At Palumba.org, we are proud to formally announce the publication of our latest institutional report, The political participation of Generation Z in Spain: gaps, transformations and new kinds of engagement. Developed in close partnership with the COTEC Foundation as part of our 2025-2026 initiative, “The Power of the Z Vote,” this comprehensive study offers a detailed analysis of the unique civic behaviors and evolving electoral preferences of today’s youth with a focus on Spain.
The foundation of this research relies on data generated by Palumba’s voting advice application, which successfully supported more than 170,000 young voters across the EU during the last European Parliament elections. To translate these raw data points into actionable insights, our team conducted months of intensive desk research alongside a series of interactive, in-person workshops held across Barcelona, Madrid, and Girona.
Led by chief researcher Harrison Parpillon, the report also received invaluable contributions from Project Manager Francesc Almendros, Knowledge Lab Co-Director Markus Hofer, and Palumba.org President Pol Villaverde. The project’s themes were previously highlighted during the IV Gijón Forum on Innovation and Inequality organized by COTEC, where our team contributed directly to the dialogue surrounding the “Participation” pillar, a critical challenge facing contemporary youth alongside employment, housing, and mental health.
Looking forward, the strategic findings from this publication will serve as a roadmap for our upcoming projects. Palumba and COTEC are currently utilizing this data to design and build a new suite of digital tools aimed at strengthening civic infrastructure and empowering young citizens. By transforming empirical research into digital innovation, we continue our mission to ensure the voices of young Europeans are structurally integrated into democratic institutions.
The final report is now officially available to the public and can be accessed via the COTEC download request portal. We invite researchers, policymakers, and civic leaders to review these findings as we collectively work toward a more inclusive democratic future.
[Click here to request access to the full report via COTEC]
