populares

Populares is a plural noun and adjective in Spanish and Portuguese meaning “the popular” or “of the people.” In modern usage it commonly refers to supporters or affiliates of a group described as popular, and as a historical label in classical contexts.

In the late Roman Republic, the Populares were a political faction that advanced policies intended to assist the common people (plebeians) against the patrician order. They favored measures such as land reform and grain distribution and often clashed with the Optimates, the more aristocratic faction. Prominent figures associated with the Populares include the Gracchi brothers, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony; the movement never formed a lasting institution but influenced Roman politics during the century before the empire.

In contemporary Spain, "populares" designates supporters and members of the Partido Popular (PP), a center-right political party founded in 1989 as a successor to Alianza Popular. The term is widely used in media and public discourse to describe PP politicians and voters. The party’s platform has centered on constitutional order, market-oriented economic policy, and law-and-order priorities, with positions shifting across leadership eras.

Outside Spain and Latin contexts, the word remains the general meaning of “popular” in Romance languages and can refer to popular movements, culture, or publics, depending on context.