Spanish concerns about politics highest since mid-1980s

THE amount of Spanish people concerned about the state of the country’s politics has reached its highest level since the mid-1980s, according to a new survey.

Almost one third of those surveyed for the Centre for Sociological Research’s (CIS) survey said they were concerned about Spanish politics and politicians, the highest level since 1985.

Politics came second out of the issues those surveyed said was Spain’s biggest national problem. Unemployment came first, with almost two third of those surveyed saying it was the biggest issue facing the country.

Jose Pablo Ferrandiz, a researcher for the Metroscopia polling company, told Spanish media discontent with politics was continuing to grow despite five years of strong economic growth.

“The main reason is the paralysis that has petrified Spanish politics in recent years,” Ferrandiz said.

The survey comes as Spanish politics remains in deadlock while the left-leaning Partido Socialista (PSOE) continues efforts to form a government.

PSOE won the most seats, 123, in the Congress of Deputies following the election but fell well short of the 176 needed for a majority.