1996 Spanish government formation

none March 2025 Aznar y Pujol (cropped).jpg 300px José María Aznar and Jordi Pujol on 2 July 1996, during their first institutional meeting following the former's investiture as prime minister José María Aznar and Jordi Pujol shaking hands in Moncloa palace 4 March – 4 May 1996 (1996 3 4 1996 5 4) Government formation Spain Hung parliament following the 1996 Spanish general election PP PSOE IU CiU PNV CC BNG HB ERC EA UV Signing of PP agreements with CiU, PNV and CC José María Aznar's successful investiture on 4 May First Aznar government formed After the Spanish general election of 3 March 1996 failed to deliver an overall majority for any political party, extensive negotiations ensued to form a government in the country. As a result, the previous cabinet headed by Felipe González was forced to remain in a caretaker capacity for 62 days until the next government could be sworn in, the longest cabinet formation period in Spain until that time, to be surpassed only in 2015–2016. The election failed to provide a majority for either the People's Party (PP) or a prospective left-wing bloc comprising the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and United Left, with regionalist and nationalist political forces such as Convergence and Union (CiU), the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and Canarian Coalition (CC) being left as kingmakers in negotiations. The PSOE's electoral overperformance compared to expectations had triggered speculation on whether Felipe González (the incumbent prime minister) would be able to cling on to government instead of PP leader José María Aznar, an hypothesis that the former tried to cast off as he let the party with the most seats make its attempt at investiture, without ruling out "other possibilities" in the event of a failure. After weeks of negotiations, the PP was able to reach confidence and supply agreements with CiU, the PNV and CC, ensuring Aznar's election as prime minister of a minority cabinet on 4 May 1996 and ending almost 14 years of uninterrupted Socialist governments under González. Aznar's agreement with CiU leader and president of the Government of Catalonia Jordi Pujol came to be known as the "Majestic Pact",The name of "Majestic Pact" (es no Pacto del Majestic) is a reference to the Majestic Hotel of Barcelona where the alliance between both PP and CiU was sealed on 28 April 1996.Farràs Andreu 12 August 2013 El pacto del Majestic se llama así por culpa de Gibraltar https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20130812/pacto-majestic-llama-culpa-gibraltar-penon-2571109 es El Periódico de Catalunya Barcelona 13 March 2025 under which Aznar agreed to the development of regional financing—which had already started during González's tenure—in addition to the transfer of new powers to Catalonia in various matters. The significance of such accord came to endure the 1996–2000 period, with critics blaming it for starting political dynamics that culminated in the 2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis. Legal provisions The Spanish Constitution of 1978 outlined the procedure for government formation, which started with the monarch summoning representatives of the various political groups in the Congress of Deputies to a round of talks or consultations, after which a candidate was to be nominated through the President of the Congress to attempt investiture as prime minister.https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=99&tipo=2 Constitución española. Título IV. Del Gobierno y de la Administración. Sinopsis artículo 99 es Congress of Deputies 18 December 2025 1. After renewal of the Congress of Deputies, and in other cases provided under the Constitution, the King , after consultation with the representatives appointed by the political groups with Parliamentary representation, and through the Speaker of Congress, shall nominate a candidate for President of the Government.2. The candidate nominate in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing paragraph shall submit to the Congress of Deputies the political programme of the Government that he intends to form and shall seek the confidence of the Houses.3. If the Congress of Deputies, by vote of the absolute majority of its members, invests said candidate with its confidence, the King shall appoint him President. If an absolute majority is not obtained, the same proposal shall be submitted for a new vote forty-eight hours after the previous vote, and it shall be considered that confidence has been secured if it passes by a simple majority.4. If, after this vote, confidence for the investiture has not been obtained, successive proposals shall be voted upon in the manner provided in the foregoing paragraphs.5. If within two months after the first vote for investiture no candidate has obtained the confidence of Congress, the King shall dissolve Congress and call new elections, following endorsement by the Speaker of Congress. Article 99 of the Spanish Constitution.https://www.boe.es/buscar/pdf/1978/BOE-A-1978-40001-consolidado.pdf The Spanish Constitution Official State Gazette 18 December 2025 For a nominated candidate to be granted confidence, he or she required to secure the support of an absolute majority in the Congress, or of a plurality in a subsequent vote held 48 hours later. If any of such ballots was successful, the monarch would appoint the elected candidate as prime minister. Otherwise, a two-month period would begin in which new investiture proposals could be attempted under the aforementioned procedure, with parliament being automatically dissolved and a snap election held if no candidate was successful in securing the confidence of parliament. The procedure for investiture processes was regulated within Articles 170 to 172 of the Standing Orders of the Congress of Deputies, which provided for the investiture debate starting with the nominated candidate explaining their political programme without any time limitations. Subsequently, spokespeople from the different parliamentary groups in Congress were allowed to speak for thirty minutes, with an opportunity to reply or rectify themselves for ten minutes. The nominated candidate was allowed to take the floor and speak at any time of his or her request during the debate.https://www.congreso.es/webpublica/ficherosportal/standing_orders_02.pdf Standing Orders of the Congress of Deputies Congress of Deputies 18 December 2025 Post-election developments Initial positions thumb|alt=Seat distribution in the Congress of Deputies following the 3 March 1996 election|Congress of Deputies resulting from the 3 March 1996 general election. Ahead of the 1996 Spanish general election, the People's Party (PP) under José María Aznar had hoped to secure a "sufficient majority" of seats in the Congress of Deputies: a parliamentary plurality close enough an absolute majority (set at 176 seats) to be able to govern alone.Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 3 March 1996 Aznar apuesta todo a la mayoría casi absoluta https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/03/espana/825807601_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 20254 March 1996 Aznar obtiene una mayoría insuficiente para gobernar en solitario https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/04/portada/825894001_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025 The election, however, saw an unexpectedly close result as the PP underperformed opinion poll expectations, falling 20 seats short of an overall majority in the Congress and leading the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) of Prime Minister Felipe González by 1.2 percentage points and 15 seats, the smallest margin victory of a party in a Spanish election up to that point since 1977.4 March 1996 Decepción en el PP tras lograr una exigua victoria https://www.elmundo.es/elecciones/mar04/noticias/not04-01.html es El Mundo Madrid 13 March 2025 This left the peripheral nationalist Convergence and Union (CiU) and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV)—both of which had been very critical of the PP's perceived centralist platform during the electoral campaign—as the likely kingmakers.28 February 1996 CiU no votará la investidura de Aznar si el PP gana las elecciones https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/28/espana/825462019_850215.html es El País Barcelona 13 March 2025Guenaga Bidaurrazaga Aitor 29 February 1996 El PNV ataca al PP por su crítica al concierto económico vasco https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/29/espana/825548411_850215.html es El País Bilbao 13 March 2025 Additionally, Canarian Coalition (CC) had offered to support the party coming out on top if it supported its "non-negotiable" proposals for the Canary Islands.Fernández Trujillo César 3 March 1996 Coalición Canaria ofrece sus votos al partido ganador si apoya sus propuestas "irrenunciables" para las islas https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/03/espana/825807605_850215.html es El País Santa Cruz de Tenerife 13 March 2025 The discussed outcomes in light of the election results were:Yárnoz Carlos 4 March 1996 Aznar gana, pero necesita pactos para gobernar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/04/espana/825894047_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 An alliance of the PP, CC and Valencian Union (UV)—parties with which the PP was allied at the regional level—with CiU, comprising 177 seats (and an hypothetical total of 182 seats if the PNV was included). An unlikely alliance of PSOE with CiU, PNV and Basque Solidarity (EA), which would add up to only 163 seats. Adding United Left (IU) to the bloc would raise the number to 184 seats, but such an agreement was deemed as impractical due to the ideological and personal animosities between IU's leader, Julio Anguita, and both González and CiU. A PP–IU agreement, which would command 177 seats, was deemed as unnatural despite both parties' collaboration during the previous parliamentary term and their common opposition to González's government. Parliamentary deadlock lasting for two months from a first failed investiture ballot, leading to a new general election to be held at some point throughout 1996. In his election night speech, Aznar offered to reach out to other parties if he was granted the responsibility of forming a government; González conceded the election saying that he would propose to King Juan Carlos I that the party with the most seats be offered the chance to govern but that, if this failed, other possibilities would open up; whereas CiU leader and president of the Government of Catalonia, Jordi Pujol, argued that it was Aznar's turn to move but that he would stand up to the PP, hinting at difficult negotiations; PNV leaders Xabier Arzalluz and Iñaki Anasagasti demanded the PP to act with a different approach going forward,Brunet José María 4 March 1996 Ni absoluta ni suficiente https://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1996/03/04/pagina-9/33884901/pdf.html es La Vanguardia 13 March 2025 but argued that the results allowed their party to "intervene in Spain".4 March 1996 El PNV considera que los resultados le abren la posibilidad de "intervenir en España" https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/04/espana/825894007_850215.html es El País Bilbao 13 March 2025 Because of the diverging positions, the government formation process was widely expected to be lengthier than the one in 1993, which lasted for 33 days.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 14 March 1996 La carrera de obstáculos de Aznar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/14/espana/826758009_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 The political differences between the PP and CiU were made evident during the celebration of the former's victory at its headquarters on election night, with party supporters chanting "Pujol, dwarf, speak Spanish" (es no Pujol, enano, habla castellano),Alzcáraz Mayte 8 November 2015 El «Majestic» que llevó a Aznar a La Moncloa y hoy incomoda al PP https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-majestic-llevo-aznar-moncloa-y-incomoda-pp-201511081928_noticia.html es ABC 14 March 2025Gil Andrés 27 July 2016 Aznar se presentó a la investidura en el 96 sin tener cerrados los apoyos que ahora exige Rajoy https://www.eldiario.es/politica/aznar-presento-investidura-cerrados-rajoy_1_3883040.html es eldiario.es 14 March 2025 with Aznar downplaying these as being in a joking tone due to people's euphoria over the election results.26 February 2021 Aznar responde al cántico 'Pujol, enano, habla castellano' tras su victoria electoral en 1996: "Fue un poco jocoso" https://www.lasexta.com/programas/lo-de-evole/aznar-responde-al-cantico-pujol-enano-habla-castellano-tras-su-victoria-electoral-en-1996_202102266038fa0a60aca50001deaeb0.html es laSexta 14 March 2025 CiU as kingmaker thumb|left|alt=José María Aznar and Felipe González shaking hands in the gardens of Moncloa palace|Prime minister Felipe González and PP leader José María Aznar in a meeting on 12 March 1996 to discuss the transfer of power. The parties' starting positions made clear that CiU's role was decisive. CiU announced that they would likely abstain or vote against Aznar's first investiture ballot, hoping that other parties such as the PSOE and the PNV would follow suit in order to allow the formation of a new government.Pastor Carles 5 March 1996 CiU se abstendrá o votará en contra de la investidura de José María Aznar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/05/espana/825980404_850215.html es El País Barcelona 13 March 2025 On the PSOE side, González claimed that, while he did not contemplate the hypothesis of forming a government and would ensure an "orderly and responsible" transfer of power as interim prime minister, his party would vote against Aznar in any prospective investiture.Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 5 March 1996 González pide serenidad a los mercados y garantiza un traspaso de poder "ordenado y responsable" https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/05/espana/825980404_850215.html es El País 13 March 20255 March 1996 González ve «difícil, pero no imposible», un acuerdo del PP con CiU https://www.elmundo.es/elecciones/mar05/noticias/not05-04.html es El Mundo Madrid 13 March 2025 Concurrently, Public Works minister Josep Borrell called for CiU to not allow Aznar's election on the basis that electoral results in Catalonia had shown "a general and clear rejection of a PP government".Vidal-Folch Xavier 5 March 1996 Borrell espera que Pujol niegue su voto a Aznar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/05/espana/825980401_850215.html es El País Brussels 13 March 2025 CC leader and president of the Canary Islands, Manuel Hermoso, offered to both CiU and the PNV to agree on minimum conditions to negotiate as a bloc any support to a future PP government.Fernández Trujillo César 5 March 1996 Coalición Canaria ofrece a CiU y PNV negociar el apoyo al PP https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/05/espana/825980414_850215.html es El País Santa Cruz de Tenerife 13 March 2025 The Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG), which had entered parliament for the first time, proposed an alliance between the PSOE and Catalan, Basque and Galician nationalist parties in the event that Aznar failed in his efforts.Hermida Xosé 5 March 1996 El BNG propone una alianza entre el PSOE y los nacionalistas https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/05/espana/825980424_850215.html es El País Santiago de Compostela 13 March 2025 A citizen initiative issued a manifesto on 5 March, "We do not resign ourselves" (es no No nos resignamos), claiming that voters had given 2.5 million more votes to parties to the left-of-centre than to the PP and its prospective nationalist allies and calling for PSOE, IU and other left-wing nationalist parties to set aside their political differences and try to form a government.7 March 1996 'No nos resignamos' pide a la izquierda que rechace la investidura de Aznar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/07/espana/826153210_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 The PNV was willing to enter negotiations with the PP, provided that the latter changed its policy of rejecting the reintegration of convicted prisoners from the ETA group.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Díez Anabel 8 March 1996 El PNV pedirá a Aznar que cambie su política de pacificación https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/08/espana/826239602_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025 The PP acknowledged that the only way to prevent a new election was to court Pujol's party,7 March 1996 Aznar admite que sólo un pacto con Pujol evitará nuevas elecciones https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/07/portada/826153202_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025 as parliamentary arithmetics meant that no government was possible without CiU at least consenting to it.Serrano Sebastián 5 March 1996 Aznar no puede elegir pareja https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/05/espana/825980407_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025 At first, a successful Aznar's investiture in the first ballot was considered as unlikely due to the existing tensions between PP and CiU and the impossibility of reaching the 176-mark of an absolute majority without the latter, whereas a simple majority in the second ballot would require a way to circumvent the likely opposition from the left-of-centre parties, which added up to 166 seats as opposed to the 161 that a PP–CC–UV bloc could muster. As a result, Aznar's party set out a strategy to attract CiU, PNV and CC to a government,Vela Carmen 7 March 1996 El PP ofrecerá formar Gobierno a CiU, PNV y canarios aunque no acepten https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/07/espana/826153205_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 with an offer to CiU to negotiate a new concept of the income tax that would give autonomous communities the capacity to legislate and collect it.6 March 1996 Aznar inicia su acercamiento a Pujol con una oferta de cesión de impuestos https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/06/portada/826066801_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025 CiU, in turn, considered proposing a bilateral "fiscal agreement".Pastor Carles Martín del Pozo Concha 20 March 1996 CiU estudia plantear un "pacto fiscal" bilateral https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/20/espana/827276418_850215.html es El País Barcelona / Madrid 13 March 2025 These approaches raised concerns among PP's regionalist allies, UV and the Aragonese Party, who were hostile to some of CiU's positions and worried about an excessive decentralization that favoured Catalonia in detriment of their own regions.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 7 March 1996 La negociación con CiU levanta recelos entre los aliados regionalistas del Partido Popular https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/07/espana/826153208_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 On 12 and 13 March, Aznar met with González and Anguita to inform them of his immediate plans and the framework of the agreements he was attempting with CiU, PNV and CC.Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 13 March 1996 Aznar explica a González su oferta de pacto https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/13/espana/826671621_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 On 15 March, González encouraged Aznar to fully commit to an agreement with CiU that guaranteed Spain's governability—stating that a PP-led government would, in his opinion, be the most reasonable outcome in light of election results—but also reminded him of the limits established by the Constitution for the process of power transfers to the autonomous communities, set in the maintenance of territorial and social cohesion.16 March 1996 González anima a Aznar a volcarse en la búsqueda del pacto con CiU https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/16/portada/826930803_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025 Following a secret meeting between Aznar and Pujol on 17 March, the first between the two leaders since the election (in which the PP leader delivered a basic negotiation document to the Catalan president comprising five points: economic policy, European convergence, social policies, regional development and anti-terrorism policy), González predicted that a prospective Aznar government would prove "unable to make decisions" and would "give the majority" back to the PSOE in a snap election.Lucio Lourdes Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 18 March 1996 Gonzalez vaticina un Gobierno de Aznar breve e incapaz que devolverá al PSOE la mayoría https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/18/espana/827103612_850215.html es El País Linares / Madrid 13 March 2025 Congress bureau election 150px|thumb|alt=Headshot photo of Federico Trillo|Federico Trillo (pictured in 2001) was elected as new president of the Congress of Deputies on 27 March 1996. The first negotiating test was the election of the bureau of the Congress of Deputies once the chamber reconvened on 27 March, and particularly the election of the post of president. The PNV claimed that this post should be given to a member of the opposition parties, citing the recent precedent in Catalonia following the 1995 regional election in which a member of the opposition Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) was elected as the chamber's speaker; an agreement between the PSOE, IU and some of the peripheral nationalist parties would secure enough support to prevent the PP from controlling this post.Brunet José María 4 March 1996 El PSOE encaja la derrota como un triunfo https://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1996/03/04/pagina-10/33884901/pdf.html es La Vanguardia 13 March 2025Valdecantos Camilo 4 March 1996 La presidencia del Congreso, primera pieza que habrá de jugar el PP https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/05/espana/825980419_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 CC joined the PNV's call and claimed in the days following the general election that the Congress's presidency should be given to CiU—even bringing forward the name of Josep López de Lerma, who had been third Congress vice president during the 1993–1996 term—but the latter replied that it was premature to talk about agreements and even less so about names. On 20 March, PP and CiU reached an agreement together with PNV and CC for the composition of both bureaus in the Cortes Generales in which the latter renounced the post of Congress speaker in favour of PP's Federico Trillo; in exchange, the Congress bureau would have a plural composition with both CiU and the PNV securing a vice presidency and a secretary post, respectively, in addition to PP commitments to reduce the peripheral State Administration to a minimum, address its structural reform as part of the development of the single administration and study the possibility of initiating the delegation of exclusive state powers to the autonomous communities.21 March 1996 El PP se asegura la presidencia del Congreso gracias al apoyo de CiU https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/21/portada/827362801_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 21 March 1996 PP y CiU alcanzan su acuerdo con el reparto de las Mesas del Congreso y el Senado https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/21/espana/827362816_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 However, CiU rejected Aznar's offer to enter into a coalition government and stated that any negotiation aimed at reaching a governability pact could not extend beyond 24 or 25 April.21 March 1996 Pactos. CiU advierte que la investidura de Aznar no puede prolongarse más allá del 24 o el 25 de abril https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/pactos-ciu-advierte-investidura-aznar-no-puede-prolongarse-mas-alla-24-o-25-abril/1410938682 es Servimedia Madrid 13 March 2025 Election of the President of the Congress of Deputies Ballot → 27 March 1996 Required majority → 176 out of 350 Federico Trillo (PP) 179 350 People's Party (Spain) 125px 15 Jordi Solé Tura (PSC) 160 350 Socialists' Party of Catalonia 125px 15 Enrique Fernández-Miranda (PP) 1 350 People's Party (Spain) 125px 15 Blank ballots 7 350 lightgray 125px Invalid ballots 1 350 gray 125px Absentees 0 350 black 125px SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e1996.html Elecciones Generales 3 de marzo de 1996 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 Trillo was elected in the first round of voting with support from the PP, CiU, PNV, CC and UV (a total of 179 votes), whereas the PSOE candidate, former Culture minister Jordi Solé Tura, received 160 votes from PSOE and IU, which had reached an agreement to ensure the latter's presence in the bureau; Enrique Fernández-Miranda, who was slated as PP's candidate for the post of first vice president, received one vote.Brunet José María 28 March 1996 La nueva mayoría PP-nacionalistas elige a Trillo presidente del Congreso https://www1.udel.edu/leipzig/texts/cortes1.html es La Vanguardia University of Delaware Madrid 13 March 2025 This voting pattern was repeated for the remaining bureau posts, with the PSOE electing two vice presidents, the PP and CiU electing one each, and PP, PSOE, IU and PNV each electing one secretary.Valdecantos Camilo 28 March 1996 Trillo llama al diálogo desde la tolerancia https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/28/espana/827967616_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 The result was considered a success for Aznar, who went on to claim after the votes that "some who still had doubts that the PP had won the election will have them removed after today".27 March 1996 Aznar: "Algunos que tenían dudas de que el PP había ganado las elecciones, después de hoy se les habrán quitado" https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/aznar-algunos-tenian-dudas-pp-habia-ganado-elecciones-despues-hoy-habran-quitado/1410939336 es Servimedia Madrid 14 March 2025 The next day, Aznar described Trillo's election as Congress speaker as "the first expression of political change", while emphasizing that none of the demands put on the negotiating table by the Catalan, Basque or Canarian nationalists undermined Spain's territorial solidarity.Rivas Javier 29 March 1996 Aznar promete que los nacionalistas no piden nada que rompa la cohesión nacional https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/29/espana/828054026_850215.html es El País Seville 13 March 2025 That same day, CiU spokesperson in Congress, Joaquim Molins, had stated that CiU had to support Aznar's investiture if it wanted "to be a key actor in Madrid".Pastor Carles Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Costa Pau Marta 29 March 1996 Molins afirma que si CiU quiere ser clave debe votar a favor de la investidura de Aznar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/29/espana/828054024_850215.html es El País Barcelona / Madrid 13 March 2025 On 31 March, following a new secret meeting between both leaders, Pujol demanded Aznar to acknowledge the "Catalan differential fact" in his investiture speech as an essential condition for CiU to support the formation of a PP government.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Mauri Luis 2 April 1996 Pujol exige a Aznar que reconozca el hecho diferencial catalán en su discurso de investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/02/espana/828396018_850215.html es El País Madrid / Barcelona 13 March 2025Casqueiro Javier 2 April 1996 El líder del PP no avisó de su reunión con el presidente de Cataluña https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/02/espana/828396018_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 Candidate José María Aznar (PP) Nomination and negotiations Following the bureau election, the King summoned the various political parties with parliamentary representationHerri Batasuna was not summoned to the round of consultations as its two MPs did not attend the constitutive session of Congress to comply with the Constitution and, as a result, did not acquire full status as deputies. in the Congress to hold a round of consultations from 2 to 12 April, a long period which came as a result of the Holy Week holidays on 3–8 April.Valdecantos Camilo 29 March 1996 El Rey realizará las consultas con los partidos entre el 2 y el 12 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/03/29/espana/828054003_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 March 20252 April 1996 El Rey inicia hoy la ronda de consultas con Unión Valenciana https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/02/espana/828396005_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 March 20258 April 1996 El Rey acaba esta semana su ronda política de consultas https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/08/espana/828914403_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 March 2025 The day previous to the start of the consultations, the spokespersons of PP and CC, Rodrigo Rato and José Carlos Mauricio, announced that both parties had reached an agreement under which the latter would support Aznar's investiture and provide his government with confidence and supply in exchange for regional concessions, such as a reform of the Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands, a permanent status for the islands within the European Union and an improvement of the region's economic and fiscal regime.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 2 April 1996 Aznar se asegura los cuatro votos de Coalición Canaria a cambio de concesiones autonómicas https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/02/espana/828396004_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 March 2025 CiU and PNV did not clarify what their stance would be in any future investiture.Pastor Carles Casqueiro Javier 8 April 1996 CiU y PNV no aclararán mañana al Rey su voto sobre la investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/08/espana/828914416_850215.html es El País Barcelona / Madrid 13 March 2025 On the last day of the consultations, the King chose to nominate Aznar as candidate to try to form a government,13 April 1996 El Rey comunica a Trillo que el líder del PP es el candidato a presidir el Gobierno https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/13/espana/829346413_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 March 2025 who hoped to be able to do so by the last week of April.9 April 1996 Aznar confía en poder formar Gobierno en la última semana de abril https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/09/portada/829000801_850215.html es El País 15 March 2025 Formal negotiations between the PP and CiU had been ongoing since 1 April.28 April 1996 Cronología de la negociación https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/28/espana/830642402_850215.html es El País 12 March 2025 These were initially characterized by slow but continuous progress: by 13 April, both parties had reached an agreement in principle to share the management of shared taxes by the Spanish Tax Agency in Catalonia, which would initially affect income tax but was also expected to extend to the value-added tax;Missé Andreu 14 April 1996 PP y CiU logran un principio de acuerdo para compartir la gestión de la Agencia Tributaria https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/14/espana/829432819_850215.html es El País Barcelona 13 March 2025 by 16 April, a compromise was reached to abolish the compulsory military service and professionalize the Spanish Armed Forces.González Ibáñez Juan González Miguel 17 April 1996 PP y CiU alcanzan un compromiso para suprimir el servicio militar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/17/espana/829692016_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 However, negotiations stalled on 18 April as Pujol claimed that Aznar's proposals did not "satisfy" CiU's aspirations, particularly on the abolition of civil governors and power transfers on traffic and their police control. Both leaders met two days later to unblock negotiations, but their differing interpretations of the meeting outcome—with Aznar claiming that the investiture agreement had been practically finalized with only a few economic details remaining, whereas Pujol noted that some progress had been made but there were still discrepancies that needed to be studiedMauri Luis Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 21 April 1996 Aznar y Pujol desbloquean la negociación en su tercera entrevista desde las elecciones del 3-M https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/21/espana/830037615_850215.html es El País Madrid / Barcelona 13 March 2025—led to a new impasse on 22 April, as Pujol acknowledged that the meeting had not gone well. CiU drifted towards not supporting Aznar's investiture, even if it meant risking a repeat election taking place, because of severe differences on the negotiating positions and a perception that the PP was not willing to fulfill its commitments on matters affecting regional financing and power transfers.Mauri Luis Pastor Carles 23 April 1996 CiU impone un parón en las negociaciones con los populares para la investidura de Aznar https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/23/espana/830210420_850215.html es El País Madrid / Copenhague 13 March 2025 Both parties agreed that a final decision on whether CiU would be willing to support Aznar's investiture would have to be given by the end of the week.Casqueiro Javier 23 April 1996 El PP emplaza a CiU a dar su respuesta esta semana https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/23/espana/830210421_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 Majestic Pact 200px|thumb|alt=Facade of the Majestic Hotel in Barcelona|The Majestic Hotel in the Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona, where the final agreement between the PP and CiU was sealed (pictured in 1997). A seven-hour meeting between the PP and CiU delegations on 24 April managed to solve the conflicting points and advance the negotiations, but the tight schedule meant that an investiture by 29–30 April was unfeasible.25 April 1996 Pactos. El PP no descarta que la investidura sea 2 y 3 de mayo por lo apretado del calendario para los días 29 y 30 de abril https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/pactos-pp-no-descarta-investidura-sea-2-3-mayo-apretado-calendario-para-dias-29-30-abril/1410909109 es Servimedia Madrid 13 March 2025 By the next day, an overall understanding was said to have been reached, with both parties starting to put the final political agreement into writing.Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 26 April 1996 Populares y convergentes inician la puesta por escrito del acuerdo para la investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/26/espana/830469621_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 The final document included all key demands of CiU, namely: transfer of 30% of the personal income tax base with regards to financing, participation of the automous communities in a territorial tax agency shared with the State to manage personal income tax and wealth tax, transfer of traffic powers to the Government of Catalonia and of port management powers to the autonomous communities and abolition of compulsory military service, as well a political agreement for the PP to support the language normalization policy affecting the Catalan language.Pastor Carles 27 April 1996 Aznar logra el apoyo de Pujol para formar Gobierno https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/27/espana/830556018_850215.html es El País Barcelona 19 November 2025Pastor Carles 28 April 1996 Aznar, Pujol, Duran y los negociadores sellan hoy el pacto con una cena en Barcelona https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/28/espana/830642417_850215.html es El País Barcelona 13 March 2025 The PP–CiU agreement would be sealed with a summit dinner between the leaders of both parties in the Majestic Hotel of Barcelona;González Enric 25 August 1999 La legislatura de la pareja de hecho https://elpais.com/diario/1999/08/25/catalunya/935543251_850215.html es El País Barcelona 13 March 2025 as a result, the name of "Majestic Pact" (es no Pacto del Majestic) would be coined to refer to this alliance.Gisbert Josep 25 April 2021 El pacto del Majestic, una alianza de otra época https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20210425/7187150/alianza-epoca-pacto-majestic-ciu-pp-25-anos-aniversario.html es La Vanguardia Barcelona 14 March 2025 It would comprise not just an investiture agreement, but a confidence and supply accord for the entire legislature; CiU members revealed that the PSOE's rejection to allow Aznar's investiture through an abstention, which was their initial proposal, forced Pujol's party into entering negotiations for a stable alliance with the PP in order to prevent a repeat election from taking place.Pastor Carles 28 April 1996 La larga marcha hacia el pacto https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/28/espana/830642403_850215.html es El País Barcelona 13 March 2025 While the agreements with CiU and CC virtually ensured Aznar's investiture in the first ballot with 176 votes, the PP wanted to reach a deal with the PNV—with whom negotiations had been developed in parallel with those of CiU—in order to rely on a broad majority to govern.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 28 April 1996 Aznar quiere incorporar al PNV al pacto antes de la investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/28/espana/830642418_850215.html es El País Madrid 13 March 2025 By 29 April, negotiations on the Basque Economic Agreement, continuing professional training, the return of PNV's historical heritage and a PP's commitment to negotiate the full development of the Basque Statute of Autonomy during the legislature ended with a deal being closed between both parties, which also included some of the demands agreed between PP and CiU such as abolition of civil governors and decentralization of active employment policies and ports.30 April 1996 Aznar pacta con el PNV y logra el apoyo de todo el centro derecha a su investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/30/portada/830815201_850215.html es El País 13 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 30 April 1996 Aznar culmina su estrategia de pactos al asegurarse el apoyo del PNV a su investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/30/espana/830815221_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 PNV president Xabier Arzalluz praised Aznar for reaching a pact that the PSOE was not able to make in the previous legislative term,1 May 1996 Arzalluz elogia a Aznar, por cerrar un pacto que el PSOE no fue capaz de hacer https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/01/portada/830901603_850215.html es El País 14 March 2025 even commenting that he had "achieved more in 14 days with Aznar than in 13 years with Felipe González".Goyoaga Ander 30 April 2021 Cuando Aznar invitó a Arzalluz a Génova 13 https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/paisvasco/20210430/7418757/25-anos-pacto-aznar-arzalluz-calle-genova.html es La Vanguardia 14 March 2025 Investiture attempt José María Aznar's investiture debate was scheduled to start at 11:30 CEST (UTC+2) on 3 May with Aznar's speech, to be followed by responses from all other parties and a first round of voting on 4 May.29 April 1996 Trillo convoca el debate de investidura para el 3 y 4 de mayo https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/trillo-convoca-debate-investidura-para-3-4-mayo/1410909455 es Servimedia Madrid 13 March 2025Valdecantos Camilo 30 April 1996 El Congreso votará el sábado al cuarto presidente de la democracia https://elpais.com/diario/1996/04/30/espana/830815222_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 A second round of voting, which was ultimately not required, would have taken place on 6 May. In a conciliatory speech, Aznar defended his agreements with CiU, PNV and CC as "transparent", key for ensuring a long term and central in pursuing a program "of centre": a drive for autonomy with a reform of the regional financing system that did not affect inter-territorial solidarity; an economic drive and convergence with Europe; and a commitment to maintain the "solidarity pact" of universal health care, education, pension benefits and social protection.4 May 1996 Aznar ofrece un programa de centro con más poder para las autonomías https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/04/portada/831160802_850215.html es El País 14 March 2025Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 4 May 1996 Aznar asegura que la reforma autonómica pactada con los nacionalistas es solidaria https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/04/espana/831160801_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025Valdecantos Camilo 4 May 1996 Aznar pasa página y se ata al centro https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/04/espana/831160830_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 Aznar also softened his pre-election pledge of lowering taxes, instead committing himself to a generic reform of the income tax.Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 4 May 1996 Compromiso genérico para la reforma de la tarifa del IRPF https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/04/espana/831160802_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 During the debate, González demanded more information to understand the scope of the PP's agreements with the nationalist parties (particularly on the issue of regional financing) but he chose not to be belligerent and deliberately avoided criticizing Aznar for these agreements while promising "a calm opposition" that did not lose its composure and avoided tensions.Díez Anabel 5 May 1996 González rechazó atacar a Aznar con los datos que le aportaron sus ministros https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/05/espana/831247221_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 IU's Anguita defended his party's role as "sole opposition" after accusing both PP and PSOE of "being the same thing", "defending the same values and applying the same policies" together with CiU and PNV, while denouncing an alleged "pact of silence" between the two major parties around the GAL, slush funds and other corruption scandals that had plagued the tenure of the fourth González government.Serrano Rodolfo 4 May 1996 Anguita no consigue de Aznar el compromiso de investigar los GAL https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/04/espana/831160805_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025Serrano Rodolfo 5 May 1996 Anguita vuelve a la tesis de las dos orillas y dice que el PSOE no hará oposición https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/05/espana/831247223_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 thumb|alt=José María Aznar and Ana Botella in the gardens of Moncloa palace|Newly-elected prime minister José María Aznar and his spouse, Ana Botella, arriving at Moncloa Palace on 5 May 1996. CiU spokesperson Molins defended the regional financing agreement reached with the PP in that the inter-territorial solidarity mechanisms in force in Spain "caused a distortion" by allowing regions that contributed above average to the public treasury (such as Catalonia) to receive below-average funding for the services they provide, whereas regions with a lower level of development and a lesser contribution received above-average funding.Pastor Carles 4 May 1996 Molins pide que no se agiten en los enfrentamientos entre las comunidades https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/04/espana/831160803_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 The PNV pledged itself to ensure that Aznar's next government completed its term after the prime ministerial candidate had promised to fulfill the development of the Basque Statute, which had been the party's main demand during negotiations.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 4 May 1996 El candidato garantiza al PNV el desarrollo del estatuto https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/04/espana/831160806_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 Pilar Rahola, from ERC, accused CiU of "committing electoral fraud by voting for Aznar", reminding them of their campaign pledge not to allow Aznar's investiture and ridiculing the Majestic agreement.Casqueiro Javier Pastor Carles 5 May 1996 Rahola: "Molins comete fraude electoral al votar a Aznar" https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/05/espana/831247218_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 The BNG representative, Francisco Rodríguez, accused Aznar of not addressing Galicia's problems (a region ruled by the PP) whereas UV spokesperson José María Chiquillo announced his abstention in the investiture due to a lack of response from the PP to his party's initiatives proposed during negotiations.4 May 1996 Investidura. Aznar recibió duras críticas a su investidura por parte de los representantes del Grupo Mixto https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/investidura-aznar-recibio-duras-criticas-investidura-parte-representantes-grupo-mixto/1410909939 es Servimedia Madrid 13 March 2025 InvestitureCongress of DeputiesNomination of José María Aznar (PP) Ballot → 4 May 1996 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Yes • PP (156) • CiU (16) • PNV (5) • CC (4) 181 350 green 125px No • PSOE (141) • IU–IC (21) • BNG (2) • ERC (1) • EA (1) 166 350 red 125px Abstentions • UV (1) 1 350 gray 125px Absentees • HB (2) 2 350 black 125px SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025Valdecantos Camilo 5 May 1996 Aznar, investido presidente, lleva al Gobierno al PP https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/05/espana/831247229_850215.html es El País Madrid 14 March 2025 Without surprises, Aznar was elected by an absolute majority in the first ballot on 4 May, being supported by 181 deputies (from PP, CiU, PNV and CC) and opposed by PSOE, IU, BNG, ERC and EA for a total 166 votes against, with UV's single deputy abstaining. Aftermath Government stability 175px|thumb|alt=José María Aznar and Xabier Arzalluz shaking hands in Moncloa palace|The alliance between PP and PNV proved tense and would ultimately fall apart from 1998 onwards. The 62-day stalemate in 1996 between a general election and a successful investiture marked the longest government formation period in Spain until that time, to be surpassed only in 2015–2016 (at 314 days).EFE Blanco José Miguel 20 December 2015 El periodo más largo entre las elecciones y la investidura ha sido de 62 días https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20151220/30943504349/el-periodo-mas-largo-entre-las-elecciones-y-la-investidura-ha-sido-de-62-dias.html es La Vanguardia Madrid 14 March 2025EFE 21 February 2016 Récord en España de un Gobierno en funciones https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/02/21/56c96ee346163f44298b456d.html es El Mundo Madrid 14 March 202527 July 2023 De los 29 días de Suárez a los 314 de Rajoy: así han durado los gobiernos en funciones en España https://www.eldiario.es/politica/politica-directo_6_10411590_1102566.html es elDiario.es 14 March 2025 Aznar's election as prime minister ended nearly 14 years of uninterrupted Socialist governments under González, and allowed the PP to form its first-ever national cabinet.25 April 2019 1996. El PP gana las elecciones tras 14 años de felipismo https://www.telemadrid.es/30-aniversario/30-anos-informando/1996-PP-gana-elecciones-anos-felipismo-2-2109709063--20190404100922.html es Telemadrid 15 March 2025Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 5 May 1996 Un Gobierno de orígenes muy diversos https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/05/espana/831247234_850215.html es El País Madrid 15 March 2025Ruiz de Azúa Victorino 6 May 1996 Aznar anuncia diálogo con partidos y sindicatos desde un Gobierno "centrista y reformador" https://elpais.com/diario/1996/05/06/espana/831333616_850215.html es El País Madrid 15 March 2025 The resulting alliances provided the PP government of stability throughout the entire 1996–2000 period, despite its status as a minority government. While there were occasional disagreements—such as the one in late 1997 due to negotiations to outline a new method for health care financingPastor Carles 5 November 1997 CiU advierte al Gobierno que la ruptura será «inevitable» si las relaciones no mejoran https://www1.udel.edu/leipzig/texts4/ela05117.htm es El País University of Delaware Barcelona 16 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 16 November 1997 Economía reconoce que había un principio de acuerdo con CiU https://elpais.com/diario/1997/11/16/espana/879634802_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025Cruz Marisa 15 January 1998 CiU, el más sólido puntal, la más dura cadena https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/1998/enero/15/nacional/ciu.html es El Mundo Madrid 16 March 2025—PP and CiU maintained their good relations and renewed their accords ahead of the passing of the 1997,27 August 1996 Molins afirma que hay "un acuerdo bastante profundo" entre PP y CiU sobre el objetivo de los presupuestos para 1997 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/molins-afirma-hay-acuerdo-bastante-profundo-entre-pp-ciu-sobre-objetivo-presupuestos-para-1997/1410921444 es Servimedia Barcelona 16 March 2025Valdecantos Camilo Martín del Pozo Concha 24 October 1996 Aznar revalida con los Presupuestos el apoyo nacionalista que consiguió para su investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1996/10/24/espana/846108022_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 1998,23 December 1997 El Congreso aprueba la Ley de Presupuetos y de Acompañamiento de 1998 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/1997/diciembre/23/economia/presupestos.html es El Mundo Madrid 16 March 2025 1999,González Enric Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 15 April 1998 Aznar y Pujol acuerdan pactar el Presupuesto de 1999 para garantizar la estabilidad https://elpais.com/diario/1998/04/15/espana/892591220_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 202526 July 1998 Aznar y Pujol formalizarán el pacto de los presupuestos de 1999 en la entrevista del miércoles https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/aznar-pujol-formalizaran-pacto-presupuestos-1999-entrevista-miercoles/1410983219 es Servimedia Madrid 16 March 2025 and 2000 budget laws.EFE 22 December 1999 El Congreso aprueba los Presupuestos Generales del Estado para el año 2000 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/1999/diciembre/22/nacional/presupuestos.html es El Mundo Madrid 16 March 2025 In January 1998, both parties explicitly committed themselves to ensuring stability until 2000.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Pastor Carlos 15 January 1998 Aznar y Pujol refuerzan el pacto de estabilidad para que el PP pueda agotar la legislatura https://elpais.com/diario/1998/01/15/espana/884818801_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 The relationship between PP and PNV remained more tense due to increasing political and ideological differences: in September 1996, Lehendakari José Antonio Ardanza warned Aznar that the PNV's commitment was to support his investiture and that he should not take the Basque party's support to parliamentary initiatives (such as budgets) for granted.17 September 1996 Ardanza advierte a Aznar que no tiene asegurado los votos del PNV para aprobar los presupuestos https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/ardanza-advierte-aznar-n-tiene-asegurado-votos-pnv-para-aprobar-presupuestos/1410923359 es Servimedia Valencia 16 March 2025 In March 1997, Aznar agreed to freeze the Basque Country's contribution to the general expenses of the State within the framework of the Basque Economic Agreement (despite the Ministry of Economy's intent to raise the quota), but warned the PNV that it was a concession that exceeded the investiture agreements.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 26 March 1997 Aznar cede ante el PNV y congela el Cupo pese a que no figuraba en el pacto de investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1997/03/26/espana/859330801_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 However, despite increasing tensions—which also saw the PNV expelling the PP from the government of Bilbao, the main local coalition government between both parties, in December 1997Fernández Fuertes Santiago 20 December 1997 El PNV destituye a los ediles del PP en Bilbao por "contumaz deslealtad" y rompe el pacto municipal https://elpais.com/diario/1997/12/20/espana/882572406_850215.html es El País Bilbao 16 March 2025—Aznar pledged, as late as July 1998, not to break up with the PNV.2 July 1998 Aznar no se plantea romper con sus socios del PNV https://elpais.com/diario/1998/07/02/espana/899330408_850215.html es El País 16 March 2025 Relations further strained after the signing of the Declaration of Estella between the PNV and Herri Batasuna in September 1998, with Aznar's government diregarding this accord as "complacent with ETA's interests".14 September 1998 El Gobierno descalifica el pacto de Estella por ser "complaciente" con los intereses de ETA https://elpais.com/diario/1998/09/14/espana/905724001_850215.html es El País 29 January 2019 Throughout 1999, the PNV became more belligerent by distancing itself from Aznar's government,Gómez Damborenea Pedro 22 March 1999 Arzalluz asegura que el tiempo de pactar con el Gobierno de Madrid se ha terminado https://elpais.com/diario/1999/03/22/espana/922057206_850215.html es El País Bilbao 16 March 2025 withdrawing its support informally since June and officially in December that year.24 June 1999 Aliados nacionalistas https://elpais.com/diario/1999/06/24/opinion/930175203_850215.html es El País 16 March 2025OTR Press 9 December 1999 El PNV rompe con el Gobierno y anuncia su voto contrario a los Presupuestos https://www.ultimahora.es/noticias/nacional/1999/12/09/936077/el-pnv-rompe-con-el-gobierno-y-anuncia-su-voto-contrario-a-los-presupuestos.html es Última Hora Madrid 16 March 2025Larraya José Miguel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 10 December 1999 Aznar exige al PNV que explique por qué rompe con todos menos con HB https://elpais.com/diario/1999/12/10/espana/944780405_850215.html es El País Helsinki / Madrid 16 March 2025 Majestic Pact's significance thumb|left|alt=Family photo of the government of Spain|Cabinet photo of José María Aznar's first government on 7 May 1996. The Majestic Pact, under which both PP and CiU supported their respective governments in the Cortes Generales and the Parliament of Catalonia in the 1996–2004, would become a reference of understanding between the Spanish right-wing and the Catalan nationalism going forward, receiving both praise and criticism.Gil Andrés 20 July 2016 Desde el pacto del Majestic hasta Ana Pastor: dos décadas de acuerdos del PP con nacionalistas https://www.eldiario.es/politica/majestic-ana-pastor-pp-nacionalistas_1_3893002.html es eldiario.es 15 March 2025Melgar Gerard 27 June 2024 José María Aznar reivindica en Barcelona el 'pacto del Majestic' con Jordi Pujol: "No fue un chantaje para intercambiar investidura por impunidad y privilegio" https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2024/06/27/667d4bc9fdddff39978b45a0.html es El Mundo Barcelona 15 March 2025 It saw the PP agreeing to the transfer to Catalonia of powers in matters of traffic, employment promotion and vocational training policies; the direct management of ports; a new model of regional financing (with the transfer of 30% of the management of the personal income tax to autonomous communities, as well as regional management of taxes on wealth, property transfers and documented legal acts, inheritance and gifts and gambling) the professionalization of the Armed Forces with the abolition of the compulsory military service; the reform of the State's peripheral administration to replace civil governors by provincial sub-delegates; and a reform of the Coastal Law to allow for "greater participation of the autonomous communities" in the planning and management of the coastline.14 November 2023 Qué cesiones a CIU incluía el 'pacto del Majestic', el acuerdo de investidura entre Aznar y Pujol en 1996 https://maldita.es/malditateexplica/20231114/pacto-majestic-aznar-presidente-cataluna/ es Maldita.es 15 March 2025Aduriz Iñigo 10 August 2024 El PP de Aznar permitió a Catalunya llegar a gestionar el 30% del IRPF y le dio el 100% de patrimonio, sucesiones y juego https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pp-aznar-dio-catalunya-30-irpf-100-patrimonio-sucesiones-juego-llegar-moncloa_1_11572859.html es elDiario.es 15 March 2025 The Pact was also attributed the removal in September 1996 of People's Party of Catalonia leader Alejo Vidal-Quadras, who had been very critical of Pujol and supported a more hardline stance against Catalan nationalism.31 December 1996 Vidal-Quadras afirma que Aznar erró al forzar su exclusión de la dirección del PP catalán https://elpais.com/diario/1996/12/31/espana/851986804_850215.html es El País Barcelona 16 March 2025Gubern Álex Tercero Daniel 23 December 2018 Del pacto del Majestic al del Palacio de Pedralbes, dos décadas de deslealtad https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-pacto-majestic-palacio-pedralbes-decadas-deslealtad-201812230255_noticia.html es ABC 16 March 2025 In his memoirs, published in 2012, Pujol admitted to having been reluctant to reach an agreement with Aznar,Masreal Fidel 16 February 2012 De cómo pactar con el PP https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20120215/pactar-pp-1419378 es El Periódico de Catalunya Barcelona 16 March 2025 (...) "No parecía en principio que tuviéramos ninguna otra opción que entendernos de nuevo con Aznar. Entrar en la confrontación directa con el PP hacía muy difícil nuestra posición como Govern y nos hacía renunciar a cualquier posibilidad de influencia en la política española. Reconozco que la colaboración con el PP no me hacía ninguna ilusión, pero no había alternativa", sostiene Pujol but that Felipe González had convinced him out of institutional responsibility and political stability reasons.Roger Maiol 16 February 2012 Jordi Pujol: del Pacto del Majestic a la Convergència de 'Andreu' Mas https://elpais.com/ccaa/2012/02/15/catalunya/1329344369_936849.html es El País Barcelona 15 March 2025 He also recognized that, following his precarious victory at the 1999 regional election and Aznar's absolute majority in the 2000 general election, the balance between the two parties broke apart, realizing that the PP had only accepted his demands in 1996 because of his necessary parliamentary support. Once CiU's votes were no longer required to sustain him in power, Aznar attempted to outmaneuver Pujol's party by offering them to enter the national government in 2001, subjecting CiU to more pressure in the Catalan parliament and dragging them into supporting initiatives in the Cortes—such as Aznar's proposal for a National Hydrological Plan which envisaged a water transfer in the Ebro river—that ended up being highly unpopular in Catalonia and helped hasten CiU's defeats in the 2003 regional and 2004 general elections.Roger Maiol 28 January 2012 El fantasma del Majestic sobrevuela CiU https://elpais.com/ccaa/2012/01/28/catalunya/1327788981_990417.html es El País Barcelona 15 March 2025Cañizares María Jesús 16 February 2012 Del pacto del Majestic a la independencia https://www.abc.es/espana/catalunya/abcp-pacto-majestic-independencia-201202160000_noticia.html es ABC 15 March 2025 Others, such as CiU spokesperson in the Congress between 2004 and 2015, Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida, came to praise the Majestic Pact as "the best agreement ever made for Catalonia" because, in his opinion, it led to "the highest rates of public investment by the State" in the region.9 March 2011 Duran presume de que el Pacto del Majestic ha sido "el mejor" acuerdo para Catalunya https://www.europapress.es/catalunya/noticia-duran-presume-pacto-majestic-sido-mejor-acuerdo-catalunya-20110309203041.html es Europa Press Madrid 15 March 2025 In the ensuing decades, as the PP came to criticize the agreements reached by future Socialist prime ministers (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and, particularly, Pedro Sánchez) with Catalan and Basque nationalist parties, the Majestic Pact was frequently recalled as a prime example of the PP's own wilingness to make concessions in exchange of parliamentary support.Nadi Sohaib 18 September 2023 El PP de Aznar hizo concesiones inéditas a los nacionalistas: "Él estaba dispuesto a todo con tal de gobernar" https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2023/09/18/el-pp-de-aznar-hizo-concesiones-ineditas-a-los-nacionalistas-el-estaba-dispuesto-a-todo-con-tal-de-gobernar-cadena-ser/ es Cadena SER Madrid 15 March 2025Gil Andrés Sánchez Raúl 23 September 2023 Dinero, indultos a Terra Lliure y gobernadores civiles: cuando González y Aznar pactaban con los nacionalistas y España no se rompía https://www.eldiario.es/politica/dinero-indultos-terra-lliure-gobernadores-civiles-gonzalez-aznar-pactaban-nacionalistas-espana-no-rompia_1_10533422.html es elDiario.es 15 March 2025 Critics of the Pact within the Spanish unionism camp blamed it for starting a path of "concessions" to Catalan nationalist parties that resulted in the 2006 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, the rise of the Catalan independence movement in 2012 (el procés, Catalan for "the process") and culminating in the 2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis.Tercero Alejandro 25 May 2013 Aznar, el mejor presidente para los intereses del nacionalismo catalán https://www.vozbcn.com/2013/05/25/140644/aznar-mejor-presidente-nacionalismo/ es La Voz de Barcelona 16 March 2025Carreira Sara 26 November 2017 Pere Lluís Huguet Tous: «El pacto del Majestic fue el principio, el Estado desapareció de Cataluña» https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/espana/2017/11/26/pacto-majestic-principio-estado-desaparecio-cataluna/0003_201711G26P23991.htm es La Voz de Galicia 16 March 202529 April 2024 Carrizosa (Cs) dice que los catalanes aún están "pagando" el Pacto del Majestic de PP y CiU https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/04/29/carrizosa-cs-dice-que-los-catalanes-aun-estan-pagando-el-pacto-del-majestic-de-pp-y-ciu/ es infobae 16 March 20252 February 2025 Pujol y la nostalgia del Majestic https://www.abc.es/opinion/editorial-abc-pujol-nostalgia-majestic-20250202041803-nt.html es ABC 16 March 2025 Notes References Spanish government formation Government formation Government formation Government formation Category:Cabinet formation in Spain