1986 Spanish NATO membership referendum

none 1986 Spanish NATO membership referendum The Government considers it convenient, for national interests, for Spain to remain in the Atlantic Alliance, and agrees that such permanence be established in the following terms: (1) Non-incorporation into NATO's military structure; (2) Prohibition on the installation, storage or entry of nuclear weapons on Spanish territory; (3) Gradual reduction of the United States' military presence in Spain. In your view, should Spain continue to be a member of the Atlantic Alliance subject to the terms agreed by the national Government? 12 March 1986 9054509 6872421 17246452 29024494 SpainProvinceMapR1986.png provinces Provincial results map for the referendum A referendum on the Spanish NATO membership was held in Spain on Wednesday, 12 March 1986. Voters were asked whether they ratified the national Government's proposal for the country remaining a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which it had joined in 1982.Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1817 978-3-8329-5609-7Vallès Josep M. Pallarés Francesc Canals Ramon María 1986 The referendum of 12 March 1986 on Spain's remaining in NATO https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0261379486900193 Electoral Studies en 5 3 305–311 10.1016/0261-3794(86)90019-3 0261-3794 subscription The question asked was "The Government considers it convenient, for national interests, for Spain to remain in the Atlantic Alliance, and agrees that such permanence be established in the following terms: (1) Non-incorporation into NATO's military structure; (2) Prohibition on the installation, storage or entry of nuclear weapons on Spanish territory; (3) Gradual reduction of the United States' military presence in Spain. Question: In your view, should Spain continue to be a member of the Atlantic Alliance subject to the terms agreed by the national Government?" (es El Gobierno considera conveniente, para los intereses nacionales, que España permanezca en la Alianza Atlántica, y acuerda que dicha permanencia se establezca en los siguientes términos: 1.º La participación de España en la Alianza Atlántica no incluirá su incorporación a la estructura militar integrada. 2.º Se mantendrá la prohibición de instalar, almacenar o introducir armas nucleares en territorio español. 3.º Se procederá a la reducción progresiva de la presencia militar de los Estados Unidos en España. ¿Considera conveniente para España permanecer en la Alianza Atlántica en los términos acordados por el Gobierno de la Nación?).Rodrigo Luelmo Francisco José 8 July 2016 The accession of Spain to NATO https://www.cvce.eu/content/publication/2010/4/28/831ba342-0a7c-4ead-b35f-80fd52b01de9/publishable_en.pdf CVCE.eu by University of Luxembourg Convergencia de recuperación: Transición a la democracia y adhesión a las Comunidades Europeas (1975-1986) 1 September 2019 The referendum resulted in 56.9% of valid votes in favour of remaining within NATO on a turnout of 59.4%.https://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=es011986 Spain, 12 March 1986: Permanence within NATO de sudd.ch Direct Democracy 1 September 2019http://www.congreso.es/consti/elecciones/referendos/ref_otan.htm Referéndum consultivo en relación con la Alianza Atlántica es congreso.es Congress of Deputies 1 September 2019 Party positions Position of political parties Choice15 YesSpanish Socialist Workers' PartyPSOE previously opposed membership in NATO, but shifted to a positive vote in the referendum.Prat Enric 30 años después. El referéndum sobre la OTAN de 1986 https://www.icip.cat/perlapau/es/articulo/30-anos-despues-el-referendum-sobre-la-otan-de-1986/ 2016 ICIPSocial democracy Free choiceDemocratic and Social Centre 2017-01-03 La movilización contra la OTAN https://lealtadalalealtad.wordpress.com/2017/01/03/la-movilizacion-contra-la-otan/ 2026-10-20 Lealtad a la Lealtad esLiberalismConvergence and UnionCatalan nationalismDemocratic Reformist PartyLiberalismBasque Nationalist PartySegovia Mikel El PNV de San Sebastián vota sí a un referéndum sobre la OTAN https://www.elmundo.es/pais-vasco/2016/02/26/56d0058be2704e117d8b4629.html 26 February 2016Basque nationalismChristian democracy15 NoCommunist Party of SpainEl PCE anuncia su campaña anti-OTAN mientras Maravall vincula la permanencia en la Alianza con la CEE y Gibraltar https://elpais.com/diario/1985/10/27/espana/499215615_850215.html El País 26 October 1985EurocommunismUnified Socialist Party of CataloniaRepublican Left of CataloniaCatalan nationalismLeft-wing nationalism Herri BatasunaAbertzale leftRevolutionary socialismEuskadiko EzkerraRecordamos el referéndum sobre la OTAN de 1986 https://www.eitb.eus/es/radio/radio-euskadi/programas/distrito-euskadi/detalle/8894007/recordamos-referendum-sobre-otan-de-1986/ EITB 28 June 2022Abertzale leftDemocratic socialismParty of the Communists of CataloniaCommunismValencian People's UnionValencian nationalismSocialismLeft NationalistsCatalan nationalismSocialismBlankPeople's Coalition (Spain)Cabrera Àlex 2026-03-12 40 años del referéndum de la OTAN: el debate de la defensa se reaviva en España con la guerra en Oriente Medio https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20260312/40-anos-del-referendum-otan-debate-defensa-se-reaviva-espana-con-guerra-oriente-medio/16974539.shtml 2026-10-20 RTVE.es esConservatism left|thumb|A poster of the Valencian People's Union urging for a 'No' vote. thumb|A Herri Batasuna sticker reading "OTAN ez" (No NATO). The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), historically opposed to NATO, campaigned for a 'Yes' vote. The People's Coalition, the main right-wing party, was pro-NATO, but campaigned for a blank vote, because they did not agree to PSOE holding a referendum.Rodríguez Julio 30 años del referéndum de la OTAN http://ctxt.es/es/20160309/Firmas/4685/ 2026-10-20 ctxt.es Contexto y Acción es The Communist Party (PCE) organised much of the 'No' campaign. The confluence of left-wing parties for the 'No' vote laid the groundwork for the United Left alliance, which was launched in time for the general election later that year.2018-02-01 Del referéndum de la OTAN a la aparición de Izquierda Unida: 1986, el año en el que España fue elegida sede de unos JJOO https://www.lasexta.com/programas/donde-estabas-entonces/cronologia/referendum-otan-aparicion-izquierda-unida-1986-ano-que-espana-fue-elegida-sede-jjoo_201802015a73459f0cf20e2c8b49c476.html 2026-10-20 LaSexta esSe forma la coalición Izquierda Unida integrada por PCE, PASOC, PCPE, 'Nueva Izquierda', Izquierda Republicana, Partido Carlista y Partido Humanista https://lahemerotecadelbuitre.com/piezas/se-forma-la-coalicion-izquierda-unida-por-pce-pasoc-pcpe-pcpe-izquierda-republicana-partido-carlista-y-partido-humanista/ 2026-10-20 La Hemeroteca del Buitre es The centrist parties did not take clear stances, including the moderate nationalist parties. The left-wing nationalist parties strongly rejected remaining within NATO. Opinion polls The table below lists voting intention estimates 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 choice's colour. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the "Remain" and "Leave" choices in a given poll. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Remain Leave Invalid/Blank Lead Notes 1986 referendum 12 Mar 1986 31.2 23.7 4.5 40.6 – 7.5 CISReferéndum Alianza Atlántica (Estudio nº 1.521. Marzo 1986) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1520_1539/1521/Es1521mar_s.pdf es CIS 11 March 1986 10–11 Mar 1986 1,188 33.0 27.0 3.0 12.0 25.0 5.0 q1 Respondents were asked on how they would vote based on the actual referendum question: "In your view, should Spain continue to be a member of the Atlantic Alliance subject to the terms agreed by the national Government?" CISReferéndum Alianza Atlántica. Marzo - 86 (Estudio nº 1.520) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1520_1539/1520/Es1520mar_s.pdf es CIS 7 March 1986 7 Mar 1986 2,410 31.0 29.0 2.0 11.0 27.0 2.0 q1 ECO/CISEstudio ECO 1.519 (Marzo 1986) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1519/Es1519mar_s.pdf es CIS 4 March 1986 3–4 Mar 1986 2,500 27.0 35.0 – 12.0 26.0 8.0 q1 Alef/El PaísSe mantiene estable la mayoría favorable al 'no' https://elpais.com/diario/1986/03/06/espana/510447614_850215.html es El País 6 March 1986Ficha técnica https://elpais.com/diario/1986/03/06/espana/510447608_850215.html es El País 6 March 1986 28 Feb–3 Mar 1986 3,000 26.2 36.2 37.6 10.0 q1 Sofemasa/La VanguardiaApretado margen para una decisión histórica https://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1986/03/06/pagina-12/32878882/pdf.html es La Vanguardia 6 March 1986 25–28 Feb 1986 3,100 24.8 35.5 2.6 12.3 24.8 10.7 q1 CISReferéndum OTAN (Estudio nº 1.514. 27 de Febrero de 1986) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1514/Es1514mar_s.pdf es CIS 27 February 1986 27 Feb 1986? 29.0 28.0 2.0 13.0 24.0 1.0 q1 Alef/El PaísDisminuye la diferencia entre el 'sí' y el 'no' a la permanencia en la OTAN https://elpais.com/diario/1986/02/23/espana/509497211_850215.html es El País 23 February 1986Ficha técnica del sondeo https://elpais.com/diario/1986/02/23/espana/509497207_850215.html es El País 23 February 1986 18–20 Feb 1986 1,525 25.2 34.2 3.6 19.1 17.9 9.0 q1 CISEstudio 1.511 (Febrero de 1986) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1511/Es1511mar_s.pdf es CIS 23 February 1986El CIS prevé un 27 % de síes y un 31 % de noes en el referéndum OTAN https://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1986/02/23/pagina-16/32875920/pdf.html es La Vanguardia 23 February 1986 15–19 Feb 1986 2,500 27.0 31.0 2.0 12.0 29.0 4.0 q1 CISEstudio nº 1.510 (Febrero 1986) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1510/Es1510mar_s.pdf es CIS 15 February 1986 15 Feb 1986? 25.0 32.0 – 12.0 32.0 7.0 q1 CISReferéndum Alianza Atlántica (Estudio nº 1.509) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1509/Es1509mar_s.pdf es CIS 10 February 1986 10 Feb 1986? 25.0 27.0 – 15.0 33.0 2.0 q1 ECO/CISPost-debate parlamentario. Febrero '86 (Febrero 1986) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1506/Es1506mar_s.pdf es CIS 10 February 1986 7–10 Feb 1986? 30.0 38.0 – 13.0 19.0 8.0 q1 Alef/El PaísSerias probabilidades de que el Gobierno pierda el referéndum https://elpais.com/diario/1986/02/09/espana/508287610_850215.html es El País 9 February 1986Ficha técnica del sondeo https://elpais.com/diario/1986/02/09/espana/508287604_850215.html es El País 9 February 1986 2–4 Feb 1986 1,532 21.0 39.0 3.1 18.5 18.4 18.0 q1 CISEstudio sobre la OTAN (Enero 1986. Estudio 1502) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1502/Es1502mar_s.pdf es CIS 25 January 1986 18–25 Jan 1986 10,632 30.0 28.0 – 10.0 32.0 2.0 q2 Respondents were asked "If at the time of holding the referendum, the Government had secured a reduction of the American bases in Spain, would you vote For or Against of Spain remaining a NATO member outside the Military Structure?" CIS"Barómetro enero 1986". Estudio C.I.S. nº 1.501 (Enero 1986) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1500_1519/1501/Es1501mar_s.pdf es CIS 1 January 1986 1 Jan 1986? 29.0 27.0 – 12.0 32.0 2.0 q2 CISEstudio sobre la OTAN (Diciembre 85. Estudio 1498) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1480_1499/1498/Es1498mar_s.pdf es CIS 16 December 1985 13–16 Dec 1985 2,457 32.0 27.0 – 10.0 31.0 5.0 q2 CISBarómetro. Estudio C.I.S. nº 1.478 (Octubre 1985) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1460_1479/1478/Es1478mar_s.pdf es CIS 1 October 1985 1 Oct 1985 1,232 30.0 25.0 – 9.0 36.0 5.0 q2 CISBarómetro. Estudio C.I.S. nº 1471 (Julio 1985) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1460_1479/1471/Es1471mar_s.pdf es CIS 20 July 1985 17–20 Jul 1985 2,479 26.0 34.0 – 7.0 33.0 8.0 q2 CISCuestiones de política exterior. Estudio C.I.S. 1463 (Junio 1985) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1460_1479/1463/Es1463mar_s.pdf es CIS 11 June 1985 7–11 Jun 1985 3,435 24.0 34.0 – 9.0 33.0 10.0 q2 CISBanco de Datos del CIS http://www.analisis.cis.es/cisdb.jsp es CIS 21 June 2018 23 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180623221628/http://www.analisis.cis.es/cisdb.jsp dead 10 Sep 1984? 25.0 47.0 – 1.0 27.0 22.0 q3 Respondents were asked "If the NATO referendum was held tomorrow, would you vote For or Against Spain leaving NATO completely?" As permanence within NATO was asked conversely to other questions, "For" and "Against" results have been assigned to Leave and Remain, respectively, to maintain consistency. 31.0 42.0 – 9.0 18.0 11.0 q4 Respondents were asked "If the NATO referendum was held tomorrow, would you vote For or Against Spain remaining a NATO member but outside the Military Structure?" 19.0 57.0 – 9.0 15.0 38.0 q5 Respondents were asked "If the NATO referendum was held tomorrow, would you vote For or Against Spain joining NATO Military Structure?" CISBarómetro septiembre 1984 (Estudio nº 1.428. Septiembre 1984) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1420_1439/1428/Es1428mar.pdf es CIS 1 September 1984 1 Sep 1984 2,466 22.0 35.0 – 7.0 36.0 13.0 q3 22.0 34.0 – 7.0 37.0 12.0 q4 15.0 44.0 – 7.0 34.0 29.0 q5 CISEstudio 1.411 http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1400_1419/1411/Es1411mar_s.pdf es CIS 28 April 1984 25–28 Apr 1984 2,474 20.0 43.0 – 6.0 31.0 23.0 q3 19.0 46.0 – 7.0 29.0 27.0 q4 11.0 54.0 – 6.0 29.0 43.0 q5 CISPolítica exterior (II) (Estudio nº 1.381. Enero 1984) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1380_1399/1381/Es1381mar.pdf es CIS 1 January 1984 1 Jan 1984 2,495 19.4 40.9 – 8.4 31.3 21.5 q3 21.6 38.5 – 8.5 31.5 16.9 q4 13.6 50.3 – 7.6 28.4 36.7 q5 CISEstudio 1.371 http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1360_1379/1371/Es1371mar_s.pdf es CIS 13 November 1983 9–13 Nov 1983 2,476 15.0 44.0 – 9.0 32.0 29.0 q6 Respondents were asked "If a referendum was held tomorrow, would you vote For or Against a definitive incorporation to NATO?" CISBarómetro de marzo (Estudio nº 1.344. Marzo 1983) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1340_1359/1344/Es1344mar_s.pdf es CIS 1 March 1983 1 Mar 1983 2,488 12.6 49.2 – 8.1 30.2 36.6 q6 CISEstudio nº 1.285. Barómetro de Opinión Pública (Septiembre, 1981) http://www.cis.es/cis/export/sites/default/-Archivos/Marginales/1280_1299/1285/Es1285mar_s.pdf es CIS 11 September 1981 9–11 Sep 1981 1,193 12.0 37.0 – 11.0 40.0 25.0 q7 Respondents were asked "If there were a referendum on the entry of Spain into NATO, how would you vote?" and given the options of "For" and "Against". Results Overall Question The Government considers it convenient, for national interests, for Spain to remain in the Atlantic Alliance, and agrees that such permanence be established in the following terms: (1) Non-incorporation into NATO's military structure; (2) Prohibition on the installation, storage or entry of nuclear weapons on Spanish territory; (3) Gradual reduction of the United States' military presence in Spain. In your view, should Spain continue to be a member of the Atlantic Alliance subject to the terms agreed by the national Government? 56.85 43.15 59.42 9054509 15926930 6872421 29024494 1319522 Ministry of the Interiorhttp://www.infoelectoral.mir.es/min/busquedaAvanzadaAction.html?vuelta=1&codTipoEleccion=1&codPeriodo=198603&codEstado=99&codComunidad=0&codProvincia=0&codMunicipio=0&codDistrito=0&codSeccion=0&codMesa=0 Electoral Results Consultation. Referendum. March 1986. National totals es infoelectoral.mir.es Ministry of the Interior 24 September 2017 Results by region Region Electorate Turnout Yes No Votes % Votes % Andalusia 4,810,221 61.55 1,868,623 67.38 904,635 32.62 Aragon 952,361 60.17 318,640 61.72 197,608 38.28 Asturias 907,599 56.36 273,074 57.28 203,622 42.72 Balearic Islands 524,710 52.03 151,881 61.11 96,663 38.89 Basque Country 1,644,108 65.41 336,518 32.45 700,539 67.55 Canary Islands 1,003,385 55.39 242,015 46.31 280,639 53.69 Cantabria 402,339 59.64 140,251 63.96 79,031 36.04 Castile and León 2,071,409 56.44 627,633 61.54 392,251 38.46 Castilla–La Mancha 1,283,563 58.30 451,729 68.42 208,484 31.58 Catalonia 4,614,731 62.80 1,263,416 46.28 1,466,639 53.72 Extremadura 823,281 61.96 305,219 65.79 158,723 34.21 Galicia 2,220,686 38.51 465,103 59.10 321,809 40.90 La Rioja 202,523 59.97 69,405 63.92 39,174 36.08 Madrid 3,591,044 60.91 1,135,636 56.77 864,700 43.23 Murcia 723,287 61.39 254,572 62.08 155,469 37.92 Navarre 396,841 62.64 99,815 43.28 130,828 56.72 Valencian Community 2,776,354 66.33 1,027,648 60.73 664,465 39.27 Total 29,024,494 59.42 9,054,509 56.85 6,872,421 43.15 Sources Notes References Opinion poll sources "p" Other Further reading Pérez de Arcos, Marina (2026). ""Millions of Europeans are Watching": Reevaluating the 1986 NATO Referendum". Journal of Cold War Studies. 28 (3): 154–226. Lawrence Leduc, The Politics of Direct Democracy. Referendums in Global Perspective (Broadview Press, 2003), p. 82. Anthony Gooch, 'A Surrealistic Referendum: Spain and NATO', Government and Opposition 21(3), pp. 300–16. 1986 Category:1986 in Spain Category:1986 referendums Category:NATO membership referendums Membership referendum