2011 Spanish general election

none October 2020 2011 Spanish election other nationwide elections held in Spain in 2011 2011 Spanish elections 2011 Spanish general election Spain parliamentary no 2008 Spanish general election 2008 2015 Spanish general election 2015 Members of the 9th Cortes Generales Members of the 10th Cortes Generales All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 266) seats in the Senate176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies Opinion polling for the 2011 Spanish general election 35,779,491 10px 2.0% 24,666,441 (68.9%)10px 4.9 pp 20 November 2011 170x170px Mariano Rajoy People's Party (Spain) 2 September 2003 Madrid 154 seats, 40.1%"PP+PAR+EU" Results for PP (39.9%, 154 deputies), PAR (0.2%, 0 deputies) and EU (0.0%, 0 deputies) in the 2008 Congress election. 186 10px 32 10,866,566 44.6% 10px 4.5 pp 170x170px Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 9 July 2011 Madrid 169 seats, 43.9% 110 10px 59 7,003,511 28.8% 10px 15.1 pp 170x170px Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida Convergence and Union 24 January 2004 Barcelona 10 seats, 3.0% 16 10px 6 1,015,691 4.2% 10px 1.2 pp 170x170px Cayo Lara Plural Left (Spain, 2011) 14 December 2008 Madrid 2 seats, 3.9%"IU+CHA" Results for IU (3.8%, 2 deputies) and CHA (0.1%, 0 deputies) in the 2008 Congress election. 11 10px 9 1,686,040 6.9% 10px 3.0 pp 170x170px Iñaki Antigüedad"Antigüedad" Amaiur did not field a single visible leader; instead, prominence was given to the lead candidate in each of the constituencies where it ran. Iñaki Antigüedad from Biscay was later selected as Amaiur's spokesperson in Congress. Amaiur 11 October 2011 Biscay 0 seats, 0.3%"Amaiur" Results for EA (0.2%, 0 deputies) and Aralar (0.1%, 0 deputies) in the 2008 Congress election. 7 10px 7 334,498 1.4% 10px 1.1 pp 170x170px Rosa Díez Union, Progress and Democracy 26 September 2007 Madrid 1 seats, 1.2% 5 10px 4 1,143,225 4.7% 10px 3.5 pp x315px|Map of Spain showcasing winning party's strength by constituency Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress) x315px|Map of Spain showcasing winning party's strength by autonomous community Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress) x315px|Map of Spain showcasing seat distribution by Congress of Deputies constituency Election results by constituency (Congress) Prime Minister Prime Minister after election José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Mariano Rajoy People's Party (Spain) A general election was held in Spain on 20 November 2011 to elect the members of the 10th es Cortes Generales no under the Spanish Constitution of 1978. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as 208 of 266 seats in the Senate. It was held four months ahead of schedule, and was noted for coinciding with the 36th anniversary of the death of dictator Francisco Franco.Garea Fernando 29 July 2011 Zapatero convoca el 20-N para que "otro Gobierno dé certidumbre" https://elpais.com/politica/2011/07/29/actualidad/1311929850_613039.html es El País Madrid 5 August 2026 The second term of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was quickly overshadowed by the impact of the Great Recession in Spain, aggravated by the Spanish property bubble's crash that led to a real-estate crisis. Unemployment reached record highs as public deficit and bond yields soared, with the popularity of Zapatero's government and his ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) plummeting after being forced to U-turn in economic policy and adopt tough austerity measures and spending cuts, as well as a 2011 constitutional reform introducing a balanced budget amendment. Concurrently, the curtailment of the Catalan Statute of Autonomy by the Constitutional Court of Spain in 2010 sparked protests and helped fuel pro-independence sentiment in the region. Despite the economic outlook, the government still attempted to push through some measures in its social agenda, such as a liberalization of abortion laws. Growing discontent saw a general strike in September 2010, an air traffic controllers' strike in December 2010 (which led to the first use of emergency powers since 1975), and the onset of the anti-austerity movement in Spain in May 2011. This, together with consistent opinion polling leads for the opposition People's Party (PP) under Mariano Rajoy—who had survived a plot to overthrow him during a 2008 party congress—materialized in the PSOE's collapse in the 2011 local and regional elections. Zapatero quit seeking a third term in office, with the first deputy prime minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, being selected as PSOE candidate unopposed. Mounting political and economic pressure forced Zapatero to call a snap election for November 2011. During this period, the separatist ETA group announced a permanent ceasefire and subsequent cessation of all armed operations, turning the election into the first since the Spanish transition to democracy without ETA activity.Europa Press 11 November 2011 El Gobierno resalta que son las primeras elecciones sin atentados de ETA https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/nacional/gobierno-primeras-elecciones-atentados-eta_1_5020298.html es Canarias Ahora Madrid 27 July 2026 Under falling voter turnout, the election saw the PSOE being swept out from power in the worst defeat for a sitting Spanish government up until that time since 1982, losing four million votes in its worst performance since 1977,Fernández Alberto 20 November 2011 Rubalcaba bate la peor marca del PSOE en 30 años https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111120/sprinter-rubalcaba-bate-peor-marca-del-psoe/476858.shtml es RTVE 27 July 2026 Rajoy's PP won in a landslide, beating José María Aznar's result in 2000;21 November 2011 La crisis da todo el poder a Rajoy https://elpais.com/diario/2011/11/21/portada/1321830001_850215.html es El País 6 August 2026 it was also the second largest and, to date, last single-party absolute majority in a nationwide Spanish election.Hernanz Miriam 20 November 2011 Rajoy rompe el techo de Génova y logra la segunda mayoría más amplia de la democracia https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111120/rajoy-rompe-techo-genova/476874.shtml es RTVE 27 July 2026 The left-wing United Left saw a turnaround of its electoral fortunes with its first remarkable increase in fifteen years,Vallejo Mario 20 November 2011 IU multiplica sus diputados y sale de una "larga travesía del desierto" por el descalabro del PSOE https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111120/iu-multiplica-diputados-sale-larga-travesia-del-desierto-por-descalabro-del-psoe/476860.shtml es RTVE 27 July 2026 whereas centrist Union, Progress and Democracy exceeded expectations with over one million votes, five seats and just short of the five percent threshold required for being recognized a parliamentary group in Congress.Hernanz Miriam 20 November 2011 UPyD roza el grupo parlamentario al superar el millón de votos y obtener escaño por Valencia https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111120/upyd/476873.shtml es RTVE 27 July 2026Rojo Iratxe 20 November 2011 El PP se lleva por delante al PSOE https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/11/20/espana/1321813046.html es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 The nationalist Convergence and Union topped the poll in Catalonia for the first time ever, whereas the abertzale left platform Amaiur achieved a major breakthrough in both the Basque Country and Navarre.Martín Plaza Ana 20 November 2011 Rajoy logra para el PP una mayoría histórica con 186 diputados y el PSOE se hunde con 110 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111120/rajoy-logra-historica-mayoria-absoluta-con-186-diputados-psoe-se-hunde-con-110/476868.shtml es RTVE 27 July 2026 Rajoy was subsequently elected as prime minister of Spain, forming a majority government after eight years in opposition. Background Premiership of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero The 2008 general election brought a second consecutive victory for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), which fell seven seats short of an overall majority.Sciolino Elaine Burnett Victoria 10 March 2008 https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/world/europe/10spain.html Socialists Re-elected in Spain, After a Bitter Campaign The New York Times Madrid 20 March 2026 Declining to form a coalition or seek confidence and supply agreements with smaller parties, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was re-elected as prime minister of Spain on the second ballot of investiture and went on to form the first female-majority cabinet in Spain's history.Goodman Al 11 April 2008 https://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/11/spain.election2/ Spain PM wins investiture vote CNN Madrid 20 March 202612 April 2008 https://www.france24.com/en/20080412-women-outnumber-men-new-zapatero-government-spain Women outnumber men in new Zapatero government France 24 20 March 2026 By then, the Spanish economy was already showing signs of fatigue and slowing after a decade of growth.Keeley Graham 8 April 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/08/spain1 Spain turns to public works to save economy The Guardian Barcelona 20 March 2026 The defeat of the opposition People's Party (PP) led some internal factions and conservative media to question Mariano Rajoy's leadership.Máiquez Miquel 31 May 2008 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/384482/0/crisis/pp/rajoy/ Tres meses de vía crucis para Rajoy es 20 minutos 12 May 2025Martín Plaza Ana 6 September 2011 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20110906/rajoy-reconoce-su-derrota-tras-11-m-supuso-momentos-amargos-penso-irse/459710.shtml Rajoy reconoce que su derrota tras el 11-M supuso momentos "amargos" en los que pensó irse es RTVE 12 May 2025 After fending off a challenge from the Madrilenian president, Esperanza Aguirre,Elordi Cué Carlos 8 April 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/04/08/espana/1207605602_850215.html Aguirre amaga con presentarse es El País Madrid 18 March 2022 Rajoy was re-elected at the July 2008 PP congress,Rojo Iratxe 21 June 2008 Rajoy, reelegido presidente del PP pese a no tener el apoyo del 21% de los compromisarios https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/06/21/espana/1214081240.html es El Mundo Valencia 18 March 2022 but the internal crisis continued for months amid several political scandals.26 January 2009 https://elpais.com/diario/2009/01/26/portada/1232924402_850215.html Rajoy pide unidad al PP ante la crisis de Madrid es El País 22 March 2026Elordi Cué Carlos 1 November 2009 https://elpais.com/diario/2009/11/01/domingo/1257051153_850215.html Rajoy no puede con ella es El País 22 March 2026 In early 2009, El País unveiled an alleged plot by the Madrid regional government to spy on Aguirre's political rivals.Mercado Francisco 19 January 2009 Un consejero de Aguirre monta un 'servicio secreto' con ex agentes https://elpais.com/diario/2009/01/19/espana/1232319601_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 May 202528 January 2009 Mysterious spying scandal rocks Spanish opposition https://www.trend.az/world/other/1411141.html Trend News Agency Madrid 12 May 202530 March 2011 Court reopens spying case against Madrid government https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2011/03/30/inenglish/1301462453_850210.html El País Madrid 20 March 2026 Soon after, the Spanish National Court opened a judicial probe into the Gürtel affair, which implicated the PP—especially its Madrid and Valencia branches—in a bribery, money laundering, and tax evasion scheme.Tremlett Giles 6 March 2009 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/06/spain-opposition-corruption-scandal Spanish opposition party rocked by corruption scandal The Guardian Madrid 20 March 202624 May 2018 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/455013/0/gurtel/cronologia/corrupcion/ 'Operación Gürtel': cronología de la investigación por corrupción es 20 minutos 12 May 2025 Investigations were delayed due to the examining magistrate, Baltasar Garzón, being tried for violating lawyer-client privilege through wiretapping,Zuber Helene 20 January 2012 Star Spanish Judge Garzón on the Defensive https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/prosecuting-the-prosecutor-star-spanish-judge-garzon-on-the-defensive-a-810452.html Der Spiegel 12 May 2025 while criticism over a hunting trip with him prompted the resignation of the justice minister, Mariano Fernández Bermejo.23 February 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7905830.stm Spanish justice minister resigns BBC News 28 March 2026 The PP victories in the 2009 Galician and European Parliament elections helped reassert Rajoy's authority within his party amid voters' growing economic concerns.Kingstone Steve 2 March 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7918917.stm Polls reshape Spain's regional landscape BBC News Madrid 22 March 2026Brunsden Jim 7 June 2009 https://www.politico.eu/article/popular-party-defeats-socialists-in-spain/ Popular Party defeats Socialists in Spain Politico Madrid 22 March 2026 thumb|left|alt=Unfinished buildings in A Coruña|The crash of the Spanish property bubble caused a real estate crisis. This made Spain one of the countries hardest hit by the Great Recession, leading to an increase in unemployment and a ballooning budget deficit. The impact of the Great Recession in Spain dominated Zapatero's second term, with early criticism focused on his delay in acknowledging the crisis and acting sooner.Sangrador-Vegas 2020EFE 3 July 2008 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/07/02/espana/1215026640.html Toda la oposición critica que Zapatero continúe sin admitir la 'crisis' económica es El Mundo Madrid 20 March 202621 December 2011 https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/us/spains-economic-crisis-idUSL5E7MI2DW/ Spain's economic crisis Reuters 20 March 2026 Worsening forecasts and rising fuel prices pushed the government to approve a first stimulus package based on tax rebates and the removal of the wealth tax,18 April 2008 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2008/4/18/spain-unveils-28-5bn-stimulus-plan Spain unveils $28.5bn stimulus plan Al Jazeera English 20 March 2026 while a truck drivers' strike erupted in June 2008.Keeley Graham 11 June 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jun/11/oil.transport Fuel protest: shortages, death and arrests hit Spain The Guardian Barcelona 20 March 2026Bolaños Alejandro 15 June 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/06/15/economia/1213480802_850215.html La huelga allana el camino a la crisis es El País Madrid 20 March 2026 The crash of the Spanish property bubble triggered a real-estate crisis, and the July 2008 bankruptcy of Martinsa-Fadesa became Spain's largest corporate default.14 July 2008 https://elpais.com/economia/2008/07/14/actualidad/1216020776_850215.html Martinsa-Fadesa anuncia la mayor suspensión de pagos de la historia en España es El País Madrid 20 March 2026Espinoza Javier 15 July 2008 http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/07/15/martinsa-fadesa-property-markets-equity-cx_je_0715markets23.html Party Is Over For Martinsa Fadesa Forbes Madrid 20 March 2026 20 July 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080720043824/http://www.forbes.com/markets/2008/07/15/martinsa-fadesa-property-markets-equity-cx_je_0715markets23.html bot: unknown A second stimulus package in August included further tax deductions, the opening up of the services sector, red tape cuts for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and simplified environmental plan requirements.Jiménez Miguel 25 July 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/07/25/economia/1216936801_850215.html El Gobierno se da de bruces con la crisis es El País Madrid 20 March 2026Keeley Graham 14 August 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/aug/14/economics.inflation Europe: Zapatero tries urgent remedy for Spain's economy The Guardian Barcelona 20 March 2026 The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September deepened the global financial crisis and caused historic losses for the Madrid Stock Exchange.Kollewe Julia 10 October 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/oct/10/marketturmoil-creditcrunch1 Markets crash: How panic spread around the globe The Guardian 21 March 2026Jiménez Miguel 11 October 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/10/11/economia/1223676003_850215.html Desplome histórico de la Bolsa española es El País Madrid 21 March 2026 By the end of 2008, Spain had entered recession,Agence France-Presse 12 February 2009 https://www.france24.com/en/20090212-spain-officially-recession-first-time-15-years- Spain officially in recession for first time in 15 years France 24 20 March 2026 with inflation and unemployment surging.Agence France-Presse 24 April 2009 https://www.france24.com/en/20090424-unemployment-soars-over-17-percent- Unemployment soars over 17 percent France 24 20 March 2026 The Spanish government's €50-billion "Plan E" public works program failed to meet its goals and drew criticism for its unsustainable spending.Keeley Graham 27 November 2008 https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/spain-injects-11bn-into-struggling-economy-pk73xgmj0wb Spain injects €11bn into struggling economy The Times Madrid 20 March 20266 May 2009 https://elpais.com/economia/2009/05/06/actualidad/1241595178_850215.html El Gobierno calcula que el Plan E contra la crisis ha inyectado 50.000 millones en la economía es El País Madrid 20 March 2026Doncel Luis 30 August 2009 https://elpais.com/diario/2009/08/30/economia/1251583202_850215.html Mucho empleo, pero poco productivo es El País Madrid 21 March 2026Keeley Graham 25 November 2010 https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/spain/plan-e-failed-so-spains-search-for-an-answer-begins-again-wdn57m2g8dk Plan E failed, so Spain's search for an answer begins again The Times Madrid 21 March 2026 A banking crisis forced the state bailout of several failing savings banks,Moya Elena 29 March 2009 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/mar/29/spanish-central-bank-rescues-caja-castilla-la-mancha Spain launches a £8.4bn bailout to rescue a stricken savings bank The Guardian 20 March 2026Keeley Graham 25 June 2009 https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/spain/spanish-banks-to-get-90-billion-bailout-5pqfhl9z97l Spanish banks to get €90 billion bailout The Times Madrid 20 March 20269 May 2012 Mars Amanda https://elpais.com/economia/2012/05/09/actualidad/1336585683_002948.html Parte de guerra: ocho entidades intervenidas o nacionalizadas en España es El País Madrid 20 March 2026 with the FROB being established to manage restructuring.28 January 2010 https://www.reuters.com/article/eu-spain-banks-idUSBRQ00969720100128/ EU clears Spanish bank recapitalisation plan Reuters Brussels 20 March 2026 In April 2009, Pedro Solbes was replaced by Elena Salgado as economy and finance minister,8 April 2009 https://www.economist.com/europe/2009/04/08/shuffle-shuffle Shuffle, shuffle The Economist Madrid 20 March 2026 and further austerity measures—including tax hikes (particularly VAT) and cuts in non-essential spending—were introduced to contain the growing public deficit.Catan Thomas 10 September 2009 https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125249000052995119 Spain Raises Taxes as Budget Crisis Deepens es The Wall Street Journal Madrid 20 March 202610 September 2009 https://www.economist.com/europe/2009/09/10/taxing-times Taxing times The Economist Madrid 20 March 202626 September 2009 https://elpais.com/economia/2009/09/26/actualidad/1253950374_850215.html El Gobierno aumenta el IVA general al 18% y suprime la deducción de los 400 euros es El País Madrid 23 September 2021 Zapatero's government initially tried to avoid cutting social security and welfare state policies,Sangrador-Vegas 2020Tremlett Giles 22 February 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/feb/22/spain-zapatero-strikes-unions-recession Spain braced for general strike as Zapatero tries to force labour law reform The Guardian Madrid 20 March 2026 but the rising deficit and unemployment,29 January 2010 https://elpais.com/economia/2010/01/29/actualidad/1264753981_850215.html El déficit público se dispara por encima de lo previsto con un 11,4% es El País Madrid 20 March 2026Doncel Luis 1 May 2010 https://elpais.com/diario/2010/05/01/economia/1272664801_850215.html El paro de larga duración se dispara tras dos años de crisis es El País Madrid 20 March 2026 together with fears of contagion from the Greek government-debt crisis (in turn threatening a euro area crisis),Traynor Ian 4 May 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/may/04/euro-debt-crisis-spain Spain's PM rejects debt crisis bailout rumours The Guardian Madrid 20 March 2026Sills Ben Duarte Esteban 6 May 2010 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-05-06/spain-pays-highest-yield-since-2008-in-3-billion-five-year-bond-auction Spain Pays Most Yield Since 2008 During Greek ‘Fire’ Bloomberg News 20 March 2026 forced Zapatero to announce emergency measures on 12 May 2010 aimed at preventing a sovereign default and bailout;Tremlett Giles Moya Elena 12 May 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/may/12/spanish-pm-debt-crisis-emergency-cuts Spanish PM makes debt crisis U-turn with emergency cuts The Guardian Madrid 20 March 2026 these included cuts to civil servants' wages and dependency spending, a pension freeze and the removal of birth allowances.Mortished Carl 13 May 2010 https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/spain/spain-unveils-new-austerity-plan-to-cut-deficit-ljgfvvkrvvj Spain unveils new austerity plan to cut deficit The Times 20 March 2026Garea Fernando 13 May 2010 https://elpais.com/diario/2010/05/13/espana/1273701601_850215.html Zapatero da un vuelco a su estrategia con un recorte de sueldos públicos sin precedentes es El País Madrid 20 March 2026 A labour reform followed, introducing incentives to youth employment, decentralizing collective bargaining, and reducing severance payments for layoffs.Rainsford Sarah 22 June 2010 https://www.bbc.com/news/10373564 Spain's struggle for labour reform BBC News Madrid 20 March 202622 June 2010 https://www.bbc.com/news/10385834 Spain ratifies labour reforms to cut unemployment BBC News 20 March 2026 These U-turns caused approval ratings for both Zapatero and the PSOE to collapse,Mallet Victor 30 May 2010 https://www.ft.com/content/d73628e6-6be6-11df-86c5-00144feab49a Poll adds to pressure on Zapatero Financial Times Madrid 20 March 202621 October 2010 https://www.economist.com/europe/2010/10/21/zapateros-endgame Zapatero's endgame The Economist Madrid 20 March 2026 as well as a general strike in September 2010.Agence France-Presse 15 June 2010 https://www.france24.com/en/20100615-unions-call-general-strike-over-labour-market-reform-spain-zapatero Spain's unions call general strike over labour market reform France 24 20 March 2026Ross-Thomas Emma 29 September 2010 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-09-28/spain-girds-for-first-general-strike-in-8-years-to-protest-zapatero-cuts Spain Holds First Strike Since 2002 as Europe Marches Bloomberg News 20 March 2026 Zapatero attempted to regain political initiative with a major cabinet reshuffle in October,20 October 2010 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11586669 Spain's PM Zapatero carries out major cabinet reshuffle BBC News 21 March 2026 but his government had to deal with an air traffic controllers' strike in December 2010, which led to a state of alarm (the first since the Spanish transition to democracy).4 December 2010 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11918008 Striking Spain air traffic controllers return to work BBC News 11 May 2025 Rising bond yields and threats to Spain's credit ratings prompted further measures,Oakley David Peel Quentin Tait Nikki 26 November 2010 https://www.ft.com/content/d0976a74-f8ca-11df-b550-00144feab49a Spain issues defiant warning to markets Financial Times London / Berlin / Brussels 20 March 202615 December 2010 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2010/12/15/inenglish/1292394043_850210.html Moody's threatens to cut Spain's ratings El País Madrid 20 March 202616 December 2010 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2010/12/16/inenglish/1292480442_850210.html Bond yields jump at last Spanish debt auction for the year El País Madrid 20 March 2026 including the partial privatizations of AENA and the State Lotteries, higher tobacco taxes, limits on unemployment benefits, and a tax cut for SMEs.Tremlett Giles 1 December 2010 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/01/spain-el-gordo-lottery-privatise Spain to part-privatise 'fat one' lottery as it tries to head off bailout The Guardian Madrid 20 March 2026Chu Henry 4 December 2010 Spain unveils new round of budget cuts https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-dec-04-la-fg-spain-austerity-20101204-story.html Los Angeles Times London 20 March 2026 A pension reform saw the compulsory retirement age rising from 65 to 67 years.Rainsford Sarah 28 January 2011 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-12305246 Spanish government reaches deal to raise retirement age BBC News Madrid 20 March 2026 Growing discontent with austerity culminated in the 15-M Movement in May 2011, also known as "the indignant ones" (es Indignados no),Sangrador-Vegas 2020 which would spark protests, demonstrations and occupations in Spain in the ensuing years.Alcaide Soledad 17 May 2011 https://elpais.com/politica/2011/05/16/actualidad/1305578500_751064.html Movimiento 15-M: los ciudadanos exigen reconstruir la política es El País Madrid 11 May 202515 May 2012 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18070246 Spain's Indignados protest here to stay BBC News 14 March 2026 thumb|alt=Puerta del Sol in Madrid during the 2011 Spanish protests|The Puerta del Sol square in Madrid (depicted here on 20 May 2011) became a focal point and a symbol during the anti-austerity protests in Spain. Domestically, the government dealt with the 2008 Spanair plane crash,Batty David Sturcke James 20 August 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/20/spain3 Scores feared dead in Madrid plane crash The Guardian 3 August 2026 the 2009 swine flu pandemic,Tremlett Giles 27 April 2009 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/27/swine-flu-spain-europe Spain confirms first swine flu case in Europe The Guardian Madrid 6 August 2026 and outrage over the 2009 hijacking of fishing trawler Alakrana to piracy off the coast of Somalia.Associated Press 17 November 2009 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/17/somali-pirates-free-spanish-crew Somali pirates free crew of Spanish trawler 'after $3.3m ransom' The Guardian 21 March 2026 It promoted a new abortion law based on a time limits-scheme (no conditions until the 14th week, and up to the 22nd week in cases of pregnancy complications), while also removing parental consent for minors aged 16–17.Sangrador-Vegas 202027 September 2009 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-09-27/spain-approves-abortion-law-changes/1443478 Spain approves abortion law changes ABC News 20 March 2026 During this period, the government adopted a new regional financing model, laws on sustainable economy and internet copyright infringements (the controversial Sinde Law), and a major Criminal Code reform that introduced harsher penalties for terrorism, sex crimes and real-estate corruption.7 April 2011 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2011/04/07/inenglish/1302153644_850210.html By my laws they shall know me El País Madrid 21 March 2026 In 2010, a ruling by the Constitutional Court curtailed the Catalan Statute of Autonomy—following a PP appeal—sparking protests in the region and fueling a sovereigntist and, ultimately, pro-independence movement.10 July 2010 https://www.bbc.com/news/10588494 Catalan protesters rally for greater autonomy in Spain BBC News 20 March 20268 September 2013 https://elpais.com/politica/2013/09/07/actualidad/1378573852_724639.html De la sentencia del Estatuto a la Via Catalana es El País Barcelona 12 May 2025 Economic hardship also contributed to the fall of the tripartite government in the 2010 Catalan election and the victory of Artur Mas's Convergence and Union.29 November 2010 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2010/11/29/inenglish/1291011641_850210.html CiU nationalists sweep to power in Catalan race El País Barcelona 20 March 202630 November 2010 https://elpais.com/diario/2010/11/30/espana/1291071601_850210.html Montilla bows out of PSC party leadership after crushing defeat El País Barcelona 20 March 2026 ETA group's activity, weakened by police blows to the group's capabilities,Sangrador-Vegas 2020Whitfield 2015 8–10 still saw a 2008 attack on the EITB offices,Associated Press 31 December 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/31/bilbao-bomb-eta Car bomb hits Basque TV station The Guardian 21 March 2026 and the Burgos and Palma Nova bombings in 2009.Associated Press 29 July 2009 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/29/suspected-car-bomb-explodes-spain Dozens injured in Spain car bomb blast The Guardian 21 March 2026Tremlett Giles 30 July 2009 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/30/mallorca-bomb-travel-holidaymakers-chaos Travel chaos after Mallorca car bomb kills two police officers The Guardian Madrid 21 March 2026 ETA's first murder of a French policeman in March 2010 also became its last,Goodman Al 17 March 2010 https://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/17/france.eta.policeman/index.html French police officer killed in 'ETA shootout' CNN Madrid 21 March 2026Menéndez María 20 October 2011 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111020/eta-no-comete-ningun-atentado-mortal-desde-marzo-2010/469100.shtml El último atentado mortal de ETA fue en marzo de 2010 con el asesinato de un policía francés es RTVE 29 September 2025 as it announced a ceasefire in September 2010,5 September 2020 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11191395 Basque separatist group Eta 'declares ceasefire' BBC News 29 September 2025 declared permanent in January 2011.Tremlett Giles 10 January 2011 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/10/eta-declares-permanent-ceasefire Eta declares permanent ceasefire The Guardian Madrid 29 September 2025 A judicial investigation uncovered a tip-off during the 2006 ceasefire that had delayed the dismantling of an ETA extortion network (the so-called Faisán affair); the opposition PP tried to link the case to the interior minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, but only two police officers were ultimately tried and convicted.31 March 2011 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2011/03/31/inenglish/1301548841_850210.html Who tipped off the ETA go-between? El País Madrid 21 March 2026Pérez Fernando Jesús 16 October 2013 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/10/16/inenglish/1381929992_514656.html Basque police officers sentenced to 18 months in jail in ETA Faisán tip-off case El País Madrid 21 March 2026 Concurrently, the Supreme and Constitutional courts banned several parties with alleged ties to the outlawed Batasuna,EFE 21 June 2012 Las marcas de Batasuna https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/06/21/espana/1340238671.html es El Mundo Madrid 29 September 2025 including the Communist Party of the Basque Homelands;EFE 18 September 2008 El Tribunal Supremo acuerda la ilegalización del EHAK-PCTV https://cadenaser.com/ser/2008/09/18/espana/1221695423_850215.html es Cadena SER 29 September 2025 the Basque Nationalist Action,29 January 2009 El Constitucional avala la ilegalización de ANV dictada por el Supremo https://elpais.com/elpais/2009/01/29/actualidad/1233220620_850215.html es El País Madrid 29 September 2025 several groups formed to contest the 2009 Basque election (D3M and Askatasuna),Agencias Peral María 13 February 2009 El Tribunal Constitucional confirma la anulación de las listas de Askatasuna y D3M https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2009/02/13/espana/1234479867.html es El Mundo Madrid 29 September 2025 and Sortu.24 March 2011 El Supremo acuerda ilegalizar Sortu por solo dos votos de diferencia https://elpais.com/elpais/2011/03/23/actualidad/1300871849_850215.html es El País Madrid 29 September 2025 The Constitutional Court allowed the abertzale left to contest the 2011 local elections under the Bildu banner,5 May 2011 El Constitucional da vía libre a Bildu para acudir a las elecciones https://elpais.com/elpais/2011/05/05/actualidad/1304583479_850215.html es El País 29 September 2025 which achieved a major electoral breakthrough.Tremlett Giles 23 May 2011 Basque separatists make breakthrough in Spanish elections https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/23/basque-separatists-breakthrough-spanish-elections The Guardian Madrid 21 March 2026 On 2 April 2011, Zapatero announced that he would not seek a third term as prime minister,3 April 2011 Prime minister announces he is not to run for a third term https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2011/04/03/inenglish/1301808041_850210.html El País Madrid 21 March 2011 but his initial plan to hold a party primary to choose a successor was scrapped following the PSOE's heavy defeats in the 2011 local and regional elections.Merino Juan Carlos 25 May 2011 Golpe de mano en el PSOE para sustituir a Zapatero como líder https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20110525/54160163286/golpe-de-mano-en-el-psoe-para-sustituir-a-zapatero-como-lider.html es La Vanguardia 12 April 2025 Defence minister and likely contender Carme Chacón withdrew from the race in favour of Rubalcaba,26 May 2011 Chacón withdraws from Socialist leadership race to avoid party split https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2011/05/26/inenglish/1306387241_850210.html El País Madrid 21 March 2026 who became the party's prime ministerial candidate unopposed.Sánchez Santiago 9 July 2011 Rubalcaba, tras 20 años gobernando, se estrena como candidato a presidente https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20110709/rubalcaba-alquimista-del-psoe/435049.shtml es RTVE 13 April 2025 The final months of Zapatero's term were marked by a constitutional reform in the summer of 2011 introducing a balanced budget amendment,Tremlett Giles 26 August 2011 Spain changes constitution to cap budget deficit https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/aug/26/spain-constitutional-cap-deficit The Guardian Madrid 12 May 2025 and his decision to bring forward the general election to 20 November in response to mounting political and economic pressure.Tremlett Giles 29 July 2011 Spain prime minister calls early election for 20 November https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/29/spain-early-election The Guardian Madrid 21 March 2026 Overview Under the 1978 Constitution, the Spanish es Cortes Generales no were conceived as an imperfect bicameral system.Constitution 1978 art. 66.https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=66&tipo=2 Constitución española. Título III. De las Cortes Generales. Sinopsis artículo 66 es Congress of Deputies 11 October 2025 , summarizing Constitution 1978 art. 66. The Congress of Deputies held greater legislative power than the Senate, having the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a prime minister and to override Senate vetoes by an absolute majority.Constitution 1978 arts. 90 & 99. Nonetheless, the Senate retained a limited number of specific functions—such as ratifying international treaties, authorizing cooperation agreements between autonomous communities, enforcing direct rule, regulating interterritorial compensation funds, and taking part in constitutional amendments and in the appointment of members to the Constitutional Court and the General Council of the Judiciary—which were not subject to override by Congress.Constitution 1978 arts. 74, 94, 122, 145, 155, 158–159 & 166–167. Date The term of each chamber of the es Cortes Generales no—the Congress and the Senate—expired four years from the date of their previous election, unless they were dissolved earlier.Constitution 1978 arts. 68–69. The election decree was required to be issued no later than 25 days before the scheduled expiration date of parliament and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE), with election day taking place 54 days after the decree's publication.LOREG 1985 arts. 42 & 167. The previous election was held on 9 March 2008, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 9 March 2012. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 14 February 2012, setting the latest possible date for election day on 8 April 2012. The prime minister had the prerogative to propose the monarch to dissolve both chambers at any given time—either jointly or separately—and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no state of emergency was in force and that dissolution did not occur before one year after a previous one.Constitution 1978 arts. 115–116. Additionally, both chambers were to be dissolved and a new election called if an investiture process failed to elect a prime minister within a two-month period from the first ballot.Constitution 1978 art. 99. Barring this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections to the Congress and the Senate.https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=115&tipo=2 Constitución española. Título V. De las relaciones entre el Gobierno y las Cortes Generales. Sinopsis artículo 115 es Congress of Deputies 31 October 2025 , summarizing Constitution 1978 art. 115. Still, as of , there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution. As the Great Recession took its hold in Spain, Zapatero rejected early demands from the opposition PP to call a snap election in 2009 and 2010,2 July 2009 Zapatero descarta elecciones anticipadas https://www.expansion.com/2009/07/02/economia-politica/1246527670.html es Expansión 12 May 202515 July 2010 "Me cueste lo que me cueste", asegura Zapatero para anunciar más sacrificios https://elpais.com/elpais/2010/07/15/actualidad/1279181817_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 May 202517 October 2010 Zapatero: 'Que se prepare Rajoy para estar más tiempo en la oposición' https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/10/17/espana/1287316544.html es El Mundo Madrid 12 May 2025 as well as following the PSOE's heavy defeat in the May 2011 local and regional elections, assuring that it would be held when due in March 2012.Díez Anabel 18 May 2011 Zapatero asegura que las elecciones generales serán en marzo de 2012 sea cual sea el resultado del 22-M https://elpais.com/politica/2011/05/16/22m/1305570916_117739.html es El País Seville 12 May 2025Agencias Sánchez Manuel 23 May 2011 Zapatero descarta adelantar las elecciones https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/05/22/espana/1306087116.html es El Mundo Madrid 12 May 2025 In a change of heart and amid increased pressure to Spain's sovereign debt, Zapatero announced on 29 July 2011 that he would call the general election for 20 November, justifying it so that "a new government can take charge of the economy in 2012, fresh from the balloting". The advance notice (two months before dissolution) was enough to still give his government time to approve pending reforms (such as further deficit cuts, a reform of collective agreements, or the streamlining of the justice system). Behind the scenes, it was speculated that the decision came from PSOE candidate Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba's desire to avoid further political erosion due to the worsening economic indicators.Cervilla Paloma 19 July 2011 Rubalcaba eleva la presión sobre Zapatero para adelantar las elecciones https://www.abc.es/espana/sevp-rubalcaba-eleva-presion-sobre-201107190000_noticia.html es ABC 5 August 2026Pérez Giménez Alberto 29 July 2011 Zapatero adelanta al 20-N las elecciones ante la embestida de los mercados https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2011-07-29/zapatero-adelanta-al-20-n-las-elecciones-ante-la-embestida-de-los-mercados_420026/ es El Confidencial 12 May 2025Peña César 29 July 2011 Rubalcaba: "Yo nunca le he pedido al presidente del Gobierno que adelante las elecciones" https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20110729/rubalcaba-yo-nunca-he-pedido-presidente-del-gobierno-adelante-elecciones/450979.shtml es RTVE 5 August 2026 The es Cortes Generales no were officially dissolved on 27 September 2011 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 20 November and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 13 December.Royal Decree 1329/2011 2011 arts. 1–2 & 5.EFE 26 September 2011 Zapatero firmará el decreto que disuelve las Cortes y convoca las elecciones del 20-N este lunes https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20110926/zapatero-firmara-decreto-disuelve-cortes-convoca-elecciones-del-20-n-este-lunes/464119.shtml es RTVE 5 August 2026 Electoral system Voting for each chamber of the es Cortes Generales no was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age with full political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.LOREG 1985 arts. 2–3.Carreras de Odriozola Tafunell Sambola 2005 1077 Amendments earlier in 2011 required non-resident citizens to apply for voting, a system known as "begged" voting (es Voto rogado).LOREG 1985 art. 75.Reig Pellicer Naiara 16 December 2015 http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/politics/article/spanish-elections-begging-for-the-right-to-vote.html Spanish elections: Begging for the right to vote cafebabel.co.uk 17 July 2017 31 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210831202218/https://cafebabel.com/en/article/spanish-elections-begging-for-the-right-to-vote-5ae00a98f723b35a145e6867/ usurped The Congress of Deputies had a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 400 seats, with electoral provisions fixing its size at 350. Of these, 348 were elected in 50 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the provinces of Spain—each of which was assigned an initial minimum of two seats and the remaining 248 distributed in proportion to population—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a three percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency. The remaining two seats were allocated to Ceuta and Melilla as single-member districts elected by plurality voting.Constitution 1978 art. 68; LOREG 1985 arts. 162–164. The use of this electoral method resulted in a higher effective threshold depending on district magnitude and vote distribution.Gallagher Michael 30 July 2012 http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php Effective threshold in electoral systems Trinity College Dublin Dublin https://web.archive.org/web/20170730092518/http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php 22 July 2017 30 July 2017 As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled the following seats:Royal Decree 1329/2011 2011 art. 3 & annex. Seats ConstituenciesThe province of Guipúzcoa was officially renamed as "Gipuzkoa" on 7 July 2011.Law 19/2011 2011 art. 2 & final prov.. 36 Madridgreen (+1) 31 Barcelona 16 Valencia 12 Alicante, Seville 10 Málaga, Murcia 8 A Coruña, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Biscay, Cádizred (−1), Las Palmas 7 Granada, Pontevedra, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza 6 Almería, Badajoz, Córdoba, Gipuzkoa, Girona, Jaén, Tarragona, Toledo 5 Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Huelva, León, Navarre, Valladolid 4 Álava, Albacete, Burgos, Cáceres, La Rioja, Lleida, Lugo, Ourense, Salamanca 3 Ávila, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Teruel, Zamora 2 Soria 208 Senate seats were elected using open-listParties could group candidates into lists, although each candidate was treated separately for the purpose of the voting procedure. partial block voting: voters in constituencies electing four seats could choose up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, up to two; and in single-member districts, one. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces was allocated four seats, while in insular provinces—such as the Balearic and Canary Islands—the districts were the islands themselves, with the larger ones (Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife) being allocated three seats each, and the smaller ones (Menorca, Ibiza–Formentera, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma) one each. Ceuta and Melilla elected two seats each. Additionally, autonomous communities could appoint at least one senator each and were entitled to one additional seat per million inhabitants.Constitution 1978 art. 69; LOREG 1985 arts. 162 & 165–166.Carreras de Odriozola Tafunell Sambola 2005 1083 The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacant seats; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.LOREG 1985 arts. 46, 48, 164, 166 & 170–171. Outgoing parliament The tables below show the composition of the parliamentary groups in both chambers at the time of dissolution.Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/grups.html Grupos Parlamentarios en el Congreso de los Diputados y el Senado es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/senado7.html Composición del Senado 1977- es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 auto + Parliamentary composition in September 2011https://www.congreso.es/web/guest/grupos/composicion-en-la-legislatura Grupos parlamentarios es Congress of Deputies 7 December 2020 Congress of Deputies Groups Parties Deputies Seats Total Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 144 169 PSC 25 People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress PP 152 152 Catalan Parliamentary Group(Convergence and Union) CDC 6 10 UDC 4 Republican Left–United Left–Initiative forCatalonia Greens' Parliamentary Group ERC 3 5 IU 1 ICV 1 Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ/PNV) EAJ/PNV 6 6 Mixed Parliamentary Group UPN 2 8 BNG 2 CC 2 UPyD 1 GBai 1 1em + Parliamentary composition in September 2011https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/gruposparlamentarios/gruposparlamentariosdesde1977/index.html Grupos Parlamentarios desde 1977 es Senate of Spain 8 July 2020 Senate2 seats were vacant as a result of a lack of substitutes to replace the resigned Corina Porro (PP) and Cáceres Lino González (PSOE). Groups Parties Senators Seats Total People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate PP 125 125 Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 103 103 Catalan Agreement of ProgressParliamentary Group PSC 10 15 ERC 3 ICV 2 Convergence and Union'sCatalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate CDC 7 8 UDC 1 Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group EAJ/PNV 3 4 BNG 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group UPN 2 7 PSOE 2PSOE legislators Artur Bagur and Margalida Font had been elected for the constituencies of Menorca and Ibiza within wider electoral alliances, and went into the Mixed Group as part of their election agreements. CC 1 AHI 1 FAC 1 Candidates Nomination rules Spanish citizens with the right to vote could run for election, provided that they had not been criminally imprisoned by a final sentence or convicted—whether final or not—of offences that involved loss of eligibility or disqualification from public office (such as rebellion, terrorism or other crimes against the state). Additional causes of ineligibility applied to the following officials:Constitution 1978 art. 70; LOREG 1985 arts. 6 & 154. Members of the Spanish royal family and their spouses; Holders of a number of senior public or institutional posts, including the heads and members of higher courts and state institutions;These comprised the Constitutional Court, the General Council of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court, the Council of State, the Court of Auditors and the Economic and Social Council. the Ombudsman; the State's Attorney General; high-ranking officials of government departments, the Office of the Prime Minister and other state agencies; government delegates in the autonomous communities; the chair of RTVE; the director of the Electoral Register Office; the governor and deputy governor of the Bank of Spain; the heads of official credit institutions; and members of electoral commissions and of the Nuclear Safety Council; Heads of diplomatic missions abroad; Judges and public prosecutors in active service; Members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement bodies in active service. Other ineligibility provisions also applied to a number of territorial officials in these categories within their areas of jurisdiction, as well as to employees of foreign states and members of regional governments. Incompatibility rules included those of ineligibility, and also barred running in multiple constituencies or lists, holding office if the candidacy was later declared illegal (by a final ruling), and combining legislative roles (deputy, senator, and regional lawmaker) with each other or with:Constitution 1978 art. 67; LOREG 1985 arts. 6, 46 & 155–159. A number of senior public or institutional posts, including the presidency of the National Commission on Markets and Competition; and leadership positions in RTVE, government offices, public authorities (such as port authorities, hydrographic confederations, or highway concessionary companies), public entities and state-owned or publicly funded companies; Any other paid public or private position, except university teaching. Parties and lists List of political parties in Spain The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list. Concurrently, parties, federations or alliances that had not obtained a mandate in either chamber of the es Cortes no at the preceding election were required to secure the signature of at least 0.1 percent of electors in the aforementioned constituencies.LOREG 1985 arts. 44 & 169. Additionally, a balanced composition of men and women was required in the lists of candidates, so that candidates of either sex made up at least 40 percent of the total composition.LOREG 1985 art. 44 bis. Below is a list of the main parties and alliances which contested the election:http://www.congreso.es/jelect/2011/Coaliciones.pdf ELECCIONES GENERALES. 20 de noviembre de 2011. Coaliciones válidamente constituidas ante la Junta Electoral Central es Congress of Deputies 21 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044322/http://www.congreso.es/jelect/2011/Coaliciones.pdf 22 January 2019 dead Candidacy Parties andalliances Leading candidate Ideology Previous result Gov. Government Ref. References Congress Senate Vote % Seats Vote % Seats PSOE List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Extremaduran Coalition (PREx–CREx)– Extremaduran Regionalist Party (PREx)– Regionalist Convergence of Extremadura (CREx) 50px Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba Social democracy 43.9% 169 37.2% 88 Agencias 13 June 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/06/13/espana/1307966043.html Rubalcaba será proclamado candidato el 9 de julio al no tener rival en primarias es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026EFE 24 September 2011 http://www.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=936822 https://web.archive.org/web/20111222155050/http://www.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=936822 dead 22 December 2011 Coalición Extremeña apoya las listas del PSOE y añade a sus candidatos es ABC Mérida 27 July 2026 PP List on People's Party (PP) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Aragonese Party (PAR) United Extremadura (EU) Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN) Municipal Assemblies of Fuerteventura (AMF) Majorero Progressive Party (PPMAJO) Liberal Centre of Antigua (CLAN) 50px Mariano Rajoy ConservatismChristian democracy 40.1%"PP+PAR+EU" 154 40.4%Results for PP (40.2%, 101 senators), PAR (0.2%, 0 senators) and EU (0.0%, 0 senators) in the 2008 Senate election. 101 Arrarás Amaia 8 September 2011 https://elpais.com/politica/2011/09/08/actualidad/1315492559_034568.html PP y UPN acuerdan ir juntos a las elecciones tres años después de su ruptura es El País Pamplona 27 July 2026EFE 3 October 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/10/03/espana/1317656701.html Rajoy sella la coalición PP-PAR en Aragón es El Mundo Zaragoza 27 July 20267 October 2011 https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/politica/pp-aprueba-alianza-derecha-fuerteventura_1_5513878.html El PP aprueba la alianza de la derecha en Fuerteventura es Canarias Ahora 25 October 2026Europa Press 10 October 2011 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/1183886/0/ PP y CCN acudirán conjuntamente a las elecciones en Canarias es 20 minutos Tenerife 27 July 202630 October 2011 https://www.europapress.es/extremadura/noticia-rajoy-monago-firmaran-madrid-acuerdo-coalicion-pp-extremadura-unida-20111030140703.html Rajoy y Monago firmarán en Madrid el acuerdo de coalición del PP con Extremadura Unida es Europa Press Mérida 27 July 2026 CiU List on Convergence and Union (CiU)– Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC)– Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC) 50px Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida Catalan nationalismCentrism 3.0% 10 3.5% 4 Noguer Miquel 23 July 2011 https://elpais.com/politica/2011/07/23/actualidad/1311424014_532320.html Duran se descarta como "muleta" de PP y PSOE es El País Barcelona 27 July 2026 EAJ/PNV List on Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 50px Josu Erkoreka Basque nationalismChristian democracy 1.2% 6 1.3% 2 Europa Press 7 October 2011 https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/agencias/20111007/54227431038/la-asamblea-nacional-del-pnv-aprueba-las-listas-para-el-congreso-y-senado-para-el-20-n.html La Asamblea Nacional del PNV aprueba las listas para el Congreso y Senado para el 20-N es La Vanguardia Bilbao 25 October 2026 esquerra List on Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) Catalonia Yes (CatSí) Independence Rally (RI.cat) 50px Alfred Bosch Catalan independenceLeft-wing nationalismSocial democracy 1.2% 3 colspan="2" Contestedin alliancePSC–PSOE (8 senators), ERC (3 senators), ICV (1 senator) and EUiA (0 senators) contested the 2008 Senate election within the Entesa alliance. Agencias 17 September 2011 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20110917/bosch-se-impone-a-ridao-sera-candidato-erc-a-generales/462240.shtml Bosch se impone a Ridao y será el candidato de ERC a las generales es RTVE 25 October 2026ACN 18 September 2011 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20110918/54217392678/alfred-bosch-tiende-la-mano-a-si-y-reagrupament-para-una-candidatura-unica-al-20-n.html Alfred Bosch tiende la mano a SI y Reagrupament para una candidatura única al 20-N es La Vanguardia Arenys de Munt 25 October 2026Europa Press 17 October 2011 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20111017/54232934432/reagrupament-da-marcha-atras-y-se-presentara-con-erc-en-girona.html Reagrupament da marcha atrás y se presentará con ERC en Girona es La Vanguardia Girona 25 October 2026 IU–LV List on United Left (IU)– Communist Party of Spain (PCE)– Collective for the Unity of Workers–Andalusian Left Bloc (CUT–BAI)– Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR)– Republican Left (IR) Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and Alternative Left (ICV–EUiA)– Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV)– United and Alternative Left (EUiA) Aragonese Union (CHA) Independent Socialists of Extremadura (SIEx) Left (I–E)– Assembly (Batzarre) The Greens (LV) Green and Red Canaries (CVR)– Canaries for the Left–Yes We Can (CxIzq–SSP)– Party for Services and Public Employed (PSyEP) Democratic and Social Party of Ceuta (PDSC) 50px Cayo Lara SocialismCommunism 3.9%"IU+CHA" 2 3.0%Results for IU (2.9%, 0 senators) and CHA (0.2%, 0 senators) in the 2008 Senate election. 0 10 September 2011 https://elpais.com/elpais/2011/09/10/actualidad/1315642619_850215.html Cayo Lara, elegido candidato de IU a la Presidencia del Gobierno es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Agencias 4 October 2011 https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2011/10/04/izquierda-unida-cha-sellan-alianza-para-las-generales-159774-305.html Izquierda Unida y CHA sellan su alianza para las generales es Heraldo de Aragón 25 October 2026EFE 5 October 2011 https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2011/10/05/iu-concurrira-20-en-coalicion-con-otras-diez-formaciones-politicas-159955-305.html IU concurrirá al 20-N en coalición con otras diez formaciones políticas es Heraldo de Aragón Madrid 25 October 2026 CC–NC–PNC List on Canarian Coalition (CC) New Canaries (NC) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) 50px Ana Oramas RegionalismCanarian nationalismCentrism 0.8%Results for CC–PNC (0.7%, 2 deputies) and NC–CCN (0.1%, 0 deputies) in the 2008 Congress election. 2 0.5%Results for CC–PNC (0.4%, 1 senator) and NC–CCN (0.1%, 0 senators) in the 2008 Senate election. 1 Santana Txema 3 September 2011 El nacionalismo canario se une de cara al 20-N https://elpais.com/politica/2011/09/03/actualidad/1315063683_133492.html es El País Las Palmas 27 July 2026 BNG List on Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)– Galician People's Union (UPG)– Socialist Collective (CS)– Galician Nationalist Party–Galicianist Party (PNG–PG)– Nationalist Left (EN)– Inzar (Inzar)– Irmandiño Meeting (EI)– Galician Socialist Space (ESG)– Galician Movement for Socialism (MGS)– More Galicia (+Gz) 50px Francisco Jorquera Galician nationalismLeft-wing nationalismSocialism 0.8% 2 1.0% 0 Salgado Xurxo 30 August 2011 La ejecutiva del BNG vuelve a apostar por Jorquera y Olalla Fernández como candidatos https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/08/30/galicia/1314703614.html es El Mundo Santiago de Compostela 25 October 2026 UPyD List on Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 50px Rosa Díez Social liberalismRadical centrism 1.2% 1 1.0% 0 22 November 2009 Rosa Díez, elegida portavoz https://elpais.com/diario/2009/11/22/espana/1258844407_850215.html es El País Madrid 25 October 2026Europa Press 17 September 2011 Rosa Díez, elegida candidata de UPyD a la presidencia del Gobierno https://www.publico.es/actualidad/rosa-diez-elegida-candidata-upyd-presidencia-gobierno.html es Público 25 October 2026 GBai List on Expanding (Zabaltzen) Villava Group (AT) Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 50px Uxue Barkos Basque nationalismSocial democracy 0.2%"NaBai" Results for NaBai in the 2008 election. 1 0.3%"NaBai" 0 Arrarás Amaia 30 September 2011 https://elpais.com/politica/2011/09/30/actualidad/1317395397_942874.html Barkos liderará el "espíritu" de NaBai el 20-N en la nueva coalición Geroa Bai es El País Pamplona 27 July 2026 Amaiur List on Create (Sortu) Basque Solidarity (EA) Aralar (Aralar) Alternative (Alternatiba) 50px Iñaki Antigüedad"Antigüedad" Basque independenceAbertzale leftSocialism 0.3%"Amaiur" 0 0.3%Results for EA (0.2%, 0 senators) and Aralar (0.1%, 0 senators) in the 2008 Senate election. 0 Landa López Isabel 27 September 2011 https://elpais.com/politica/2011/09/27/actualidad/1317151727_668622.html Amaiur concurrirá al 20-N para reivindicar “la nación” vasca es El País San Sebastián 25 October 202616 October 2011 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-20n-amaiur-presenta-candidatos-quiere-ser-referencia-nacion-exige-reconocimiento-derechos-20111016133816.html Amaiur presenta a sus candidatos y quiere ser "referencia de una nación que exige reconocimiento y derechos" es Europa Press Bilbao 25 October 2026 Compromís List on Valencian Nationalist Bloc (Bloc) Valencian People's Initiative (IdPV) The Greens–Ecologist Left of the Valencian Country (EVEE) Equo (Equo) 50px Joan Baldoví ValencianismProgressivismGreen politics 0.1%"Bloc" Results for Bloc–IdPV–EVEE in the 2008 election. 0 0.1%"Bloc" 0 F. A. 29 May 2011 https://www.informacion.es/alicante/2011/05/29/compromis-reeditara-coalicion-elecciones-generales-6991536.html Compromís reeditará su coalición en las elecciones generales es Información 25 October 202625 September 2011 https://elpais.com/diario/2011/09/25/cvalenciana/1316978281_850215.html Joan Baldoví encabezará la lista de Compromís en Valencia es El País Valencia 25 October 2026Beltrán Adolf 1 October 2011 https://elpais.com/diario/2011/10/01/cvalenciana/1317496688_850215.html Compromís incorpora a Equo y se ofrece como "revulsivo" en las generales es El País Valencia 25 October 2026 PSC–ICV–EUiA List on Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) United and Alternative Left (EUiA) 50px Mònica Almiñana CatalanismSocial democracyEco-socialism colspan="2" Did not contest 7.6% 9 EFE 10 August 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/08/10/barcelona/1312962401.html PSC e ICV-EUiA defienden reeditar la Entesa en el Senado con ERC es El Mundo Barcelona 25 October 2026Ellakuría Iñaki 19 September 2011 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20110919/54218729835/desaparece-la-entesa-el-ultimo-vestigio-del-tripartito.html Desaparece la Entesa, el último vestigio del tripartito es La Vanguardia 27 July 20267 October 2011 https://elpais.com/elpais/2011/10/07/actualidad/1317975426_850215.html Chacón incluye en la lista del PSC a su jefe de gabinete es El País Barcelona 25 October 2026 FAC List on Forum of Citizens (FAC) 50px Enrique Álvarez Sostres RegionalismConservatism colspan="4" Did not contest Gallego Pablo 1 September 2011 https://www.lne.es/asturias/2011/09/01/foro-presentara-madrid-20-n-21041131.html Foro se presentará por Madrid el 20-N es La Nueva España Oviedo 25 October 2026Europa Press 1 September 2011 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/1188605/0/ Álvarez Sostres y Miguel Ángel Conde, candidatos de Foro al Congreso y al Senado por Asturias es 20 minutos 25 October 2026 The Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) and United and Alternative Left (EUiA) continued their Catalan Senate alliance without ERC, under the Agreement for Catalonia Progress name. An attempt to re-establish the 2008 alliance in the Ibiza–Formentera Senate constituency failed due to the opposition of Ibiza for Change (ExC).Rodríguez Eugenio 22 September 2011 https://www.diariodeibiza.es/ibiza/2011/09/22/79-comite-insular-psoe-aprueba-30763869.html El 79% del Comité Insular del PSOE aprueba un pacto con la izquierda para el Senado es Diario de Ibiza Ibiza 23 October 2026De Lama Fernando 7 October 2011 https://www.diariodeibiza.es/ibiza/2011/10/07/exc-frustra-pacto-izquierda-senado-30761066.html ExC frustra el pacto de la izquierda al Senado es Diario de Ibiza Ibiza 23 October 2026 The new green Equo party allied itself with PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN), Initiative Greens (IV) and Agreement for Mallorca (ExM) in the Balearic Islands and with Sí Se Puede (SSP) and Socialists for Tenerife (SxTf) in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife constituency.8 September 2011 https://eldia.es/canarias/2011-09-08/3-EQUO-negocia-Puede-Tenerife-concurrir-juntos-N.htm EQUO negocia con Sí se Puede y Por Tenerife concurrir juntos el 20-N es El Dia 17 March 2019Sanz Luis Ángel 17 October 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/10/17/espana/1318855638.html Equo presenta más de 80.000 firmas para presentarse en 43 provincias es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026Cáceres Pedro 10 November 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/11/09/natura/1320859557.html Equo realiza los anuncios más limpios de la campaña electoral es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Campaign Timetable The key dates are listed below (all times are CET. The Canary Islands used WET (UTC+0) instead):https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/documentos/GENERALES_2011_Calendario.pdf Elecciones Generales 20 de noviembre 2011. Calendario Electoral es Central Electoral Commission 24 January 2026 26 September: The election decree is issued with the countersign of the prime minister, after deliberation in the Council of Ministers, ratified by the King.26 September 2011 https://politica.elpais.com/politica/2011/09/26/actualidad/1317070597_773295.html Nuevo Gobierno a finales de diciembre es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 27 September: Formal dissolution of parliament and start of prohibition period on the inauguration of public works, services or projects. 30 September: Initial constitution of provincial and zone electoral commissions with judicial members. 3 October: Division of constituencies into polling sections and stations. 7 October: Deadline for parties and federations to report on their electoral alliances. 10 October: Deadline for electoral register consultation for the purpose of possible corrections. 17 October: Deadline for parties, federations, alliances, and groupings of electors to present electoral lists. 19 October: Publication of submitted electoral lists in the Official State Gazette (BOE). 22 October: Deadline for non-resident citizens (electors residing abroad (CERA) and citizens temporarily absent from Spain) to apply for voting. 24 October: Official proclamation of validly submitted electoral lists. 25 October: Publication of proclaimed electoral lists in the BOE. 26 October: Deadline for the selection of polling station members by sortition. 3 November: Deadline for the appointment of non-judicial members to provincial and zone electoral commissions. 4 November: Official start of electoral campaigning.Royal Decree 1329/2011 2011 art. 4. 10 November: Deadline to apply for postal voting. 15 November: Start of legal ban on electoral opinion polling publication; deadline for CERA citizens to vote by mail. 16 November: Deadline for postal and temporarily absent voting. 18 November: Last day of electoral campaigning; deadline for CERA voting. 19 November: Official election silence ("reflection day"). 20 November: Election day (polling stations open at 9 am and close at 8 pm or once voters present in a queue at/outside the polling station at 8 pm have cast their vote); provisional vote counting. 23 November: Start of general vote counting, including CERA votes. 26 November: Deadline for the general vote counting. 5 December: Deadline for the proclamation of elected members. 15 December: Deadline for the reconvening of parliament (date determined by the election decree, which for the 2011 election was set for 13 December).Constitution 1978 art. 68. 14 January: Deadline for the publication of definitive election results in the BOE. Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Ref. References PSOE « Pelea por lo que quieres » "Fight for what you want" 20 October 2011 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-pelea-quieres-lema-campana-psoe-20111020141326.html "Pelea por lo que quieres", lema de campaña del PSOE es Europa Press Madrid 27 July 2026 PP « Súmate al cambio » "Join the change" 25 October 2011 https://cadenaser.com/ser/2011/10/25/espana/1319500222_850215.html 'Súmate al cambio', lema del Partido Popular para las elecciones del 20-N es Cadena SER 27 July 2026 CiU « La nostra força » "Our strength" Gisbert Josep 4 November 2011 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20111104/54237499378/duran-llama-a-bombardear-las-urnas-con-votos-de-ciu.html Duran llama a "bombardear" las urnas con votos de CiU es La Vanguardia 27 July 2026Julve Rafa 17 December 2015 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20151217/carteles-electorales-convergencia-unio-elecciones-generales-4743975 Los carteles de Convergència y de Unió para las elecciones generales desde 1982 es El Periódico de Catalunya Barcelona 27 July 2026 EAJ/PNV « Euskadiren alde. Euskadi puede » "For the Basque Country. The Basque Country can do it" 20 October 2011 http://www.eitb.eus/es/noticias/politica/detalle/754137/el-pnv-quiere-ser-primera-fuerza-vasca-cortes-generales/ El PNV quiere ser la primera fuerza vasca en las Cortes Generales es EiTB 27 July 2026 22 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222180929/http://www.eitb.eus/es/noticias/politica/detalle/754137/el-pnv-quiere-ser-primera-fuerza-vasca-cortes-generales/ bot: unknown Esquerra « República del Sí » "Republic of Yes" 26 October 2011 http://www.esquerra.cat/actualitat/alfred-bosch-volem-la-republica-del-si Alfred Bosch: 'Volem la República del Sí' ca Republican Left of Catalonia dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160401232730/http://www.esquerra.cat/actualitat/alfred-bosch-volem-la-republica-del-si 1 April 2016 IU–LV « Rebélate! » "Rebel!" 15 October 2011 https://www.publico.es/espana/iu-anima-superar-dicotomia-pp.html IU anima a superar la "dicotomía" PP-PSOE con su lema "Rebélate!" es Público 27 July 2026 BNG « A alternativa que te defende. O voto útil en Galiza » "The alternative that defends you" & "The tactical vote in Galicia" Salgado Xurxo 28 October 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/10/28/galicia/1319806408.html El BNG apela directamente al voto útil para las elecciones del 20 de noviembre es El Mundo Santiago de Compostela 27 July 202628 October 2011 http://www.galiciaconfidencial.com/noticia/8790-sera-campana-bloque-eleccions-xerais Así será a campaña do Bloque para as eleccións xerais gl Galicia Confidencial Santiago de Compostela 27 July 2026 31 December 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191231004712/http://www.galiciaconfidencial.com/noticia/8790-sera-campana-bloque-eleccions-xerais bot: unknown UPyD « Cada voto vale » "Each vote counts" 4 November 2011 http://huelva24.com/art/10509/para_upyd___cada_voto_vale__y_luchara_por_conseguir_la_confianza_de_los_ciudadanos Para UPyD, 'Cada voto vale' y luchará por conseguir la confianza de los ciudadanos es Huelva24 27 July 2026 31 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200531223636/http://huelva24.com/art/10509/para_upyd___cada_voto_vale__y_luchara_por_conseguir_la_confianza_de_los_ciudadanos bot: unknown GBai « Sí, tenemos futuro »« Bai, dadugu geroa » "Yes, we have a future" 2 November 2011 https://www.europapress.es/navarra/noticia-geroa-bai-centra-programa-electoral-crisis-defender-nacionalismo-civico-institucional-20111102143445.html Geroa Bai centra su programa electoral en la crisis y en defender "un nacionalismo cívico e institucional" es Europa Press Pamplona 27 July 2026Urreta Edurne 28 October 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/tags/4c/geroa-bai.html La heredera de Na-Bai es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 FAC « Más Asturias, Mejor España » "More Asturias, Better Spain" 28 July 2011 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-mas-asturias-mejor-espana-lema-foro-asturias-conseguir-representacion-madrid-elecciones-generales-20110728193515.html 'Más Asturias, Mejor España', lema de Foro Asturias para conseguir representación en Madrid en las elecciones generales es Europa Press Oviedo 27 July 2026 Amaiur « Eraiki zubia »« Tendiendo puentes » "Bridging" De Antonio Estefanía 18 November 2011 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20111118/amaiur-aspira-a-ser-puente-conduzca-nuevo-a-izquierda-abertzale-congreso-20-n/471737.shtml Amaiur o el 'puente' que aspira a conducir a la izquierda abertzale de nuevo al Congreso es RTVE 27 July 2026 Compromís–Q « Som com tu » "We are like you" 4 November 2011 https://tavernes.compromis.net/2011/11/04/som-com-tu-comenca-la-campanya-a-les-generals/ Som com tu. Comença la campanya a les generals es tavernes.compromis.net Coalició Compromís 27 July 2026 Debates + 2011 Spanish general election debates Date Organizer(s) Moderator(s)    black #90FF90  P  PresentDenotes a main invitee attending the event.   black #D0F0C0  S  SurrogateDenotes a main invitee not attending the event, sending a surrogate in their place.   black #A2B2C2  NI  Not invited  black #FFFF90  I  Invited   black #FF9090  A  Absent invitee  PSOE PP IU CiU PNV Share Ref. References 7 November TV Academy Manuel Campo Vidal PRubalcaba PRajoy NI NI NI 54.2%(12,006,000) Gallo Isabel 8 November 2011 https://elpais.com/politica/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320740049_451133.html El debate de Rajoy y Rubalcaba fue seguido por 12 millones de espectadores es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 9 November RTVE María Casado SJáuregui SGallardón SLlamazares SMacias PErkoreka 11.5%(2,164,000) 10 November 2011 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/11/10/television/1320918463.html El debate a cinco no interesó es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Opinion polls + Candidate viewed as "performing best" or "most convincing" in each debate Debate Polling firm/Commissioner PSOE PP Tie None 7 November Metroscopia/El País7 November 2011 Rajoy gana el debate por la mínima https://elpais.com/politica/2011/11/07/actualidad/1320703153_571094.html es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 41.0 46.0 6.0 6.0 1.0 Sigma Dos/El MundoCruz Marisa 8 November 2011 Rubalcaba da por hecho que Rajoy ganará las elecciones http://www.forumlibertas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/EL%20MUNDO(11).jpg https://web.archive.org/web/20230408144737/http://www.forumlibertas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/EL%20MUNDO(11).jpg dead 8 April 2023 es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 44.2 51.4 – – 4.4 TNS Demoscopia/Antena 38 November 2011 Un 43,9% opina que Rajoy ganó el debate https://www.antena3.com/especiales/elecciones-generales/2011/encuesta-tns-demoscopia-debate-rubalcaba-rajoy_20111108574419236584a8f862649f3e.html es Antena 3 Madrid 27 July 2026 33.1 43.9 – 23.0 – Invymark/laSexta8 November 2011 Rubalcaba acorrala a Rajoy con su "programa oculto" https://www.publico.es/actualidad/rubalcaba-acorrala-rajoy-programa-oculto.html es Público 27 July 2026Colado Sergio 8 November 2011 Todos los sondeos dan como ganador al líder del PP https://www.elplural.com/politica/todos-los-sondeos-dan-como-ganador-al-lider-del-pp_71061102 es El Plural 27 July 2026 39.9 48.6 11.5 – – CISPostelectoral Elecciones Generales 2011. Panel (2ª Fase) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es2920mar_a es CIS 27 July 2026 23.4 39.6 5.4 24.4 7.2 Opinion polls Opinion polling for the 2011 Spanish general election OpinionPollingSpainGeneralElection2011.svg 750px Local regression trend line of poll results from 9 March 2008 to 20 November 2011, with each line corresponding to a political party. Voter turnout The table below shows registered voter turnout during the election. Figures for election day do not include non-resident citizens, while final figures do. Region Time (Election day) Final 14:00 18:00 20:00 2008 2011 +/– 2008 2011 +/– 2008 2011 +/– 2008 2011 +/– Andalusia 39.06% 37.76% −1.30 59.51% 57.66% −1.85 73.79% 70.69% −3.10 72.77% 68.90% −3.87 Aragon 42.40% 39.54% −2.86 61.39% 57.44% −3.95 76.79% 72.57% −4.22 75.92% 70.99% −4.93 Asturias 38.39% 36.71% −1.68 59.55% 56.23% −3.32 73.82% 70.33% −3.49 71.29% 64.57% −6.72 Balearic Islands 39.18% 35.17% −4.01 56.07% 50.37% −5.70 68.19% 62.20% −5.99 67.57% 60.96% −6.61 Basque Country 37.30% 38.34% +1.04 53.42% 56.08% +2.66 64.90% 69.22% +4.32 64.03% 67.34% +3.31 Canary Islands 30.65% 28.03% −2.62 49.86% 45.95% −3.91 67.61% 63.72% −3.89 65.87% 59.60% −6.27 Cantabria 42.66% 40.44% −2.22 65.17% 61.53% −3.64 78.35% 75.37% −2.98 76.38% 71.56% −4.82 Castile and León 41.83% 38.12% −3.71 63.94% 59.33% −4.61 79.60% 75.08% −4.52 77.66% 71.29% −6.37 Castilla–La Mancha 42.65% 39.53% −3.12 65.30% 61.71% −3.59 80.64% 76.71% −3.93 80.02% 75.76% −4.26 Catalonia 39.31% 35.55% −3.76 57.45% 53.21% −4.24 71.22% 66.83% −4.39 70.30% 65.16% −5.14 Extremadura 43.82% 39.67% −4.15 63.76% 59.60% −4.16 79.68% 75.63% −4.05 78.55% 73.91% −4.64 Galicia 35.60% 32.87% −2.73 60.73% 57.28% −3.45 75.46% 71.82% −3.64 70.48% 62.21% −8.27 La Rioja 45.81% 41.88% −3.93 65.08% 59.73% −5.35 80.77% 75.88% −4.89 79.29% 72.78% −6.51 Madrid 41.67% 39.61% −2.06 65.18% 61.33% −3.85 80.88% 76.03% −4.85 79.08% 73.26% −5.82 Murcia 45.74% 42.50% −3.24 67.46% 63.36% −4.10 80.47% 75.53% −4.94 79.58% 74.11% −5.47 Navarre 42.72% 39.11% −3.61 59.92% 55.82% −4.10 73.25% 71.34% −1.91 72.06% 68.91% −3.15 Valencian Community 47.57% 43.95% −3.62 66.74% 62.73% −4.01 79.66% 75.50% −4.16 78.84% 74.18% −4.66 Ceuta 31.87% 26.63% −5.24 49.81% 42.50% −7.31 64.75% 55.05% −9.70 63.32% 53.16% −10.16 Melilla 31.08% 25.56% −5.52 47.93% 40.08% −7.85 66.59% 52.85% −13.74 63.68% 49.43% −14.25 Total 40.46% 37.88% −2.58 60.95% 57.65% −3.30 75.35% 71.71% −3.64 73.85% 68.94% −4.91 Sourceshttps://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales es Ministry of the Interior 15 April 2022 18 December 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251218194252/https://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ dead Results 10th Cortes Generales Congress of Deputies results by autonomous community/constituency Results of the 2011 Spanish Congress election + ← Summary of the 20 November 2011 Congress of Deputies election results → center|400px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP)1 10,866,566 44.63 +4.52 186 +32 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 7,003,511 28.76 −15.11 110 −59 United Left–The Greens: Plural Left (IU–LV)2 1,686,040 6.92 +3.00 11 +9 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 1,143,225 4.70 +3.51 5 +4 Convergence and Union (CiU) 1,015,691 4.17 +1.14 16 +6 Amaiur (Amaiur)3 334,498 1.37 +1.05 7 +7 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 324,317 1.33 +0.14 5 −1 Republican Left (esquerra) 256,985 1.06 −0.10 3 ±0 Equo (Equo) 216,748 0.89 New 0 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 184,037 0.76 −0.07 2 ±0 Canarian Coalition–New Canaries (CC–NC–PNC)4 143,881 0.59 −0.24 2 ±0 Bloc–Initiative–Greens–Equo: Commitment Coalition (Compromís–Q)5 125,306 0.51 +0.39 1 +1 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 102,144 0.42 +0.25 0 ±0 Forum of Citizens (FAC) 99,473 0.41 New 1 +1 Blank Seats (EB) 97,673 0.40 +0.38 0 ±0 Andalusian Party (PA)6 76,999 0.32 +0.05 0 ±0 Platform for Catalonia (PxC) 59,949 0.25 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) 44,010 0.18 New 0 ±0 Yes to the Future (GBai)7 42,415 0.17 −0.07 1 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 27,210 0.11 +0.02 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 26,254 0.11 +0.03 0 ±0 Anti-capitalists (Anticapitalistas) 22,289 0.09 New 0 ±0 Pirates of Catalonia (Pirata.cat) 21,876 0.09 New 0 ±0 Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) 15,869 0.07 New 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 10,132 0.04 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spain 2000 (E–2000) 9,266 0.04 +0.01 0 ±0 Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) 6,863 0.03 +0.01 0 ±0 Republicans (RPS) 5,430 0.02 New 0 ±0 Hartos.org (Hartos.org) 3,820 0.02 New 0 ±0 Pirate Party (Pirata) 3,426 0.01 New 0 ±0 Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC) 3,180 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS) 2,898 0.01 −0.04 0 ±0 Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) 2,848 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Castilian Party (PCAS)8 2,431 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 United for Valencia (UxV)9 2,210 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Individual Freedom Party (P–LIB) 2,065 0.01 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 2,058 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 2,007 0.01 −0.02 0 ±0 National Democracy (DN) 1,867 0.01 −0.04 0 ±0 Regionalist Party for Eastern Andalusia (PRAO) 1,784 0.01 New 0 ±0 Caballas Coalition (Caballas) 1,712 0.01 New 0 ±0 XXI Convergence (C.XXI) 1,443 0.01 New 0 ±0 Unity of the People (UP) 1,138 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Convergence for Extremadura (CEx) 1,090 0.00 New 0 ±0 Andecha Astur (Andecha) 1,087 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre (CCD) 1,074 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizens' Action for Málaga (ACIMA) 966 0.00 New 0 ±0 Family and Life Party (PFyV) 829 0.00 −0.04 0 ±0 Death to the System (+MAS+) 791 0.00 New 0 ±0 Union of Independent Citizens of Toledo (UCIT) 785 0.00 New 0 ±0 Let us Give the Change (DeC) 778 0.00 New 0 ±0 Centre and Democracy Forum (CyD) 720 0.00 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 709 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Party for the Regeneration of Democracy in Spain (PRDE) 678 0.00 New 0 ±0 Internet Party (Internet) 603 0.00 New 0 ±0 Left Republican Party–Republicans (PRE–R) 419 0.00 New 0 ±0 Enough is Enough, Open Grouping of Political Parties (Basta Ya) 380 0.00 New 0 ±0 Constitutional and Democratic Party (PDyC) 304 0.00 New 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 293 0.00 −0.12 0 ±0 Democratic Hygiene (HD) 206 0.00 New 0 ±0 Socialists for Teruel (SxT) 169 0.00 New 0 ±0 Navarrese and Spanish Right (DNE) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 333,461 1.37 +0.26 Total 24,348,886 350 ±0 Valid votes 24,348,886 98.71 −0.65 Invalid votes 317,555 1.29 +0.65 Votes cast / turnout 24,666,441 68.94 −4.91 Abstentions 11,113,050 31.06 +4.91 Registered voters 35,779,491 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2011.html Elecciones Generales 20 de noviembre de 2011 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 202510 December 2011 Acuerdo de 7 de diciembre de 2011, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se publica el resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 1329/2011, de 26 de septiembre, y celebradas el 20 de noviembre de 2011, conforme a las actas de escrutinio general y de proclamación de electos remitidas por las correspondientes Juntas Electorales Provinciales y por las Juntas Electorales de Ceuta y de Melilla https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2011/12/10/pdfs/BOE-A-2011-19391.pdf es Official State Gazette 297 0212-033X 132560–132607 19 October 202519 May 2012 Acuerdo de 9 de abril de 2012, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se corrigen errores en los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados incluidos en el Acuerdo de 7 de diciembre de 2011, por el que se publica el resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 1329/2011, de 26 de septiembre, y celebradas el 20 de noviembre de 2011 https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2012/05/19/pdfs/BOE-A-2012-6674.pdf es Official State Gazette 120 0212-033X 36600 19 October 2025 left Footnotes: 1 People's Party results are compared to the combined totals of the People's Party, Aragonese Party and United Extremadura in the 2008 election. 2 United Left–The Greens: Plural Left results are compared to the combined totals of United Left and Aragonese Union in the 2008 election. 3 Amaiur results are compared to the combined totals of Basque Solidarity and Aralar in the 2008 election. 4 Canarian Coalition–New Canaries results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party and New Canaries–Canarian Centre in the 2008 election. 5 Bloc–Initiative–Greens–Equo: Commitment Coalition results are compared to Bloc–Initiative–Greens totals in the 2008 election. 6 Andalusian Party results are compared to Andalusian Coalition totals in the 2008 election. 7 Yes to the Future results are compared to Navarre Yes totals in the 2008 election. 8 Castilian Party results are compared to Commoners' Land totals in the 2008 election. 9 United for Valencia results are compared to Valencian Nationalist Option totals in the 2008 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 44.63 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 28.76 IU–LV Plural Left (Spain, 2011) 6.92 UPyD Union, Progress and Democracy 4.70 CiU Convergence and Union 4.17 Amaiur Amaiur 1.37 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.33 esquerra Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes 1.06 BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc 0.76 CC–NC–PNC Canarian Coalition–New Canaries 0.59 Compromís–Q Coalició Compromís 0.51 FAC Asturias Forum 0.41 GBai Geroa Bai 0.17 Others #777777 3.24 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 1.37 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 53.14 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 31.43 CiU Convergence and Union 4.57 IU–LV Plural Left (Spain, 2011) 3.14 Amaiur Amaiur 2.00 UPyD Union, Progress and Democracy 1.43 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.43 esquerra Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes 0.86 BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc 0.57 CC–NC–PNC Canarian Coalition–New Canaries 0.57 Compromís–Q Coalició Compromís 0.29 FAC Asturias Forum 0.29 GBai Geroa Bai 0.29 Senate + ← Summary of the 20 November 2011 Senate of Spain election results → center|375px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP)1 29,363,775 46.31 +5.90 136 +35 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 16,469,470 25.97 −11.25 48 −38 United Left–The Greens: Plural Left (IU–LV)2 3,234,188 5.10 +2.06 0 ±0 Agreement for Catalonia Progress (PSC–ICV–EUiA) 2,842,651 4.48 −3.09 7 −5 Convergence and Union (CiU) 2,590,266 4.09 +0.60 9 +5 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 1,060,766 1.67 +0.68 0 ±0 Amaiur (Amaiur)3 953,349 1.50 +1.18 3 +3 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 928,724 1.46 +0.17 4 +2 Republican Left (esquerra) 665,554 1.05 +1.01 0 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 593,076 0.94 −0.10 0 ±0 Blank Seats (EB) 517,733 0.82 +0.80 0 ±0 Equo (Equo) 516,150 0.81 New 0 ±0 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 374,483 0.59 +0.40 0 ±0 Bloc–Initiative–Greens–Equo: Commitment Coalition (Compromís–Q)5 306,260 0.48 +0.35 0 ±0 Forum of Citizens (FAC) 286,394 0.45 New 0 ±0 Canarian Coalition–New Canaries–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–NC–PNC)4 264,803 0.42 −0.10 1 ±0 Andalusian Party (PA)6 261,330 0.41 +0.08 0 ±0 Platform for Catalonia (PxC) 139,925 0.22 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) 102,109 0.16 New 0 ±0 Yes to the Future (GBai)7 96,978 0.15 −0.11 0 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 96,771 0.15 −0.04 0 ±0 Pirates of Catalonia (Pirata.cat) 90,652 0.14 New 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 78,440 0.12 +0.02 0 ±0 Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) 42,353 0.07 New 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 35,693 0.06 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spain 2000 (E–2000) 29,927 0.05 +0.02 0 ±0 Assembly for the Senate (ASRM) 29,762 0.05 New 0 ±0 Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) 24,505 0.04 +0.01 0 ±0 Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) 13,935 0.02 +0.01 0 ±0 Hartos.org (Hartos.org) 13,395 0.02 New 0 ±0 Castilian Party (PCAS)8 12,552 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 10,407 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS) 10,028 0.02 −0.04 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 7,955 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Individual Freedom Party (P–LIB) 7,455 0.01 New 0 ±0 Citizens' Action for Málaga (ACIMA) 6,298 0.01 New 0 ±0 United for Valencia (UxV)9 5,033 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 4,979 0.01 −0.03 0 ±0 Andecha Astur (Andecha) 4,740 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Convergence for Extremadura (CEx) 4,564 0.01 New 0 ±0 National Democracy (DN) 4,563 0.01 −0.03 0 ±0 Regionalist Party for Eastern Andalusia (PRAO) 3,921 0.01 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 3,612 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Let us Give the Change (DeC) 3,250 0.01 New 0 ±0 Caballas Coalition (Caballas) 3,226 0.01 New 0 ±0 Union of Independent Citizens of Toledo (UCIT) 3,164 0.00 New 0 ±0 Party for the Regeneration of Democracy in Spain (PRDE) 3,153 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre (CCD) 2,730 0.00 New 0 ±0 XXI Convergence (C.XXI) 2,705 0.00 New 0 ±0 Centre and Democracy Forum (CyD) 2,462 0.00 New 0 ±0 Unity of the People (UP) 2,454 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Family and Life Party (PFyV) 1,974 0.00 −0.06 0 ±0 Enough is Enough, Open Grouping of Political Parties (Basta Ya) 1,892 0.00 New 0 ±0 Socialist Party of Menorca–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) 1,733 0.00 New 0 ±0 Republicans (RPS) 1,116 0.00 New 0 ±0 Feminist Initiative (IFem) 1,115 0.00 New 0 ±0 Left Republican Party–Republicans (PRE–R) 940 0.00 New 0 ±0 Navarrese and Spanish Right (DNE) 903 0.00 New 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 732 0.00 −0.16 0 ±0 Socialists for Teruel (SxT) 446 0.00 New 0 ±0 PSOE–Ibiza for Change (PSOE–ExC) n/a n/a −0.04 0 −1 PSOE–Left of Menorca–PSM–Greens (PSOE–EU–PSM–Verds) n/a n/a −0.03 0 −1 Blank ballotsThe percentage of blank ballots is calculated over the official number of valid votes cast, irrespective of the total number of votes shown as a result of adding up the individual results for each party. 1,264,947 5.36 +3.30 Total 63,408,466 208 ±0 Valid votes 23,578,950 96.30 −1.41 Invalid votes 904,722 3.70 +1.41 Votes cast / turnout 24,483,672 68.43 −6.06 Abstentions 11,295,819 31.57 +6.06 Registered voters 35,779,491 Sources1 February 2012 Resolución de 18 de enero de 2012, de la Junta Electoral Central, de corrección de errores en los resultados de las elecciones al Senado incluidos en el Acuerdo de 7 de diciembre de 2011, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se publica el resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 1329/2011, de 26 de septiembre, celebradas el 20 de noviembre de 2011 https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2012/02/01/pdfs/BOE-A-2012-1572.pdf es Official State Gazette 27 0212-033X 9449 19 October 2025Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2011comp.html#s Elecciones al Senado 2011 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 left Footnotes: 1 People's Party results are compared to the combined totals of the People's Party, Aragonese Party and United Extremadura in the 2008 election. 2 United Left–The Greens: Plural Left results are compared to the combined totals of United Left and Aragonese Union in the 2008 election. 3 Amaiur results are compared to the combined totals of Basque Solidarity and Aralar in the 2008 election. 4 Canarian Coalition–New Canaries–Canarian Nationalist Party results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party and New Canaries–Canarian Centre in the 2008 election. 5 Bloc–Initiative–Greens–Equo: Commitment Coalition results are compared to Bloc–Initiative–Greens totals in the 2008 election. 6 Andalusian Party results are compared to Andalusian Coalition totals in the 2008 election. 7 Yes to the Future results are compared to Navarre Yes totals in the 2008 election. 8 Castilian Party results are compared to Commoners' Land totals in the 2008 election. 9 United for Valencia results are compared to Valencian Nationalist Option totals in the 2008 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 46.31 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 25.97 IU–LV Plural Left (Spain, 2011) 5.10 EPdC Agreement for Catalonia Progress 4.48 CiU Convergence and Union 4.09 UPyD Union, Progress and Democracy 1.67 Amaiur Amaiur 1.50 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.46 esquerra Republican Left of Catalonia 1.05 CC–NC–PNC Canarian Coalition–New Canaries 0.42 Others #777777 5.95 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 5.36 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 65.38 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 23.08 CiU Convergence and Union 4.33 EPdC Agreement for Catalonia Progress 3.37 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.92 Amaiur Amaiur 1.44 CC–NC–PNC Canarian Coalition–New Canaries 0.48 Maps Aftermath Outcome With an overall voter turnout of 68.9%—the lowest in a decade—the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) suffered its worst ever defeat in a general election, while also scoring one of the worst electoral performances for a ruling party in Spain since the UCD collapse in the 1982 election. The People's Party (PP) was able to win an historic absolute majority with 186 out of 350 seats—the largest obtained by a party since 1982—after almost eight years in opposition. The PSOE went on to finish below first place in all but two provinces—Barcelona and Seville—while also losing both Andalusia and Catalonia, which up to that point had been carried by the PSOE in every general election. The 2011 Spanish election marked the continuation of a string of severe government election losses across European countries since the start of the 2008 financial crisis, including Iceland, Greece, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Ireland or Portugal. Minoritary national parties, such as United Left (IU) and Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD), benefitted greatly from the PSOE collapse, winning 11 and 5 seats respectively—2 and 1 in the previous parliament. This was the first time since the 1989 election than more than one of the smaller nationwide-contesting parties obtained more than 1 million votes in a general election, as well as enough seats to form parliamentary groups on their own right. The PSOE collapse also resulted in nearly all parties winning parliamentary presence in the Congress of Deputies increasing their vote shares—only Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Geroa Bai (GBai) lost votes compared to 2008. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) lost 1 seat despite scoring higher than in 2008, but this came as a result of Amaiur's irruption, with 6 out of its 7 seats being elected in the Basque Country. Convergence and Union (CiU), the party federation formed by Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) and Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC), was elected to an historic general election victory in the region of Catalonia. The Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), PSOE's sister party in the region—which had, up until that point, been the first Catalan political force in every general election held since 1977—scored a poor showing by finishing in second place with 27% of the vote. The 2011 election would be the last time both parties would dominate the Catalan political landscape in a general election; the next election, held on 20 December 2015, would see the alliance between CDC and UDC broken and the PSC being crushed to third place regionally by both the En Comú Podem alliance and ERC. In terms of vote share, PSOE's electoral result, with 28.76%, would remain the worst electoral performance for a sitting Spanish government in a nationwide-held election since 1982 until the 2014 European Parliament election held two and a half years later, when the PP obtained 26.09% of the share, and in a general election until 2015—the PP obtaining 28.71%. Government formation First government of Mariano Rajoy InvestitureCongress of DeputiesNomination of Mariano Rajoy (PP) Ballot → 20 December 2011 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Yes • PP (185) • FAC (1) • UPN (1) 187 350 green 125px No • PSOE (110) • CiU (16) • IU–ICV–CHA (11) • UPyD (5) • ERC (3) • BNG (2) • Compromís (1) • GBai (1) 149 350 red 125px Abstentions • Amaiur (7) • PNV (5) • CC (1) • NC (1) 14 350 gray 125px Absentees 0 350 black 125px SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 Notes References Bibliography Legislation y Constitución Española Constitution 27 December 1978 version as of 27 September 2011 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1978-31229 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&p=20110927 27 December 2016 Constitution 1978 y Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General Organic Law 5/1985 19 June 1985 version as of 16 July 2011 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-11672 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=20110716 28 December 2016 LOREG 1985 y Ley 19/2011, de 5 de julio, por la que pasan a denominarse oficialmente "Araba/Álava", "Gipuzkoa" y "Bizkaia" las demarcaciones provinciales llamadas anteriormente "Álava", "Guipúzcoa" y "Vizcaya" Law 19/2011 5 July 2011 Official State Gazette BOE-A-2011-11606 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2011-11606 9 April 2026 Law 19/2011 2011 y Real Decreto 1329/2011, de 26 de septiembre, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones Royal Decree 1329/2011 26 September 2011 Official State Gazette BOE-A-2011-15160 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2011-15160 1 April 2026 Royal Decree 1329/2011 2011 Other Carreras de Odriozola Albert Tafunell Sambola Xavier 2005 1989 Estadísticas históricas de España, siglos XIX-XX http://www.fbbva.es/TLFU/dat/autores.pdf es 1 Bilbao Fundación BBVA 1072–1097 II 84-96515-00-1 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010950/http://www.fbbva.es/TLFU/dat/autores.pdf 24 September 2015 dmy-all Whitfield Teresa December 2015 Special Report 384. The Basque Conflict and ETA. The Difficulties of an Ending https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/195389/SR384-The-Basque-Conflict-and-ETA-The-Difficulties-of-An-Ending.pdf United States Institute of Peace 19 March 2025 Sangrador-Vegas Begoña 2020 The Nation in Its Labyrinth: An Introduction to Contemporary Spain since 1898 PSOE (2004-2011): Social Reforms and the Beginning of the Economic Crisis https://pressbooks.pub/spainthenationinitslabyrinth/chapter/chapter-8-psoe-2004-2011-social-reforms-and-the-beginning-of-the-economic-crisis/ es Pressbooks Madrid 18 March 2026 External links Category:2011 elections in Spain 2011 Category:November 2011 in Spain