The economic crisis in Spain since 2008 has translated in 2012 into crises of social and political representation, and a drop in the quality of democracy. The public policies designed by the government of Mariano Rajoy, during his first year in office and under European tutelage, have been characterized by austerity measures and budget cuts. These policies have increased unemployment, with the consequent social mobilizations and severe public criticism regarding
the performance of the political system. This dissatisfaction also entailed a distancing by the citizenry from mainstream political parties and a questioning of the viability of the functioning of a decentralized model of State in autonomous communities.