Amidst a housing crisis shaking Madrid and an electric political atmosphere, the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) is measuring the social temperature. Between the fundamental right to housing and the possibility of early elections on November 29, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government seeks critical answers to navigate a deep social fracture.

The political climate in Spain has reached a new peak of tension. The Center for Sociological Research (CIS)—Spain's primary government-run polling agency—under the direction of José Félix Tezanos, has launched a strategic survey this weekend. This poll doesn't just measure the government's popularity; it delves into an open wound: access to affordable housing.

The Catalyst: A Social Spark

The trigger for this questionnaire was the controversial case of Maricarmen Abascal, whose threatened eviction sparked protests and campsites organized by the Tenants Union (Sindicato de Inquilinas) in Madrid's iconic Plaza del Sol. Although the woman managed to return to her home through mediation by the Madrid City Council, the event exposed a profound social divide.

The Core of the Debate: The poll emerges after the Congress of Deputies (Spain's lower house of Parliament) rejected two housing decrees promoted by the Executive last Friday.

Measuring the Public Pulse

The CIS questionnaire aims to define the citizenship's stance on fundamental axes of the current housing crisis:

  • Legalism vs. Compassion: Should the fulfillment of laws and contracts prevail, or the protection of vulnerable people?
  • Market vs. Right: Is housing a market commodity or a priority constitutional right?

Political Stakes: Early Elections?

Housing is not the only thing at stake. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is reportedly analyzing the possibility of moving up general and regional elections to November 29. In this context, the survey collects critical data on the following areas:

Measurement Axis Topics Included
Electoral Voting intention, voting recall, and evaluation of political leaders.
Situational Economic situation, climate change, and the war in Ukraine.

Notable Omissions: Observers have noted that the poll omitted sensitive judicial issues, such as the imprisonment of former minister José Luis Ábalos or the conviction of the Prime Minister's brother.

Source: IMAGO