2008 Spanish general election

none 2008 Spanish general election Spain parliamentary no 2004 Spanish general election 2004 2011 Spanish general election 2011 Members of the 9th Cortes Generales All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 264) seats in the Senate176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies Opinion polling for the 2008 Spanish general election 35,073,179 10px 1.5% 25,900,439 (73.8%)10px 1.9 pp 9 March 2008 170x170px José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 22 July 2000 Madrid 164 seats, 42.6% 169 10px 5 11,289,335 43.9% 10px 1.3 pp 170x170px Mariano Rajoy People's Party (Spain) 2 September 2003 Madrid 148 seats, 37.7% 154 10px 6 10,278,010 39.9% 10px 2.2 pp 170x170px Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida Convergence and Union 24 January 2004 Barcelona 10 seats, 3.2% 10 10px 0 779,425 3.0% 10px 0.2 pp 170x170px Josu Erkoreka Basque Nationalist Party 2004 Biscay 7 seats, 1.6% 6 10px 1 306,128 1.2% 10px 0.4 pp 170x170px Joan Ridao ERC FFB232 2007 Barcelona 8 seats, 2.5% 3 10px 5 298,139 1.2% 10px 1.3 pp 170x170px Gaspar Llamazares United Left (Spain) 29 October 2000 Madrid 5 seats, 5.0% 2 10px 3 969,946 3.8% 10px 1.2 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 José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Spanish Socialist Workers' Party A general election was held in Spain on 9 March 2008 to elect the members of the 9th 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 264 seats in the Senate. It was held concurrently with a regional election in Andalusia. The surprise victory of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) at the 2004 election, amid the public shock caused by the 11M Madrid train bombings, had led to an increase of bipolarization in Spanish politics, with the opposition People's Party (PP) under Mariano Rajoy and right-wing media embracing conspiracy theories about the blasts' authorship and motives while engaging in a strategy of rising tension and street protests against the new government. One of the first measures adopted by Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq, which caused a downturn in relations with the U.S. administration of George W. Bush. This period saw the implementation of same-sex marriage in Spain, fast-track divorce, measures fostering women's rights and the fight against gender-based violence, as well as the Historical Memory Law recognizing the victims of the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist dictatorship. Zapatero's decision to engage in talks with the separatist group ETA—after three years of relative calm and a ceasefire in March 2006—was not without controversy, and the government was forced to halt all negotiations following the Madrid–Barajas Airport bombing in December that year. The PSOE government also attempted to enforce a policy of reform of the regional statutes of autonomy, with the issue of the 2006 Catalan statute being the most controversial: its curtailment in the es Cortes Generales no caused the downfall of regional president Pasqual Maragall's cabinet and an appeal to the Constitutional Court being filed by the PP. Although Zapatero's first term saw a continuation of the economic growth of previous years, the growing property bubble in housing prices and a multinational subprime mortgage crisis started showing symptoms of a potential real estate and financial crisis by late 2007. The electoral outcome saw a record result for both PSOE and PP, which combined amounted for more than 83% of the vote share and 92% of Congress seats. The PSOE benefitted from tactical voting against the PP—at the cost of peripheral nationalist parties, such as Convergence and Union, Republican Left of Catalonia, the Basque Nationalist Party or Chunta Aragonesista, falling to historical lows of popular support—and emerged as the most-voted party just seven seats short of an overall majority, which allowed Zapatero to be sworn in for a second term in office in April 2008. On the other hand, Rajoy's PP saw an increase in its vote share and seat count, but remained unable to overtake the Socialists. United Left had its worst general election performance ever with less than four percent of the share and two seats, whereas the new Union, Progress and Democracy party—founded by former PSOE member and leadership contender Rosa Díez—became the first nationwide party aside from PSOE, PP and IU to secure seats since the Democratic and Social Centre was left out of parliament in 1993. Background Premiership of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero The 2004 general election was heavily influenced by the Madrid train bombings, seeing the unexpected ousting of the ruling People's Party (PP) amid voters' fury at the crisis' controversial management by the government (accused of a disinformation campaign to prevent the blame on the bombings being linked to the Spanish involvement in the Iraq War).Tremlett Giles 15 March 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/15/spain.gilestremlett Furious voters oust Spanish government The Guardian Madrid 9 August 202615 March 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3511280.stm Spanish government admits defeat BBC News 9 August 2026 José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero went on to secure investiture as prime minister of Spain with the only opposition of PP lawmakers, subsequently forming a minority government of his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).17 April 2004 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/04/16/espana/1082114067.html Rodríguez Zapatero, elegido presidente con 183 votos es El Mundo Madrid 9 August 2026Tremlett Giles 17 April 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/17/spain.gilestremlett Zapatero backed as new PM The Guardian Madrid 9 August 2026 Immediately after assuming power, Zapatero's first government fulfilled a campaign pledge to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq, causing a downturn in relations with the U.S. administration under George W. Bush.Tremlett Giles Teather David 17 April 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/19/spain.iraq Spain to pull troops out 'as soon as possible' The Guardian Madrid 9 August 2026McLean Renwick 17 October 2004 https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/world/europe/old-friends-us-and-spain-weather-a-time-of-tension.html Old Friends U.S. and Spain Weather a Time of Tension The New York Times Madrid 9 August 2026 Internationally, the country recovered relations with Germany and France and unblocked negotiations for the European Constitution Treaty,Feary Natalie 30 March 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/30/eu.politics2 Timeline: the EU constitution The Guardian 9 August 2026Benhold Katrin 14 September 2004 https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/14/world/europe/spanish-prime-minister-steers-his-nation-back-into-european.html Spanish Prime Minister Steers His Nation Back Into European Fold The New York Times 9 August 2026Tempest Matthew 29 October 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/29/eu.politics1 EU leaders sign constitution The Guardian 9 August 2026 which in Spain was successfully submitted to a referendum in February 2005 (albeit amid a high abstention rate).6 October 2004 Spain set to be first to hold referendum on EU Constitution https://www.euractiv.com/news/spain-set-to-be-first-to-hold-referendum-on-eu-constitution/ Euractiv Madrid 9 August 2026Croft Adrian 21 February 2005 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/02/21/spaniards-approve-eu-constitution-but-turnout-is-low/a6e38bb1-9901-47f3-b5ec-33a14308a3dd/ Spaniards Approve E.U. Constitution, but Turnout Is Low The Washington Post Madrid 9 August 2026 Zapatero also proposed an "Alliance of Civilizations" against Islamist extremism, through increased international, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation between the Western and Muslim worlds.22 September 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3679336.stm Spain proposes cultural alliance BBC News 9 August 202618 December 2006 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/12/18/internacional/1166461069.html La Alianza de Civilizaciones de Zapatero es El Mundo Madrid 9 August 2026 His government also dealt with the 2007 Morocco–Spain diplomatic conflict over King Juan Carlos I's visit to the cities of Ceuta and Melilla,7 November 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7082766.stm Morocco king condemns royal visit BBC News 11 August 2026 as well as a diplomatic incident with Venezuela over the King's words "Why don't you shut up?" (es ¿Por qué no te callas? no) directed at Hugo Chávez during the 2007 Ibero-American Summit.Carroll Rory Hamilos Paul 12 November 2007 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/12/spain.venezuela 'Shut up!' Spanish king tells Chávez The Guardian Caracas / Madrid 11 August 2026Reuters 25 July 2008 https://www.france24.com/en/20080725-chavez-makes-amends-with-king-spain-spain-venezuela Chavez makes amends with King of Spain France 24 Madrid 11 August 2026 left|thumb|alt=Artur Mas, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida at La Moncloa Palace|The drafting of a new Statute of Autonomy for Catalonia created tensions between the Spanish government and Catalan parties. Domestically, Zapatero set out to adopt an ambitious agenda to expand social rights and civil liberties, including the first gender-equal cabinet,Tremlett Giles 16 April 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/16/gayrights.gender Gay marriage rights lead Spanish PM's drive for sexual equality The Guardian Madrid 9 August 2026 measures fostering women's rights and the fight against gender-based violence,Nogueira Charo 8 October 2004 https://elpais.com/diario/2004/10/08/sociedad/1097186401_850215.html El Congreso aprueba por unanimidad la ley integral contra la violencia de género es El País Madrid 9 August 2026Williams Zoe 1 April 2011 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/01/jose-zapatero-feminism-spain José Zapatero's feminista agenda The Guardian 9 August 2026 the legalization of same-sex marriage,Agencies 30 June 2005 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/30/gayrights.spain Spain legalises gay marriage The Guardian 9 August 2026 the recognition of long-term care,5 October 2006 https://elpais.com/sociedad/2006/10/05/actualidad/1159999202_850215.html El Congreso aprueba la Ley de Dependencia por amplia mayoría es El País Madrid 9 August 20267 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 and the approval of "fast-track" divorce and the first Equality Law,EFE 15 March 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/03/15/espana/1173970450.html El Congreso aprueba definitivamente la Ley de Igualdad con la abstención del PP es El Mundo Madrid 9 August 2026Hamilos Paul 18 November 2007 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/17/spain.international Spain's divorce rate soars after rules relaxed The Guardian Madrid 9 August 2026 This period also saw the repealing of the Ebro river water transfer,17 March 2004 https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2004/03/17/economia/1079506580_850215.html El Gobierno de Zapatero frenará el trasvase del Ebro es Cinco Días 9 August 2026Valdecantos Camilo 22 April 2005 https://elpais.com/diario/2005/04/22/espana/1114120820_850215.html El Congreso deroga el trasvase del Ebro y aprueba el nuevo Plan Hidrológico es El País Madrid 9 August 2026 the expansion of anti-smoking bans,Adler Katya 1 September 2004 https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3619010.stm Spain proposes cultural alliance BBC News Madrid 9 August 20262 January 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4574734.stm Spain sees smoking ban take hold BBC News 9 August 2026 the introduction of a point system for driving licenses,Valdecantos Camilo Granda Elsa 30 June 2005 https://elpais.com/diario/2005/06/30/espana/1120082412_850215.html El Congreso aprueba el carné por puntos sin que el Gobierno fije cuándo entrará en vigor es El País Madrid 9 August 2026 the return of the Salamanca Papers to the Catalan government,EFE 31 January 2006 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/06/09/cultura/1118336528.html Los 'papeles de Salamanca': del franquismo a la actualidad es El Mundo Madrid 10 August 2026 a new Education Law (the LOE) to improve educational equity and remove compulsory religious classes,Hamilos Paul 7 July 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jul/07/spain.religion Spain being 'taken back to Moorish times' The Guardian Madrid 9 August 20266 April 2006 https://elpais.com/sociedad/2006/04/06/actualidad/1144274403_850215.html El Congreso aprueba definitivamente la LOE con la oposición del PP es El País Madrid 9 August 2026 an amnesty for migrants working under the table,Tremlett Giles 26 July 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jul/26/spain.gilestremlett Spain attracts record levels of immigrants seeking jobs and sun The Guardian Madrid 9 August 2026 a €2,500 baby bonus,Burnett Victoria 13 July 2007 https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/13/world/europe/13iht-spain.4.6652189.html Low birth rate prompts Spain to approve child bonus The New York Times Madrid 9 August 2026 or a Historical Memory Law to recognize victims of the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist dictatorship.Elordi Cué Carlos 1 November 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/11/01/espana/1193871618_850215.html La ley de memoria se aprueba entre aplausos de invitados antifranquistas es El País Madrid 9 August 2026 A plan for limited constitutional reform—including the removal of male-preference from the right of succession to the monarchy or a Senate's reform—failed due to a lack of consensus.Valdecantos Camilo 16 April 2004 https://elpais.com/diario/2004/04/16/espana/1082066401_850215.html Zapatero propone una reforma limitada de la Constitución y acepta cambios en los estatutos es El País Madrid 10 August 2026Garea Fernando 4 December 2013 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/12/04/inenglish/1386169761_006417.html Reform: mission impossible El País Madrid 10 August 2026 Immigration remained an issue, particularly with the Cayuco boat crisis that saw over 30,000 illegal immigrants arriving at the Canary Islands by sea in 2006.Fuchs Dale 4 September 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/sep/04/spain.mainsection Canary Islands fear disaster as number of migrants soars The Guardian Madrid 13 August 2026Rodríguez José María 14 June 2017 Spain's handling of the Cayuco boat crisis https://www.euractiv.com/news/spains-handling-of-the-cayuco-boat-crisis/ Euractiv 13 August 2026Alfaya Janire Padrón Agustín Moreno Santiago 29 August 2024 30 años de la Ruta Canaria de la migración: cronología de un fracaso humanitario https://cadenaser.com/canarias/2024/08/28/30-anos-de-la-ruta-canaria-de-la-migracion-cronologia-de-un-fracaso-humanitario-radio-club-tenerife/ es Cadena SER Santa Cruz de Tenerife 13 August 2026 Territorial reform became a topic of contention, particularly over the 2006 Catalan Statute of Autonomy (which envisaged a vast expansion of regional powers, of dubious constitutionality).Agencias 30 September 2005 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/09/30/espana/1128051192.html El Parlamento de Cataluña aprueba el nuevo Estatut es El Mundo Barcelona 10 August 20263 November 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4398702.stm Spain approves Catalonia autonomy BBC News 10 August 2026 The es Cortes Generales no curtailed the text—following an agreement between Zapatero and Convergence and Union's leader Artur Mas, and in breach of a previous pledge by the former to uphold whatever the Catalan parliament approvedMcLean Renwick 29 September 2005 https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/29/world/europe/catalonia-steps-up-to-challenge-spain.html Catalonia steps up to challenge Spain The New York Times Madrid 13 August 2026Agencias 22 January 2006 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/01/22/espana/1137885368.html El Gobierno llega a un 'acuerdo global' con CiU sobre el Estatuto de Cataluña es El Mundo Madrid 13 August 2026—with opposition from Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) causing the downfall of the Catalan government under Pasqual Maragall;Agencias 6 March 2006 ERC anuncia un 'no' al Estatut y entrega al PSOE un documento de mínimos para cambiar su voto https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20060306/51262742220/erc-anuncia-un-no-al-estatut-y-entrega-al-psoe-un-documento-de-minimos-para-cambiar-su-voto.html es La Vanguardia Madrid 10 August 2026Company, Enric 31 March 2006 El Congreso aprueba el Estatuto catalán con rechazo frontal del PP y matizado de ERC https://elpais.com/diario/2006/03/31/espana/1143756001_850215.html es El País Madrid 10 August 202611 May 2006 Maragall expulsa a ERC del Gobierno catalán y anuncia elecciones anticipadas https://elpais.com/elpais/2006/05/11/actualidad/1147335417_850215.html es El País Madrid / Barcelona 10 August 2026 the amended Statute was approved in referendum, albeit under a low voter turnout.Tremlett Giles 19 June 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jun/19/spain.gilestremlett Catalonia leads the way for Spain's regions with yes vote for autonomy The Guardian Madrid 10 August 202619 June 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5091572.stm Catalonia endorses autonomy plan BBC News 10 August 2026 A proposed Basque Statute reform to turn that region into an associated state (the Ibarretxe Plan) was rejected by the Spanish parliament in February 2005, prompting the lehendakari, Juan José Ibarretxe, to turn that year's Basque election into a plebiscite on his plan (which ultimately failed).Martínez Isabel Cristina 31 January 2005 https://elpais.com/diario/2005/01/31/espana/1107126002_850215.html Ibarretxe baraja adelantar las elecciones como respuesta al rechazo de su plan es El País Vitoria 13 August 20262 February 2005 https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/02/world/europe/madrid-rejects-basque-automony-plan.html Madrid rejects Basque automony plan The New York Times Madrid 10 August 2026Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 18 April 2005 https://elpais.com/diario/2005/04/18/espana/1113775218_850215.html La derrota de un plebiscito es El País Madrid 13 August 2026 Successful statutory reforms were approved for Andalusia, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Castile and León and the Valencian Community, with bipartisan support.EFE 17 April 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/04/17/espana/1176835237.html El Congreso admite a trámite la propuesta de reforma del Estatuto de Castilla y León es El Mundo Madrid 10 August 2026EFE 30 October 2007 El Congreso aprueba el proyecto de reforma del Estatuto de Castilla y León https://cadenaser.com/ser/2007/10/30/espana/1193705424_850215.html es Cadena SER 10 August 2026 thumb|alt=Smoke rising from parking lot D, Barajas Airport following the ETA terrorist attack of 30 December 2006|The Madrid–Barajas Airport bombing effectively ended negotiations talks ensuing from ETA's 2006 ceasefire declaration. The weakening of ETA's activity over continuous police operations prompted the group to back calls for dialogue with Spanish authorities—put forward in late 2004 by its outlawed political-wing, Batasuna—in order to resolve the Basque conflict.Agence France-Presse 16 January 2005 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-01-16/eta-considers-talks-with-spanish-government/619598 ETA considers talks with Spanish Government Australian Broadcasting Corporation 11 August 202617 June 2005 https://cadenaser.com/ser/2005/06/17/espana/1118965816_850215.html El Gobierno dice que el comunicado de ETA que espera es aquél que anuncie el abandono de las armas es Cadena SER 11 August 2026Varona David 7 March 2008 Terrorismo de ETA: del acoso policial de 2004 a la tregua de 2006 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20080307/terrorismo-eta-del-acoso-policial-2004-a-tregua-2006/2473.shtml es RTVE 11 August 2026 Zapatero's government accepted to re-engage in peace talks with ETA,Tremlett Giles 18 May 2005 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/18/spain.gilestremlett Spain clears way for peace talks with Eta The Guardian Madrid 11 August 2026Arroyo Rodríguez Jorge 19 June 2005 https://elpais.com/diario/2005/06/19/espana/1119132004_850215.html ETA anuncia el cese de los atentados contra los "electos de los partidos políticos de España" es El País Madrid 11 August 2026Tremlett Giles 13 September 2005 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/sep/13/spain.gilestremlett Eta 'is preparing to announce ceasefire after secret talks' The Guardian Madrid 11 August 2026 paving the way for a "permanent" ceasefire declaration on 22 March 2006,Tremlett Giles 23 March 2006 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/mar/23/spain.topstories3 Eta declares permanent ceasefire The Guardian Madrid 11 August 2026 and the formal start of negotiations in June 2006.McLean Renwick 29 June 2006 https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/world/europe/29iht-basque.2083606.html Zapatero announces ETA talks The New York Times Madrid 11 August 2026Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 30 June 2006 https://elpais.com/diario/2006/06/30/espana/1151618401_850215.html Zapatero anuncia el diálogo del Gobierno con ETA para tratar de acabar con el terrorismo es El País Madrid 11 August 2026 Throughout the summer and fall of 2006, the group warned about the peace process being "in crisis" due to the continued police arrests and trials against ETA members,Goodman Al 18 August 2006 https://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/08/18/spain.eta/ Peace process 'in crisis' ETA says CNN Madrid 11 August 2026 seeing episodes such as member Iñaki de Juana Chaos's hunger strikes or an increase in kale borroka attacks.1 October 2006 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/kale-borroka-recrudece-empresas-e-instituciones-publicas/1411285140 La "kale borroka" se recrudece contra empresas e instituciones públicas es Servimedia Madrid 11 August 2026Guenaga Bidaurrazaga Aitor Ormazabal Mikel 23 December 2006 https://elpais.com/diario/2006/12/23/espana/1166828403_850215.html El Gobierno vasco teme que aumente la 'kale borroka' para intimidar a la sociedad es El País Bilbao / San Sebastián 11 August 202616 July 2008 De Juana inicia una nueva huelga de hambre tras la petición de embargo de su casa https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20080716/de-juana-inicia-una-nueva-huelga-de-hambre-tras-la-peticion-de-embargo-de-su-casa/116190.shtml es RTVE 11 August 2026 The 2006 Madrid–Barajas Airport bombing prompted the government to halt all negotiations,Agence France-Presse 30 December 2006 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-12-31/madrid-airport-bomb-ends-eta-cease-fire/2163244 Madrid airport bomb 'ends ETA cease-fire' Australian Broadcasting Corporation 11 August 2026Agencies 9 January 2007 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jan/09/spain Eta admits to fatal December blast The Guardian 11 August 2026 with ETA officially ending its ceasefire in June 2007.Tremlett Giles 5 June 2007 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jun/05/spain.gilestremlett Eta to end ceasefire at midnight The Guardian Madrid 11 August 2026 The opposition PP under Mariano Rajoy—who succeeded José María Aznar as party leader in October 2004—embraced conspiracy theories about the Madrid bombings' authorship and motives (attributing them as an attempt to "rob" them the election) and, together with right-wing media, engaged in a strategy of rising tension (crispación) and street protests against Zapatero's agenda amid a growing polarization of Spanish politics.Tremlett Giles 30 November 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/30/spain.gilestremlett Aznar asserts ties between Eta and Islamists over Madrid terror attack The Guardian Madrid 11 August 2026Abend Lisa 11 March 2009 https://time.com/archive/6945976/five-years-after-the-madrid-bombings/ Five Years After the Madrid Bombings Time 11 August 2026Fernández María 10 March 2014 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2014/03/10/inenglish/1394468097_652189.html Ten years of conspiracies and myths El País Madrid 11 August 2026Hedgecoe Guy 11 March 2024 https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024/03/11/how-fake-news-about-the-madrid-bombings-continues-to-divide-spanish-politics/ Aznar asserts ties between Eta and Islamists over Madrid terror attack The Irish Times 11 August 2026 Together with the Spanish Episcopal Conference, it opposed reforms on same-sex marriage and education,Associated Press 28 September 2004 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/sep/28/gayrights.spain Spanish Catholics attack plans for same-sex marriage The Guardian 11 August 2026Associated Press 19 June 2005 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8272443 Protesters march against gay marriage in Spain NBC News 11 August 2026Pérez de Pablos Susana 13 November 2005 https://elpais.com/diario/2005/11/13/espana/1131836401_850215.html Cientos de miles de personas marchan contra la reforma educativa en Madrid es El País Madrid 11 August 2026 while it joined the Association of Victims of Terrorism in demostrations against the government's peace talks with ETA (with Rajoy going on to accuse Zapatero of "betraying the dead").Marcos Pilar 12 May 2005 https://elpais.com/diario/2005/05/12/espana/1115848804_850215.html Rajoy: "Usted traiciona a los muertos y ha revigorizado a una ETA moribunda" es El País Madrid 11 August 2026Tremlett Giles 4 June 2005 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/04/spain.gilestremlett Spanish PM faces big protest over Eta talks The Guardian Madrid 11 August 2026Agence France-Presse 25 February 2006 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-02-26/spain-protests-against-eta-talks-attract-thousands/806356 Spain protests against ETA talks attract thousands Australian Broadcasting Corporation 11 August 202610 June 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5068320.stm Madrid marchers reject Eta talks BBC News 11 August 2026 The PP also staged a harsh campaign against the Catalan Statute by tabling a popular initiative (which gathered over four million signatures) and appealing the approved text to the Spanish Constitutional Court,25 April 2006 Rajoy presenta en el Congreso cuatro millones de firmas por un referéndum sobre el Estatuto https://elpais.com/elpais/2006/04/25/actualidad/1145953019_850215.html es El País Madrid 11 August 202631 July 2006 El PP presenta su recurso de inconstitucionalidad contra la reforma del Estatuto catalán https://elpais.com/elpais/2006/07/31/actualidad/1154333819_850215.html es El País Madrid 11 August 2026Europa Press 28 June 2010 El PP recurrió 114 de los 223 artículos del Estatut https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20100628/53954082784/el-pp-recurrio-114-de-los-223-articulos-del-estatut.html es La Vanguardia Madrid 11 August 2026 accusing the government of fostering Spain's "breakup".Díez Anabel Marcos Pilar 10 March 2006 PSOE y CiU defienden el Estatuto y acusan al PP de provocar la división entre españoles https://elpais.com/diario/2006/03/10/espana/1141945209_850215.html es El País Madrid 11 August 2026 Zapatero remained popular during his first term,16 April 2007 Casi dos tercios de los españoles aprueba la gestión de Zapatero a los tres años de Gobierno https://elpais.com/internacional/2007/04/16/actualidad/1176674409_850215.html es El País Madrid 12 August 2026G. Pico Raquel 17 November 2007 Zapatero aguanta el tirón y mantiene sus apoyos a cuatro meses de las elecciones https://www.expansion.com/2007/11/17/economia-politica/politica/1058818.html es Expansión 12 August 2026 seeing his party win the Galician government in the 2005 regional election,Hermida Xosé 28 June 2005 Los votos de la emigración confirman la victoria de la izquierda en las elecciones gallegas https://elpais.com/diario/2005/06/28/espana/1119909602_850215.html es El País Pontevedra 12 August 2026 and the renewal of the tripartite cabinet (under José Montilla) in the 2006 Catalan election following the Statute crisis.5 November 2006 El tripartito de izquierdas volverá a gobernar Cataluña https://cadenaser.com/ser/2006/11/05/espana/1162687812_850215.html es Cadena SER 12 August 2026 The 2007 local and regional elections were highly bipolarized and globally inconclusive, with both PP and PSOE tying for first place.Agencias 28 May 2007 El PP gana las municipales pero tiene en el aire Navarra y Baleares https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/05/27/espana/1180294649.html es El Mundo Madrid 12 August 2026 The Spanish economy's expansion helped reduce unemployment to record lows since the country's transition to democracy,Agencias 27 July 2007 https://cadenaser.com/ser/2007/07/27/economia/1185493152_850215.html El paro se sitúa en el 7,95%, la tasa más baja desde 1978 es Cadena SER 12 August 2026 with the first budget surplus in over three decades,Díaz Nosty Bernardo 1 March 2006 https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2006/03/01/economia/1141196181_850215.html España logra el primer superávit en 28 años es Cinco Días 12 August 202622 February 2008 https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2008/02/22/economia/1203663382_850215.html España registra en 2007 el mayor superávit fiscal de la democracia es Cinco Días 12 August 2026 and Spain's GDP per capita briefly overtaking Italy's in 2007 (bringing it close to convergence with the European Union's average).13 February 2007 https://elpais.com/economia/2007/02/13/actualidad/1171355573_850215.html La economía española creció un 3,8% en 2006 es El País Madrid 12 August 2026Europa Press 11 October 2007 https://www.eleconomista.es/mercados-cotizaciones/noticias/293646/10/07/Economia-Macro-El-Gobierno-preve-la-convergencia-en-renta-per-capita-con-la-UE-en-2008-dos-anos-antes-de-lo-estimado.html Economía/Macro.- El Gobierno prevé la convergencia en renta per cápita con la UE en 2008, dos años antes de lo estimado es El Economista Madrid 13 August 2026Agencias 12 December 2008 https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2008/12/12/economia/1229064985_850215.html España superó a Italia en PIB per cápita en 2007, según la Comisión Europea es Cinco Días 12 August 2026 This growth was driven by a real-estate bubble which saw a major rise in housing construction, speculation and rocketing house prices;Gómez Mardones Inmaculada 20 July 2006 https://elpais.com/diario/2006/07/20/economia/1153346402_850215.html La burbuja inmobiliaria crece con otro récord de 850.000 viviendas en 2006 es El País Madrid 13 August 2026 this, in turn, prompted an increase in the cost of mortgages,Galindo Cristina 29 December 2006 https://elpais.com/diario/2006/12/29/economia/1167346805_850215.html Las hipotecas registran en 2006 la mayor subida desde la creación del índice Euríbor es El País Madrid 13 August 2026Doncel Luis 28 March 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/03/28/economia/1175032812_850215.html La hipoteca media aumenta un 13% en 2006, hasta los 147.000 euros es El País Madrid 13 August 2026 and a rise in household debts.Servimedia 15 August 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/mundodinero/2007/08/15/economia/1187164139.html El pago de deudas se 'comió' en 2006 todo el nuevo ahorro de las familias españolas es El Mundo Madrid 13 August 2026Weisbrot Mark 29 January 2011 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jan/29/spain-economy-euro-eurozone Spain, hostage to the eurozone The Guardian 12 August 2026 Nonetheless, the buoyancy of this period allowed the government to adopt a policy of tax cuts (particularly into lower income and corporate taxes, with more tax deductions) and coin the "cutting taxes is left-wing" slogan.Europa Press 15 March 2006 https://www.eleconomista.es/mercados-cotizaciones/noticias/14007738/08/26/la-inflacion-sigue-relajandose-en-eeuu-el-ipc-lo-clava-y-se-cine-a-las-expectativas-de-un-34-en-julio.html Economía/Fiscal.- Zapatero defiende la reforma fiscal del Gobierno como estímulo para crecer y crear empleo es El Economista Madrid 12 August 2026Escolar Ignacio 3 February 2012 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/03/spain-left-collapsed Spain did not swing to the right, the left collapsed The Guardian 12 August 2026 In September 2007, Zapatero boasted about the positive economic figures by proclaiming that, under his government, Spain had "joined the Champions' League of world economies".11 September 2007 Zapatero: "El Gobierno ha situado a España en la Champions League de las economías del mundo" https://cadenaser.com/ser/2007/09/11/espana/1189468215_850215.html es Cadena SER 13 August 2026Crawford Leslie 8 January 2008 Spain sees credit surge brought to rude halt https://www.ft.com/content/5e43160a-be10-11dc-8bc9-0000779fd2ac Financial Times Madrid 13 August 2026 The outbreak of the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States during the summer of 2007 affected Spain's construction industry and the economy, which started showing signs of slowdown.Gómez M. Pardo P. 29 October 2006 https://www.elmundo.es/suplementos/nuevaeconomia/2006/344/1162072802.html El 'crash' de la vivienda en EEUU asusta al ladrillo es El Mundo 13 August 2026De Barrón Íñigo 17 December 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/12/17/economia/1197846006_850215.html Las claves de una crisis financiera inédita y con final incierto es El País Madrid 12 August 2026Cotizalia 20 February 2008 https://www.elconfidencial.com/mercados/fondos-de-inversion/2008-02-20/el-pib-espanol-despide-2007-con-un-crecimiento-del-3-8-solo-una-decima-menos-que-en-2006_831825/ El PIB español despide 2007 con un crecimiento del 3,8%, sólo una décima menos que en 2006 es El Confidencial 12 August 2026 The squeeze in international credit and looming economic uncertainty switched the political focus during the months previous to the 2008 election, amid a spike in the inflation rate and a rise in unemployment.EFE 3 January 2008 https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia/-ano-2007-cierra-con-2-129-547-parados-un-5-27-mas-que-2006--2194249/ El año 2007 cierra con 2.129.547 parados, un 5,27% más que en 2006 es 20 minutos 13 August 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 14 March 2004, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 14 March 2008. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 19 February 2008, setting the latest possible date for election day on 13 April 2008. 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. Speculation on a snap election emerged since late 2004, when it was hypothesized that one could be held from mid-to-late 2006 over the difficult alliance with ERC and to take advantage of positive results in the 2005 referendum and regional elections.30 September 2004 https://www.libertaddigital.com/nacional/un-sector-del-psoe-quiere-que-zapatero-convoque-elecciones-generales-en-otono-de-2006-1276234068/ Un sector del PSOE quiere que Zapatero convoque elecciones generales en otoño de 2006 es Libertad Digital 11 August 2026 Another commented scenario was an early call in the fall of 2007, five months ahead of schedule, in a scenario similar to the 1989 election.Cacho Jesús 29 May 2006 https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2006-05-29/zapatero-se-plantea-hacer-crisis-antes-del-verano-y-adelantar-las-generales-a-octubre-de-2007_564547/ Zapatero se plantea hacer crisis antes del verano y adelantar las generales a octubre de 2007 es El Confidencial 11 August 2026 Zapatero's government dispelled such claims and insisted on serving out the full legislative term.Elordi Cué Carlos 18 April 2006 https://elpais.com/diario/2006/04/18/espana/1145311213_850215.html Zapatero mantuvo en secreto los cambios en el Gobierno por "respeto a los ciudadanos" es El País Madrid 11 August 2026Pérez Julia 25 November 2006 https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2006-11-25/zapatero-descarta-el-adelanto-electoral-en-contra-del-escenario-realizado-por-el-pp_514711/ Zapatero descarta el adelanto electoral, en contra del escenario realizado por el PP es El Confidencial 11 August 2026 In November 2007, it was announced by the Andalusian president, Manuel Chaves, that he had agreed with Zapatero to hold the regional election in Andalusia simultaneously with the general election in March,Lucio Lourdes 1 November 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/11/01/andalucia/1193872928_850215.html Chaves pacta con Zapatero celebrar elecciones conjuntas el 9 de marzo es El País Seville 27 July 2026 with the latter confirming the date of 9 March after the approval of the 2008 budget, on 20 December.20 December 2007 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-zapatero-anuncia-oficialmente-elecciones-generales-celebraran-marzo-20071220163135.html Zapatero anuncia oficialmente que las elecciones generales se celebrarán el 9 de marzo es Europa Press Madrid 11 August 2026Díez Anabel Elordi Cué Carlos 21 December 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/12/21/espana/1198191601_850215.html Zapatero salva 'in extremis' el Presupuesto es El País Madrid 11 August 2026 The es Cortes Generales no were officially dissolved on 15 January 2008 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 9 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 1 April.Royal Decree 33/2008 2008 arts. 1–2 & 5.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 15 January 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/01/15/espana/1200351607_850215.html Zapatero convoca las elecciones y promete más políticas sociales es El País Madrid 27 July 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 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 33/2008 2008 art. 3. Seats Constituencies 35 Madrid 31 Barcelona 16 Valencia 12 Alicantegreen (+1), Seville 10 Málaga, Murciagreen (+1) 9 Cádiz 8 A Coruñared (−1), Asturias, Balearic Islands, Biscayred (−1), Las Palmas 7 Granada, Pontevedra, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza 6 Almeríagreen (+1), Badajoz, Córdobared (−1), Girona, Guipúzcoa, Jaén, Tarragona, Toledogreen (+1) 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 Soriared (−1) 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 January 2008https://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 of the Congress PSOE 142 164 PSC 20 LV 1 EV–OV 1 People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress PP 145 147 UPN 2 Catalan Parliamentary Group(Convergence and Union) CDC 6 10 UDC 4 Republican Left's Parliamentary Group ERC 8 8 Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ/PNV) EAJ/PNV 7 7 United Left–Initiative for Catalonia Greens'Parliamentary Group IU 2 5 ICV 2 IdPV 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group CC 2 9 BNG 2 NC 1 CHA 1 EA 1 NaBai 1 INDEP 1Joaquín Calomarde, former PP legislator.18 April 2007 El diputado Calomarde justifica su paso al Grupo Mixto del Congreso por el giro "a la derecha" del PP https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-diputado-calomarde-justifica-paso-grupo-mixto-congreso-giro-derecha-pp-20070418142147.html es Europa Press Madrid 27 July 2026 1em + Parliamentary composition in January 2008https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/gruposparlamentarios/gruposparlamentariosdesde1977/index.html Grupos Parlamentarios desde 1977 es Senate of Spain 8 July 2020 Senate Groups Parties Senators Seats Total People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate PP 119 123 UPN 3 IF 1 Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 98 98 Catalan Agreement of ProgressParliamentary Group PSC 10 16 ERC 4 ICV 1 EUiA 1 Basque Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group EAJ/PNV 8 8 Convergence and Union'sCatalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate CDC 5 6 UDC 1 Canarian Coalition Senators' Parliamentary Group CC 3 4 AHI 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group BNG 1 4 PAR 1 PSM 1 INDEP 1Francisco Javier Tuñón, appointed senator for Navarre (supported by UPN, PSN–PSOE, CDN and IUN).14 September 2007 https://www.parlamentodenavarra.es/es/noticias/francisco-javier-tu%C3%B1%C3%B3n-san-mart%C3%ADn-es-elegido-senador-por-la-comunidad-forfal-de-navarra Francisco Javier Tuñón San Martín es elegido Senador por la Comunidad Foral de Navarra es Parliament of Navarre 4 February 2020 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 director-general 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, and combining legislative roles (deputy, senator, and regional lawmaker) with each other or with:Constitution 1978 art. 67; LOREG 1985 arts. 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.LOREG 1985 arts. 44 & 169. Amendments in 2007 required a balanced composition of men and women in the electoral lists, 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: 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) Coalition for Melilla (CpM) 50px José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Social democracy 42.6% 164 36.5%Results in the 2004 Senate election, not including Ibiza–Formentera and Menorca. 81 EFE Sánchez Manuel 25 November 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/11/25/espana/1195988277.html Zapatero reclama una mayoría más amplia para recuperar la 'convivencia' es El Mundo Fuenlabrada 27 July 202626 January 2008 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-psoe-coalicion-melilla-firman-zapatero-acuerdo-concurrir-juntos-elecciones-20080126111128.html PSOE y Coalición por Melilla firman ante Zapatero su acuerdo para concurrir juntos a las elecciones es Europa Press Madrid 27 July 2026 PP List on People's Party (PP) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Independents of Fuerteventura (IF) 50px Mariano Rajoy ConservatismChristian democracy 37.7% 148 37.9% 102 Elordi Cué Carlos 9 September 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/09/09/espana/1189288802_850215.html Rajoy trata de calmar las aguas del PP es El País Madrid 27 July 202628 January 2008 https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/politica/PP-Independientes-Fuerteventura-elecciones-generales_0_237627421.html PP e Independientes de Fuerteventura irán juntos en las elecciones generales es Canarias Ahora 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 3.2% 10 3.8% 4 Agencias 21 September 2007 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/279679/0/crisis/duran/mas/ Duran i Lleida y Artur Mas dan por zanjada la enésima crisis en CiU es 20 minutos Barcelona 27 July 2026Europa Press 1 December 2007 http://actualidad.terra.es/articulo/consejo_nacional_ciu_duran_2085939.htm El Consejo Nacional de CiU proclama a Duran candidato a las elecciones generales con el 98,1% de los votos es Terra 27 July 2026 14 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090214043131/http://actualidad.terra.es/articulo/consejo_nacional_ciu_duran_2085939.htm dead esquerra List on Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 50px Joan Ridao Catalan independenceLeft-wing nationalismSocial democracy 2.5% 8 colspan="2" Contestedin alliancePSC–PSOE (8 senators), ERC (3 senators), ICV (1 senator) and EUiA (0 senators) contested the 2004 Senate election within the Entesa alliance. EFE 7 July 2007 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20070707/51372023870/erc-designa-a-joan-ridao-como-proximo-cabeza-de-lista-en-el-congreso.html ERC designa a Joan Ridao como próximo cabeza de lista en el Congreso es La Vanguardia Tarragona 27 July 2026 2 February 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200202134055/https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20070707/51372023870/erc-designa-a-joan-ridao-como-proximo-cabeza-de-lista-en-el-congreso.html bot: unknown EAJ/PNV List on Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 50px Josu Erkoreka Basque nationalismChristian democracy 1.6% 7 1.7% 6 Vasco Press 12 January 2008 https://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/20080112/mas-actualidad/politica/presenta-listas-congreso-grandes-200801121314.html El PNV presenta las listas al Congreso y al Senado sin grandes cambios es El Correo 25 October 2026 IU 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) Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and Alternative Left (ICV–EUiA)– Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV)– United and Alternative Left (EUiA) United Left–Greens (EB–B) Bloc for Asturias (BA) The Greens of Asturias (LVA) The Greens of Mallorca (LVM) United and Republican Left (EUPV–IR)– United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV)– Republican Left (IR) 50px Gaspar Llamazares SocialismCommunism 5.0% 5 4.1%Results in the 2004 Senate election, not including Menorca. 0 González José Antonio 10 November 2007 https://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/20071110/politica/verdes-mantendran-alianza-electoral-20071110.html Los Verdes mantendrán su alianza electoral con IU es El Comercio 25 October 202614 November 2007 https://elpais.com/elpais/2007/11/14/actualidad/1195031829_850215.html Llamazares será el candidato de IU a las elecciones generales es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Ferrer Joan Lluís 27 January 2008 https://www.diariodeibiza.es/ibiza/2008/01/27/esquerra-unida-els-verds-aspira-31114678.html Esquerra Unida-Els Verds aspira a lograr un diputado al Congreso es Diario de Ibiza Ibiza 25 October 2026 CC–PNC List on Canarian Coalition (CC) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) 50px Ana Oramas RegionalismCanarian nationalismCentrism 0.9% 3 0.6% 3 Martín Óscar 20 January 2008 https://eldia.es/canarias/2008-01-20/22-CC-impone-AHI-Fernando-Rios-ira-tres-Congreso-Diputados.htm CC se impone a AHI y Fernando Ríos irá de tres al Congreso de los Diputados es El Día Santa Cruz de Tenerife 27 July 2026 22 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044428/https://eldia.es/canarias/2008-01-20/22-CC-impone-AHI-Fernando-Rios-ira-tres-Congreso-Diputados.htm bot: unknown 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)– Movement for the Grassroots (MpB)– Irmandiño Meeting (EI) 50px Francisco Jorquera Galician nationalismLeft-wing nationalismSocialism 0.8% 2 1.1% 0 25 September 2007 https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/galicia/2007/09/25/francisco-rodriguez-sera-candidato-congreso-dedicarse-exclusiva-bloque/0003_6171810.htm Francisco Rodríguez no será candidato al Congreso para dedicarse en exclusiva al Bloque es La Voz de Galicia 27 July 202610 November 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/11/10/galicia/1194693501_850215.html El BNG elige a sus cabezas de lista para las generales es El País Santiago de Compostela 27 July 2026 CHA List on Aragonese Union (CHA) 50px Bizén Fuster Aragonese nationalismEco-socialism 0.4% 1 0.3% 0 15 December 2007 https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/noticias/aragon/cha-aprueba-lista-candidatos-proximas-elecciones-generales_372449.html CHA aprueba la lista de los candidatos para las próximas elecciones generales es El Periódico de Aragón 27 July 2026 EA List on Basque Solidarity (EA) 50px Nekane Altzelai Basque nationalismSocial democracy 0.3% 1 0.3% 0 Gastaminza Genoveva 27 January 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/01/27/paisvasco/1201466404_850215.html Nekane Alzelai abrirá la lista guipuzcoana de EA tras negarse Galdos es El País San Sebastián 27 July 2026 NaBai List on Basque Solidarity (EA) Aralar (Aralar) Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) Assembly (Batzarre) 50px Uxue Barkos Basque nationalismSocial democracy 0.2% 1 0.3% 0 24 January 2008 https://www.europapress.es/navarra/noticia-nafarroa-bai-elabora-listas-paritarias-congreso-senado-candidatos-independientes-20080124203047.html Nafarroa Bai elabora listas paritarias al Congreso y al Senado con candidatos independientes es Europa Press Pamplona 27 July 2026 PSC–ERC–ICV–EUiA List on Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) United and Alternative Left (EUiA) 50px Maite Arqué CatalanismSocial democracyEco-socialism colspan="2" Did not contest 8.7% 12 9 January 2008 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/331224/0/arque/badalona/socialistas/ Maite Arqué dejará la alcaldía de Badalona tras las elecciones de marzo es 20 minutos Barcelona 27 July 2026 PSOE–ExC List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)In Ibiza–Formentera. Ibiza for Change (ExC)– United Left of Ibiza (EU)– The Greens (Verds)– Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE)– Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 50px Pere Torres Progressivism colspan="2" Did not contest 0.0%Results for PSOE (0.0%, 0 senators) and EU–ENE–ERC (0.0%, 0 senators) in the 2004 Senate election in Ibiza–Formentera. 0 15 11 December 2007 https://www.periodicodeibiza.es/pitiusas/ibiza/2007/12/11/458505/psoe-aprueba-iniciar-negociacion-exc-para-coalicion-senado.html El PSOE aprueba iniciar una negociación con ExC para ir en coalición al Senado es Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera 23 October 202612 January 2008 https://www.diariodeibiza.es/ibiza/2008/01/12/psoe-respalda-unanimidad-candidatura-casetes-31118806.html El PSOE respalda por unanimidad la candidatura de `Casetes´ al Senado es Diario de Ibiza Ibiza 23 October 2026Romaní Guillermo 20 January 2008 https://www.periodicodeibiza.es/pitiusas/ibiza/2008/01/20/452711/gxf-desmarca-coalicion-psoe-exc-concurrira-generales.html GxF se desmarca de la coalición PSOE-ExC y no concurrirá a las generales es Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera 23 October 2026 PSOE–EU–PSM–Verds List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)"Men" In Menorca. United Left (EU)"Men" Socialist Party of Menorca (PSM) The Greens (Verds)"Men" 50px Arturo Bagur Progressivism colspan="2" Did not contest 0.0%Results for PSOE (0.0%, 0 senators), PSM–EN (0.0%, 0 senators) and EM–EU (0.0%, 0 senators) in the 2004 Senate election in Menorca. 0 15 Blasco Torres 5 January 2008 https://www.ultimahora.es/noticias/local/2008/01/05/454973/psib-ratifica-por-asentimiento-lista-congreso-encabeza-garcias.html El PSIB ratifica por asentimiento la lista al Congreso que encabeza Garcías es Última Hora 23 October 2026 UPyD List on Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 50px Rosa Díez Social liberalismRadical centrism colspan="4" Did not contest Gutiérrez Vera 26 October 2007 https://elpais.com/diario/2007/10/26/espana/1193349613_850215.html El partido de Rosa Díez rechaza ir en coalición con Ciudadanos es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Guenaga Bidaurrazaga Aitor 27 January 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/01/27/paisvasco/1201466405_850215.html Díez se presenta como garante de la "regeneración democrática" es El País Bilbao 27 July 2026 In the Canary Islands, an alliance was formed between New Canaries (NC) and Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN), two splinter groups from Canarian Coalition.18 December 2007 https://www.lavozdelanzarote.com/articulo/politica/nc-y-ccn-sellan-acuerdo-concurrir-juntos-proximas-elecciones-generales-y-ahora-esperan-sumar-pil/20071218191500047160.html NC y CCN sellan su acuerdo para concurrir juntos a las próximas elecciones generales y ahora esperan sumar al PIL es La Voz de Lanzarote 27 July 2026 In the Valencian Community, Valencian People's Initiative (IdPV)—splinter from United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV)—joined a coalition with the Valencian Nationalist Bloc (Bloc) and The Greens–Ecologist Left of the Valencian Country (EVEE).22 January 2008 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-iniciativa-poble-valencia-concurrira-bloc-els-verds-ee-isaura-navarro-dara-baja-eupv-20080122134936.html 9-M.- Iniciativa del Poble Valencià concurrirá con El Bloc y Els Verds/EE e Isaura Navarro se dará de baja de EUPV es Europa Press Valencia 27 July 2026 Unity for the Isles, an electoral alliance based in the Balearic Islands, was formed by PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN), Majorcan Union (UM), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Agreement for Majorca (ExM) and The Greens of Menorca (EV–Me).EFE 21 February 2008 Unitat per les Illes quiere 'hacer historia' en las Cortes https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/21/baleares/1203619121.html es El Mundo Palma 27 July 2026 Campaign Timetable The key dates are listed below (all times are CET. The Canary Islands used WET (UTC+0) instead):http://www.elecciones.mir.es/generales2008/i_calendario.html Elecciones Generales a Cortes Generales 2008. Calendario electoral January 2008 es Ministry of the Interior 24 January 2026 14 January: The election decree is issued with the countersign of the prime minister, after deliberation in the Council of Ministers, ratified by the King. 15 January: Formal dissolution of parliament and start of prohibition period on the inauguration of public works, services or projects. 18 January: Initial constitution of provincial and zone electoral commissions with judicial members. 21 January: Division of constituencies into polling sections and stations. 25 January: Deadline for parties and federations to report on their electoral alliances. 28 January: Deadline for electoral register consultation for the purpose of possible corrections. 4 February: Deadline for parties, federations, alliances, and groupings of electors to present electoral lists. 6 February: Publication of submitted electoral lists in the Official State Gazette (BOE). 9 February: Deadline for non-resident citizens (electors residing abroad (CERA) and citizens temporarily absent from Spain) to apply for voting. 11 February: Official proclamation of validly submitted electoral lists. 12 February: Publication of proclaimed electoral lists in the BOE. 13 February: Deadline for the selection of polling station members by sortition. 21 February: Deadline for the appointment of non-judicial members to provincial and zone electoral commissions. 22 February: Official start of electoral campaigning.Royal Decree 33/2008 2008 art. 4. 28 February: Deadline to apply for postal voting. 4 March: Start of legal ban on electoral opinion polling publication; deadline for CERA citizens to vote by mail. 5 March: Deadline for postal and temporarily absent voting. 7 March: Last day of electoral campaigning; deadline for CERA voting. 8 March: Official election silence ("reflection day"). 9 March: 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. 12 March: Start of general vote counting, including CERA votes. 15 March: Deadline for the general vote counting. 24 March: Deadline for the proclamation of elected members. 3 April: Deadline for the reconvening of parliament (date determined by the election decree, which for the 2008 election was set for 1 April).Constitution 1978 art. 68. 3 May: Deadline for the publication of definitive election results in the BOE. Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Ref. References PSOE « Motivos para creer »"PSOESlogan" Under this generic slogan, the party launched another thirteen interchangeable expressions: es no Por todo lo que merece la pena (en "For all what matters") es no Comprometidos con la Igualdad (en "Committed to Equality") es no Vivimos juntos, decidimos juntos (en "We live together, we decide together") es no No es lo mismo (en "Is not the same") es no Porque lo estamos consiguiendo (en "Because we are getting it done") es no Somos más (en "We are more") es no Soñar con los pies en la tierra (en "Head in the clouds, feet on the ground") es no Por todo lo logrado (en "For everything achieved") es no Por el pleno empleo (en "For full employment") es no Porque no está todo hecho (en "Because everything is not done") es no La octava potencia económica, la primera en derechos sociales (en "Eight economic power, first in social rights") es no Ahora que avanzamos, por qué retroceder (en "Now that we move forward, why going back?") es no Podemos llegar tan lejos como queramos (en "We can reach as far as we want") "Reasons to believe""PSOESlogan" Sánchez Manuel 4 February 2008 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/04/espana/1202125599.html Los socialistas rompen la tradición con 13 eslóganes y múltiples fotos de Zapatero es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 202612 March 2008 http://javierpanzano.com/elecciones-2008-de-la-z-a-la-a-y-iii/ Elecciones 2008: De la A a la Z (M) es javierpanzano.com 27 July 2026 PP « Con cabeza y corazón » "With brain and heart" Europa Press 19 February 2008 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/351114/0/lema/pp/elecciones/ 'Con cabeza y corazón', lema del PP para la campaña electoral del 9 de marzo es 20 minutos 27 July 2026 CiU « El teu vot farà respectar Catalunya » "Your vote will make Catalonia to be respected" 22 February 2008 https://www.ccma.cat/324/duran-lleida-assegura-que-el-vot-a-ciu-servir-per-fer-respectar-catalunya/noticia/257740/ Duran Lleida assegura que el vot a CiU servirà per "fer respectar Catalunya" ca CCMA 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 esquerra « Objectiu: un país de primera » "Goal: A first class country" 13 January 2008 https://www.ccma.cat/324/Objectiu-un-pais-de-primera-eslogan-dERC-per-a-la-campanya-electoral/noticia/244015/ "Objectiu: un país de primera", eslògan d'ERC per a la campanya electoral ca CCMA 27 July 2026Agencias 14 January 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/01/14/catalunya/1200276445_850215.html 'Objetivo: un país de primera', lema de la campaña de ERC es El País Barcelona 27 July 2026 EAJ/PNV « Euskadin bizi naiz ni, zu, non bizi zara? »« Yo vivo en Euskadi, tú ¿dónde vives? » "I live in the Basque Country, where do you live?" 1 February 2008 https://www.diariovasco.com/20080201/politica/confluencia-intereses-entre-quien-20080201.html El PNV ve confluencia de intereses entre "quien ilegaliza y quien es ilegalizado" es Diario Vasco Bilbao 27 July 202620 February 2008 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-pnv-pp-iniciaran-campana-vitoria-pse-eb-bilbao-ea-zarautz-aralar-san-sebastian-20080220120748.html PNV y PP iniciarán su campaña en Vitoria, PSE y EB en Bilbao, EA en Zarautz y Aralar en San Sebastián es Europa Press Bilbao 27 July 2026 IU « LlamazarES + izquierda » "LlamazarES (is) more left" EFE 11 February 2008 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/11/espana/1202735823.html IU concurre el 9M con el lema 'LlamazarES + izquierda' y 'contrato social' es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 CC–PNC « Habla canario, ponte en tu sitio » "Speak, Canarian, claim your place" González O. 14 February 2008 http://217-116-29-185.redes.acens.net/2008-02-14/actualidad/actualidad6.htm CC apuesta por el "puerta a puerta" y apela al voto del nacionalismo sentimental es El Día Santa Cruz de Tenerife 27 July 2026 22 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044444/http://217-116-29-185.redes.acens.net/2008-02-14/actualidad/actualidad6.htm dead BNG « Contigo, Galiza decide » "With you, Galicia decides" 12 February 2008 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-contigo-galiza-decide-sera-lema-bng-hara-campana-didactica-frente-demagogia-psoe-pp-20080130150134.html 9-M.- 'Contigo, Galiza decide' será el lema del BNG, que hará una campaña didáctica frente a la "demagogia" de PSOE y PP es Europa Press Santiago de Compostela 27 July 2026 CHA « Aragón con más fuerza » "Aragon, with more strength" 18 February 2008 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-campana-cha-apelara-voto-aragonesista-no-perder-representacion-aragon-congreso-20080218144844.html La campaña de CHA apelará al voto aragonesista para no perder la "representación de Aragón" en el Congreso es Europa Press Zaragoza 27 July 2026 EA « Herriaren ahotsa »« La voz del pueblo » "The voice of the people" NaBai « Moogi, moogi. Mugi gaitezen, mugi dezagun »« Movámonos, movámoslo » "Let's move us, let's move it" EFE 20 February 2008 http://relay.micromedios.es/soitu/2008/02/20/info/1203509586_025929.html Nafarroa Bai organiza una campaña bidireccional en la que invita al "movimiento" es soitu.es 27 July 2026 26 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190126060853/http://relay.micromedios.es/soitu/2008/02/20/info/1203509586_025929.html bot: unknown UPyD « Lo que nos une » "What unites us" Sanz Luis Ángel 12 February 2008 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/12/espana/1202818507.html 'Lo que nos une', lema de UPyD para la campaña es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Although the official electoral campaign period in Spain only lasts for the 15 days before the election, (with the exception of the day just before the election), many parties, especially the PP and PSOE, start their "pre-campaigns" months in advance, often before having finalized their electoral lists. The first phase campaign was done under the slogan "Con Z de Zapatero" (With Z of Zapatero), a joke based on the Prime Minister and socialist candidate's habit of tending to pronounce words ending with D as if they ended with Z. The campaign was linked to terms like equality (Igualdad-Igualdaz) or solidarity (Solidaridad-Solidaridaz), emphasizing the policies carried out by the current government. The second phase was done under the slogan "La Mirada Positiva" (The Positive outlook), emphasising the future government platform, and "Vota con todas tus fuerzas" (Vote with all of your strength), aiming to mobilize the indecisive or potentially abstaining voters. Another common slogan through all the campaign was "Motivos para creer" (Reasons to believe in). For the pre-campaign the PP used the slogan "Con Rajoy es Posible" (With Rajoy it's Possible). Usually emphasizing PP's campaign proposals, such as "Llegar a fin de mes, Con Rajoy es Posible" (Making ends meet, With Rajoy it's Possible). IU accused PP of copying its slogan from the last municipal electionsEl PP copia el Lema de IU en su Ultima Campaña https://web.archive.org/web/20071125091948/http://www.publico.es/espana/020146/pp/copia/iu/lema/ultima/campana/electoral November 25, 2007 , Público, 23/11/2007 IU chose the pre-campaign slogan "LlamazarES + Más Izquierda" (LlamazarES (is) More Left), calling attention to their position as the third national party. Events and issues The economy became a major campaign issue due to a number of factors: A slowing down in the housing market, with prices even beginning to fall in some areas. Sharp increases in prices of some basic commodities. Global instability as a result of market uncertainty. A rise in unemployment. The sudden emergence of the economy as a political issue came after several years of steady economic growth, and led some observers to suggest that maybe the government would have benefitted from calling an earlier election.http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=10566886 Zapatero's bear fight The Economist 24 January 2008 18 June 2010 In addition to those factors both the PP and the PSOE made competing proposals on taxation. Debates + 2008 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 ERC PNV CC Share Ref. References 21 February Antena 3Economic debate. Matías Prats PSolbes PPizarro NI NI NI NI NI 24.4%(4,784,000) Grados Alberto 21 February 2008 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/352474/0/solbes/pizarro/debate/ Pizarro habla de crisis económica profunda y Solbes le tacha de demagogo y catastrofista es 20 minutos 27 July 202622 February 2008 https://elpais.com/elpais/2008/02/22/actualidad/1203666530_850215.html Casi cinco millones de espectadores siguieron el debate Pizarro-Solbes es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 25 February TV Academy Manuel Campo Vidal PZapatero PRajoy NI NI NI NI NI 59.1%(13,043,000) Blanco Juan Carlos 14 December 2015 https://elpais.com/politica/2015/11/26/actualidad/1448533075_331524.html Cinco debates cara a cara en once elecciones generales es El País 27 July 2026García Gómez Rosario Gallo Isabel 27 February 2008 https://elpais.com/diario/2008/02/27/radiotv/1204066803_850215.html El Zapatero-Rajoy se convierte en lo más visto de la historia es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 28 February RTVE Ana Blanco SJáuregui SG. Pons SMuñoz SJané PRidao PErkoreka SBañuelos 11.1%(1,759,000) 29 February 2008 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/29/eleccionesgenerales/1204282722.html El 'Debate a siete' no cautiva es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 3 March TV Academy Olga Viza PZapatero PRajoy NI NI NI NI NI 56.3%(11,952,000) Fernández Eduardo 4 March 2008 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/03/04/eleccionesgenerales/1204614496.html Casi 12 millones de personas siguieron el segundo debate electoral Zapatero-Rajoy es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 5 March La 1(59 segundos) Ana Pastor SJáuregui SG. Pons SNieto SXuclà SCerdà PErkoreka POramas 10.4%(1,774,000) 6 March 2008 https://www.formulatv.com/noticias/6997/audiencias-sin-tetas-bate-record-frente-al-mal-estreno-de-tres-deseos/ 'Sin tetas...' bate récord frente al mal estreno de 'Tres deseos' es FormulaTV 27 July 2026 Opinion polls + Candidate viewed as "performing best" or "most convincing" in each debate Debate Polling firm/Commissioner PSOE PP Tie None 21 February TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3 47.4 37.0 – 15.6 – 25 February Sigma Dos/El MundoSigma Dos da la victoria a Zapatero por un estrecho margen de 3,5 puntos https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/26/eleccionesgenerales/1203988255.html es El Mundo 26 February 2008Rajoy estuvo mejor de lo esperado para un 48,2% y Zapatero sólo para un 30,7% https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/27/eleccionesgenerales/1204072711.html es El Mundo 27 February 2008 45.5 42.0 – – 12.5 Metroscopia/El PaísVictoria a los puntos de Zapatero https://elpais.com/diario/2008/02/26/espana/1203980432_850215.html es El País 26 February 2008 46.0 42.0 12.0 – – Opina/CuatroLos sondeos de los medios dan como ganador a Zapatero en el debate con Rajoy https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/354070/0/sondeos/debate/elecciones/ es 20 minutos 26 February 2008 45.4 33.4 8.2 – 13.0 Invymark/laSexta 45.7 30.1 24.1 – – TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3Los sondeos de las cadenas de televisión proclaman ganador a Zapatero https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/02/26/eleccionesgenerales/1203982988.html es El Mundo 26 February 2008 45.4 39.3 – 15.3 – 3 March Sigma Dos/El MundoZapatero gana a Rajoy en un debate lleno de propuestas https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/03/03/eleccionesgenerales/1204580139.html es El Mundo 3 March 2008 49.0 40.2 – – 10.8 Metroscopia/El PaísZapatero se impone con claridad a Rajoy en el segundo cara a cara https://elpais.com/elpais/2008/03/04/actualidad/1204622217_850215.html es El País 4 March 2008 53.0 38.0 9.0 – – Opina/CuatroLos primeros sondeos del segundo cara a cara dan como ganador a Zapatero https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/356904/0/encuestas/segundo/debate/ es 20 minutos 26 February 2008 50.8 29.0 13.4 – 6.8 Invymark/laSextaLos sondeos de las cadenas dan la victoria por segunda vez a Zapatero https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/03/04/eleccionesgenerales/1204586340.html es El Mundo 4 March 2008 49.2 29.8 21.0 – – CISPost-electoral Elecciones Generales y al Parlamento de Andalucía, 2008 http://datos.cis.es/pdf/Es2757mar_A.pdf es CIS 23 January 2008 53.3 21.5 6.9 15.8 2.5 Opinion polls Opinion polling for the 2008 Spanish general election OpinionPollingSpainGeneralElection2008.svg 750px Local regression trend line of poll results from 14 March 2004 to 9 March 2008, 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 2004 2008 +/– 2004 2008 +/– 2004 2008 +/– 2004 2008 +/– Andalusia 40.99% 39.06% −1.93 63.16% 59.51% −3.65 75.96% 73.79% −2.17 74.77% 72.77% −2.00 Aragon 42.56% 42.40% −0.16 62.78% 61.39% −1.39 78.01% 76.79% −1.22 77.04% 75.92% −1.12 Asturias 38.50% 38.39% −0.11 60.41% 59.55% −0.86 74.40% 73.82% −0.58 71.73% 71.29% −0.44 Balearic Islands 40.86% 39.18% −1.68 58.28% 56.07% −2.21 69.45% 68.19% −1.26 68.84% 67.57% −1.27 Basque Country 42.17% 37.30% −4.87 61.99% 53.42% −8.57 75.94% 64.90% −11.04 74.97% 64.03% −10.94 Canary Islands 30.29% 30.65% +0.36 50.44% 49.86% −0.58 67.69% 67.61% −0.08 66.70% 65.87% −0.83 Cantabria 43.67% 42.66% −1.01 66.27% 65.17% −1.10 79.20% 78.35% −0.85 77.23% 76.38% −0.85 Castile and León 42.06% 41.83% −0.23 65.43% 63.94% −1.49 80.00% 79.60% −0.40 77.81% 77.66% −0.15 Castilla–La Mancha 42.99% 42.65% −0.34 66.41% 65.30% −1.11 80.65% 80.64% −0.01 79.90% 80.02% +0.12 Catalonia 42.21% 39.31% −2.90 62.32% 57.45% −4.87 76.96% 71.22% −5.74 75.96% 70.30% −5.66 Extremadura 45.45% 43.82% −1.63 66.68% 63.76% −2.92 80.87% 79.68% −1.19 79.26% 78.55% −0.71 Galicia 34.68% 35.60% +0.92 61.48% 60.73% −0.75 76.09% 75.46% −0.63 70.97% 70.48% −0.49 La Rioja 46.75% 45.81% −0.94 66.24% 65.08% −1.16 80.77% 80.77% ±0.00 79.46% 79.29% −0.17 Madrid 38.84% 41.67% +2.83 63.78% 65.18% +1.40 80.74% 80.88% +0.14 78.93% 79.08% +0.15 Murcia 44.00% 45.74% +1.74 66.36% 67.46% +1.10 78.05% 80.47% +2.42 77.06% 79.58% +2.52 Navarre 41.24% 42.72% +1.48 62.83% 59.92% −2.91 77.59% 73.25% −4.34 76.22% 72.06% −4.16 Valencian Community 46.49% 47.57% +1.08 66.46% 66.74% +0.28 78.82% 79.66% +0.84 77.71% 78.84% +1.13 Ceuta 34.39% 31.87% −2.52 51.47% 49.81% −1.66 65.13% 64.75% −0.38 63.45% 63.32% −0.13 Melilla 29.56% 31.08% +1.52 45.98% 47.93% +1.95 58.56% 66.59% +8.03 55.84% 63.68% +7.84 Total 41.02% 40.46% −0.56 63.02% 60.95% −2.07 77.26% 75.35% −1.91 75.66% 73.85% −1.81 Sourceshttps://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales es Ministry of the Interior 15 April 2022 5 August 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240805154842/https://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ dead Results 9th Cortes Generales Congress of Deputies results by autonomous community/constituency Results of the 2008 Spanish Congress election elected deputies 9th Congress of Deputies + ← Summary of the 9 March 2008 Congress of Deputies election results → center|400px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 11,289,335 43.87 +1.28 169 +5 People's Party (PP) 10,278,010 39.94 +2.23 154 +6 United Left (IU) 969,946 3.77 −1.19 2 −3 Convergence and Union (CiU) 779,425 3.03 −0.20 10 ±0 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 306,128 1.19 −0.44 6 −1 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 306,079 1.19 New 1 +1 Republican Left of Catalonia (esquerra) 298,139 1.16 −1.36 3 −5 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 212,543 0.83 +0.02 2 ±0 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)1 174,629 0.68 −0.25 2 −1 Andalusian Coalition (CA)2 68,679 0.27 −0.52 0 ±0 Navarre Yes (NaBai) 62,398 0.24 ±0.00 1 ±0 Basque Solidarity (EA) 50,371 0.20 −0.11 0 −1 The Greens (Verdes) 49,355 0.19 −0.01 0 ±0 The Greens (Verdes) 41,531 0.16 +0.10 0 ±0 The Greens (EV–LV)3 7,824 0.03 −0.11 0 ±0 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 46,313 0.18 New 0 ±0 Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 44,795 0.17 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Party (PAR) 40,054 0.16 +0.02 0 ±0 Aragonese Union (CHA) 38,202 0.15 −0.21 0 −1 New Canaries–Canarian Centre (NC–CCN) 38,024 0.15 New 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 30,840 0.12 +0.07 0 ±0 Aralar (Aralar) 29,989 0.12 −0.03 0 ±0 Bloc–Initiative–Greens (Bloc–IdPV–EVEE) 29,760 0.12 −0.04 0 ±0 Unity for the Isles (UIB)4 25,454 0.10 n/a 0 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 23,318 0.09 New 0 ±0 The Greens of Europe (LVdE)5 20,419 0.08 ±0.00 0 ±0 Social Democratic Party (PSD) 20,126 0.08 New 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 20,030 0.08 +0.03 0 ±0 Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB) 14,193 0.06 −0.10 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS) 14,023 0.05 ±0.00 0 ±0 National Democracy (DN) 12,836 0.05 −0.01 0 ±0 The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative (EV–AE) 12,561 0.05 −0.07 0 ±0 Family and Life Party (PFyV) 9,882 0.04 −0.02 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 9,056 0.04 −0.04 0 ±0 Party of Almería (PdeAL) 8,451 0.03 New 0 ±0 Navarrese Cannabis Representation (RCN/NOK) 7,769 0.03 −0.04 0 ±0 Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 7,386 0.03 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spanish Alternative (AES) 7,300 0.03 New 0 ±0 Spain 2000 (E–2000) 6,906 0.03 +0.01 0 ±0 Catalan Republican Party (RC) 6,746 0.03 New 0 ±0 Valencian Coalition (CVa) 5,424 0.02 New 0 ±0 Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD) 5,035 0.02 +0.01 0 ±0 Commoners' Land (TC) 4,796 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Authentic Phalanx (FA) 4,607 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 4,509 0.02 −0.03 0 ±0 Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) 3,885 0.02 New 0 ±0 Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD) 3,829 0.01 New 0 ±0 Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA) 3,050 0.01 New 0 ±0 Republican Left (IR) 2,899 0.01 −0.06 0 ±0 Riojan Party (PR) 2,837 0.01 New 0 ±0 National Alliance (AN) 2,737 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Alternative in Blank (ABLA) 2,460 0.01 New 0 ±0 United Extremadura (EU) 2,346 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV) 2,028 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Carlist Party (PC) 1,956 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Party for Catalonia (PxCat) 1,919 0.01 New 0 ±0 Non-Smokers' Party (PNF) 1,616 0.01 New 0 ±0 Union for Leganés (ULEG) 1,566 0.01 New 0 ±0 Spanish Front (Frente) 1,539 0.01 New 0 ±0 Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) 1,503 0.01 New 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Option (ONV) 1,490 0.01 New 0 ±0 Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 1,362 0.01 −0.12 0 ±0 Andecha Astur (AA) 1,299 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 1,278 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Spanish Democratic Centre (CDEs) 1,047 0.00 New 0 ±0 Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC) 1,017 0.00 New 0 ±0 Civil Liberties Party (PLCI) 888 0.00 New 0 ±0 Unity (Unidá) 848 0.00 New 0 ±0 Liberal Party of State Employment and Housing (PLEVE) 786 0.00 New 0 ±0 Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) 722 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Unity of the People (UP) 699 0.00 New 0 ±0 For the Valencian Republic (plRV) 645 0.00 New 0 ±0 Centrist Party (PCTR) 509 0.00 New 0 ±0 Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC) 497 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA) 475 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizens' Union–Independent Progressives of Canaries (UC–PIC) 464 0.00 New 0 ±0 Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV) 449 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 423 0.00 New 0 ±0 State of Spain Unionist Party (PUEDE) 414 0.00 New 0 ±0 People of El Bierzo (PB–UB) 385 0.00 New 0 ±0 Islander Party of the Balearic Islands (PIIB) 360 0.00 New 0 ±0 Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) 300 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC) 218 0.00 New 0 ±0 Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS) 216 0.00 New 0 ±0 Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC) 202 0.00 New 0 ±0 Castilian Unity (UdCa) 198 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 European Ibero-American Alliance Party (PAIE) 174 0.00 New 0 ±0 Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD) 159 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) 152 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Balearic Alliance (ABA) 145 0.00 New 0 ±0 Electronic Voting Assembly (AVE) 144 0.00 New 0 ±0 Liberal Centrist Union (UCL) 124 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Alliance for Burgos (AxB) 123 0.00 New 0 ±0 Burgalese Citizen Initiative (ICBur) 109 0.00 New 0 ±0 We Are (N Som) 105 0.00 New 0 ±0 Independents for Cuenca (ixC) 100 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizens' Group (AGRUCI) 79 0.00 New 0 ±0 Falangist Movement of Spain (MFE) 68 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aitch Party (PHache) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 286,182 1.11 −0.47 Total 25,734,863 350 ±0 Valid votes 25,734,863 99.36 +0.37 Invalid votes 165,576 0.64 −0.37 Votes cast / turnout 25,900,439 73.85 −1.81 Abstentions 9,172,740 26.15 +1.81 Registered voters 35,073,179 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2008.html Elecciones Generales 9 de marzo de 2008 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 202517 April 2008 Acuerdo de 7 de abril de 2008, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se ordena la publicación del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 33/2008, de 14 de enero, y celebradas el 9 de marzo de 2008, conforme a las actas de escrutinio general y de proclamación de electos remitidas por las distintas Juntas Electorales Provinciales y por las Juntas Electorales de Ceuta y de Melilla https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2008/04/17/pdfs/A20322-20377.pdf es Official State Gazette 93 0212-033X 20322–20377 19 October 202531 July 2008 Resolución de 23 de julio de 2008, de la Presidencia de la Junta Electoral Central, de corrección de errores en los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados incluidos en el Acuerdo de 7 de abril de 2008, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se ordena la publicación del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 33/2008, de 14 de enero, y celebradas el 9 de marzo de 2008 https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2008/07/31/pdfs/A33126-33126.pdf es Official State Gazette 184 0212-033X 33126 19 October 2025 left Footnotes: 1 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition and the Canarian Nationalist Party in the 2004 election. 2 Andalusian Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Socialist Party of Andalusia in the 2004 election. 3 The Greens results are compared to The Eco-pacifist Greens totals in the 2004 election. 4 Within the Progressives for the Balearic Islands alliance in the 2004 election. 5 The Greens of Europe results are compared to The Greens of the Community of Madrid totals in the 2004 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 43.87 PP People's Party (Spain) 39.94 IU United Left (Spain) 3.77 CiU Convergence and Union 3.03 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.19 UPyD Union, Progress and Democracy 1.19 esquerra Republican Left of Catalonia 1.16 BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc 0.83 CC–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.68 NaBai Nafarroa Bai 0.24 Others #777777 3.00 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 1.11 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 48.29 PP People's Party (Spain) 44.00 CiU Convergence and Union 2.86 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.71 esquerra Republican Left of Catalonia 0.86 IU United Left (Spain) 0.57 BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc 0.57 CC–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.57 UPyD Union, Progress and Democracy 0.29 NaBai Nafarroa Bai 0.29 Senate + ← Summary of the 9 March 2008 Senate of Spain election results → center|375px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 28,039,592 40.20 +2.28 101 −1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1 25,965,221 37.22 +0.74 86 +5 Catalan Agreement of Progress (PSC–ERC–ICV–EUiA) 5,280,590 7.57 −1.09 12 ±0 Convergence and Union (CiU) 2,437,338 3.49 −0.31 4 ±0 United Left (IU)2 2,015,249 2.89 −1.17 0 ±0 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 903,072 1.29 −0.45 2 −4 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 726,317 1.04 −0.03 0 ±0 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 691,695 0.99 New 0 ±0 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)3 302,729 0.43 −0.16 1 −2 Andalusian Coalition (CA)4 229,917 0.33 −0.47 0 ±0 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 200,242 0.29 New 0 ±0 Navarre Yes (NaBai) 183,873 0.26 +0.01 0 ±0 The Greens (Verdes) 181,253 0.26 +0.09 0 ±0 The Greens (Verdes) 162,124 0.23 +0.15 0 ±0 The Greens (EV–LV)5 19,129 0.03 −0.06 0 ±0 Basque Solidarity (EA) 143,294 0.21 −0.10 0 ±0 For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 133,678 0.19 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Party (PAR) 132,738 0.19 +0.01 0 ±0 Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 132,171 0.19 +0.10 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 112,561 0.16 +0.13 0 ±0 Aragonese Union (CHA) 107,282 0.15 −0.17 0 ±0 Bloc–Initiative–Greens (Bloc–IdPV–EVEE) 92,588 0.13 −0.06 0 ±0 Aralar (Aralar) 75,476 0.11 −0.02 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 66,163 0.10 +0.03 0 ±0 New Canaries–Canarian Centre (NC–CCN) 65,248 0.09 New 0 ±0 The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative (EV–AE) 58,725 0.08 −0.20 0 ±0 The Greens of Europe (LVdE)6 50,067 0.07 +0.03 0 ±0 Unity for the Isles (UIB)7 45,972 0.07 n/a 0 ±0 Catalan Republican Party (RC) 44,394 0.06 New 0 ±0 Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC) 44,050 0.06 +0.03 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS) 42,112 0.06 ±0.00 0 ±0 Family and Life Party (PFyV) 41,599 0.06 +0.01 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 38,437 0.06 −0.06 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV) 33,776 0.05 +0.04 0 ±0 Social Democratic Party (PSD) 31,703 0.05 New 0 ±0 Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 28,197 0.04 −0.04 0 ±0 Republican Left of the Valencian Country (esquerra–PV) 28,089 0.04 +0.01 0 ±0 Party of Almería (PdeAL) 27,651 0.04 New 0 ±0 PSOE–Ibiza for Change (PSOE–ExC)8 26,513 0.04 +0.01 1 +1 National Democracy (DN) 25,140 0.04 +0.01 0 ±0 Carlist Party (PC) 23,685 0.03 +0.02 0 ±0 Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) 23,531 0.03 New 0 ±0 Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA) 22,141 0.03 New 0 ±0 Commoners' Land (TC) 21,995 0.03 −0.03 0 ±0 Spanish Alternative (AES) 21,570 0.03 New 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 21,227 0.03 −0.05 0 ±0 PSOE–Left of Menorca–PSM–Greens (PSOE–EU–PSM–Verds)9 21,023 0.03 ±0.00 1 +1 Nation and Revolution (NyR) 19,044 0.03 New 0 ±0 Republican Left (IR) 19,005 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Spain 2000 (E–2000) 17,897 0.03 +0.01 0 ±0 United Extremadura (EU) 15,110 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 National Alliance (AN) 13,113 0.02 +0.02 0 ±0 Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD) 12,149 0.02 +0.01 0 ±0 Alternative in Blank (ABLA) 11,974 0.02 New 0 ±0 Riojan Party (PR) 10,482 0.02 New 0 ±0 Spanish Front (Frente) 10,418 0.01 New 0 ±0 Valencian Coalition (CVa) 10,330 0.01 New 0 ±0 Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) 10,057 0.01 New 0 ±0 Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD) 9,438 0.01 New 0 ±0 Navarrese Cannabis Representation (RCN/NOK) 8,234 0.01 −0.07 0 ±0 Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) 8,224 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Option (ONV) 7,159 0.01 New 0 ±0 Non-Smokers' Party (PNF) 7,000 0.01 New 0 ±0 Party for Catalonia (PxCat) 6,805 0.01 New 0 ±0 Spanish Catholic Movement (MCE) 6,234 0.01 New 0 ±0 Authentic Phalanx (FA) 5,213 0.01 −0.02 0 ±0 Commoners (comuner@s) 5,149 0.01 New 0 ±0 Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC) 4,988 0.01 New 0 ±0 Andecha Astur (AA) 4,964 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 4,851 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spanish Democratic Centre (CDEs) 4,522 0.01 New 0 ±0 Citizen Union for Democracy (UCiD) 3,999 0.01 New 0 ±0 Natural Culture (CN) 3,687 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Union for Leganés (ULEG) 3,096 0.00 New 0 ±0 Yuntar Action (AY) 3,000 0.00 −0.10 0 ±0 Unity (Unidá) 2,962 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizens' Group (AGRUCI) 2,806 0.00 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 2,563 0.00 New 0 ±0 The Republic (La República) 2,517 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB) 2,507 0.00 −0.05 0 ±0 Unity of the People (UP) 2,350 0.00 New 0 ±0 Action for Justice (AXJ) 2,223 0.00 New 0 ±0 Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV) 2,087 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA) 1,615 0.00 New 0 ±0 For the Valencian Republic (plRV) 1,485 0.00 New 0 ±0 People of El Bierzo (PB–UB) 1,417 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) 1,323 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC) 1,311 0.00 New 0 ±0 Electronic Voting Assembly (AVE) 1,273 0.00 New 0 ±0 Cantabrian Party (Cántabro) 1,189 0.00 New 0 ±0 Independent Alternative of Galicia (AIdG) 1,150 0.00 New 0 ±0 Castilian Unity (UdCa) 942 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Aragonese Land (TA) 928 0.00 New 0 ±0 Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS) 925 0.00 New 0 ±0 25 May Citizens' Alternative (AC25M) 773 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Civil Liberties Party (PLCI) 712 0.00 New 0 ±0 Islander Party of the Balearic Islands (PIIB) 683 0.00 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) 656 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC) 639 0.00 New 0 ±0 Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) 638 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Galician Identity (IG) 590 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizens' Union–Independent Progressives of Canaries (UC–PIC) 494 0.00 New 0 ±0 Progress Party of Castile and León Cities (PPCCAL) 484 0.00 New 0 ±0 Spanish Democratic Front (FDE) 459 0.00 New 0 ±0 Alternative Island (ISAL) 449 0.00 New 0 ±0 Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD) 403 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Republican Castile (CARE) 400 0.00 New 0 ±0 Burgalese Citizen Initiative (ICBur) 379 0.00 New 0 ±0 Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 341 0.00 −0.13 0 ±0 Independents for Cuenca (ixC) 309 0.00 New 0 ±0 Liberal Centrist Union (UCL) 235 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Falangist Movement of Spain (MFE) 218 0.00 New 0 ±0 Justice and Development Party of Spain (PJDE) 105 0.00 New 0 ±0 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. 524,750 2.06 −0.61 Total 69,753,316 208 ±0 Valid votes 25,527,940 97.71 +0.62 Invalid votes 597,299 2.29 −0.62 Votes cast / turnout 26,125,239 74.49 −1.26 Abstentions 8,947,940 25.51 +1.26 Registered voters 35,073,179 Sources23 May 2008 Resolución de 19 de mayo de 2008, de la Presidencia de la Junta Electoral Central, de corrección de errores en los resultados de las elecciones al Senado incluidos en el Acuerdo de 7 de abril de 2008, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se ordena la publicación del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 33/2008, de 14 de enero, y celebradas el 9 de marzo de 2008, conforme a las actas de escrutinio general y de proclamación de electos remitidas por las distintas Juntas Electorales Provinciales y por las Juntas Electorales de Ceuta y Melilla https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2008/05/23/pdfs/A24321-24321.pdf es Official State Gazette 125 0212-033X 24321 19 October 2025Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2008comp.html#s Elecciones al Senado 2008 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 left Footnotes: 1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to Spanish Socialist Workers' Party totals in the 2004 election, not including results in Ibiza–Formentera and Menorca. 2 United Left results are compared to United Left totals in the 2004 election, not including results in Menorca. 3 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition and the Canarian Nationalist Party in the 2004 election. 4 Andalusian Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Socialist Party of Andalusia in the 2004 election. 5 The Greens results are compared to The Eco-pacifist Greens totals in the 2004 election. 6 The Greens of Europe results are compared to The Greens of the Community of Madrid totals in the 2004 election. 7 Within the Progressives for the Balearic Islands alliance in the 2004 election. 8 PSOE–Ibiza for Change results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and Progressives for the Balearic Islands in Ibiza–Formentera in the 2004 election. 9 PSOE–Left of Menorca–PSM–Greens results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in Menorca, Socialist Party of Menorca–Nationalist Agreement and Left of Menorca in the 2004 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 40.20 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 37.22 ECdP Catalan Agreement of Progress 7.57 CiU Convergence and Union 3.49 IU United Left (Spain) 2.89 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.29 BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc 1.04 CC–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.43 PSOE–ExC PSOE–Eivissa pel Canvi 0.04 Pacte Pacte Progressista 0.03 Others #777777 5.03 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 2.06 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 48.56 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 41.35 ECdP Catalan Agreement of Progress 5.77 CiU Convergence and Union 1.92 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 0.96 CC–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.48 PSOE–ExC PSOE–Eivissa pel Canvi 0.48 Pacte Pacte Progressista 0.48 Maps Aftermath Government formation Second government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero InvestitureCongress of DeputiesNomination of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE) Ballot → 9 April 2008 11 April 2008 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Simple 15 Yes • PSOE (169) (168 on 9 Apr) 168 350 green 125px 169 350 green 125px No • PP (154) • ERC (3) • UPyD (1) 158 350 red 125px 158 350 red 125px Abstentions • CiU (10) • PNV (6) • IU–ICV (2) • BNG (2) • CC (2) • NaBai (1) 23 350 gray 125px 23 350 gray 125px Abstentees • PSOE (1) (on 9 Apr) 1 350 black 125px 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 28 August 1992 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1978-31229 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19920828 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 9 October 2007 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-11672 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=20071009 28 December 2016 LOREG 1985 y Real Decreto 33/2008, de 14 de enero, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones Royal Decree 33/2008 14 January 2008 Official State Gazette BOE-A-2008-641 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2008-641 1 April 2026 Royal Decree 33/2008 2008 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 External links Category:2008 elections in Spain 2008 Category:March 2008 in Spain