Support for a center-right coalition in Spain may be gaining ground, according to a poll.
A Sigma Dos survey published in the newspaper El Mundo saw combined support for the center-right People's Party (on 30.2 percent) and the new centrist party Ciudadanos (on 16.2 percent) reaching a combined 180 seats in parliament—enough for a small majority of five.
The research is significant because Spain remains mired in political deadlock following an inconclusive general election in December 2015. If Pedro Sanchez, leader of the center-left Socialist Party (PSOE) cannot form a coalition by May 2, Spain could go back to the polls.
The results are particularly poor for Spain's anti-austerity Podemos party, which registered 16.7 percent support in the poll, down from 20.7 percent in the election.
Sanchez has sought a coalition between the PSOE, Podemos and Ciudadanos, but so far Podemos has refused to work with the centrists, preferring instead a "progressive coalition" of leftists. The results of the El Mundo poll would render this impossible, with United Left, Podemos and the PSOE reaching just 145 seats.
A second poll, published in El Pais on Monday, also saw support for Podemos fall, in this case to 15.9 percent.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Josh is a staff writer covering Europe, including politics, policy, immigration and more.
