Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS)

The Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) is a Spanish government-funded research institute that conducts public opinion surveys and studies on various social and political issues. It is currently newsworthy due to allegations of bias in its polling data. The Popular Party (PP) has announced it will file a lawsuit against the current director of the CIS, José Félix Tezanos, accusing him of manipulating survey results to favor the ruling Socialist party (PSOE). The PP alleges that Tezanos is 'inflating' the PSOE's numbers in CIS polls, potentially constituting an electoral offense. This legal challenge highlights concerns about the perceived impartiality of the CIS under its current leadership. Furthermore, Tezanos's past association with the PSOE, including his role in Pedro Sánchez's 2017 primary campaign, adds to the controversy surrounding the institute's neutrality. The CIS remains a significant source of information on public sentiment in Spain, but its credibility is being questioned amid these accusations.