 84.4% of respondents express approval of the government’s agreement with trade unions and employers on the minimum wage increase, while only 12.7% oppose it. Positive sentiment crosses demographic lines, remaining high across genders, all age groups, education levels, and municipalities of varying sizes. The data suggest a broad base of support for the wage measure that spans regions and social backgrounds, reinforcing the idea that this policy is seen as a practical step with tangible benefits for workers.
Support for the deal appears robust among voters across the political spectrum, though there is notable backlash among right-leaning voters. Among supporters of the PP, 68.2% back the increase and 24.6% oppose it; among Vox voters, 67.6% back it with 29.1% opposed. Among those aligned with left-leaning parties, approval consistently exceeds 90%. In Ciudadanos, the level of support sits at 82.4% with 16.6% opposed. This pattern indicates that while the wage increase enjoys broad endorsement, opinions vary by party affiliation and ideological stance, shaping the overall political climate around this economic measure.
Geographically, broad consensus persists across the autonomous communities, with Madrid showing relatively high support but a slightly tighter margin compared to other regions. Specifically, Madrid reports 76.5% in favor and 19.4% opposed, while other regions display a wider gap between supporters and critics. Such regional variance highlights how local economic conditions and political contexts influence attitudes toward national policy decisions, even when the policy itself receives widespread backing.
Data sheet
– Responsible organization: GESOP. (GESOP)
– Investigative method: Telephone interviews. (GESOP)
– Field of study: Spain. (GESOP)
– Population: Adults eligible to vote. (GESOP)
– Sample size: 1,002 interviews. (GESOP)
– Sampling approach: Proportional allocation across autonomous communities and municipalities; respondents chosen according to gender and age quotas. (GESOP)
– Margin of error: ±3.10% at a 95% confidence level, assuming p=q=0.5. (GESOP)
– Field period: February 27 to March 1, 2023. (GESOP)
The broader takeaway from these findings is that the public response to the wage policy reveals a cautious receptiveness to concrete, visible gains for workers. While the government’s broader agenda remains contested, the minimum wage increase stands out as a policy with clear popular traction, capable of catalyzing dialogue about living costs, productivity, and social equity. Analysts note that the evolving political dialogue in Spain continues to be shaped by economic pressures, regional differences, and the evolving priorities of voters across the spectrum, making policy reception in the months ahead a key barometer for government credibility in both the short and medium terms. (GESOP attribution)