1986 Basque regional election

Election in the Spanish region of the Basque Country 1986 Basque regional election Basque Country parliamentary no 1984 Basque regional election 1984 1990 Basque regional election 1990 All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament 38 #Opinion polls 1,660,143 10px 4.8% 1,155,815 (69.6%)10px 1.1 pp 30 November 1986 170x170px Txiki Benegas PSE–PSOE 26 February 1978 Biscay 19 seats, 23.0% 19 10px 0 252,233 22.0% 10px 1.0 pp 170x170px José Antonio Ardanza Basque Nationalist Party 2 March 1985 Guipúzcoa 32 seats, 41.8% 17 10px 15 271,208 23.6% 10px 18.2 pp 170x170px Juan Carlos Yoldi Herri Batasuna 1986 Guipúzcoa 11 seats, 14.6% 13 10px 2 199,900 17.4% 10px 2.8 pp 170x170px Carlos Garaikoetxea Eusko Alkartasuna 4 September 1986 Guipúzcoa Did not contest 13 10px 13 181,175 15.8% New party 170x170px Juan María Bandrés Euskadiko Ezkerra 1985 Guipúzcoa 6 seats, 7.9% 9 10px 3 124,423 10.8% 10px 2.9 pp 170x170px Julen Guimón AP–PL 1986 Biscay 7 seats, 9.3%Results for AP–PDP–UL in the 1984 election. 2 10px 5 55,606 4.8% 10px 4.5 pp x250px Vote winner strength by constituency x300px Election result by constituency Lehendakari Lehendakari after election José Antonio Ardanza Basque Nationalist Party José Antonio Ardanza Basque Nationalist Party A regional election was held in the Basque Country on 30 November 1986 to elect the 3rd Parliament of the autonomous community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE) won 19 seats, the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) came second with 17 seats, People's Unity (HB) and Basque Solidarity (EA), a PNV split, each won 13 seats, and Basque Country Left won 9 seats. Overview Under the 1979 Statute of Autonomy, the Basque Parliament was the unicameral legislature of the Basque Autonomous Community, having legislative power in devolved matters, as well as the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a lehendakari.Statute 1979 arts. 25 & 27–28. The electoral and procedural rules were supplemented by national law provisions.LEPV 1983 reas. 1. Date The term of the Basque Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. 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 Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV), with election day taking place between 54 and 60 days after the decree's publication.Statute 1979 art. 26 (suppl. supplemented by LOREG 1985 art. 42). The previous election was held on 26 February 1984, which meant that the chamber's term would have expired on 26 February 1988. The election decree was required to be published in the BOPV no later than 2 February 1988, setting the latest possible date for election day on 2 April 1988. The lehendakari had the prerogative to dissolve the Basque Parliament at any given time and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process.LGV 1981 arts. 7 & 50–51. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a lehendakari within a 60-day period from the Parliament's reconvening, the chamber was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called.LGV 1981 art. 6. The Basque Parliament was officially dissolved on 1 October 1986 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOPV, setting election day for 30 November.Decree 202/1986 1986 arts. 1–2. Electoral system Voting for the Parliament was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Basque Country and with full civil and political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.Statute 1979 art. 26; LEPV 1983 art. 2 (suppl. supplemented by LOREG 1985 art. 42). The Basque Parliament had 75 seats. All were elected in three multi-member constituencies—corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Guipúzcoa, each of which was assigned a fixed number of 25 seats to provide for an equal parliamentary representation of the three provinces—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a five percent-threshold of valid votes (not including blank ballots)Unlike other electoral legislation in Spain, valid votes under the 1983 Basque electoral law did not include blank ballots. in each constituency.Statute 1979 art. 26; LEPV 1983 arts. 8–11; Decree 202/1986 1986 art. 2. 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.LEPV 1983 arts. 11, 48 & 67 (suppl. supplemented by LOREG 1985 arts. 46 & 48). Opinion polls The tables below lists opinion polling results in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a poll. Voting intention estimates The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 38 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Turnout PNV 17px|link=Socialist Party of the Basque Country|PSE–PSOE 28px|link=Herri Batasuna|HB 30px|link=People's Alliance (Spain)|AP 18px|link=Euskadiko Ezkerra|EE 27px|link=Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|CDS 21px|link=Eusko Alkartasuna|EA Lead 1986 regional election 30 Nov 1986 69.6 23.675% Verdana 17 22.075% Verdana 19 17.475% Verdana 13 4.875% Verdana 2 10.875% Verdana 9 3.575% Verdana 2 15.875% Verdana 13 1.6 Emopública/Diario 16Los sondeos pronostican diferencias mínimas entre el PNV y el PSOE http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1986/11/27/023.html es ABC 27 November 1986 23 Nov 1986???75% Verdana 18/19?75% Verdana 18/19?75% Verdana 12/13?75% Verdana 5?75% Verdana 8?75% Verdana 0?75% Verdana 9/10 Tie Demoscopia/El PaísGaikoetxea y Benegas mejoran posiciones ante elecciones vascas https://elpais.com/hemeroteca/elpais/portadas/1986/11/23/ es El País 23 November 1986Garaikoetxea y los socialistas mejoran posiciones, aunque el PNV mantiene una exigua mayoría https://elpais.com/diario/1986/11/23/espana/533084405_850215.html es El País 23 November 1986Ficha técnica https://elpais.com/diario/1986/11/23/espana/533084402_850215.html es El País 23 November 1986 14–18 Nov 1986 1,500 65–68 25.075% Verdana 20/21 24.075% Verdana 19/20?75% Verdana 9/10?75% Verdana 2/3?75% Verdana 7/8?75% Verdana 1/3?75% Verdana 13/14 1.0 CINDE/Basque GovernmentEl PNV obtendrá dos escaños más que el PSOE, según un sondeo del Gobierno vasco http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1986/11/22/025.html es ABC 23 November 1986 14–18 Nov 1986 1,500??75% Verdana 20?75% Verdana 18?75% Verdana 12?75% Verdana 3?75% Verdana 10?75% Verdana 2?75% Verdana 10? Bergareche/El Correo 15–17 Nov 1986 2,972??75% Verdana 16/18?75% Verdana 18/20?75% Verdana 13/15?75% Verdana 5/7?75% Verdana 8/9?75% Verdana 2?75% Verdana 9/10? CINDE/Basque GovernmentPNV gana y PSOE es segundo, según encuesta del Gobierno vasco http://diariodenavarra.mynewsonline.com/index.php?screen=preview&ref=NAV19861115G003 es Diario de Navarra 15 November 1986 9–12 Nov 1986 1,200? 24.075% Verdana 20 19.075% Verdana 17 14.075% Verdana 11 7.075% Verdana 4 11.075% Verdana 8 5.075% Verdana 2 15.075% Verdana 13 5.0 Demoscopia/El PaísEl PNV pierde respaldo, según un sondeo de EL PAÍS y la SER https://elpais.com/hemeroteca/elpais/portadas/1986/11/15/ es El País 15 November 1986Garaikoetxea robará más de 10 escaños al PNV https://elpais.com/diario/1986/11/15/espana/532393210_850215.html es El País 15 November 1986Ficha técnica del sondeo https://elpais.com/diario/1986/11/15/espana/532393202_850215.html es El País 15 November 1986 7–11 Nov 1986 1,200 65–69 28.075% Verdana 19/22 25.075% Verdana 17/18 16.075% Verdana 10/13?75% Verdana 1/3 11.075% Verdana 8/9?75% Verdana 1/4 13.075% Verdana 11/13 3.0 PSOELas primeras encuestas revelan la confusión del electorado nacionalista vasco http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1986/10/19/031.html es ABC 19 October 1986 18 Oct 1986???75% Verdana 14?75% Verdana 18?75% Verdana 13?75% Verdana 6?75% Verdana 8?75% Verdana 2?75% Verdana 14? Bergareche/El CorreoNingún partido tendrá mayoría absoluta en el País Vasco http://diariodenavarra.mynewsonline.com/index.php?screen=preview&ref=NAV19861020G004 es Diario de Navarra 20 October 1986 18 Oct 1986 2,545??75% Verdana 16?75% Verdana 18/19?75% Verdana 13/15?75% Verdana 5?75% Verdana 10/11?75% Verdana 3?75% Verdana 7/9? Iope–Etmar/TiempoGaraicoechea favorito en las elecciones vascas según una encuesta http://diariodenavarra.mynewsonline.com/index.php?screen=preview&ref=NAV19861008G003 es Diario de Navarra 8 October 1986 7 Oct 1986?? 16.275% Verdana 13 18.975% Verdana 15 17.475% Verdana 13 3.675% Verdana 2 11.075% Verdana 8 3.375% Verdana 1 27.575% Verdana 23 8.6 Ikerfel/PNVUna encuesta del PNV otorga la victoria a este partido http://diariodenavarra.mynewsonline.com/index.php?screen=preview&ref=NAV19861009G003 es Diario de Navarra 9 October 1986 11–19 Sep 1986???75% Verdana 20?75% Verdana 17/18?75% Verdana 11?75% Verdana 7/8?75% Verdana 8?75% Verdana 1?75% Verdana 10? Gaceta del NorteIgualdad de fuerzas http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1986/09/22/019.html es ABC 22 September 1986Esta semana se decide si se disuelve el Parlamento Vasco y se convocan elecciones http://diariodenavarra.mynewsonline.com/index.php?screen=preview&ref=NAV19860922G005 es Diario de Navarra 22 September 1986 12–17 Sep 1986???75% Verdana 17?75% Verdana 17?75% Verdana 10?75% Verdana 6?75% Verdana 9 –?With Carlos Garaikoetxea as EA's candidate.75% Verdana 16 Tie??75% Verdana 20?75% Verdana 19?75% Verdana 10?75% Verdana 6?75% Verdana 9 –?75% Verdana 11? 1986 general election 22 Jun 1986 67.6 27.875% Verdana 21 26.375% Verdana 23 17.775% Verdana 13 10.5"CP" Results for CP.75% Verdana 9 9.175% Verdana 7 5.075% Verdana 2 – 1.5 1984 regional election 26 Feb 1984 68.5 41.875% Verdana 32 23.075% Verdana 19 14.675% Verdana 11 9.3"CP"75% Verdana 7 7.975% Verdana 6 – – 18.8 Voting preferences The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size PNV 17px|link=Socialist Party of the Basque Country|PSE–PSOE 28px|link=Herri Batasuna|HB 30px|link=People's Alliance (Spain)|AP 18px|link=Euskadiko Ezkerra|EE 27px|link=Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|CDS 21px|link=Eusko Alkartasuna|EA Lead 1986 regional election"CERA" Does not include non-resident citizens. 30 Nov 1986 16.3 15.2 12.0 3.3 7.5 2.9 10.9 30.4 1.1 CISPreelectoral País Vasco 1986 (VI) (Estudio nº 1562. Noviembre 1986) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es1562marpdf es CIS 20 November 1986 20 Nov 1986 1,191 19.0 13.0 12.0 1.0 10.0 2.0 10.0 28.0 5.0 6.0 CISPreelectoral País Vasco 1986 (V) (Estudio nº 1560. Noviembre 1986) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es1560mar_spdf es CIS 10 November 1986 10 Nov 1986 2,077 17.0 9.0 9.0 1.0 7.0 1.0 7.0 42.0 7.0 8.0 CISPreelectoral País Vasco 1986 (IV) (Estudio nº 1557. Noviembre 1986) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es1557mar_spdf es CIS 1 November 1986 1 Nov 1986 2,074 17.0 8.0 9.0 1.0 8.0 1.0 8.0 40.0 7.0 8.0 CISPreelectoral País Vasco 1986 (III) (Estudio nº 1555. Octubre-noviembre 1986) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es1555mar_spdf es CIS 20 October 1986 20 Oct 1986 2,055 15.0 10.0 8.0 1.0 8.0 – 7.0 44.0 6.0 5.0 CISPreelectoral País Vasco 1986 (II) (Estudio nº 1551. Octubre 1986) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es1551mar_spdf es CIS 10 October 1986 10 Oct 1986 1,996 17.0 9.0 8.0 1.0 7.0 1.0 8.0 41.0 7.0 8.0 CISPreelectoral País Vasco 1986 (I) (Estudio nº 1548. Octubre 1986) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es1548mar_spdf es CIS 1 October 1986 1 Oct 1986 1,755 16.0 9.0 8.0 1.0 9.0 – 8.0 41.0 7.0 7.0 1986 general election"CERA" 22 Jun 1986 18.5 17.5 11.8 7.0"CP" 6.0 3.3 – 32.4 1.0 1984 regional election 26 Feb 1984 28.5 15.6 9.9 6.3"CP" 5.4 0.9 – 31.5 12.9 Victory preferences The table below lists opinion polling on the victory preferences for each party in the event of a general election taking place. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size PNV 17px|link=Socialist Party of the Basque Country|PSE–PSOE 28px|link=Herri Batasuna|HB 30px|link=People's Alliance (Spain)|AP 18px|link=Euskadiko Ezkerra|EE 27px|link=Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|CDS 21px|link=Eusko Alkartasuna|EA Other/None Lead CIS 20 Nov 1986 1,191 19.0 13.0 12.0 – 9.0 1.0 8.0 1.0 37.0 6.0 CIS 10 Nov 1986 2,077 22.0 11.0 9.0 1.0 8.0 1.0 9.0 – 39.0 11.0 CIS 1 Nov 1986 2,074 21.0 10.0 10.0 1.0 10.0 1.0 10.0 1.0 36.0 11.0 CIS 20 Oct 1986 2,055 20.0 13.0 9.0 1.0 9.0 – 9.0 1.0 38.0 7.0 CIS 10 Oct 1986 1,996 22.0 10.0 8.0 1.0 8.0 1.0 10.0 – 38.0 12.0 CIS 1 Oct 1986 1,755 22.0 10.0 8.0 1.0 10.0 1.0 10.0 2.0 36.0 12.0 Victory likelihood The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a regional election taking place. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size PNV 17px|link=Socialist Party of the Basque Country|PSE–PSOE 28px|link=Herri Batasuna|HB 18px|link=Euskadiko Ezkerra|EE 21px|link=Eusko Alkartasuna|EA Other/None Lead CIS 20 Nov 1986 1,191 38.0 16.0 1.0 – 2.0 – 43.0 22.0 CIS 10 Nov 1986 2,077 36.0 15.0 1.0 – 3.0 – 45.0 21.0 CIS 1 Nov 1986 2,074 32.0 15.0 2.0 – 4.0 – 47.0 17.0 CIS 20 Oct 1986 2,055 32.0 17.0 2.0 – 5.0 – 44.0 15.0 CIS 10 Oct 1986 1,996 35.0 15.0 1.0 – 4.0 1.0 44.0 20.0 CIS 1 Oct 1986 1,755 31.0 19.0 – 1.0 5.0 2.0 42.0 12.0 Preferred Lehendakari The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become Lehendakari. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size 55px 55px 55px 55px 55px 55px Other/None/Notcare Lead ArdanzaPNV BenegasPSE–PSOE BandrésEE GuimónAP VianaCDS Garaiko.EA CIS 20 Nov 1986 1,191 23.0 14.0 14.0 – 1.0 17.0 1.0 30.0 6.0 CIS 10 Nov 1986 2,077 22.0 12.0 12.0 1.0 1.0 17.0 – 35.0 5.0 CIS 1 Nov 1986 2,074 22.0 10.0 12.0 1.0 1.0 20.0 – 34.0 2.0 CIS 20 Oct 1986 2,055 19.0 12.0 14.0 1.0 – 20.0 – 34.0 1.0 CIS 10 Oct 1986 1,996 25.0 – – – – 38.0 – 27.0 13.0 19.0 9.0 13.0 1.0 – 22.0 – 36.0 3.0 CIS 1 Oct 1986 1,755 19.0 9.0 15.0 – – 25.0 – 32.0 6.0 Results Overall + ← Summary of the 30 November 1986 Basque Parliament election results → center|335px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 271,208 23.60 −18.21 17 −15 Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE) 252,233 21.95 −1.01 19 ±0 Popular Unity (HB) 199,900 17.40 +2.81 13 +2 Basque Solidarity (EA) 181,175 15.77 New 13 +13 Basque Country Left (EE) 124,423 10.83 +2.89 9 +3 People's Alliance–Liberal Party (AP–PL)1 55,606 4.84 −4.48 2 −5 Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 40,445 3.52 New 2 +2 United Left (IU/EB) 6,750 0.59 New 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK) 5,675 0.49 −0.90 0 ±0 Workers' Socialist Party (PST) 2,925 0.25 +0.05 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 1,400 0.12 New 0 ±0 Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 1,190 0.10 New 0 ±0 Republican Popular Unity (UPR)2 1,102 0.10 ±0.00 0 ±0 Blank ballotsThe 1983 electoral law provided that blank ballots would not count as valid votes for the application of the 5 percent threshold in each district. However, this rule was not determinant in excluding any party from seat distribution during its time of application (the 1984 and 1986 elections). As a result, and for comparison purposes, blank ballots are shown here included within valid votes. 5,003 0.44 −0.03 Total 1,149,035 75 ±0 Valid votes 1,149,035 99.41 −0.01 Invalid votes 6,780 0.59 +0.01 Votes cast / turnout 1,155,815 69.62 +1.13 Abstentions 504,328 30.38 −1.13 Registered voters 1,660,143 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/aeuzkadi.html Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco / Eusko Legebilitzarra (desde 1980) es Historia Electoral.com 9 November 2024https://www.euskadi.eus/ab12aAREWar/resultado/maint Resultados Electorales es Basque Government 28 December 2025 left Footnotes: 1 People's Alliance–Liberal Party results are compared to People's Coalition totals in the 1984 election. 2 Republican Popular Unity results are compared to Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) totals in the 1984 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 23.60 PSE–PSOE Socialist Party of the Basque Country 21.95 HB Herri Batasuna 17.40 EA Eusko Alkartasuna 15.77 EE Euskadiko Ezkerra 10.83 AP–PL People's Alliance (Spain) 4.84 CDS Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 3.52 Others #777777 1.66 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 0.44 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PSE–PSOE Socialist Party of the Basque Country 25.33 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 22.67 HB Herri Batasuna 17.33 EA Eusko Alkartasuna 17.33 EE Euskadiko Ezkerra 12.00 AP–PL People's Alliance (Spain) 2.67 CDS Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 2.67 Distribution by constituency Constituency PNV PSE HB EA EE AP–PL CDS % S % S % S % S % S % S % S Álava 20.1 5 24.9 7 12.8 3 14.5 4 10.9 3 6.9 1 8.0 2 Biscay 28.8 8 22.5 6 16.0 4 11.7 3 10.2 3 5.1 1 3.2 – Guipúzcoa 16.0 4 19.9 6 21.6 6 23.1 6 11.9 3 3.6 – 2.4 – Total 23.6 17 22.0 19 17.4 13 15.8 13 10.8 9 4.8 2 3.5 2 Sources Aftermath Government formation Investiture Ballot → 26 February 1987 Required majority → 38 out of 75 José Antonio Ardanza (PNV) • PSE (19) • PNV (17) • CDS (2) 38 75 Basque Nationalist Party 125px 15 Juan Carlos Yoldi (HB) 0 75 Herri Batasuna 125px 15 Abstentions/Blank ballots • EA (13) • EE (9) • AP (2) 24 75 gray 125px Absentees • HB (13) 13 75 black 125px Sources Notes References Opinion poll sources "p" Other Bibliography 30em y Ley Orgánica 3/1979, de 18 de diciembre, de Estatuto de Autonomía para el País Vasco Organic Law 3/1979 18 December 1979 version as of 22 December 1979 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1979-30177 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1979-30177&tn=1&p=19791222 12 March 2026 Statute 1979 y Ley 7/1981, de 30 de junio, sobre Ley de Gobierno Law 7/1981 30 June 1981 version as of 23 November 1988 Official State Gazette BOE-A-2012-5927 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2012-5927&tn=1&p=19881123 12 March 2026 LGV 1981 y Ley 28/1983, de 25 de noviembre, de Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco Law 28/1983 25 November 1983 Official State Gazette BOE-A-2012-5194 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2012-5194 16 May 2026 LEPV 1983 y Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General Organic Law 5/1985 19 June 1985 version as of 21 February 1986 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-11672 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=19860221 5 October 2025 LOREG 1985 y Decreto 202/1986, de 30 de Septiembre, de Disolución del Parlamento Vasco y Convocatoria de Elecciones Decree 202/1986 30 September 1986 Official Gazette of the Basque Country es https://www.euskadi.eus/web01-bopv/es/bopv2/datos/1986/10/8602157a.pdf 16 May 2026 Decree 202/1986 1986 Regional election Basque Country Category:Regional elections in the Basque Country (autonomous community) Basque Country