Motions of no confidence in Spain explained

Motions of no confidence in Spain are a parliamentary procedure that allows the Congress of Deputies or a parliament of an autonomous community to withdraw its trust from the president of the Government of Spain or the president of the autonomous community, respectively, and force their resignation.

In Spain, the motion of no confidence is constructive (as the authors of the motion need to propose a new Prime Minister) and continuist (as it doesn't lead to snap elections).

The motion of no confidence against the President of the Government of Spain is established in article 113 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. There have been a total of six motions of no confidence in the Congress of Deputies against the presidents Suárez (1980), González (1987), Rajoy (2017 and 2018), Sánchez (2020, 2023). Only one of them was successful: the second motion of no confidence against Rajoy was approved on June 1, 2018 and the candidate Pedro Sánchez was invested as President of the Government.

The motion of no confidence against the regional presidents is established in the respective autonomy statutes of the autonomous communities. A total of 31 motions of no confidence have been presented in the autonomous parliaments or in the autonomous cities, of which 9 were approved.

Procedure

Article 113 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and the Regulations of the Congress of Deputies establish the mode of operation of the motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister of Spain. It must be proposed by at least one-tenth of the members of the Congress of Deputies (currently 35), and it must include a candidate for the presidency of the Government of Spain.

After the presentation of the motion of no confidence, the Board of Congress must meet to qualify the motion, within a maximum period of 7 days from the presentation of the motion. Once qualified, a period of two days is opened to present alternative motions, which must also be signed by 35 deputies and include a candidate for the presidency of the Government. The debate on the motion or motions of no confidence in this case cannot begin until after said period has elapsed.

Next, the presidency of Congress calls the session of the motion of no confidence, within a maximum period of 20 days, unless the General State Budgets are being processed simultaneously, in which case said maximum period begins to count at the end of its processing. In the vote of the motion of no confidence, which cannot be held in any case until five days after its presentation, it is necessary to obtain an absolute majority of affirmative votes in the Congress of Deputies in order to succeed.

In Spain, following the German model, the motion of no confidence is constructive. The group that raises the motion of censure in turn proposes a new Prime Minister.[1] It is also continuist; it does not imply the advancement of the elections but rather the electoral calendar continues unaltered. While the motion of no confidence is pending, the Prime Minister cannot dissolve the Congress of Deputies and call elections,[2] in order to prevent the Prime Minister from avoiding their parliamentary responsibility by calling the polls. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Prime Minister may waive the motion of censure by resigning. In this case, the Prime Minister may continue as acting Prime Minister in office, without any possibility of being censured, but Congress is empowered to appoint a successor by simple majority at any time.

If the motion of no confidence is adopted, the Government must present its resignation to the King of Spain within 24 hours of its adoption. When the motion of censure is approved, it is understood that the Congress has granted confidence to the proposed candidate and the king must appoint them President of the Government within 15 days of its adoption, provided that the censured Government has already resigned, although it is customary to do so immediately. In the event that the motion of no confidence is not approved, those who have proposed it cannot present another within the same period of sessions.

Motions of no confidence

To date, five motions of no confidence have been held at the national level and another twenty-four at the autonomous level, which are listed below:

Congress of Deputies

DatePrime MinisterCandidateResult
(required to win)
30 May 1980Adolfo Suárez (UCD)Felipe González (PSOE)152–166
(176)		[3]
30 Mar 1987Felipe González (PSOE)Antonio Hernández Mancha (AP)67–194
(176)		[4]
14 Jun 2017Mariano Rajoy (PP)Pablo Iglesias (Podemos)82–170
(176)		[5]
1 Jun 2018Mariano Rajoy (PP)Pedro Sánchez (PSOE)180–169
(176)		[6]
22 Oct 2020Pedro Sánchez (PSOE)Santiago Abascal (Vox)52–298
(176)		[7]
22 Mar 2023Pedro Sánchez (PSOE)Ramón Tamames (INDEP)
Proposed by Vox		53–201
(175)		[8]

Autonomous parliaments

The Balearic Islands and Andalusia are the only Autonomous communities where a motion of no confidence has never been proposed.

Regional president! colspan="3"
CandidateResult
(required to win)
1 Oct 1982CataloniaJordi Pujol (CDC)Josep Benet (PSUC)21–56
(68)		[9]
23 Sep 1987GaliciaGerardo Fernández Albor (AP)Fernando González Laxe (PSdG)40–29
(36)		[10]
21 Jun 1989Community of MadridJoaquín Leguina (PSOE)Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón (PP)48–40
(49)		[11]
8 Jan 1990La RiojaJoaquín Espert (PP)José Ignacio Pérez Sáenz (PSOE)17–13
(17)		[12]
5 Dec 1990CantabriaJuan Hormaechea (UPCA)Jaime Blanco (PSOE)26–12
(20)		[13]
31 Mar 1993Canary IslandsJerónimo Saavedra (PSOE)Manuel Hermoso (CC)31–23
(31)		[14]
1 Jul 1993CantabriaJuan Hormaechea (UPCA)Jaime Blanco (PSOE)18–21
(20)		[15]
15 Sep 1993AragonEmilio Eiroa (PAR)José Marco (PSOE)34–33
(34)		[16]
[17]
5 Jan 1994CantabriaJuan Hormaechea (UPCA)Jaime Blanco (PSOE)18–17
(20)		[18]
21 Dec 1994AragonJosé Marco (PSOE)Emilio Eiroa (PAR)32–30
(34)		[19]
10 Mar 1999AsturiasSergio Marqués (URAS)Ovidio Sánchez (PP)16–6
(23)		[20]
5 Oct 2000Basque CountryJuan José Ibarretxe (PNV)Nicolás Redondo (PSE–EE)32–29
(38)		[21]
Carlos Iturgaiz (PP)32–29
(38)
29 Jan 2001GaliciaManuel Fraga (PP)Xosé Manuel Beiras (BNG)18–41
(38)		[22]
18 Oct 2001CataloniaJordi Pujol (CDC)Pasqual Maragall (PSC)55–68
(68)		[23]
7 Nov 2001Canary IslandsRomán Rodríguez (CC)Juan Carlos Alemán (PSOE)19–39
(31)		[24]
12 Dec 2002GaliciaManuel Fraga (PP)Emilio Pérez Touriño (PSdeG)34–41
(38)		[25]
Xosé Manuel Beiras (BNG)34–41
(38)
Withdrawn
11 Mar 2005		CataloniaPasqual Maragall (PSC)Josep Piqué (PP)Withdrawn[26]
4 Oct 2006Valencian CommunityFrancisco Camps (PP)Joan Ignasi Pla (PSPV)35–47
(45)		[27]
18 Apr 2013NavarreYolanda Barcina (UPN)Juan Carlos Longás (Aralar–NaBai)18–23
(26)		[28]
14 May 2014ExtremaduraJosé Antonio Monago (PP)Guillermo Fernández Vara (PSOE)30–32
(33)		[29]
Withdrawn
4 Apr 2017		Region of MurciaPedro Antonio Sánchez (PP)Rafael González Tovar (PSOE)Resigned[30]
8 Jun 2017Community of MadridCristina Cifuentes (PP)Lorena Ruiz-Huerta (Podemos)27–64
(65)		[31]
Withdrawn
25 Apr 2018		Community of MadridCristina Cifuentes (PP)Ángel Gabilondo (PSOE)Resigned[32]
7 Oct 2019CataloniaQuim Torra (JuntsxCat)Lorena Roldán (Cs)40–76
(68)		[33]
Dismissed
11 Mar 2021		Community of MadridIsabel Díaz Ayuso (PP)Mónica García (Más Madrid)Dismissed[34]
[35]
Ángel Gabilondo (PSOE)Dismissed
18 Mar 2021Region of MurciaFernando López Miras (PP)Ana Martínez Vidal (Cs)21–23
(23)		[36]
22 Mar 2021Castile and LeónAlfonso Fernández Mañueco (PP)Luis Tudanca (PSOE)37–41
(41)		[37]

Autonomous cities

YearAutonomous cityMayor-presidentCandidateResult
1998MelillaIgnacio Velázquez Rivera (PP)Alberto Paz Martínez (PSOE)[38]
Enrique Palacios Hernández (PIM)[39]
1999CeutaJesús Cayetano Fortes Ramos (PP)Antonio Sampietro (GIL)[40]
2000MelillaMustafa Aberchán (CpM)Juan José Imbroda (UPM-PP)[41]
2001CeutaAntonio Sampietro (GIL)Juan Jesús Vivas (PP)[42]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sinopsis artículo 113 - Constitución Española. 2021-03-24. app.congreso.es.
  2. Web site: Sinopsis artículo 115 - Constitución Española. 2021-03-24. app.congreso.es.
  3. News: 31 May 1980 . El Gobierno sólo contó con sus votos para superar la moción de censura socialista . es . El País . Madrid . 24 March 2021.
  4. News: 27 March 1987 . Antonio Hernández Mancha fue descalificado por la oposición sin necesidad de que interviniera el Gobierno . es . El País . Madrid . 24 March 2021.
  5. News: Garea . Fernando . 14 June 2017 . El 76% del Congreso rechaza que Iglesias sea presidente del Gobierno . es . El País . Madrid . 24 March 2021.
  6. News: Alberola . Miquel . 1 June 2018 . Pedro Sánchez, presidente del Gobierno tras ganar la moción de censura a Rajoy . es . El País . Madrid . 24 March 2021.
  7. News: Hermida . Xosé . Casqueiro . Javier . 22 October 2020 . La moción de censura de Vox es derrotada con el menor apoyo de la democracia . es . El País . Madrid . 24 March 2021.
  8. News: Riveiro . Aitor . Ortiz . Alberto . 22 March 2023 . Vox y Tamames fracasan en la moción de censura con la abstención del PP . es . elDiario.es . 22 March 2023.
  9. News: Antich . José . 2 October 1982 . El Parlamento catalán rechazó la moción de censura contra el presidente de la moción de la Generalitat . es . El País . Barcelona . 24 March 2021.
  10. News: Hermida . Xosé . 24 September 1987 . Fernando González Laxe, nuevo presidente de la Xunta al prosperar la moción de censura de los socialistas . es . El País . Santiago de Compostela . 24 March 2021.
  11. News: Sanz . Juan Carlos . Fresneda . Carlos . 22 June 1989 . Leguina continúa al frente de la Comunidad de Madrid en una situación muy precaria para gobernar . es . El País . Madrid . 24 March 2021.
  12. News: Castillo . Antonio . 9 January 1990 . El PSOE recupera el Gobierno de La Rioja con el apoyo de tres regionalistas . es . El País . Logroño . 24 March 2021.
  13. News: Delgado . Jesús . 6 December 1990 . El socialista Jaime Blanco, nuevo presidente cántabro con el apoyo del Partido Popular . es . El País . Santander . 24 March 2021.
  14. News: Martin . Carmelo . 1 April 1993 . El nacionalista Hermoso logra desalojar de la presidencia canaria al socialista Saavedra . es . El País . Santa Cruz de Tenerife . 24 March 2021.
  15. News: Delgado . Jesús . 2 July 1993 . Hormaechea sale airoso de la moción de censura socialista gracias a los votos del PP . es . El País . Santander . 10 October 2021.
  16. News: Ortega . Javier . 17 September 1993 . El tránsfuga Gomáriz 'desaparece' un día después de apoyar al PSOE en Aragón . es . El País . Zaragoza . 24 March 2021.
  17. News: 17 September 1993 . La mancha del tránsfuga . es . El País . 24 March 2021.
  18. News: González Ibáñez . Juan . Delgado . Jesús . 6 January 1994 . Blanco fracasa en su intento de echar a Hormaechea . es . El País . Santander . 10 October 2021.
  19. News: Torrontegui . Javier . 22 December 1994 . Marco supera la censura pero abre la puerta de la sucesión . es . El País . Zaragoza . 24 March 2021.
  20. News: EFE . 10 March 1999 . Rechazada la moción de censura contra Marqués con mayoría de abstenciones . es . El Mundo . Oviedo . 10 October 2021.
  21. News: Gorospe . Pedro . 6 October 2000 . Ibarretxe supera las dos mociones y advierte de que seguirá gobernando "durante meses" . es . El País . Vitoria . 10 October 2021.
  22. News: EFE . 30 January 2001 . Beiras pide a Fraga que dimita para redimirse de la "miseria moral" de su Gobierno . es . El Mundo . Santiago de Compostela . 24 March 2021.
  23. News: 324cat . 19 October 2001 . Pujol supera la moció de censura i Maragall es queda a 13 vots de ser investit . ca . CCMA . 24 March 2021.
  24. News: Pardellas . Juan Manuel . 8 November 2001 . El presidente canario supera la censura de los socialistas con los votos de CC y el PP . es . El País . Santa Cruz de Tenerife . 10 October 2021.
  25. News: EFE . 13 December 2002 . El Partido Popular rechaza las dos mociones de censura contra Fraga . es . Última Hora . Santiago de Compostela . 10 October 2021.
  26. News: 12 March 2005 . Piqué retira la moción de censura porque "persiste el pacto de silencio entre PSC y CiU" . es . ABC . Barcelona . 10 October 2021.
  27. News: Agencias . 4 October 2006 . Fracasa la moción de censura contra Camps en las Cortes valencianas . es . El Mundo . Valencia . 10 October 2021.
  28. News: Doria . Javier . 19 April 2013 . Barcina supera la primera moción de censura de la historia de Navarra . es . El País . Pamplona . 10 October 2021.
  29. News: Fernández . María . 14 May 2014 . La censura contra Monago fracasa con los votos del PP y la abstención de IU . es . El País . Mérida . 24 March 2021.
  30. News: Agencias . 4 April 2017 . El PSOE retira la moción de censura en Murcia tras la dimisión de Sánchez . es . Público . Murcia / Madrid . 10 October 2021.
  31. News: Bécares . Roberto . Carvajal . A´lvaro . 9 June 2017 . Podemos se estrella con su moción . es . El Mundo . Madrid . 10 October 2021.
  32. News: 25 April 2018 . La moción de censura decae y el PP retiene la Presidencia de la Comunidad de Madrid . es . El Independiente . 10 October 2021.
  33. News: Pi . Jaume . 7 October 2019 . Fracasa la moción de censura de Cs a Torra con 76 votos en contra, 17 abstenciones y 40 apoyos . es . La Vanguardia . 10 October 2021.
  34. News: Pérez Mendoza . Sofía . Caballero . Fátima . 10 March 2021 . La Mesa de la Asamblea de Madrid tramita las mociones de censura contra Ayuso y el PP acusa a su presidente de prevaricar . es . elDiario.es . 25 March 2021.
  35. News: 11 March 2021 . La Mesa de la Asamblea de Madrid acepta su disolución pero recurrirá el adelanto electoral . es . Expansión . 10 October 2021.
  36. News: 18 March 2021 . Fracasa la moción de censura de PSOE y Ciudadanos en Murcia . es . Europa Press . Cartagena . 10 October 2021.
  37. News: Hernández . Marisol . 22 March 2021 . El PSOE presenta una moción de censura en Castilla y León . es . El Mundo . Madrid . 10 October 2021.
  38. Web site: El Gobierno del PP de Melilla, pendiente de los juzgados. 2021-03-24. www.elmundo.es.
  39. Web site: El Gobierno del PP de Melilla, pendiente de los juzgados. 2021-03-24. www.elmundo.es.
  40. Web site: Sampietro, presidente de Ceuta al prosperar la moción de censura del GIL y Bermúdez. 2021-03-24. www.elmundo.es.
  41. News: Ramos. Toñy. 2000-07-20. Imbroda recibe el apoyo del Gobierno en su toma de posesión en Melilla. es. El País. 2021-03-24. 1134-6582.
  42. News: Abad. Rocío. 2001-02-11. Juan Vivas pone fin a la presidencia del GIL en Ceuta ante Arenas y Posada. es. El País. 2021-03-24. 1134-6582.

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