A new survey reports strong opposition among young Spaniards—and the broader public—to the government’s mass amnesty policy.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A newly released survey indicates that a large majority of young people in Spain oppose the government’s plan to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants, according to reporting by El Español.
The poll, conducted by SocioMétrica between April 15 and April 18, found that 80.5 percent of respondents aged 17 to 25 reject the proposal advanced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government to regularize approximately 500,000 individuals through expanded residence and work permits.
The survey was carried out during the same period the government began implementing the policy, which has drawn opposition across multiple segments of the population. According to the findings, resistance extends beyond younger respondents, with 66.7 percent of the general population opposing the measure, compared to roughly one-third expressing support.
Breakdowns by political affiliation showed particularly strong opposition among voters aligned with opposition parties. Among supporters of the center-right People’s Party, 85 percent opposed the plan, while 97.5 percent of those identifying with the VOX party rejected it.
Despite the lack of parliamentary backing, the government moved forward with the policy using a Royal Decree, a mechanism that allows implementation without full legislative approval. The move came after the administration was unable to secure sufficient votes in parliament.
Concerns about the policy’s broader impact were also reflected in the survey results. A total of 72 percent of respondents said they believe the amnesty could create a “pull effect,” encouraging additional illegal immigration by signaling the possibility of future legalization. That concern was also shared by 40.7 percent of respondents who voted for the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party.
The survey further found skepticism regarding the government’s economic justification for the policy. While officials have argued that expanding the labor force could help sustain Spain’s pension system amid demographic challenges, 65.7 percent of respondents said they do not believe the measure will improve long-term pension stability.
The poll results were published shortly after Prime Minister Sánchez addressed criticism of the policy during an international political gathering in Madrid, as reported here.
“Here in Spain, we are approving and promoting a process to regularize the status of half a million immigrants,” Sánchez said. “And I want to tell the right and the far right who oppose this that Spain is a product of migration and will not be a mother of xenophobia.”
The survey findings highlight a significant gap between government policy and public sentiment, particularly among younger Spaniards, as the country moves forward with one of the largest regularization efforts in its recent history.
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