| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Las Cortes Generales / The Cortes |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Congreso de los Diputados / Congress of Deputies |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senado / Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
26 June 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
These snap elections were held just six months after the previous polls. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party (PP) won more seats in both chambers but failed to win an outright majority. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), led by Mr. Pedro Sánchez, remained the second-largest party, but lost seats. Ciudadanos ("Citizens"), led by Mr. Alberto Rivera, also lost seats but remained the third-largest party. Mr. Pablo Iglesias' Podemos ("We Can") had formed an electoral alliance, Unidos Podemos ("United We Can" - see note). It won more seats, but not as many as pre-election polls had predicted.
The snap elections in 2016 were called because it had proved impossible to form a new government after the December 2015 elections in which no party had won a majority. During the election campaigning, the major parties focused on the economy, measures to lower unemployment and the stability of the country.
Note
At the national level, the Unidos Podemos electoral alliance comprised Podemos ("We Can"), IU ("United Left", led by the head of the Communist Party, Mr. Alberto Garzon) and EQUO. |
Date of previous elections: 20 December 2015
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 3 May 2016
Timing of election: Early elections
Expected date of next elections: July-August 2020*
*Elections shall take place between thirty and sixty days after the end of the previous term of office.
Number of seats at stake: 350 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 3,816 (1,980 men, 1,836 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 48.1%
Number of parties contesting the election: 51
Number of parties winning seats: 12
Alternation of power: No*
*Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party governed the country until December 2015.
No government was formed following the 2015 elections and snap elections were held in June 2016.
Mr. Rajoy and his party formed a minority government in October 2016.
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: People's Party (PP)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 19 July 2016
Name of the new Speaker: Ms. Ana Pastor (People's Party, PP) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 26 June 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
34'597'038
24'161'083 (69.84%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| People's Party (PP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Podemos ("We Can") - IU (United Left) - EQUO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ciudadanos ("Citizens", C's) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| En Comú Podem (ECP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Podemos - COMPROMIS - EUPV (United Left of the Valencian Country) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) - CATALUNYA SÍERC-CATSI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "En Marea" coalition (Podemos-En Marea-Anova-EU) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "Unite Basque Country" (Euskal Herria Bildueh Bildu, EH Bildu) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Canarian Coalition - Canarian Nationalist Party (CC - PNC) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| People's Party (PP) |
137
|
|
|
|
|
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) |
85
|
|
|
|
|
| Podemos ("We Can") - IU (United Left) - EQUO |
45
|
|
|
|
|
| Ciudadanos ("Citizens", C's) |
32
|
|
|
|
|
| En Comú Podem (ECP) |
12
|
|
|
|
|
| Podemos - COMPROMIS - EUPV (United Left of the Valencian Country) |
9
|
|
|
|
|
| Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) - CATALUNYA SÍERC-CATSI |
9
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) |
8
|
|
|
|
|
| "En Marea" coalition (Podemos-En Marea-Anova-EU) |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| "Unite Basque Country" (Euskal Herria Bildueh Bildu, EH Bildu) |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| Canarian Coalition - Canarian Nationalist Party (CC - PNC) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
213
137
39.14%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
Congress of Deputies (21.07.2016)
http://resultados2016.infoelecciones.es/99CO/DCO99999TO.htm?lang=es
Dossier de prensa, Elecciones Generales 2016, Ministerio del Interior
http://www.bbc.com
https://www.theguardian.com
http://www.ft.com |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
