There are few changes in the indicators system this month. All economic indicators continue below the equilibrium level, suggesting dissatisfaction and pessimism, and they vary in 1 or 2 points up or down (in a scale 0 to 200) with respect to the results in February. Satisfaction with how democracy is working stays at a high level and it even increases a little, and Satisfaction with the Government increases slightly with respect to February, but it continues below the result in January, so that it is the second lowest value since the 2004 elections, though the number of satisfied respondents is still higher than the dissatisfied ones. In general it can be said that evaluations of the economy are clearly negative and they show no signs of improvement, while political indicators seem to have stopped its downtrend and even to have improved relatively to the last months, as is shown by this month’s vote estimate, which is again favourable to PSOE, two percent points above PP, just the opposite than last month, something that suggests that the situation of hypothetical tie continues to prevail. Improvement in the evaluation of the political situation is confirmed by the fact that all institutions and leaders improve their rating slightly this month in comparison with those obtained in February. The Crown receives again this month the highest rating (6,6 points in a scale 0 to 10), followed by the Armed Forces (5,9 points), the National Government (5,3) and the Banks (5,1 points in a scale 0 to 10). And among the leaders that have been included this month, King Juan Carlos receives the highest rating (7,0 points in a scale 0 to 10), and Felipe González (5,3) continues to get a higher rating than Rodríguez Zapatero for the fourth consecutive month (5,0), followed by Angela Merkel (4,7), Gaspar Llamazares (3,8), Mariano Rajoy (3,7) and Aznar (3,5).
Catalan Statute
The debate on the project for a new statute for Catalonia continues to be a matter of interest and controversy for Spanish public opinion, so that one third believes the debate “is reducing the aims of the initial project”, another third believes that the debate “is not making important changes”, and the remaining third has no opinion on this subject. But, while 22% of respondents would approve the new text that results from the changes incorporated in the debate (5% surely and 17% probably), 34% would not approve the project of statute as it is being approved by the Constitutional Committee (14% probably would not approve and 20% surely would not approve).
Fight against ETA’s terrorism
Using a five points scale Rs have been asked to indicate whether or not they consider true or false certain statements regarding the fight against ETA’s terrorism. 32% think that the statement that “the PSOE government is negotiating with ETA the abandonment of arms in exchange for freeing the ETA convicts” is true, but 29% think it is false. A majority (35%) thinks that the statement that “the government of the PSOE is negotiating with ETA the abandonment of arms in exchange for the right to self-determination of the Basque Country” is false, against 24% that believe it to be true. And there is a majority (56%) who considers false the statement that “the PP does not want to end with ETA’s terrorism”, as against 17% who consider it is true.
Government’s Performance
On the basis of a five points scale of agreement-disagreement it seems that a majority of Spaniards agree with the measures that the Government has taken to prevent the “bird flu” and with the information policy on the “bird flue”, as well as with the international policy in general, but there is a more controversial public opinion (with certain predominance of those who agree) regarding the rejection (by the Government) of the E-ON attempt to buy ENDESA, and with the support (of the Government) to Gas Natural in its attempt to buy ENDESA, as well as a very clear disagreement with the absence (of the Government) in the public demonstration that took place in Madrid in favour of the victims of terrorism.
Resignation of the Real Madrid President
30% of respondents think that the resignation of Florentino Perez as president of the Real Madrid was a result of his being “fed up with the lack of discipline of the players”, while proportions lower than 20% believe that it was a result of his desire “not to be president now that the Madrid is being defeated” or that he wants to “devote himself fully to his business”, 9% think that it is because “he sincerely thinks that it is time to change on behalf of the club”, besides 2% who give other answers and 28% who do not give an opinion.