Spain will go to the polls on April 28 as citizens vote to elect the 13th Cortes Generales – Spain’s Parliament – and a new Prime Minister. The municipal, regional and European elections follow on May 26. Incumbent Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez – who assumed the role in 2018 after a no-confidence vote in Mariano Rajoy – is leading the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party (PSOE). His socialist regime is likely to gain a backing this month, along with other left-wing parties.

The Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party and conservative People’s Party (PP) are Spain’s two main political parties, and their bitter rivalry will be tested once again on April 28.

However, a new opinion poll has found the conservative parties are likely to fall behind despite previous polls suggesting results are too close to call.

Spain’s state-run Centre for Sociological Studies (CIS) polled 16,194 people from March 1-18, after Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the snap election.

They have specified a margin of 157-181 seats for the ruling socialists with left-wing electoral alliance Unidas Podemos.

This would just about achieve the numbers required to form a majority government in the 350-seat Cortes Generales.

The margin provided by CIS is large, meaning the two parties would likely have to seek alliances with smaller regional parties for a majority.

The most likely scenario would see centre-right political party Ciudadanos – headed by Albert Rivera – allied with the socialist party.

However, this has already been ruled out by Mr Rivera.

Even if this was an offer on the table, it would mean ceding control on behalf of the PSOE while other far-right parties are bolstered in the Cortes Generales.

The polls suggest far-right parties could win seats for the first time in four decades.

Spain’s right-wing populist party Vox could gain 29 to 37 seats.

The Conservative People’s Party could also gain anywhere from 66 to 76 seats, and the centre-right Ciudadanos 42-51 seats.

Spain’s right-wing parties are still likely to fall short of a majority, however.

One in four people questioned in the poll said they are still yet to make up their minds about voting.

Eight percent of the people questioned also gave no answer.

This means in the two weeks leading up to the election there are still opportunities for attitudes to change.

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