PP on course for 20-D election victory

The PP remains the main political force in Spain, with an estimated 29.1% of votes, according to the latest barometer by the CIS - Spain's Centre for Sociological Research - and has even increased its lead over the PSOE to 3.8 points. The Socialists have also increased their lead over Ciutadans, which becomes the third party in the State and overtakes the rapidly falling Podemos.

The October poll data give respite to the two main parties, which maintain a clear lead over the emerging parties a month and a half from the general elections of 20-D. The poll, conducted shortly after the elections to the Parliament of Catalonia, indicates that the PP has gained nine percentage points since the previous barometer taken in July. The Socialists also increase their estimated vote to 25.3% - four percentage points more than in July - while Ciutadans now stands at 14.7%, a rise of 3.6 points in three months. Conversely, the descent of Podemos continues, from 15.7% in July to 10.8% in October, a figure far removed from the 24% obtained earlier this year, which situated Pablo Iglesias' party ahead of the PSOE. Meanwhile, Izquierda Unida (ICV in Catalonia) gains one point to reach 4.7%, and UpyD drops slightly to 1.2%.

Despite the political force of Podemos and Ciutadans, the CIS did not ask for opinions of Pablo Iglesias and Albert Rivera, as they do not yet have a seat in Congress. The only Ciutadans MP to receive any semblance of approval (4.2%) is Uxue Barkos, who is currently the president of Navarra.

With a score of 3.8, the Secretary General of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, receives a much higher approval rating than the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, who receives just 2.8 out of ten, one of the worst scores.