Majority in Spain would favour centre-left coalition

A majority of Spaniards would favour a coalition government led by the Socialist party and market-friendly newcomer Ciudadanos, according to a poll published by El País yesterday as Spain’s political deadlock continues.

Spain has yet to form a government seven weeks after an inconclusive December 20 election in which no party won enough votes to govern. Newer parties, particularly the anti-austerity Podemos and the liberal Ciudadanos, grabbed votes from mainstream rivals.

A coalition led by the Socialists and Ciudadanos is supported by 51% of Spaniards according to the poll of 1,000 people, carried out shortly after Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez was given a mandate by the King Felipe last Tuesday to try to form a government.