Spanish social and political landscape shifts

Recent sociological data from Spain indicates significant shifts in the country’s political and social landscape. Reports from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer and the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) highlight a growing trend of political resignation and distrust. Approximately 75% of Spaniards report distrusting those with differing political views, and 70% believe leaders lie to them deliberately. Furthermore, over half the population expresses little to no satisfaction with democratic functions, with roughly 30% of respondents stating they have zero confidence in the central government or desire “none” of the current presidential candidates.

In addition to political trends, CIS data shows a demographic shift in religious affiliation, where atheists (17.1%) have outnumbered practicing Catholics (15.9%) for the first time in the historical series. Regarding political party support, the PSOE leads with 31% of the vote, followed by the PP at 25.5%, Vox at 16.6%, and Sumar at 5.7%. Public concern is also high regarding border security, with over 80% of respondents emphasizing the importance of border reinforcement and cooperation with Morocco.