| Election Name: | 2008 Spanish general election |
| Country: | Spain |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2004 Spanish general election |
| Previous Year: | 2004 |
| Next Election: | 2011 Spanish general election |
| Next Year: | 2011 |
| Elected Members: | Members of the 9th Cortes Generales |
| Seats For Election: | All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 264) seats in the Senate 176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies |
| Opinion Polls: | Opinion polling for the 2008 Spanish general election |
| Registered: | 35,073,179 1.5% |
| Turnout: | 25,900,439 (73.8%) 1.9 pp |
| Election Date: | 9 March 2008 |
| Leader1: | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| Party1: | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party |
| Leader Since1: | 22 July 2000 |
| Leaders Seat1: | Madrid |
| Last Election1: | 164 seats, 42.6% |
| Seats1: | 169 |
| Seat Change1: | 5 |
| Popular Vote1: | 11,289,335 |
| Percentage1: | 43.9% |
| Swing1: | 1.3 pp |
| Leader2: | Mariano Rajoy |
| Party2: | People's Party (Spain) |
| Leader Since2: | 2 September 2003 |
| Leaders Seat2: | Madrid |
| Last Election2: | 148 seats, 37.7% |
| Seats2: | 154 |
| Seat Change2: | 6 |
| Popular Vote2: | 10,278,010 |
| Percentage2: | 39.9% |
| Swing2: | 2.2 pp |
| Leader3: | Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida |
| Party3: | Convergence and Union |
| Leader Since3: | 24 January 2004 |
| Leaders Seat3: | Barcelona |
| Last Election3: | 10 seats, 3.2% |
| Seats3: | 10 |
| Seat Change3: | 0 |
| Popular Vote3: | 779,425 |
| Percentage3: | 3.0% |
| Swing3: | 0.2 pp |
| Leader4: | Josu Erkoreka |
| Party4: | Basque Nationalist Party |
| Leader Since4: | 2004 |
| Leaders Seat4: | Biscay |
| Last Election4: | 7 seats, 1.6% |
| Seats4: | 6 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Popular Vote4: | 306,128 |
| Percentage4: | 1.2% |
| Swing4: | 0.4 pp |
| Leader5: | Joan Ridao |
| Party5: | ERC |
| Colour5: | FFB232 |
| Leader Since5: | 2007 |
| Leaders Seat5: | Barcelona |
| Last Election5: | 8 seats, 2.5% |
| Seats5: | 3 |
| Seat Change5: | 5 |
| Popular Vote5: | 298,139 |
| Percentage5: | 1.2% |
| Swing5: | 1.3 pp |
| Leader6: | Gaspar Llamazares |
| Party6: | United Left (Spain) |
| Leader Since6: | 29 October 2000 |
| Leaders Seat6: | Madrid |
| Last Election6: | 5 seats, 5.0% |
| Seats6: | 2 |
| Seat Change6: | 3 |
| Popular Vote6: | 969,946 |
| Percentage6: | 3.8% |
| Swing6: | 1.2 pp |
| Prime Minister | |
| Posttitle: | Prime Minister after election |
| Before Election: | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| Before Party: | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party |
| After Election: | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| After Party: | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party |
The 2008 Spanish general election was held on Sunday, 9 March 2008, to elect the 9th of the Kingdom of Spain. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as 208 of 264 seats in the Senate.
After four years of growing bipolarisation of Spanish politics, the election saw a record result for both ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and opposition People's Party (PP), together obtaining more than 83% of the vote share—over 21 million votes—and 92% of the Congress seats. The PSOE under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero benefitted from tactical voting against the PP and emerged as the most-voted party just 7 seats short of an overall majority. On the other hand, Mariano Rajoy's PP saw an increase in its vote share and seat count but remained unable to overtake the Socialists.
United Left (IU) had its worst general election performance ever with less than 4% and 2 seats. Regional nationalist parties Convergence and Union (CiU), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) or Aragonese Union (CHA) were also hurt by the massive tactical voting towards the PSOE, falling to historical lows of popular support. Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD), with 1 seat and slightly more than 300,000 votes, became the first nationwide party aside from PSOE, PP and IU entering in parliament in over two decades.
Zapatero was sworn in as Prime Minister of Spain for a second term in office in April 2008, just as the Spanish economy began showing signs of fatigue and economic slowdown after a decade of growth.
The Spanish were envisaged as an imperfect bicameral system. The Congress of Deputies had greater legislative power than the Senate, having the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a prime minister and to override Senate vetoes by an absolute majority of votes. Nonetheless, the Senate possessed a few exclusive (yet limited in number) functions—such as its role in constitutional amendment—which were not subject to the Congress' override.[1] [2] Voting for the Cortes Generales was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age and in full enjoyment of their political rights.[3]
For the Congress of Deputies, 348 seats were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Spain, with each being allocated an initial minimum of two seats and the remaining 248 being distributed in proportion to their populations. Ceuta and Melilla were allocated the two remaining seats, which were elected using plurality voting.[4] [5] The use of the electoral method resulted in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies.[6]
As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled the following seats:[7]
| Seats | Constituencies | |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Madrid | |
| 31 | Barcelona | |
| 16 | Valencia | |
| 12 | Alicante, Seville | |
| 10 | Málaga, Murcia | |
| 9 | Cádiz | |
| 8 | A Coruña, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Biscay, Las Palmas | |
| 7 | Granada, Pontevedra, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza | |
| 6 | Almería, Badajoz, Córdoba, Girona, Guipúzcoa, Jaén, Tarragona, Toledo | |
| 5 | Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Huelva, León, Navarre, Valladolid | |
| 4 | Álava, Albacete, Burgos, Cáceres, La Rioja, Lleida, Lugo, Ourense, Salamanca | |
| 3 | Ávila, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Teruel, Zamora | |
| 2 | Soria |
For the Senate, 208 seats were elected using an open list partial block voting system, with electors voting for individual candidates instead of parties. In constituencies electing four seats, electors could vote for up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, for up to two candidates; and for one candidate in single-member districts. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces was allocated four seats, whereas for insular provinces, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, districts were the islands themselves, with the larger—Majorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife—being allocated three seats each, and the smaller—Menorca, Ibiza–Formentera, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma—one each. Ceuta and Melilla elected two seats each. Additionally, autonomous communities could appoint at least one senator each and were entitled to one additional senator per each million inhabitants.[8] [9]
The term of each chamber of the Cortes Generales—the Congress and the Senate—expired four years from the date of their previous election, unless they were dissolved earlier. The election decree was required to be issued no later than the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of parliament and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE), with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication.[10] The previous election was held on 14 March 2004, which meant that the legislature's term would expire on 14 March 2008. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 19 February 2008, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Cortes Generales on Sunday, 13 April 2008.
The prime minister had the prerogative to dissolve both chambers at any given time—either jointly or separately—and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no state of emergency was in force and that dissolution did not occur before one year had elapsed since the previous one. Additionally, both chambers were to be dissolved and a new election called if an investiture process failed to elect a prime minister within a two-month period from the first ballot.[11] Barred this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections for the Congress and the Senate. Still, as of there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution.
In November 2007, it was announced by Andalusian president Manuel Chaves that he had agreed with Zapatero to hold the regional election in Andalusia simultaneously with the 2008 Spanish general election in March.[12] [13]
The Cortes Generales were officially dissolved on 15 January 2008 after the publication of the dissolution decree in the BOE, setting the election date for 9 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 1 April.[7]
The tables below show the composition of the parliamentary groups in both chambers at the time of dissolution.[14] [15]
| Congress of Deputies | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groups | Parties | Deputies | |||
| Seats | Total | ||||
| Socialist Parliamentary Group of the Congress | PSOE | 142 | 164 | ||
| PSC | 20 | ||||
| LV | 1 | ||||
| EV–OV | 1 | ||||
| People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress | PP | 145 | 147 | ||
| UPN | 2 | ||||
| Catalan Parliamentary Group (Convergence and Union) | CDC | 6 | 10 | ||
| UDC | 4 | ||||
| Republican Left's Parliamentary Group | ERC | 8 | 8 | ||
| Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ/PNV) | EAJ/PNV | 7 | 7 | ||
| United Left–Initiative for Catalonia Greens' Parliamentary Group | IU | 2 | 5 | ||
| ICV | 2 | ||||
| IdPV | 1 | ||||
| Mixed Parliamentary Group | CC | 2 | 9 | ||
| BNG | 2 | ||||
| NC | 1 | ||||
| CHA | 1 | ||||
| EA | 1 | ||||
| NaBai | 1 | ||||
| INDEP | 1 | ||||
| Senate | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groups | Parties | Senators | |||
| Seats | Total | ||||
| People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate | PP | 119 | 123 | ||
| UPN | 3 | ||||
| IF | 1 | ||||
| Socialist Parliamentary Group | PSOE | 98 | 98 | ||
| Catalan Agreement of Progress Parliamentary Group | PSC | 10 | 16 | ||
| ERC | 4 | ||||
| ICV | 1 | ||||
| EUiA | 1 | ||||
| Basque Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group | EAJ/PNV | 8 | 8 | ||
| Convergence and Union's Catalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate | CDC | 5 | 6 | ||
| UDC | 1 | ||||
| Canarian Coalition Senators' Parliamentary Group | CC | 3 | 4 | ||
| AHI | 1 | ||||
| Mixed Parliamentary Group | BNG | 1 | 4 | ||
| PAR | 1 | ||||
| PSM | 1 | ||||
| INDEP | 1 | ||||
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 one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[18]
Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:
| Candidacy | Parties and alliances | Leading candidate | Ideology | Previous result | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes (%) | ||||||||||
| PSOE | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero | Social democracy | 42.59% | [19] [20] | ||||||
| PP | Mariano Rajoy | Conservatism Christian democracy | 37.71% | [21] [22] | ||||||
| CiU | Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida | Catalan nationalism Centrism | 3.23% | [23] [24] | ||||||
| esquerra | Joan Ridao | Catalan independence Left-wing nationalism Social democracy | 2.52% | — | [25] | |||||
| EAJ/PNV | Josu Erkoreka | Basque nationalism Christian democracy Conservative liberalism | 1.63% | |||||||
| IU | Gaspar Llamazares | Socialism Communism | 4.96% | [26] | ||||||
| CC–PNC | Ana Oramas | Regionalism Canarian nationalism Centrism | 0.91% | [27] | ||||||
| BNG | Francisco Jorquera | Galician nationalism Left-wing nationalism Socialism | 0.81% | [28] [29] | ||||||
| CHA | Bizén Fuster | Aragonese nationalism Eco-socialism | 0.36% | [30] | ||||||
| EA | Nekane Altzelai | Basque nationalism Social democracy | 0.31% | [31] | ||||||
| NaBai | Uxue Barkos | Basque nationalism Social democracy | 0.24% | [32] | ||||||
| PSC–ERC– ICV–EUiA | Maite Arqué | Catalanism Social democracy Eco-socialism | [33] | |||||||
| UPyD | Rosa Díez | Social liberalism Radical centrism | [34] [35] | |||||||
In the Canary Islands, an alliance was formed between New Canaries (NC) and Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN), two splinter groups from Canarian Coalition.[36] In the Valencian Community, Valencian People's Initiative (IdPV)—splinter from United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV)—joined a coalition with the Valencian Nationalist Bloc (Bloc) and The Greens–Ecologist Left of the Valencian Country (EVEE).[37] Unity for the Isles, an electoral alliance based in the Balearic Islands, was formed by PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN), Majorcan Union (UM), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Agreement for Majorca (ExM) and The Greens of Menorca (EV–Me).[38]
The key dates are listed below (all times are CET. The Canary Islands used WET (UTC+0) instead):[39]
| Party or alliance | Original slogan | English translation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSOE | « Motivos para creer » | "Reasons to believe" | [40] [41] | ||
| PP | « Con cabeza y corazón » | "With brain and heart" | [42] | ||
| CiU | « El teu vot farà respectar Catalunya » | "Your vote will make Catalonia to be respected" | [43] [44] | ||
| esquerra | « Objectiu: un país de primera » | "Goal: A first class country" | [45] [46] | ||
| EAJ/PNV | « Euskadin bizi naiz ni, zu, non bizi zara? » « Yo vivo en Euskadi, tú ¿dónde vives? » | "I live in the Basque Country, where do you live?" | [47] [48] | ||
| IU | « LlamazarES + izquierda » | "LlamazarES (is) more left" | [49] | ||
| CC–PNC | « Habla canario, ponte en tu sitio » | "Speak, Canarian, claim your place" | [50] | ||
| BNG | « Contigo, Galiza decide » | "With you, Galicia decides" | [51] | ||
| CHA | « Aragón con más fuerza » | "Aragon, with more strength" | [52] | ||
| EA | « Herriaren ahotsa » « La voz del pueblo » | "The voice of the people" | |||
| NaBai | « Moogi, moogi. Mugi gaitezen, mugi dezagun » « Movámonos, movámoslo » | "Let's move us, let's move it" | [53] | ||
| UPyD | « Lo que nos une » | "What unites us" | [54] | ||
Although the official electoral campaign period in Spain only lasts for the 15 days before the election, (with the exception of the day just before the election), many parties, especially the PP and PSOE, start their "pre-campaigns" months in advance, often before having finalised their electoral lists.
The economy became a major campaign issue due to a number of factors:
The sudden emergence of the economy as a political issue came after several years of steady economic growth, and led some observers to suggest that maybe the government would have benefitted from calling an earlier election.[56] In addition to those factors both the PP and the PSOE made competing proposals on taxation.
| Date | Organisers | Moderator(s) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSOE | PP | IU | CiU | ERC | PNV | CC | Share | |||||
| 21 February | Antena 3 | Matías Prats | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | 24.4% | [57] [58] | |||
| 25 February | TV Academy | Manuel Campo Vidal | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | 59.1% | [59] [60] | |||
| 28 February | TVE | Ana Blanco | S | S | S | S | S | 11.1% | [61] | |||
| 3 March | TV Academy | Olga Viza | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | 56.3% | [62] | |||
| 5 March | TVE (59 segundos) | Ana Pastor | S | S | S | S | S | 10.4% | [63] | |||
| Debate | Polling firm/Commissioner | PSOE | PP | Tie | None | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 February | TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3 | 47.4 | 37.0 | – | 15.6 | – | |
| 25 February | Sigma Dos/El Mundo[64] [65] | 45.5 | 42.0 | – | – | 12.5 | |
| Metroscopia/El País[66] | 46.0 | 42.0 | 12.0 | – | – | ||
| Opina/Cuatro[67] | 45.4 | 33.4 | 8.2 | – | 13.0 | ||
| Invymark/laSexta | 45.7 | 30.1 | 24.1 | – | – | ||
| TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[68] | 45.4 | 39.3 | – | 15.3 | – | ||
| 3 March | Sigma Dos/El Mundo[69] | 49.0 | 40.2 | – | – | 10.8 | |
| Metroscopia/El País[70] | 53.0 | 38.0 | 9.0 | – | – | ||
| Opina/Cuatro[71] | 50.8 | 29.0 | 13.4 | – | 6.8 | ||
| Invymark/laSexta[72] | 49.2 | 29.8 | 21.0 | – | – | ||
| CIS[73] | 53.3 | 21.5 | 6.9 | 15.8 | 2.5 |
See main article: Opinion polling for the 2008 Spanish general election.
| Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− | |||
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 11,289,335 | 43.87 | +1.28 | 169 | +5 | ||
| People's Party (PP) | 10,278,010 | 39.94 | +2.23 | 154 | +6 | ||
| United Left (IU) | 969,946 | 3.77 | –1.19 | 2 | –3 | ||
| Convergence and Union (CiU) | 779,425 | 3.03 | –0.20 | 10 | ±0 | ||
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | 306,128 | 1.19 | –0.44 | 6 | –1 | ||
| Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 306,079 | 1.19 | New | 1 | +1 | ||
| Republican Left of Catalonia (esquerra) | 298,139 | 1.16 | –1.36 | 3 | –5 | ||
| Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) | 212,543 | 0.83 | +0.02 | 2 | ±0 | ||
| Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)1 | 174,629 | 0.68 | –0.25 | 2 | –1 | ||
| Andalusian Coalition (CA)2 | 68,679 | 0.27 | –0.52 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Navarre Yes (NaBai) | 62,398 | 0.24 | ±0.00 | 1 | ±0 | ||
| Basque Solidarity (EA) | 50,371 | 0.20 | –0.11 | 0 | –1 | ||
| The Greens (Verdes) | 49,355 | 0.19 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens (EV–LV)3 | 7,824 | 0.03 | –0.11 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) | 46,313 | 0.18 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 44,795 | 0.17 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aragonese Party (PAR) | 40,054 | 0.16 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aragonese Union (CHA) | 38,202 | 0.15 | –0.21 | 0 | –1 | ||
| New Canaries–Canarian Centre (NC–CCN) | 38,024 | 0.15 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) | 30,840 | 0.12 | +0.07 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aralar (Aralar) | 29,989 | 0.12 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Bloc–Initiative–Greens (Bloc–IdPV–EVEE) | 29,760 | 0.12 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unity for the Isles (UIB)4 | 25,454 | 0.10 | –0.10 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| For a Fairer World (PUM+J) | 23,318 | 0.09 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens of Europe (LVdE)5 | 20,419 | 0.08 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Social Democratic Party (PSD) | 20,126 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 20,030 | 0.08 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB) | 14,193 | 0.06 | –0.10 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) | 14,023 | 0.05 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| National Democracy (DN) | 12,836 | 0.05 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative (EV–AE) | 12,561 | 0.05 | –0.07 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Family and Life Party (PFyV) | 9,882 | 0.04 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Humanist Party (PH) | 9,056 | 0.04 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Party of Almería (PdeAL) | 8,451 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Navarrese Cannabis Representation (RCN/NOK) | 7,769 | 0.03 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) | 7,386 | 0.03 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Alternative (AES) | 7,300 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spain 2000 (E–2000) | 6,906 | 0.03 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Catalan Republican Party (RC) | 6,746 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Valencian Coalition (CVa) | 5,424 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD) | 5,035 | 0.02 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Commoners' Land (TC) | 4,796 | 0.02 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Authentic Phalanx (FA) | 4,607 | 0.02 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Leonese People's Union (UPL) | 4,509 | 0.02 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 3,885 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD) | 3,829 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA) | 3,050 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Republican Left (IR) | 2,899 | 0.01 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Riojan Party (PR) | 2,837 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| National Alliance (AN) | 2,737 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Alternative in Blank (ABLA) | 2,460 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| United Extremadura (EU) | 2,346 | 0.01 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV) | 2,028 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Carlist Party (PC) | 1,956 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Party for Catalonia (PxCat) | 1,919 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Non-Smokers' Party (PNF) | 1,616 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Union for Leganés (ULEG) | 1,566 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Front (Frente) | 1,539 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) | 1,503 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Valencian Nationalist Option (ONV) | 1,490 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 1,362 | 0.01 | –0.12 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Andecha Astur (AA) | 1,299 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) | 1,278 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Democratic Centre (CDEs) | 1,047 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC) | 1,017 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Civil Liberties Party (PLCI) | 888 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unity (Unidá) | 848 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Liberal Party of State Employment and Housing (PLEVE) | 786 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) | 722 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unity of the People (UP) | 699 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| For the Valencian Republic (plRV) | 645 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Centrist Party (PCTR) | 509 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC) | 497 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA) | 475 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens' Union–Independent Progressives of Canaries (UC–PIC) | 464 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV) | 449 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) | 423 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| State of Spain Unionist Party (PUEDE) | 414 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| People of El Bierzo (PB–UB) | 385 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Islander Party of the Balearic Islands (PIIB) | 360 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) | 300 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC) | 218 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS) | 216 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC) | 202 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Castilian Unity (UdCa) | 198 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| European Ibero-American Alliance Party (PAIE) | 174 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD) | 159 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) | 152 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Balearic Alliance (ABA) | 145 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Electronic Voting Assembly (AVE) | 144 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Liberal Centrist Union (UCL) | 124 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Alliance for Burgos (AxB) | 123 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Burgalese Citizen Initiative (ICBur) | 109 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| We Are (N Som) | 105 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Independents for Cuenca (ixC) | 100 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens' Group (AGRUCI) | 79 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Falangist Movement of Spain (MFE) | 68 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aitch Party (PHache) | 0 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Blank ballots | 286,182 | 1.11 | –0.47 | ||||
| Total | 25,734,863 | 350 | ±0 | ||||
| Valid votes | 25,734,863 | 99.36 | +0.37 | ||||
| Invalid votes | 165,576 | 0.64 | –0.37 | ||||
| Votes cast / turnout | 25,900,439 | 73.85 | –1.81 | ||||
| Abstentions | 9,172,740 | 26.15 | +1.81 | ||||
| Registered voters | 35,073,179 | ||||||
| Sources[74] [75] | |||||||
| Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− | |||
| People's Party (PP) | 28,039,592 | 40.20 | +2.28 | 101 | –1 | ||
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1 | 25,965,221 | 37.22 | +0.74 | 86 | +5 | ||
| Catalan Agreement of Progress (PSC–ERC–ICV–EUiA) | 5,280,590 | 7.57 | –1.09 | 12 | ±0 | ||
| Convergence and Union (CiU) | 2,437,338 | 3.49 | –0.31 | 4 | ±0 | ||
| United Left (IU)2 | 2,015,249 | 2.89 | –1.17 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | 903,072 | 1.29 | –0.45 | 2 | –4 | ||
| Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) | 726,317 | 1.04 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 691,695 | 0.99 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)3 | 302,729 | 0.43 | –0.16 | 1 | –2 | ||
| Andalusian Coalition (CA)4 | 229,917 | 0.33 | –0.47 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) | 200,242 | 0.29 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Navarre Yes (NaBai) | 183,873 | 0.26 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens (Verdes) | 181,253 | 0.26 | +0.09 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens (EV–LV)5 | 19,129 | 0.03 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Basque Solidarity (EA) | 143,294 | 0.21 | –0.10 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| For a Fairer World (PUM+J) | 133,678 | 0.19 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aragonese Party (PAR) | 132,738 | 0.19 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 132,171 | 0.19 | +0.10 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) | 112,561 | 0.16 | +0.13 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aragonese Union (CHA) | 107,282 | 0.15 | –0.17 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Bloc–Initiative–Greens (Bloc–IdPV–EVEE) | 92,588 | 0.13 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aralar (Aralar) | 75,476 | 0.11 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 66,163 | 0.10 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| New Canaries–Canarian Centre (NC–CCN) | 65,248 | 0.09 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative (EV–AE) | 58,725 | 0.08 | –0.20 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens of Europe (LVdE)6 | 50,067 | 0.07 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unity for the Isles (UIB)7 | 45,972 | 0.07 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Catalan Republican Party (RC) | 44,394 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC) | 44,050 | 0.06 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) | 42,112 | 0.06 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Family and Life Party (PFyV) | 41,599 | 0.06 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Humanist Party (PH) | 38,437 | 0.06 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV) | 33,776 | 0.05 | +0.04 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Social Democratic Party (PSD) | 31,703 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) | 28,197 | 0.04 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Republican Left of the Valencian Country (esquerra–PV) | 28,089 | 0.04 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Party of Almería (PdeAL) | 27,651 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| PSOE–Ibiza for Change (PSOE–ExC)8 | 26,513 | 0.04 | +0.01 | 1 | +1 | ||
| National Democracy (DN) | 25,140 | 0.04 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Carlist Party (PC) | 23,685 | 0.03 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 23,531 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA) | 22,141 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Commoners' Land (TC) | 21,995 | 0.03 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Alternative (AES) | 21,570 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Leonese People's Union (UPL) | 21,227 | 0.03 | –0.05 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| PSOE–Left of Menorca–PSM–Greens (PSOE–EU–PSM–Verds)9 | 21,023 | 0.03 | ±0.00 | 1 | +1 | ||
| Nation and Revolution (NyR) | 19,044 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Republican Left (IR) | 19,005 | 0.03 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spain 2000 (E–2000) | 17,897 | 0.03 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| United Extremadura (EU) | 15,110 | 0.02 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| National Alliance (AN) | 13,113 | 0.02 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD) | 12,149 | 0.02 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Alternative in Blank (ABLA) | 11,974 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Riojan Party (PR) | 10,482 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Front (Frente) | 10,418 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Valencian Coalition (CVa) | 10,330 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) | 10,057 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD) | 9,438 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Navarrese Cannabis Representation (RCN/NOK) | 8,234 | 0.01 | –0.07 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) | 8,224 | 0.01 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Valencian Nationalist Option (ONV) | 7,159 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Non-Smokers' Party (PNF) | 7,000 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Party for Catalonia (PxCat) | 6,805 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Catholic Movement (MCE) | 6,234 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Authentic Phalanx (FA) | 5,213 | 0.01 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Commoners (comuner@s) | 5,149 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC) | 4,988 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Andecha Astur (AA) | 4,964 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) | 4,851 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Democratic Centre (CDEs) | 4,522 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizen Union for Democracy (UCiD) | 3,999 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Natural Culture (CN) | 3,687 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Union for Leganés (ULEG) | 3,096 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Yuntar Action (AY) | 3,000 | 0.00 | –0.10 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unity (Unidá) | 2,962 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens' Group (AGRUCI) | 2,806 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) | 2,563 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| The Republic (La República) | 2,517 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB) | 2,507 | 0.00 | –0.05 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Unity of the People (UP) | 2,350 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Action for Justice (AXJ) | 2,223 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV) | 2,087 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA) | 1,615 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| For the Valencian Republic (plRV) | 1,485 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| People of El Bierzo (PB–UB) | 1,417 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) | 1,323 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC) | 1,311 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Electronic Voting Assembly (AVE) | 1,273 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Cantabrian Party (Cántabro) | 1,189 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Independent Alternative of Galicia (AIdG) | 1,150 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Castilian Unity (UdCa) | 942 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Aragonese Land (TA) | 928 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS) | 925 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| 25 May Citizens' Alternative (AC25M) | 773 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Civil Liberties Party (PLCI) | 712 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Islander Party of the Balearic Islands (PIIB) | 683 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) | 656 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC) | 639 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) | 638 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Galician Identity (IG) | 590 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Citizens' Union–Independent Progressives of Canaries (UC–PIC) | 494 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Progress Party of Castile and León Cities (PPCCAL) | 484 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Spanish Democratic Front (FDE) | 459 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Alternative Island (ISAL) | 449 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD) | 403 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Republican Castile (CARE) | 400 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Burgalese Citizen Initiative (ICBur) | 379 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 341 | 0.00 | –0.13 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Independents for Cuenca (ixC) | 309 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Liberal Centrist Union (UCL) | 235 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Falangist Movement of Spain (MFE) | 218 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Justice and Development Party of Spain (PJDE) | 105 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 | ||
| Blank ballots | 524,750 | 2.06 | –0.61 | ||||
| Total | 69,753,316 | 208 | ±0 | ||||
| Valid votes | 25,527,940 | 97.71 | +0.62 | ||||
| Invalid votes | 597,299 | 2.29 | –0.62 | ||||
| Votes cast / turnout | 26,125,239 | 74.49 | –1.26 | ||||
| Abstentions | 8,947,940 | 25.51 | +1.26 | ||||
| Registered voters | 35,073,179 | ||||||
| Sources[76] | |||||||
See also: Second government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
| Investiture José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE) | ||||
| Ballot → | 9 April 2008 | 11 April 2008 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 176 out of 350 | Simple | ||
| Sources[77] | ||||