The Persistence of Memory : Evidence that Perceptions of Support Parties Update Gradually

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that citizens use heuristics in their ideological perceptions of the placement of governing partners. Yet what about the perceptions after the government termination from non-government support parties? To what extent is updating evident and is there heterogeneity in the response? We examine these questions using a Spanish Survey Panel over 6 months in 2018–2019 after the termination of the Rajoy II government. We demonstrate that updating prior beliefs tend to be conservative, but that greater and stronger informational signals can lead respondents to alter their perceptions. Significant updating can be found with time, among those more politically knowledgeable, and in regions not governed by the previously nationally cooperating partners. Our results have implications for those interested in party perceptions and consequences of government cooperation – in particular supporting party relationships.