Two opinion polls on voter preference in Spain have shown a large drop in support for the ruling Partido Popular and main opposition socialist party PSOE.
The main winner has been Podemos led by Pablo Iglesias. It would become the third political force in the parliament if elections were held now.
Formed in March of this year by left-wing activists associated with the 15-M movement, the party surprised many by winning five seats in the European Parliament elections in May.
The polls carried out by Celeste-Tel for online newspaper eldiario.es and GESOP for elperiodico.es found that the group would attract just under 15% of the vote below the socialist PSOE, currently embroiled in a tough leadership battle, on just over 22% and Mariano Rajoy’s Partido Popular hovering around 30-32%.
Left-wing Izquierda Unida and social liberal UPyD have also benefited from the flight of PP and PSOE voters to other parties. They would both take just over 5% of the vote.
These latest polls are sure to cause concern to the two main parties who will have a tough challenge on their hands to recuperate the loss in support before regional elections in several of Spain’s autonomous communities next year.
Podemos lograría 58 escaños en el Congreso a costa del PSOE e IU http://t.co/VbmhldsMfi @ahorapodemos @_GESOP #barómetroEPC
— El Periódico (@elperiodico) 9 Juin 2014