1986 Spanish general election

none 1986 Spanish general election Spain parliamentary no 1982 Spanish general election 1982 1989 Spanish general election 1989 All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 254) seats in the Senate176Given that HB deputies did not usually take their seats, the number of deputies needed for a majority was in practice slightly lower. HB won 5 seats, meaning a practical majority required at least 173 seats. seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies Opinion polling for the 1986 Spanish general election 29,117,613 10px 8.5% 20,524,858 (70.5%)10px 9.5 pp 22 June 1986 170x170px Felipe González Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 28 September 1979 Madrid 202 seats, 48.1% 184 10px 18 8,901,718 44.1% 10px 4.0 pp 170x170px Manuel Fraga People's Coalition (Spain) 9 October 1976 Madrid 107 seats, 26.4%"AP" Results for AP–PDP in the 1982 election. 105 10px 2 5,247,677 26.0% 10px 0.4 pp 170x170px Adolfo Suárez Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 29 July 1982 Madrid 2 seats, 2.9% 19 10px 17 1,861,912 9.2% 10px 6.3 pp 170x170px Miquel Roca PRD–CiU–CG"Ref" The PRD, CiU and CG contested the election separately and under their own brands, but agreed to field Miguel Roca as their joint prime ministerial candidate and did not compete against each other in the same geographical regions. 333176 4 July 1982 Barcelona 12 seats, 3.7%"CiU" Results for CiU in the 1982 election. 19 10px 7 1,288,768 6.4% 10px 2.7 pp 170x170px Gerardo Iglesias United Left (Spain) 10 December 1982 Madrid 4 seats, 4.2%"PCE+NE" Results for PCE (4.0%, 4 deputies and 0 senators) and NE (0.1%, 0 seats) in the 1982 election. 7 10px 3 935,504 4.6% 10px 0.4 pp 170x170px Iñaki Anasagasti Basque Nationalist Party 1986 Biscay 8 seats, 1.9% 6 10px 2 309,610 1.5% 10px 0.4 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 Felipe González Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Felipe González Spanish Socialist Workers' Party A general election was held in Spain on 22 June 1986 to elect the members of the 3rd 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 254 seats in the Senate. It was held concurrently with a regional election in Andalusia. The election was held after the referendum on Spanish membership in NATO in March 1986 had resulted in a surprising win for the 'In' camp headed by Prime Minister Felipe González. Reinforced from the referendum result, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) sought to take advantage of the favorable political situation. The election resulted in the PSOE winning a second consecutive—albeit diminished—majority with 184 out of 350 seats. Its immediate competitor, Manuel Fraga's People's Coalition, an electoral alliance formed by People's Alliance (AP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Liberal Party (PL), remained stagnant with a similar result to the one obtained in 1982 by the AP–PDP alliance. The disappointing election result caused the Coalition to break apart shortly afterwards. Former PM Adolfo Suárez's Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) came out in third place with nearly 1.9 million votes, 9.2% of the share and 19 seats. The Communist Party of Spain (PCE) contested the election within the newborn left-wing United Left (IU) alliance, slightly improving on the PCE's result in 1982 with 4.6% and 7 seats and holding its own against the Communists' Unity Board (MUC), Santiago Carrillo's split party founded after him being expelled from the PCE, which won no seats. Two future prime ministers (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy) were first elected as deputies at this election. Background Shortly after assuming office on 2 December 1982, Prime Minister Felipe González had to face a worsening economic situation, with high inflation, soaring unemployment and a public deficit at 6%.Gómez Carlos 28 January 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/01/28/espana/412556403_850215.html En 1983 se mantendrá el déficit en el 6%, del PIB es El País Madrid 28 October 20223 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/03/economia/413074814_850215.html El déficit por cuenta corriente superó los 4.000 millones de dólares en el pasado año es El País 28 October 2022 Among the new PSOE government's first economic measures were the nationalization of the Rumasa holding due to its financial situation, alleged fraudulent practices and continuous evasion from the inspection activity conducted by the Bank of Spain,24 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/24/economia/414889207_850215.html El Gobierno expropia los bancos y todas las empresas del Grupo Rumasa es El País 28 October 2022 the reduction of working time to 40-hour week, the establishment of a minimum legal annual leave of 30 days and a lunch break of 15 minutes.23 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/23/espana/409446005_850215.html El Gobierno aprueba la jornada laboral de 40 horas semanales es El País 28 October 2022Prades Joaquina 14 April 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/04/14/espana/419119212_850215.html El 'tiempo del bocadillo' lo pagará el empresario, según el dictamen de la Comisión de Política Social es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 This period saw major reforms being implemented in order to achieve economic recovery as well as equalization of Spain with the remainder of Europe, including an unpopular economic stabilization plan involving a process of industrial restructuring (which led to the closure of many obsolete industries)3 December 1983 Roldán Juan https://elpais.com/diario/1983/12/03/espana/439254006_850215.html Felipe González afirma que la reconversión industrial "es fundamental para nuestra puesta al día" con Europa es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Prieto Joaquín 30 November 2012 https://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/11/30/actualidad/1354306636_464853.html La revolución felipista es El País 28 October 20226 December 1998 Calvo Hernando Pedro https://www.elmundo.es/nacional/constitucion/1983/historia.html 1983: Rumasa y la Ley del Aborto es El Mundo 28 October 2022 and a reform of the pension system which lengthened the period used to calculate full pension benefits from 10 to 15 years and adopted a new system for pension revaluation.10 May 1985 Serrano Rodolfo https://elpais.com/diario/1985/05/10/economia/484524005_850215.html 40.000 futuros pensionistas tendrán que trabajar hasta después de los 65 años para tener derecho a la jubilación es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 This economic policy received widespread criticism from trade unions—including the historically PSOE-aligned UGT—leading to strikes and demonstrations opposing the government's economic policy.17 May 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/05/17/portada/485128801_850215.html UGT convoca manifestaciones contra la reforma de pensiones propuesta por el Gobierno es El País 28 October 2022 A new labor reform was approved, which included fiscal incentives to investment, added protection for unemployed and the easing of temporality through the implementation of fixed-term contracts.González Jesús-Sérvulo 10 February 2012 https://elpais.com/economia/2012/02/10/actualidad/1328866949_808378.html Tres décadas de reformas laborales es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 González's first term also saw the establishment of the Spanish National Health System and universal health care in Spain,Díez Anabel 1 November 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/11/01/espana/499647607_850215.html La sanidad pública alcanzará al 98% de la población, según el proyecto del Gobierno es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 and decriminalization of abortion in three cases: therapeutic in cases of serious risk to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman, during the first 12 weeks; criminological in cases of woman rape, during the first 22 weeks; and eugenic in cases of fetus malformations, at any time during pregnancy. Free and compulsory education was established until the age of 16.https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/centros-tic/11001762/helvia/sitio/upload/LOS_GOBIERNOS_DEMOCRATICOS_2.pdf Los gobiernos democráticos (1979–2000) es Junta de Andalucía 28 October 2022 Internally, these years were marked by a harsh hostile campaign from terrorist group ETA, with around one hundred dead throughout the 1982–1986 period as a result of its activity, which was countered with a similarly harsh government response.4 November 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/11/04/espana/436748401_850215.html El Grupo Vasco apoya las medidas contra ETA explicadas por González en el Congreso, "aunque no nos gustan" es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 The PSOE government also had to deal with the issue of military insurrectionism, with a profound reorganization of the Spanish Armed Forces by promoting an increase of civil authority over the military, with the final aim of professionalizing the Armed Forces and end the threat of military coup attempts.27 October 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/10/27/portada/436057202_850215.html El Gobierno refuerza la supremacía del poder civil sobre el militar es El País 28 October 202229 December 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/12/29/espana/441500412_850215.html Los salarios de los miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas serán aumentados en un 15% en 1984 es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Yárnoz Carlos 12 January 1984 https://elpais.com/diario/1984/01/12/espana/442710004_850215.html El Gobierno aprueba la renovación de todos los miembros de la Junta de Jefes de Estado Mayor es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Yárnoz Carlos 31 January 1984 https://elpais.com/diario/1984/01/31/espana/444351613_850215.html Los tres ejércitos quedan integrados por prímera vez en la estructura orgánica y funcional de Defensa es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 Felipe González also came briefly involved in the 1984 German Flick affair, when SPD MP Peter Struck said in the German press that another MP from his party, Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski, had given one million marks from the corruption plot to González himself. The Spanish prime minister countered this with a remarkable statement at the time: "I have not received a single mark, a single penny, a single peseta, neither from Flick nor from Flock", and was later acquitted from the scandal by the inquiry commission in Congress.García Candau Julián 15 November 1984 https://elpais.com/diario/1984/11/15/espana/469321202_850215.html Felipe González reafirma ante el Congreso que el PSOE no ha recibido fondos de la RFA desde que fue legalizado es El País Madrid 28 October 2022García Candau Julián 1 March 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/03/01/espana/478479610_850215.html El Congreso absuelve a Felipe González en el 'caso Flick' es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 thumb|left|alt=Family photo of the European heads of government and foreign ministers at a luncheon hosted by King Baudouin at the Royal Palace in Brussels|The Spanish entry into the EEC was regarded as one of the major political successes of Felipe González's first government. Internationally, the PSOE government was successful in culminating negotiations for the Spanish entry into the European Economic Community (EEC), effective from 1 January 1986.Ortega Andrés 31 March 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/03/31/economia/481071601_850215.html España ingresará en la CEE el 1 de enero de 1986 es El País Brussels 28 October 2022Ortega Andrés Hidalgo Luis F. 13 June 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/06/13/espana/487461616_850215.html A las 20.53 de ayer España firmó el tratado e adhesión a la Comunidad Económica Europea es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 The issue of NATO membership was more controversial, as the PSOE had campaigned for the holding of a referendum on the issue after Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo's move to enter the alliance in May 1982. However, once in power Felipe González evolved to support NATO.http://www.cuentayrazon.org/revista/doc/020/Num020_018.doc https://archive.today/20121209180323/http://www.cuentayrazon.org/revista/doc/020/Num020_018.doc dead December 9, 2012 EEC, NATO and Spain Florentino Portero Cuenta y Razón es 10 August 2015 According to Santos Juliá, the main factors that influenced the PSOE government's change of attitude were "pressure from the United States and several European countries; the connection between staying in NATO and Spain–EEC negotiations and the growing favorable stance of the Spanish Defence Ministry to attain closer ties with the Alliance".Juliá 1999 266–267 By 1985, as Spain had signed the Act of Accession to the EEC, preparations for the referendum on NATO membership started, being eventually held on 12 March 1986. NATO permanence option won the vote by a surprising 53.1% to 40.3%, and the PSOE came out reinforced. Within the opposition, the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) was dissolved in February 1983.16 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/16/espana/408841216_850215.html El proceso de desintegración de UCD se acelera con peticiones de bajas en numerosas regiones es El País 14 December 201919 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/19/espana/414457204_850215.html La crisis de UCD culmina con la decisión de disolverse como partido político es El País 13 December 2019 Under Manuel Fraga's leadership, the People's Alliance (AP) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) joined with other parties to form the People's Coalition, seeking to build on his idea of the "natural majority" of the centre-right in order to win the next general election.Jáuregui Fernando 6 November 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/11/06/espana/436921218_850215.html Fraga llama a unirse en la 'mayoría natural' a todos los "no socialistas ni separatistas" es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 At the same time, Catalan politician Miquel Roca tried to enter national politics by founding the Democratic Reformist Party (PRD), supported by the Catalan-based Convergence and Union (CiU), the Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) of Antonio Garrigues Walker and a number of regional parties, in what came to be known as "Operation Roca".Prades Joaquina 14 October 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/10/14/espana/434934014_850215.html El Partido Reformista pretende captar cinco millones de votos que considera de centro es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Prieto Joaquín 19 June 1984 https://elpais.com/diario/1984/06/19/economia/456444001_850215.html A Felipe González no le parece mal la 'operación Roca' es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Jáuregui Fernando 7 September 1984 https://elpais.com/diario/1984/09/07/espana/463356007_850215.html Todos los partidos de la oposición planean un incremento del acoso a la gestión del Gobierno de Felipe González es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 All attempts at forming a common alliance between the three main centre to centre-right political forces—including the growing Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) of former prime minister Adolfo SuárezJáuregui Fernando 8 December 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/12/08/espana/439686030_850215.html El 'renacimiento' económico del partido de Adolfo Suárez recrudece la batalla por el centro es El País Madrid 28 October 2022—failed throughout 1985.6 May 1984 https://elpais.com/diario/1984/05/06/espana/452642411_850215.html Tres ofertas para un solo espacio de centro es El País 28 October 2022Jáuregui Fernando 17 January 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/01/17/espana/474764405_850215.html Las crecientes diferencias entre Coalición Popular y el partido reformista alejan la posibilidad de un pacto es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Jáuregui Fernando 20 April 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/04/20/espana/482796016_850215.html Disminuyen las posibilidades de acuerdo entre el CDS y el partido de Roca es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 In the left, the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) experienced an internal crisis which saw the resignation of its leader Santiago Carrillo and his succession by Gerardo Iglesias.20 December 1983 https://hemeroteca.sevilla.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/sevilla/abc.sevilla/1983/12/20/027.html Iglesias ganó el congreso del PCE, pero no evitó la división del partido es ABC Sevilla 28 October 2022 Internal disagreements resulted in splits that saw the birth of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) and the Workers' Party of Spain–Communist Unity (PTE-UC).Prieto Joaquín 16 January 1984 https://elpais.com/diario/1984/01/16/espana/443055607_850215.html El congreso de los comunistas prosoviéticos eligió por unanimidad a Ignacio Gallego como secretario general es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Jáuregui Fernando 20 April 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/04/20/espana/482796011_850215.html Santiago Carrillo y 18 de sus seguidores, expulsados de los órganos de dirección del PCE es El País Madrid 28 October 2022González Ibáñez Juan 18 October 1985 https://elpais.com/diario/1985/10/18/espana/498438015_850215.html Carrillo comienza a construir su nuevo partido es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 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 between 54 and 60 days after the decree's publication.LOREG 1985 arts. 42 & 167. The previous election was held on 28 October 1982, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 28 October 1986. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 4 October 1986, setting the latest possible date for election day on 3 December 1986. 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. While the 1986 general election was initially expected for October,Jáuregui Fernando 6 April 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/06/espana/513122405_850215.html El Gobierno, partidario de celebrar las elecciones en otoño, pese a las presiones en contra de un sector del PSOE es El País Madrid 28 October 202211 April 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/11/espana/513554412_850215.html Felipe González quiere respetar la "fecha simbólica" de las elecciones en el mes de octubre es El País Madrid 28 October 202216 April 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/16/espana/513986406_850215.html Felipe González reitera su voluntad de agotar la legislatura es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 there was widespread opinion that a snap election would be held in June alongside the scheduled 1986 Andalusian regional election, with part of the government remaining ambiguous on the issue.13 April 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/13/espana/513727206_850215.html Guerra mantiene la ambigüedad sobre la fecha de las elecciones es El País Seville 28 October 2022Jáuregui Fernando 15 April 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/15/espana/513900013_850215.html La oposición conservadora, convencida de que el Ejecutivo, pretende adelantar a junio las elecciones legislativas es El País Madrid 28 October 2022Jáuregui Fernando 19 April 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/19/espana/514245612_850215.html La oposición asegura que el PSOE ha comenzado a contratar vallas publicitarias para el mes de junio es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 On 21 April, Felipe González announced his intention to trigger an early dissolution of the es Cortes Generales no, explaining that it was his wish to prevent "political uncertainties" resulting from an autumn election that could affect the country's economic prospects during the making of the 1987 General State Budget.Jáuregui Fernando 22 April 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/22/espana/514504813_850215.html El equipo económico convenció a González para anticipar los comicios es El País Madrid 28 October 2022 The es Cortes Generales no were officially dissolved on 23 April 1986 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 22 June and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 15 July.Royal Decree 794/1986 1986 arts. 1–2 & 5. 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 794/1986 1986 art. 3. Seats ConstituenciesThe province of Oviedo was officially renamed as "Asturias" on 8 April 1983.Law 1/1983 1983 single art. & final prov.. 33 Barcelona, Madridgreen (+1) 16 Valenciagreen (+1) 12 Seville 10 Alicantegreen (+1), Biscay 9 Asturiasred (−1), Cádizgreen (+1), La Coruña, Málagagreen (+1) 8 Murcia, Pontevedra, Zaragoza 7 Córdoba, Granada, Guipúzcoa, Las Palmasgreen (+1) 6 Badajozred (−1), Balearics, Jaénred (−1), Santa Cruz de Tenerifered (−1) 5 Almería, Cáceres, Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Gerona, Huelva, Leónred (−1), Lugo, Navarre, Orense, Tarragona, Toledo, Valladolid 4 Álava, Albacete, Burgos, La Rioja, Lérida, Salamanca, Zamora 3 Ávila, Cuencared (−1), Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Teruel 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 April 1986https://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 Congress Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 177 202 PSC 25 Congress People's Parliamentary Group AP 83 103 PDP 14 UPN 2 PAR 2 PL 1 UV 1 Catalan Minority Parliamentary Group CDC 9 12 UDC 3 Centrist Parliamentary Group PDP 2 11 CG 2 AP 2 PL 1 AIC 1 INDEP 3 Basque Parliamentary Group (PNV) EAJ/PNV 8 8 Mixed Parliamentary Group PCE 3 14 CDS 2 HB 2 PTE–UC 1 ERC 1 EE 1 INDEP 4María Victoria Fernández-España, former AP legislator; Manuel Gallent, former PDP legislator; Anastasio Modrego, former PL legislator; Vicente Ramos, former UV legislator. 1em + Parliamentary composition in April 1986https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/gruposparlamentarios/gruposparlamentariosdesde1977/index.html Grupos Parlamentarios desde 1977 es Senate of Spain 7 December 2020 Senate Groups Parties Senators Seats Total Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 143 154 PSC 11 People's Parliamentary Group AP 51 66 PDP 12 PAR 2 UM 1 Basque Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group EAJ/PNV 9 9 Catalonia in the Senate Parliamentary Group CDC 6 7 UDC 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group ERC 2 15 CG 2 AIC 2 PCE 1 ADEI 1 AM 1 AHI 1 INDEP 5Fernando Gil and José Rodríguez, former AP legislators; Guillermo Fernández, former PSOE legislator; Luis Merino, former UCD legislator; Narcís Oliveras, former UDC legislator. 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 or terrorism, when involving crimes against life, physical integrity or personal freedom). 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 and the Court of Auditors. 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 and civil governors; 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, 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 Competition Defence Court; 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 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. 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) 50px Felipe González Social democracy 48.1% 202 47.6% 134 AP–PDP–PL List on People's Alliance (AP) People's Democratic Party (PDP) Liberal Party (PL) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Centrists of Galicia (CdG) 50px Manuel Fraga ConservatismChristian democracy 26.4%"AP" 107 25.6%"AP" 54 22 March 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/03/22/espana/417135617_850215.html Formalizada la coalición AP-PDP-UL en todas las provincias es El País 27 July 2026 PRD–CiU–CG"Ref" List on Convergence and Union (CiU)– Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC)– Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC) Democratic Reformist Party (PRD) Galician Coalition (CG) 50px Miquel Roca CentrismReformism 3.7%"CiU" 12 "CatSen" CiU (5 senators) and ERC (2 senators) contested the 1982 Senate election within the CatSen alliance. 5 Jáuregui Fernando 21 October 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/10/21/espana/435538822_850215.html Miquel Roca, decidido a ser candidato a presidente del Gobierno en 1986 es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 EAJ/PNV List on Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 50px Iñaki Anasagasti Basque nationalismChristian democracy 1.9% 8 2.0% 7 IU List on Communist Party of Spain (PCE) Socialist Action Party (PASOC) Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) Progressive Federation (FP) Carlist Party (PC) Humanist Party (PH) Republican Left (IR) Union of the Catalan Left (UEC)– Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC)– Agreement of Left Nationalists (ENE) 50px Gerardo Iglesias SocialismCommunism 4.2%"PCE+NE" 4 4.7%"PCE+NE" 0 CDS List on Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 50px Adolfo Suárez CentrismLiberalism 2.9% 2 3.0% 0 HB List on Popular Unity (HB)– People's Socialist Revolutionary Party (HASI)– Basque Nationalist Action (EAE/ANV)– Patriotic Socialist Committees (ASK) 50px Jon Idigoras Basque independenceAbertzale leftRevolutionary socialism 1.0% 2 1.1% 0 ERC List on Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 50px Francesc Vicens Catalan nationalismLeft-wing nationalismSocial democracy 0.7% 1 "CatSen" 2 EE List on Basque Country Left (EE) 50px Juan María Bandrés Basque nationalismSocialism 0.5% 1 0.5% 0 PAR List on Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR) 50px Hipólito Gómez de las Roces RegionalismCentrism colspan="4" Contested in alliance"PAR+UV" The PAR (2 deputies and 2 senators) and UV (2 deputies and 0 senators) contested the 1982 election in alliance with AP–PDP. UV List on Valencian Union (UV) 50px Miguel Ramón BlaverismConservatism colspan="4" Contested in alliance"PAR+UV" Jardí Manuel 30 November 1985 Unión Valenciana abandona Coalición Popular https://elpais.com/diario/1985/11/30/espana/502153214_850215.html es El País Valencia 4 January 2026 AIC List on Tenerife Group of Independents (ATI) La Palma Group of Independents (API) Independents of Fuerteventura (IF) 50px Manuel Hermoso RegionalismCanarian nationalismConservatism colspan="4" Did not contest Not contesting UCD List on Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) 50px None(Party dissolved) Centrism 6.8% 11 6.8% 4 Campaign Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Ref. References PSOE « Por buen camino » "On track" http://www.archivoelectoral.org/imagenes/cartel-del-psoe-generales-1986/60 PSOE poster – 1986 general election archivoelectoral.org 10 August 2015 23 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173310/http://www.archivoelectoral.org/imagenes/cartel-del-psoe-generales-1986/60 dead 9 June 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/06/09/espana/518652005_850215.html Lemas contra lemas es El País 4 December 2020 AP–PDP–PL « Para salir adelante »« Con la verdad por delante » "To get ahead""With truth ahead" 17 May 1986 https://elpais.com/diario/1986/05/17/espana/516664813_850215.html La campaña de Coalición Popular no se centrará en Fraga es El País 4 December 2020 IU « Hace falta »« Nos van a oír » "It is needed""They will hear us" CDS « El valor del centro »« El centro avanza » "The value of the centre""The centre goes forward" http://www.archivoelectoral.org/imagenes/cartel-del-cds-generales-1986/61 CDS poster – 1986 general election archivoelectoral.org 10 August 2015 23 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173309/http://www.archivoelectoral.org/imagenes/cartel-del-cds-generales-1986/61 dead PRD « La otra forma de hacer España » "The other way of building Spain" MUC « Los comunistas, seguro » "The communists, for sure" Spanish Socialist Workers' Party The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party under Felipe González campaigned on a continuity platform, emphasizing on the idea of progress and trying to highlight that the party's management of government during the previous four years had been positive for the country. The democratization process after the turbulent years of the early 1980s was deemed as having been fully completed, the military insurrectionism threat had been vanquished, Spain had been integrated within Europe and the economic crisis was easening, with the brunt of the industrial conversion having been dealt with in the first years of Socialist government.Marín 2001 391-392 It also tried to deliver on the idea that the party's programme was not yet fulfilled, with many proposals still left to be carried out. Another message of the Socialist electoral campaign revolved around the idea that a non-Socialist government would revert the political and social advances accomplished in the previous years, with PM González himself warning of a possible alternative coalition between the various centre and centre-right parties in case the PSOE lost its absolute majority.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/05/31/espana/517874410_850215.html González warns that if the PSOE does not obtain an absolute majority there will be an alliance of "non-Socialists" es El País 1986-05-31 There were notable divergences from the campaigning style of 1982: González himself, being now the Prime Minister, had a busy public agenda and was only able to participate in large campaign events during weekends, having little time to maintain direct contact with party militants.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/06/14/espana/519084017_850215.html Gonzalez makes a weekends' campaign without contact with his bases es El País 1986-06-14 He also wanted to distance himself from direct confrontation to the other parties' candidates, usually leaving that task to Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Guerra and other PSOE leaders, in order to emphasize his image as Chief of the Executive.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/06/11/espana/518824808_850215.html Felipe González will not enter into a 'melee' with any political adversary es El País 1986-06-11 The PSOE's electoral manifesto for the 1986 election also avoided making any concrete pledges such as those done in 1982.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/05/15/espana/516492017_850215.html The PSOE offers a "medium-term economic planning" es El País 1986-05-15 Opposition parties had accused the PSOE government of a rudely style of ruling, of arrogance, of little austerity and of informational opacity, a result, according to them, of the large absolute majority of seats it had obtained in the 1982 election. Thus, one of the PSOE's self-imposed objectives during the election campaign was to maintain that absolute majority. In the end, the PSOE would win the election but with a significantly reduced majority of 184 seats, compared to the 202-strong majority achieved in 1982.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/06/15/espana/519170425_850215.html Felipe González: "There is a lot of pressure for us to not win a majority" es El País 1986-06-15 People's Coalition thumb|People's Coalition logo (1986). The People's Alliance, the People's Democratic Party and the Liberal Party contested the election in a common ticket under the People's Coalition label. Some regionalist parties in different autonomous communities, such as the Navarrese People's Union in Navarre, also joined the coalition, who was to be led into the election by AP leader Manuel Fraga.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/05/17/espana/516664813_850215.html The People's Coalition campaign will not be centered around Fraga es El País 1986-05-17 Its campaign centered into criticising the González' government record in office, accusing the PSOE of breaking many of its 1982 election pledges and asking voters to support an alternative to the Socialists, with Fraga opening the possibility to invite other parties, specially the CDS and the PRD, into a coalition government aimed at ousting the PSOE from power.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/05/21/espana/517010416_850215.html Fraga invites non-Socialist forces to a post-election agreement es El País 1986-05-21 The Coalition released an election programme which was described as a mixture of economic neoliberalism and social conservatism. Among the Coalition's election pledges were the privatization of public companies (the most notable example being TVE 2) and of the healthcare assistance system in order to reduce tax burden and public spending; the implementation of a national plan against drugs; the illegalization of HB and tougher penalties for terrorists (going as far as to promise an end to ETA terrorism within 6 months); a repeal of the newly approved abortion law and a revision of the divorce law.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/05/20/espana/516924010_850215.html Fraga wants to privatize the second channel of TVE es El País 1986-05-20 The Coalition was criticised for its perceived right-wing stance, with serious difficulties to define an alternative policy to the PSOE, a weak opposition stance to González' government (virtually trailing the Socialists on every issue) and a lack of initiative. The Coalition's call for abstention in the March referendum (despite the party's official stance favouring Spain permanence within NATO) had been a fatal blow to its expectations in the upcoming general election, being seen, on the one hand, as a gesture of political opportunism in an attempt to weaken Felipe González' position and, on the other hand, as showing a lack of political guidance. Instead, the 'Yes' landslide victory had reinforced the PSOE in the eyes of public opinion, but the Coalition's position on the referendum was met with skepticism and disapproval from other centre-right parties, both nationally and internationally.Marín 2001 393 United Left thumb|200px|left|United Left logo (1986). It would not be until 1988 that a specific logo for IU would be designed. The roots for the United Left (IU) coalition originated during the protests to demand the exit of Spain from NATO in 1986, with the "Platform of the United Left". While the 1986 referendum had resulted in the country's permanence within NATO, sectors to the left of the PSOE sought to form a unitary candidacy for the 1986 general election aimed at representing the nearly 7 million voters that had shown their position against such a permanence. Aside from the PCE, which was to become IU's main member party, also joining the coalition were the Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC), the Socialist Action Party (PASOC), the Republican Left (IR), the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain or the Collective for the Unity of Workers-Andalusian Left Bloc (CUT-BAI), among others.https://elpais.com/diario/1986/04/27/espana/514936812_850215.html The main members of the Platform of the United Left conclude the electoral agreement today es El País 1986-04-27 Aside from its anti-NATO stance, the IU coalition also opposed the Socialist government's recent industrial conversion, which had been carried out almost unilaterally and with little to no talks with trade unions, thanks to the PSOE absolute majority in Congress.Marín 2001 400 IU campaigned on a left-wing platform, accusing the PSOE of abandoning its socialist roots and of applying liberal policies. On the international stage, IU promised to bring Spain out of NATO, the dismantling of US bases and the withdrawal of US troops from Spanish soil, as well as to counter "the harmful consequences of integration within the EEC, a conception of Europe against the interests of multinationals and imperialism and to support initiatives for the elimination of nuclear weapons and against the militarization of space." On the domestic stage, IU's pledges included nationalizations in the banking and energy sectors. It also provided for large investments in the public sector, an agrarian reform and a federal model of state which provided for "the full development of the rights of nationalities and regions".https://elpais.com/diario/1986/06/09/espana/518652006_850215.html The communists, within United Left es El País 1986-06-09 Opinion polls Opinion polling for the 1986 Spanish general election Results Congress of Deputies results by autonomous community/constituency Results of the 1986 Spanish Congress election + ← Summary of the 22 June 1986 Congress of Deputies election results → center|400px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 8,901,718 44.06 −4.05 184 −18 People's Coalition (AP–PDP–PL)1 5,247,677 25.97 −0.39 105 −2 Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 1,861,912 9.22 +6.35 19 +17 Reformists (PRD–CiU–CG) 1,288,768 6.38 +2.71 19 +7 Convergence and Union (CiU) 1,014,258 5.02 +1.35 18 +6 Democratic Reformist Party (PRD) 194,538 0.96 New 0 ±0 Galician Coalition (CG) 79,972 0.40 New 1 +1 United Left (IU)2 935,504 4.63 +0.46 7 +3 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 309,610 1.53 −0.35 6 −2 Popular Unity (HB) 231,722 1.15 +0.15 5 +3 Communists' Unity Board (MUC) 229,695 1.14 New 0 ±0 Basque Country Left (EE) 107,053 0.53 +0.05 2 +1 Andalusian Party (PA) 94,008 0.47 +0.07 0 ±0 Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 84,628 0.42 −0.24 0 −1 Workers' Socialist Party (PST) 77,914 0.39 −0.10 0 ±0 Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR) 73,004 0.36 New 1 +1 Canarian Independent Groups (AIC) 65,664 0.33 New 1 +1 Valencian Union (UV) 64,403 0.32 New 1 +1 Party of the Communists of Catalonia (PCC) 57,107 0.28 +0.06 0 ±0 Galician Socialist Party–Galician Left (PSG–EG)3 45,574 0.23 +0.12 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) 43,449 0.22 +0.21 0 ±0 Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) 42,451 0.21 +0.10 0 ±0 Valencian People's Union (UPV) 40,264 0.20 +0.11 0 ±0 Canarian Assembly–Canarian Nationalist Left (AC–INC) 36,892 0.18 +0.09 0 ±0 The Greens (LV) 31,909 0.16 New 0 ±0 Green Alternative List (LAV) 29,567 0.15 New 0 ±0 Spanish Vertex Ecological Development Revindication (VERDE) 28,318 0.14 New 0 ±0 Republican Popular Unity (UPR)4 27,473 0.14 +0.03 0 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 27,049 0.13 −0.05 0 ±0 Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 21,853 0.11 New 0 ±0 United Extremadura (EU) 16,091 0.08 −0.04 0 ±0 Socialist Party of the Andalusian People (PSPA) 14,999 0.07 New 0 ±0 Socialist Party of Mallorca–Nationalist Left (PSM–EN) 7,539 0.04 ±0.00 0 ±0 National Unity Coalition (CUN) 5,209 0.03 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Workers' Party of Spain (PORE) 5,126 0.03 New 0 ±0 Social Democratic Party of Catalonia (PSDC) 4,885 0.02 New 0 ±0 Group of Independent Electors (ADEI) 3,857 0.02 New 0 ±0 Leonese Convergence (CL) 2,520 0.01 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 2,449 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV–URV) 2,116 0.01 −0.02 0 ±0 Communist Workers' League (LOC) 1,952 0.01 −0.02 0 ±0 Moderate Party–Centrists of Navarre (PMCN) 1,932 0.01 New 0 ±0 Natural Culture (CN) 1,886 0.01 New 0 ±0 Murcian Regionalist Party (PRM) 1,401 0.01 New 0 ±0 Democratic Spanish Party (PED) 1,169 0.01 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL) 1,047 0.01 New 0 ±0 Candidacy for Autonomy (CA) 758 0.00 New 0 ±0 Proverist Party (PPr) 756 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Electoral Group–Independent Group of Ceuta (AE–AIC) 601 0.00 New 0 ±0 Christian Spanish Party (PAEC) 254 0.00 New 0 ±0 Communist Movement of the Basque Country (EMK) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Communist League (LKI) 0 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) n/a n/a −6.77 0 −11 Blank ballots 121,186 0.60 +0.13 Total 20,202,919 350 ±0 Valid votes 20,202,919 98.43 +0.38 Invalid votes 321,939 1.57 −0.38 Votes cast / turnout 20,524,858 70.49 −9.48 Abstentions 8,592,755 29.51 +9.48 Registered voters 29,117,613 Sourceshttps://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales es Ministry of the Interior 15 April 2022 18 December 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251218194252/https://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ dead Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e1986.html Elecciones Generales 22 de junio de 1986 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 20252 August 1986 Resumen de los resultados de las elecciones para el Congreso de los Diputados celebradas el día 22 de junio de 1986, según los datos que figuran en las actas de escrutinio general remitidas por cada una de las Juntas Electorales Provinciales https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1986/08/02/pdfs/A27470-27492.pdf es Official State Gazette 184 0212-033X 27470–27492 19 October 2025 left Footnotes: 1 People's Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance–People's Democratic Party totals in the 1982 election. 2 United Left results are compared to the combined totals of the Communist Party of Spain and Left Nationalists in the 1982 election. 3 Galician Socialist Party–Galician Left results are compared to Galician Left totals in the 1982 election. 4 Republican Popular Unity results are compared to Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) totals in the 1982 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 44.06 AP–PDP–PL People's Coalition (Spain) 25.97 CDS Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 9.22 PRD–CiU–CG PRD–CiU–CG 6.38 IU United Left (Spain) 4.63 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.53 HB Herri Batasuna 1.15 MUC Communists' Unity Board 1.14 EE Euskadiko Ezkerra 0.53 PAR Regionalist Aragonese Party 0.36 AIC Canarian Independent Groups 0.33 UV Valencian Union 0.32 Others #777777 4.40 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 0.60 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 52.57 AP–PDP–PL People's Coalition (Spain) 30.00 CDS Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 5.43 PRD–CiU–CG PRD–CiU–CG 5.43 IU United Left (Spain) 2.00 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.71 HB Herri Batasuna 1.43 EE Euskadiko Ezkerra 0.57 PAR Regionalist Aragonese Party 0.29 AIC Canarian Independent Groups 0.29 UV Valencian Union 0.29 Senate + ← Summary of the 22 June 1986 Senate of Spain election results → center|375px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 24,719,863 44.52 −3.08 124 −10 People's Coalition (AP–PDP–PL)1 14,485,103 26.09 +0.41 63 +9 Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 4,537,464 8.17 +5.19 3 +3 Reformists (PRD–CiU–CG) 3,687,520 6.64 n/a 8 +3 Convergence and Union (CiU)3 2,934,479 5.28 n/a 8 +3 Democratic Reformist Party (PRD) 514,504 0.93 New 0 ±0 Galician Coalition (CG) 238,537 0.43 New 0 ±0 United Left (IU) 2,583,230 4.65 −0.01 0 ±0 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 934,198 1.68 −0.32 7 ±0 Popular Unity (HB) 677,204 1.22 +0.16 1 +1 Communists' Unity Board (MUC) 651,544 1.17 New 0 ±0 Basque Country Left (EE) 311,471 0.56 +0.06 0 ±0 Andalusian Party (PA) 297,220 0.54 +0.04 0 ±0 Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)3 255,718 0.46 n/a 0 −2 Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR) 254,729 0.46 New 0 ±0 Valencian Union (UV) 226,909 0.41 New 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) 175,971 0.32 +0.30 0 ±0 Party of the Communists of Catalonia (PCC) 148,090 0.27 −0.05 0 ±0 Spanish Vertex Ecological Development Revindication (VERDE) 147,962 0.27 +0.11 0 ±0 Valencian People's Union (UPV) 136,150 0.25 +0.24 0 ±0 Galician Socialist Party–Galician Left (PSG–EG)4 133,516 0.24 +0.12 0 ±0 Canarian Independent Groups (AIC) 130,173 0.23 New 1 +1 The Greens (LV) 108,418 0.20 New 0 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 84,113 0.15 −0.05 0 ±0 Workers' Socialist Party (PST) 80,907 0.15 −0.32 0 ±0 Green Alternative List (LAV) 71,481 0.13 New 0 ±0 United Extremadura (EU) 58,349 0.11 −0.08 0 ±0 Canarian Assembly–Canarian Nationalist Left (AC–INC) 49,129 0.09 +0.04 0 ±0 Socialist Party of the Andalusian People (PSPA) 43,137 0.08 New 0 ±0 Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) 31,916 0.06 +0.04 0 ±0 Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 24,131 0.04 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Workers' Party of Spain (PORE) 20,890 0.04 New 0 ±0 National Unity Coalition (CUN) 20,787 0.04 New 0 ±0 Socialist Party of Mallorca–Nationalist Left (PSM–EN) 14,669 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 13,452 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Natural Culture (CN) 13,036 0.02 −0.13 0 ±0 Leonese Convergence (CL) 10,475 0.02 New 0 ±0 Lanzarote Electoral Group (AEL) 9,471 0.02 New 0 ±0 Melillan People's Union (UPM) 9,097 0.02 New 0 ±0 Republican Popular Unity (UPR)5 6,247 0.01 −0.02 0 ±0 Majorera Assembly (AM) 5,604 0.01 ±0.00 1 ±0 Group of Independent Electors (ADEI) 5,204 0.01 New 0 ±0 Proverist Party (PPr) 5,073 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Moderate Party–Centrists of Navarre (PMCN) 4,895 0.01 New 0 ±0 Social Democratic Party of Catalonia (PSDC) 4,286 0.01 New 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV–URV) 3,951 0.01 −0.06 0 ±0 Ecologist Movement of Spain (MEE) 3,824 0.01 New 0 ±0 Agreement of the Left of Menorca (PSM–EU) 3,687 0.01 New 0 ±0 Popular Castilian Action (ACP) 3,548 0.01 New 0 ±0 Murcian Regionalist Party (PRM) 3,169 0.01 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL) 2,932 0.01 New 0 ±0 Christian Spanish Party (PAEC) 2,072 0.00 New 0 ±0 Pensionist Party (PENS) 1,615 0.00 New 0 ±0 Candidacy for Autonomy (CA) 1,406 0.00 New 0 ±0 Electoral Group–Independent Group of Ceuta (AE–AIC) 1,017 0.00 New 0 ±0 Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) n/a n/a −6.84 0 −4 Group of Independent Electors (ADEI) n/a n/a −0.03 0 −1 Blank ballotsThe percentage of blank ballots is calculated over the official number of valid votes cast, irrespective of the total number of votes shown as a result of adding up the individual results for each party. 311,305 1.57 −0.21 Total 55,527,328 208 ±0 Valid votes 19,795,126 96.68 Invalid votes 678,993 3.32 Votes cast / turnout 20,474,119 70.32 Abstentions 8,643,494 29.68 Registered voters 29,117,613 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e1986comp.html#s Elecciones al Senado 1986 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 left Footnotes: 1 People's Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance–People's Democratic Party totals in the 1982 election. 2 United Left results are compared to the combined totals of the Communist Party of Spain and Left Nationalists in the 1982 election. 3 Within the Catalonia in the Senate alliance in the 1982 election. 4 Galician Socialist Party–Galician Left results are compared to Galician Left totals in the 1982 election. 5 Republican Popular Unity results are compared to Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) totals in the 1982 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 44.52 AP–PDP–PL People's Coalition (Spain) 26.09 CDS Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 8.17 PRD–CiU–CG PRD–CiU–CG 6.64 IU United Left (Spain) 4.65 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.68 HB Herri Batasuna 1.22 MUC Communists' Unity Board 1.17 AIC Canarian Independent Groups 0.23 AM Majorera Assembly 0.01 Others #777777 5.05 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 1.57 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 59.62 AP–PDP–PL People's Coalition (Spain) 30.29 PRD–CiU–CG PRD–CiU–CG 3.85 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 3.37 CDS Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 1.44 HB Herri Batasuna 0.48 AIC Canarian Independent Groups 0.48 AM Majorera Assembly 0.48 Maps Aftermath Outcome The 1986 election results showed little changes to the balance of power with respect to 1982. Overall, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) remained the dominant party in Spanish politics by securing a second consecutive overall majority in the Congress of Deputies. Prime Minister Felipe González was regarded to have come out reinforced from the election. With his popularity already soaring after winning the NATO referendum on March, politically turned into a plebiscite on his premiership, the election results further strengthened his political position by securing him a new mandate to continue the reforms already in place since in 1982. Nonetheless, the election unveiled the first signs of weariness of the PSOE government, as it suffered major losses in support in the major urban centers, the same that had set out the seed for González's landslide victory in 1982. In the Madrid Community the PSOE suffered the most, scoring a bare 40% from the 52% it had secured four years previously. Despite this, discontent towards the government did not translate into major inroads for other parties. Voters' apathy and the absence of strong alternatives to the Socialists translating into a substantial increase of the abstention rate, which rose to 29.5% from the 20.0% of 1982. The centre-right People's Coalition (AP–PDP–PL) failed to secure substantial gains from the 1982 result of the People's Alliance–People's Democratic Party (AP–PDP) alliance, experiencing small gains in Castile and León, Extremadura and Melilla but falling elsewhere. Adolfo Suárez's Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) virtually took over the place of the defunct Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) with nearly 2 million votes and 19 seats. On the other hand, results for the Democratic Reformist Party (PRD) of Miquel Roca were an unmitigated disaster and a blow to Roca's national aspirations, disbanding shortly thereafter. Its Catalan counterpart Convergence and Union (CiU), however, made significant gains in the Socialist stronghold of Catalonia, dramatically closing the gap with the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) to just 9 points from a 23-point lead in 1982. The newly formed United Left) coalition was able to slightly improve over the Communist Party of Spain (PCE)'s result in 1982, despite the split of former party leader Santiago Carrillo's Communists' Unity Board (MUC), which was unable to gain parliamentary representation. In the election aftermath, the People's Coalition found itself into a state of deep crisis after results showed it was unable to garner the support of the centre voters. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) immediately broke away from the Coalition after the election; its 21 MPs forming their own parliamentary caucus in the Congress of Deputies, thus reducing the Coalition's parliamentary strength to 84. Manuel Fraga would resign as People's Alliance (AP) leader after the party's disastrous results in the November 1986 Basque regional election, deepening a party crisis that would last until its refoundation into the People's Party (PP) in 1989.Marín 2001 391-392 Government formation Second government of Felipe González InvestitureCongress of DeputiesNomination of Felipe González (PSOE) Ballot → 23 July 1986 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Yes • PSOE (184) 184 350 green 125px No • AP–PL (73) • PDP (21) • CDS (19) • CiU (18) • IU (7) • EE (2) • CG (1) • PAR (1) • AIC (1) • UV (1) 144 350 red 125px Abstentions • PNV (6) 6 350 gray 125px Absentees • AP (11) • HB (5) 16 350 black 125px SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 1987 motion of no confidence 1987 vote of no confidence in the government of Felipe González Motion of no confidenceCongress of DeputiesNomination of Antonio Hernández Mancha (AP) Ballot → 30 March 1987 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Yes • AP (66) • UV (1) 67 350 green 125px No • PSOE (181) • IU (6) • PNV (4) • EE (2) • AIC (1) 194 350 red 125px Abstentions • PDP (20) • CiU (19) • CDS (16) • PL (9) • RD (2) • PD (2) • PAR (1) • CG (1) • Independent (1) 71 350 gray 125px Absentees • HB (5) • CDS (4) • PSOE (3) • EA (2) • AP (1) • PDP (1) • PL (1) • IU (1) 18 350 black 125px Sources Notes References Bibliography Legislation y Constitución Española Constitution 27 December 1978 version as of 29 December 1978 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1978-31229 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19781229 27 December 2016 Constitution 1978 y Ley 1/1983, de 5 de abril, sobre cambio de denominación de la actual provincia de Oviedo por la de provincia de Asturias Law 1/1983 5 April 1983 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1983-9453 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1983-9453 19 April 2026 Law 1/1983 1983 y Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General Organic Law 5/1985 19 June 1985 version as of 20 June 1985 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-11672 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=19850620 28 December 2016 LOREG 1985 y Real Decreto 794/1986, de 22 de abril, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones Royal Decree 794/1986 22 April 1986 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1986-10007 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1986-10007 1 April 2026 Royal Decree 794/1986 1986 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 Juliá Díaz Santos Un siglo de España. Política y sociedad Marcial Pons Madrid 1999 84-9537903-1 es Juliá 1999 Ruiz González David La España democrática (1975–2000). Política y sociedad Síntesis Madrid 2002 84-9756-015-9 es Ruiz 2002 Marín Arce José María Molinero i Ruiz Carme Ysàs i Solanes Pere Historia política de España, 1939–2000, Volumen 2 Ediciones Akal Madrid 2001 84-7090-319-5 es Marín 2001 External links Category:1986 elections in Spain 1986 Category:June 1986 in Spain