Partido Popular (PP)

EU RANK: 91 (Tier 3: Moderate Performance)

PP is a mainstream centre‑right to conservative, pro‑EU and pro‑NATO party that has alternated in power with PSOE since the 1990s and currently leads the main opposition at national level. It combines market‑oriented economic policies with socially conservative currents and strong regional party machines.

Disinformation and alternative media

PP communicates chiefly through major TV networks, national newspapers and its own digital channels, and is not itself the core organiser of Spain’s far‑right disinformation ecosystem. However, research on 2020–2025 media links notes that some ultra‑conservative portals and social‑media networks spreading disinformation and smear narratives about the left and territorial pluralism operate in a space politically adjacent to PP and its regional allies, even if not formally controlled by the party. Disinformation and alternative‑media DMI risk is moderate.

Foreign influence and external alignments

PP is strongly pro‑EU and pro‑NATO, backs sanctions on Russia and assistance to Ukraine, and belongs to the European People’s Party. Funding studies show its finances based on sizeable public subsidies, membership fees and domestic corporate and individual donations, with no documented direct financing by hostile foreign states, though watchdogs criticise opacity around some donor structures and foundations. Foreign‑influence DMI risk is low.

Media capture, advertising and public service media

Historically, PP‑led governments have exerted significant influence over RTVE’s governance and over the distribution of institutional advertising and public‑sector contracts, at times favouring ideologically close outlets. The broader Spanish media market remains dominated by large private groups whose interests intersect with PP’s economic agenda, and past PP governments have been criticised for appointing loyalists to RTVE boards and regulators and for using public advertising in a clientelistic way. Media‑capture, advertising and PSB‑control DMI risk is moderate to high (coded high).

Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity

Litigation mapping for 2015–2025 places PP at the centre of several of Spain’s largest corruption scandals, including Gürtel, Bárcenas (the “caja B”), Púnica and Kitchen, which involved illicit party financing, kickbacks in public contracts and illegal police operations. These cases produced multiple convictions of party officials, businessmen and public servants and have fuelled long‑running concerns about entrenched patronage networks and state‑capture dynamics around some PP regional and national structures, even as the party has since adopted internal compliance reforms. Corruption and institutional‑integrity DMI risk is high.

Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media

Spain’s media remain formally free under governments of both major parties, but PP has faced criticism over political pressure on RTVE, partisan appointments and attempts to sideline or delegitimise critical public‑service journalists during its periods in power. While systemic SLAPP‑style campaigns are less pronounced than in some Central‑European cases, civil‑society reports highlight concerns about selective access, politicised governance of RTVE and the use of institutional advertising to reward friendlier outlets when PP governs nationally or regionally. Press‑freedom and harassment DMI risk is moderate to high (coded high).

Dimension	Risk level	Short justification
Disinformation & alternative media	Moderate	Uses mainstream media but benefits from adjacent ultra‑conservative ecosystems that spread disinformation against rivals.
Foreign influence & external alignments	Low	Pro‑EU/NATO, sanctions Russia; finances from domestic subsidies and donors, with opacity issues but no hostile‑state funding shown.
Media capture & advertising / PSB control	High	In government, has steered RTVE governance and institutional advertising in ways critics see as favouring loyal outlets.
Corruption & institutional integrity risk	High	Central to major scandals (Gürtel, Bárcenas, Púnica, Kitchen) with numerous convictions, indicating deep patronage networks.
Press freedom & harassment of media	High	Criticised for politicised RTVE appointments, pressure on public‑service journalists and selective advertising favouring friendly media.