Over the past few years the ruling PP’s reputation has been hammered by allegations of high-profile corruption.

“For the first time in a long time… when you ask people in surveys, it’s the second most prominent issue for Spaniards,” Barroso said.

“That’s why corruption has been one of the main issues of the campaign and Podemos and Ciudadanos have been trying to exploit it in the debates with mainstream parties in order to attack them,” he added.

A high-profile case erupted in 2013 when the PP’s former treasurer told a judge he collected millions in cash donations from construction magnates and distributed them to senior PP figures including Rajoy, according to Reuters. Rajoy has denied that he or the PP had accepted illegal payments, the Reuters report added.

The leaders of Spain’s established parties have been trading blows over the general issue of personal integrity.

“If you continue to be prime minister, the cost for our democracy … will be enormous, because the prime minister, Mr. Rajoy, has to be a decent person and you are not,” PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez told Mariano Rajoy in a recent televized debate, according to Reuters.

“I am an honourable politician, at least as honourable as you,” Rajoy retorted.

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