The Senate’s decision on new rules for appointing the head of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) could shift the balance of influence in one of Spain’s key state institutions. For the first time in recent years, restrictions are being introduced to prevent the appointment of anyone who has held political office in the past five years. This move is directly linked to efforts to reduce the politicization of the institute, whose research and surveys often spark public and political debate.
The Senate, where the majority is held by the Partido Popular (PP), has approved a report that not only sets new selection criteria but also changes the appointment procedure itself. From now on, candidates must go through an open competition that includes mandatory hearings in both houses of parliament. The term for the CIS head is set at a minimum of four years, with the possibility of a single extension. According to the initiative’s authors, this approach should ensure continuity and reduce dependency on government changes.
Political background
The reform was prompted by the actions of the current CIS president, José Félix Tezanos, whom the opposition accuses of bias and violating principles of objectivity. According to a report prepared by the PP, under Tezanos’s leadership, the institute lost its neutrality, and survey questions were allegedly tailored to suit government interests. The authors of the document are demanding Tezanos’s immediate removal, citing a “systematic and deliberate” manipulation of public opinion.
In response, the Socialists stated that the current CIS chief is fully qualified for his position and has even strengthened his standing following the parliamentary investigation. PSOE representatives accused their opponents of using parliamentary tools for political infighting rather than genuine oversight of the institute. ERC senator Jordi Gaseni Blanch added that the crisis of confidence in the CIS is not solely tied to a single individual but stems from years of the center being used for the interests of various governments.
History and precedents
Criticism of CIS is not new. In July 2024, the center’s staff and advisors openly spoke of increasing politicization and loss of neutrality following the appointment of Tezanos. Some of them were invited to testify in the Senate, where they detailed the organization’s internal issues. However, it is worth noting that previous CIS heads have also been closely linked to political parties. In 1996, PP appointed Pilar del Castillo, and in 2000, Ricardo Montoro, the brother of the finance minister in Mariano Rajoy’s government.
During the reform debate, PSOE senator Inmaculada Sánchez Roca questioned the very idea of excluding politicians from the list of candidates. She pointed out that many public institutions have traditionally been led by people with political backgrounds, and compared the situation to the government’s appointment of Alberto Núñez Feijóo as head of Correos.
Expert opinions
Renowned sociologist Emilio Lamo de Espinosa, a former member of the CIS board, shared that during his tenure he filed an official complaint about the center’s lack of neutrality. According to him, in recent years CIS has become known not for scientific objectivity, but for scandals over poll topics and data interpretation. He stressed that the best center leaders always stayed out of the spotlight, whereas the current president has become a controversial and distrusted figure.
As an example of bias, Lamo de Espinosa cited the omission of sensitive issues, such as the discussion of the ‘only yes means yes’ law (ley del solo sí es sí), as well as the systematic inflation of PSOE ratings in forecasts. According to the expert, the head of the CIS should remain as detached as possible from political sympathies and refrain from making public statements in favor of any party.
Consequences of the reform
The introduction of new rules could become a turning point for the entire sociological research system in Spain. On the one hand, it is a step towards strengthening trust in the institution; on the other, it may trigger new political battles. Whether it will be possible to completely eliminate party influence on the CIS remains an open question. But one thing is already clear: the fight for control over this agency is reaching a new level, and the effects of the reform will be felt not only by politicians, but also by everyone who follows public opinion in the country.
