Social factors of electoral behavior in the Spanish general parliamentary elections (2023)

The author defines the social factors of electoral behavior in the parliamentary elections in Spain on July 23, 2023, relevant for the voting. Long-term factors are social divisions between groups with high and low incomes, between supporters of centralization or secessionism, left and right. Economic growth after the pandemic has led to a decrease in the unemployment rate. This factor led to a decrease in support in the 2023 elections to new parties – Sumar and VOX, a significant increase in support for the center-right People’s Party (PP). The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) is able to maintain influence while weakening coalition partners. Voters with reduced incomes reveal increased support for PP, PSOE and VOX, and voters with increased incomes reveal support for Sumar. Support for PSOE, PP and VOX is increasing in areas with high unemployment, while support for Sumar is decreasing. Voting in favor of PSOE and VOX is increased in local areas, where the proportion of people with higher education is reduced; support for Sumar is directly proportional to the level of education; support for PP does not have a distinct dependence on this factor. The electorate of PSOE and PP is older than VOX and Sumar. Areas of increased support for the main parties in autonomous communities and large cities have been established.