According to the latest survey and study from the CIS, a sociological research group in Spain, the political class and political parties have turned into the Spanish people's third biggest worry next to the nation's soaring unemployment and economic crisis.
This is a heavy result that highlights the enormous separation, if not full divorce, between government and citizens.
Early confidence in the Peoples' Party government has waned since it adopted several unpopular cutbacks. An opinion poll given to newspaper readers, which editors from elEconomista have backed, considers the diminishing approval rating and concludes that Rajoy's government didn't make a good score on its midterm exam. But the conclusion of the survey is equally strong: readers want the government to change course immediately if it wants to stay in office.
Despite the harsh reader criticism, the editorial team esteemed Minister Fátima Báñez the most, because she has been able to push an unpopular labor reform that has earned the respect of international organizations such as the IMF. The Ministry of the Economy also received criticism for their decisions, such as the Bankia debacle or raising the VAT and IRPF (the personal income tax), which ought to have been done in just the opposite way.
In the last four months of the year, the government's popularity could take another hit when it follows the EU's recommendations and cuts regional government spending and government pensions. The task will be challenging. In order to succeed and increase public opinion, joint effort, firmness and political acumen are needed from all the ministries.
