| Election Name: | 1984 Basque regional election |
| Country: | Basque Country |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1980 Basque regional election |
| Previous Year: | 1980 |
| Next Election: | 1986 Basque regional election |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Seats For Election: | All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament |
| Majority Seats: | 38 |
| Opinion Polls: |
|
| Registered: | 1,584,540 1.9% |
| Turnout: | 1,085,304 (68.5%) 8.7 pp |
| Election Date: | 26 February 1984 |
| Leader1: | Carlos Garaikoetxea |
| Party1: | Basque Nationalist Party |
| Leader Since1: | April 1977 |
| Leaders Seat1: | Guipúzcoa |
| Last Election1: | 25 seats, 38.0% |
| Seats1: | 32 |
| Seat Change1: | 7 |
| Popular Vote1: | 451,178 |
| Percentage1: | 41.8% |
| Swing1: | 3.8 pp |
| Leader2: | Txiki Benegas |
| Party2: | PSE–PSOE |
| Leader Since2: | 26 February 1978 |
| Leaders Seat2: | Biscay |
| Last Election2: | 9 seats, 14.2% |
| Seats2: | 19 |
| Seat Change2: | 10 |
| Popular Vote2: | 247,786 |
| Percentage2: | 23.0% |
| Swing2: | 8.8 pp |
| Leader3: | — |
| Party3: | Herri Batasuna |
| Leader Since3: | — |
| Leaders Seat3: | — |
| Last Election3: | 11 seats, 16.5% |
| Seats3: | 11 |
| Seat Change3: | 0 |
| Popular Vote3: | 157,389 |
| Percentage3: | 14.6% |
| Swing3: | 1.9 pp |
| Leader4: | Jaime Mayor Oreja |
| Party4: | AP–PDP–UL |
| Leader Since4: | 1984 |
| Leaders Seat4: | Guipúzcoa |
| Last Election4: | 2 seats, 4.8% |
| Seats4: | 7 |
| Seat Change4: | 5 |
| Popular Vote4: | 100,581 |
| Percentage4: | 9.3% |
| Swing4: | 4.5 pp |
| Leader5: | Mario Onaindia |
| Party5: | Euskadiko Ezkerra |
| Leader Since5: | 1982 |
| Leaders Seat5: | Álava |
| Last Election5: | 6 seats, 9.8% |
| Seats5: | 6 |
| Seat Change5: | 0 |
| Popular Vote5: | 85,671 |
| Percentage5: | 7.9% |
| Swing5: | 1.9 pp |
| Map Size: | 325px |
| Lehendakari | |
| Before Election: | Carlos Garaikoetxea |
| Before Party: | Basque Nationalist Party |
| After Election: | Carlos Garaikoetxea |
| After Party: | Basque Nationalist Party |
The 1984 Basque regional election was held on Sunday, 26 February 1984, to elect the 2nd Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.
The Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) won 32 seats, the Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE) came second with 19 seats, People's Unity (HB) came third with 11 seats, the People's Coalition (AP–PDP–UL) won 7 seats, and Basque Country Left (EE) won 6 seats.
The Basque Parliament was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of the Basque Country, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Basque Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a lehendakari.[1] Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Basque Country and in full enjoyment of their political rights.
The 75 members of the Basque Parliament were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Guipúzcoa, with each being allocated a fixed number of 25 seats in order to provide for an equal parliamentary representation of the three provinces, as required under the regional statute of autonomy.[1] [2]
The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least 500 electors in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[2] [3]
The term of the Basque Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. An election was required to take place within from thirty-six and forty-five days from the date of expiry of parliament. The previous election was held on 9 March 1980, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 9 March 1984. The election was required to be held no later than the forty-fifth day from dissolution, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Monday, 23 April 1984.[1] [2]
After legal amendments in 1981, the lehendakari was granted the prerogative to dissolve the Basque Parliament at any given time and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a lehendakari within a sixty-day period from the Parliament re-assembly, the Parliament was to be dissolved and a fresh election called.[4]
The tables below lists opinion polling results in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a poll.
The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 38 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament (31 until 11 December 1983).
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout | PNV | Lead | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 regional election | 26 Feb 1984 | 68.5 | 41.8 | 14.6 | 23.0 | 7.9 | – | 9.3 | 1.4 | – | 18.8 | ||
| ECO/CIS[5] | 20 Feb 1984 | 1,506 | ? | 46.0 | 16.0 | 18.0 | 13.0 | – | 4.0 | 1.0 | – | 28.0 | |
| Emopública/El País[6] [7] [8] | 13–16 Feb 1984 | 1,200 | ? | 46.0 | 13.6 | 16.6 | 10.3 | – | 1.8 | – | – | 29.4 | |
| AP[9] | 30 Jan 1984 | ? | ? | 41.5 | 16.7 | 17.6 | 9.4 | – | 8.3 | – | – | 23.9 | |
| PSE–PSOE[10] | 21 Jan 1984 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | – | ? | – | – | ? | |
| Basque Government | 21 Jan 1984 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | – | ? | – | – | ? | |
| Gabinete Azterka/EE[11] | 3–10 Nov 1983 | 600 | 65 | 35.0 | 13.0 | 23.0 | 10.0 | – | 12.0 | – | – | 12.0 | |
| 1983 foral elections | 8 May 1983 | 64.6 | 39.6 | 14.2 | 26.3 | 7.9 | – | 8.8 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 13.3 | ||
| 1983 local elections | 8 May 1983 | 64.7 | 39.2 | 13.6 | 25.7 | 7.3 | – | 7.8 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 13.5 | ||
| 1982 general election | 28 Oct 1982 | 79.3 | 31.7 | 14.7 | 29.2 | 7.7 | 11.6* | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.5 | |||
| ICSA–Gallup/Tribuna Vasca[12] | 25 Aug 1982 | ? | ? | 36.5 | 13.3 | 20.3 | 13.7 | 5.2 | 2.4** | 2.8 | – | 16.2 | |
| 1980 regional election | 9 Mar 1980 | 59.8 | 38.0 | 16.5 | 14.2 | 9.8 | 8.5 | 4.8** | 4.0 | – | 21.5 | ||
The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | PNV | Lead | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 regional election | 26 Feb 1984 | 28.5 | 9.9 | 15.6 | 5.4 | – | 6.3 | 0.9 | – | 31.5 | 12.9 | |||
| ECO/CIS | 20 Feb 1984 | 1,506 | 33.0 | 13.0 | 12.0 | 8.0 | – | 3.0 | 1.0 | – | 17.0 | 12.0 | 20.0 | |
| Emopública/El País | 13–16 Feb 1984 | 1,200 | 32.3 | 9.5 | 11.6 | 7.2 | – | 1.3 | – | – | 21.3 | 8.6 | 20.7 | |
| CIS[13] | 10 Feb 1984 | 2,900 | 24.4 | 9.3 | 13.5 | 6.2 | – | 3.1 | 1.4 | – | 31.5 | 10.1 | 10.9 | |
| Alef/CIS[14] | 1 Feb 1984 | 1,999 | 37.0 | 8.0 | 11.0 | 8.0 | – | 1.0 | 1.0 | – | 26.0 | 9.0 | 26.0 | |
| AP | 30 Jan 1984 | ? | 32.4 | 13.0 | 13.7 | 7.3 | – | 6.5 | – | – | 22.0 | 18.7 | ||
| ECO/CIS[15] | 25–27 Jan 1984 | 1,515 | 32.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 8.0 | – | 1.0 | 1.0 | – | 23.0 | 14.0 | 21.0 | |
| CIS[16] | 1 Nov 1983 | 1,500 | 28.0 | 9.0 | 13.0 | 6.0 | – | 4.0 | 1.0 | – | 26.0 | 13.0 | 15.0 | |
| Aryo/CIS[17] | 1 Sep 1983 | 3,000 | 28.0 | 8.0 | 17.0 | 6.0 | – | 3.0 | 2.0 | – | 26.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | |
| 1983 foral elections | 8 May 1983 | 25.2 | 9.1 | 16.8 | 5.0 | – | 5.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 35.4 | 8.4 | |||
| 1983 local elections | 8 May 1983 | 25.0 | 8.7 | 16.4 | 4.7 | – | 5.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 35.3 | 8.6 | |||
| 1982 general election | 28 Oct 1982 | 24.7 | 11.4 | 22.7 | 6.0 | 9.0* | 1.4 | 1.4 | 20.7 | 2.0 | ||||
| 1980 regional election | 9 Mar 1980 | 22.5 | 9.8 | 8.4 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 2.4 | – | 40.2 | 12.7 | |||
The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | PNV | Other/ None | Lead | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS | 10 Feb 1984 | 2,900 | 56.8 | 2.5 | 12.1 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 26.2 | 44.7 | ||
| Alef/CIS | 1 Feb 1984 | 1,999 | 82.0 | – | 6.0 | – | – | – | 1.0 | 10.0 | 76.0 | ||
| ECO/CIS | 1 Nov 1983 | 1,500 | 60.0 | – | 14.0 | – | – | – | 5.0 | 21.0 | 46.0 | ||
| Aryo/CIS | 1 Sep 1983 | 3,000 | 74.0 | – | 13.0 | – | – | – | 2.0 | 12.0 | 61.0 |
The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become Lehendakari.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Other/ None/ Not care | Lead | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO/CIS | 20 Feb 1984 | 1,506 | 41.0 | 9.0 | 13.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 17.0 | 9.0 | 28.0 | ||
| CIS | 10 Feb 1984 | 2,900 | 39.5 | – | 20.7 | – | – | – | 39.9 | 18.8 | ||
| Alef/CIS | 1 Feb 1984 | 1,999 | 65.0 | – | 16.0 | – | – | – | 18.0 | 49.0 | ||
| ECO/CIS | 25–27 Jan 1984 | 1,515 | 55.0 | – | 14.0 | – | – | 18.0 | 13.0 | 41.0 | ||
| CIS | 1 Nov 1983 | 1,500 | 41.0 | – | 19.0 | – | – | – | 40.0 | 22.0 | ||
| Aryo/CIS | 1 Sep 1983 | 3,000 | 48.0 | – | 19.0 | – | – | – | 35.0 | 29.0 |
| Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− | |||
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | 451,178 | 41.81 | +3.86 | 32 | +7 | ||
| Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE) | 247,786 | 22.96 | +8.80 | 19 | +10 | ||
| Popular Unity (HB) | 157,389 | 14.59 | –1.89 | 11 | ±0 | ||
| People's Coalition (AP–PDP–UL)1 | 100,581 | 9.32 | +4.56 | 7 | +5 | ||
| Basque Country Left (EE) | 85,671 | 7.94 | –1.84 | 6 | ±0 | ||
| Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK) | 14,985 | 1.39 | –2.62 | 0 | –1 | ||
| Neighborhood Labor (Auzolan)2 | 10,714 | 0.99 | –0.76 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Left Socialist Candidacy (CSI) | 2,507 | 0.23 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Workers' Socialist Party (PST) | 2,173 | 0.20 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) (PCE (m–l)) | 1,044 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) | n/a | n/a | –8.49 | 0 | –6 | ||
| Blank ballots | 5,029 | 0.47 | +0.08 | ||||
| Total | 1,079,057 | 75 | +15 | ||||
| Valid votes | 1,079,057 | 99.42 | +0.41 | ||||
| Invalid votes | 6,247 | 0.58 | –0.41 | ||||
| Votes cast / turnout | 1,085,304 | 68.49 | +8.73 | ||||
| Abstentions | 499,236 | 31.51 | –8.73 | ||||
| Registered voters | 1,584,540 | ||||||
| Sources[18] [19] | |||||||
| Constituency | PNV | PSE | HB | CP | EE | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| data-sort-type="number" | % | data-sort-type="number" | S | data-sort-type="number" | % | data-sort-type="number" | S | data-sort-type="number" | % | data-sort-type="number" | S | data-sort-type="number" | % | data-sort-type="number" | S | data-sort-type="number" | % | data-sort-type="number" | S |
| Álava | 35.5 | 9 | 25.1 | 7 | 10.8 | 3 | 16.2 | 4 | 7.7 | 2 | |||||||||
| Biscay | 43.8 | 12 | 23.1 | 6 | 12.9 | 3 | 9.4 | 2 | 7.4 | 2 | |||||||||
| Guipúzcoa | 40.8 | 11 | 22.1 | 6 | 18.7 | 5 | 6.8 | 1 | 8.9 | 2 | |||||||||
| Total | 41.8 | 32 | 23.0 | 19 | 14.6 | 11 | 9.3 | 7 | 7.9 | 6 | |||||||||
| Sources | |||||||||||||||||||
| Investiture | ||||||
| Ballot → | 11 April 1984 | 12 April 1984 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 38 out of 75 | Simple | ||||
| Sources | ||||||