Podemos Faces Challenges in Spain

The Spanish political scene has entered a period of political upheaval. For 40 years, power has swung between the country's two main political fixtures: the center-left Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the center-right movement, led by the Popular Party (PP). However, there has been an abrupt change in the past year with the spectacular success in opinion polls of the newly formed Podemos party, which even leapt into first place in the polls in November. 

But now it is Podemos' turn to be challenged by a newcomer. The party from Catalonia, Ciudadanos, did not announce its intention to participate in national elections until December, yet opinion polls indicate already that there is nearly a four-way tie between the parties. As political coalitions become the new normal in Spain, Ciudadanos could even enter into a partnership with the PP when the country holds general elections in December. At the same time, Podemos' drop in popularity has decreased the prospect that Spain will enter into a Greece-style standoff with its creditors.