2016 Spanish general election

none October 2017 2016 Spanish general election Spain parliamentary no 2015 Spanish general election 2015 April 2019 Spanish general election 2019 (Apr) Members of the 11th Cortes Generales All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 266) seats in the Senate176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies Opinion polling for the 2016 Spanish general election 36,520,913 10px 0.0% 24,279,259 (66.5%)10px 3.2 pp 26 June 2016 170x170px Mariano Rajoy People's Party (Spain) 2 September 2003 Madrid 123 seats, 28.7% 137 10px 14 7,941,236 33.0% 10px 4.3 pp 170x170px Pedro Sánchez Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 26 July 2014 Madrid 90 seats, 22.0% 85 10px 5 5,443,846 22.6% 10px 0.6 pp 170x170px Pablo Iglesias Unidos PodemosTotal figures include results for En Comú Podem, A la valenciana and En Marea. 15 November 2014 Madrid 71 seats, 24.5%"UP" Results for Podemos–ECP–És el moment–En Marea (20.7%, 69 deputies), IU–UPeC (3.7%, 2 deputies) and Més (0.1%, 0 deputies) in the 2015 Congress election. 71 10px 0 5,087,538 21.2% 10px 3.3 pp 170x170px Albert Rivera C's EB6109 9 July 2006 Madrid 40 seats, 13.9% 32 10px 8 3,141,570 13.1% 10px 0.8 pp 170x170px Gabriel Rufián ERC–CatSí 7 November 2015 Barcelona 9 seats, 2.4% 9 10px 0 639,652 2.7% 10px 0.3 pp 170x170px Francesc Homs Democratic Convergence of Catalonia 6 November 2015 Barcelona 8 seats, 2.2%"DiL" Results for DiL in the 2015 election. 8 10px 0 483,488 2.0% 10px 0.2 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 Mariano Rajoy (acting) People's Party (Spain) Mariano Rajoy People's Party (Spain) A general election was held in Spain on 26 June 2016 to elect the members of the 12th es Cortes Generales no under the Spanish Constitution of 1978. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as 208 of 266 seats in the Senate. It was a repeat election under the provisions of Article 99.5 of the Constitution,Constitution 1978 art. 99. as a result of the failure in government formation negotiations following the previous general election (and the first time a nationwide election was held in Spain under this procedure).Jiménez Gálvez José 26 April 2016 España, abocada a repetir elecciones por primera vez https://elpais.com/politica/2016/04/26/actualidad/1461691382_328366.html es El País Madrid 26 March 2026 The 2015 election had resulted in the most fragmented parliament since 1977 up to that point, with no party or bloc securing an overall majority. Parliamentary arithmetics prompted the People's Party (PP) of the acting prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, to reject an investiture bid to avoid certain defeat. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) under Pedro Sánchez was invited by King Felipe VI to form a government instead, securing the support of the liberal Citizens (C's) party of Albert Rivera, but opposition by the anti-austerity Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias, thwarted Sánchez's bid. The ensuing political deadlock and failure in government negotiations forced a repeat election being called for 26 June. Podemos joined with United Left into the Unidos Podemos alliance, along with several other minor left-wing parties. Opinion polls going into the election predicted a growing polarization between this alliance and the PP, which would be fighting to maintain first place nationally.Gil Iván 10 June 2016 El tsunami de Podemos ahoga a Sánchez y deja a Rajoy con el agua al cuello https://www.elconfidencial.com/elecciones-generales/2016-06-10/elecciones-26-j-cis-unidos-podemos-pp-psoe_1214718/ es El Confidencial 26 March 2026 Despite ongoing political scandals (which had seen resignations amid the Púnica affair and the Panama leaks, and the unveiling of Operation Catalonia), the PP benefitted from the political uncertainty and increased its margin of victory, whereas the Unidos Podemos alliance unexpectedly lost support—in what was seen as voter punishment to its hardline stance during government negotiations—thwarting Iglesias's aim to overcome Sánchez's PSOE (the so-called sorpasso), which clung on to second place despite scoring a new historical low.Garea Fernando 27 June 2016 El PP se refuerza y el bloque de la izquierda se debilita https://elpais.com/politica/2016/06/26/actualidad/1466944221_203179.html es El País Madrid 6 August 2026 The C's party suffered from the electoral system as well as from tactical voting to the PP, but slightly improved on the most pessimistic last-minute expectations that placed it below 30 seats. Overall, a potential PP–C's bloc gained six more seats but still remained short of a majority, whereas the prospective left-wing bloc lost ground and remained more dependant on peripheral nationalist parties than before. With a new deadlock settling in, commentators suggested that a new, third election could be eventually needed.Mayor Ortega Leonor 27 July 2016 España se encarrila hacia las terceras elecciones o hacia el limbo político tras el no de CDC, PNV y ERC a Rajoy https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20160727/403512433781/rey-ronda-consultas-terceras-elecciones-limbo-politica.html es La Vanguardia Barcelona 26 March 2026 Electoral setbacks for the PSOE in the Basque and Galician elections in September 2016 unleashed a party crisis that led to Sánchez's ouster as leader. Party rebels appointed a provisional leadership, which chose to abstain to allow Rajoy to form a minority government amid public outcry and protest at PSOE's U-turn (which also saw a number of its lawmakers breaking party discipline and voting against Rajoy nonetheless).23 October 2016 Spain's Socialists vote to allow Rajoy minority government https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37744078 BBC News 21 March 2026Jones Sam 29 October 2016 Spain avoids third election and ends 10-month political impasse https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/spain-to-get-government-after-10-month-political-impasse-mariano-rajoy The Guardian Madrid 26 March 2026 Rajoy's second government would only last for 20 months until June 2018, as erosion from the ensuing Catalan crisis, the emergence of new scandals and judicial blows to his ruling PP would prompt Sánchez—who would secure re-election as PSOE leader in June 2017—to bring him down in a no-confidence vote.Jones Sam 1 June 2018 Mariano Rajoy ousted as Spain's prime minister https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/01/mariano-rajoy-ousted-as-spain-prime-minister The Guardian Madrid 24 September 2025 Background 2015–2016 Spanish government formation Premiership of Mariano Rajoy The 2015 general election produced the most fragmented Spanish parliament since 1977, with neither of the two main alliances—the conservative People's Party (PP) with liberal Citizens (C's), or the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) with anti-austerity Podemos—having enough seats to form a majority without the support of peripheral nationalist parties.Garea Fernando Urra, Susana (translation) 21 December 2015 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/21/inenglish/1450653650_844346.html Popular Party wins Spanish election but will find it difficult to govern El País Madrid 26 March 2026Kassam Ashifa 21 December 2015 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/20/peoples-party-wins-spanish-election-absolute-majority Spanish election: national newcomers end era of two-party dominance The Guardian Madrid 26 March 2026 At the same time, the possibility of a grand coalition between PP and PSOE (unprecedented in Spain) was firmly rejected by the latter.Mateo Juan José Urra, Susana (translation) 23 December 2015 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/23/inenglish/1450873351_874379.html Socialist leader tells Rajoy he won’t support him at investiture vote El País Madrid 28 March 2026 A political deadlock followed as acting prime minister and PP leader, Mariano Rajoy, declined King Felipe VI's invitation to attempt investiture because he lacked enough support,25 January 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/01/25/inenglish/1453707903_657887.html Political stalemate continues as Rajoy refuses investiture offer from king El País Madrid 26 March 2026 leading to PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez being nominated instead after Podemos's Pablo Iglesias offered to join a left-wing coalition government.Alberola Miquel Manetto Francesco Marcos José Urra, Susana (translation) 22 January 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/01/22/inenglish/1453462772_074425.html Podemos chief tells king of intention to form government with Socialists, IU El País Madrid 26 March 2026Díez Anabel Noguer Miquel Hunter, Simon; Urra, Susana (translation) 3 February 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/03/inenglish/1454480270_316515.html King calls on Socialist chief to try to form a majority government El País Madrid 26 March 2026 thumb|left|alt=Mariano Rajoy giving a press conference in Moncloa palace|On 22 January 2016, acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy turned down King Felipe VI's invitation to form a government, triggering a political deadlock. Sánchez managed to fend off an internal challenge to his leadership, while a faction within the PSOE discouraged any pact with Podemos because of the party's sympathies to the Catalan independence movement.Serra Maria Josep Delfín, Martin (translation) 30 December 2015 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/30/inenglish/1451486281_236374.html Socialists struggle with internal strife over party pact talks and leadership El País Valencia / Madrid 27 March 2026Badcock James 3 February 2016 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35481698 Spain power bid by Socialist Sanchez a fight for survival BBC News Madrid 27 March 2026 The PSOE also rejected Podemos's demands for ministerial posts and its condition that C's be excluded from negotiations.Manetto Francesco Díez Anabel Garea Fernando Delfín, Martin (translation) 5 February 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/05/inenglish/1454686165_156868.html Socialists refuse to bow to Podemos' demands over negotiations El País Madrid 26 March 2026 In the end, Sánchez reached an agreement with Albert Rivera in an attempt to outmanoeuvre Iglesias and garner cross-party support, despite the alliance controlling only 130 of the 350 seats in Congress.Díez Anabel Mateo Juan José Urra, Susana (translation) 4 February 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/04/inenglish/1454598353_574026.html PSOE and Ciudadanos agree to start negotiating government program El País Madrid 26 March 2026Mateo Juan José 24 February 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/24/inenglish/1456324792_423826.html Ciudadanos and PSOE sign deal hoping to win cross-party support El País Madrid 26 March 2026Burgen Stephen 1 March 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/01/spains-sanchez-makes-final-plea-to-form-leftwing-government Spain's Sánchez makes final plea to form leftwing government The Guardian Barcelona 26 March 2026 This PSOE–C's deal was rejected by Podemos as incompatible with its programme,Manetto Francesco Díez Anabel Mateo Juan José 24 February 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/24/inenglish/1456304567_413109.html Socialists-Ciudadanos agreement clashes with Podemos’s program El País Madrid 26 March 2026 leading to a breakdown in negotiations.Agence France-Presse 24 February 2016 https://www.france24.com/en/20160224-spain-centrist-ciudadanos-back-socialist-leader-pm-sanchez Spain's Podemos suspends coalition talks with Socialists France 24 26 March 2026 With opposition from all other parties, Sánchez's investiture bid was defeated 219–131 on 4 March 2016.Burgen Stephen 2 March 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/02/spanish-socialists-fail-to-form-a-government Spanish Socialists fail to form a government The Guardian Barcelona 26 March 2026Burgen Stephen 4 March 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/04/spains-socialist-leader-falls-way-short-of-votes-needed-for-majority Spain deadlocked as leader of socialist PSOE falls way short of majority The Guardian Barcelona 26 March 2026 Concurrently, corruption scandals continued to affect the ruling PP.Dawber Alistair 27 February 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/27/mariano-rajoy-spaniards-cant-stomach-stench-of-corruption-peoples-party Adiós, Rajoy: Spaniards can’t stomach the stench of corruption in ruling party The Guardian 26 March 2026Duarte Esteban 19 April 2016 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-19/scandal-engulfs-spain-s-biggest-party-as-rajoy-s-power-dwindles Scandal Engulfs Spain's Biggest Party as Rajoy's Power Dwindles Bloomberg News 26 March 2026 One party lawmaker was expelled over a kickbacks-for-contracts scheme,29 December 2015 https://elpais.com/politica/2015/12/29/actualidad/1451397375_952961.html El PP despacha a Gómez de la Serna al Grupo Mixto El País Madrid 26 March 2026 while an investigation into alleged bid rigging at the state-run water contract company Acuamed led to the resignation of the presidency undersecretary.22 January 2016 https://www.reuters.com/article/world/spanish-junior-minister-resigns-after-link-to-corruption-scandal-idUSKCN0V01NG/ Spanish junior minister resigns after link to corruption scandal Reuters Madrid 26 March 2026 The party's Valencian branch was also accused of widespread corruption in the so-called Taula affair involving dozens of politicians, including figures close to former Valencia mayor Rita Barberá.Zafra Ignacio Hernández José Antonio Urra, Susana (translation) 26 January 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/01/26/inenglish/1453812542_400725.html Major political corruption raid in Valencia nets 24 arrests El País Valencia / Madrid 26 March 2026Casqueiro Javier Junquera Natalia Urra, Susana (translation) 16 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/16/inenglish/1458122620_393567.html PP launches internal probe into former Valencia mayor and her team El País Madrid 26 March 2026 The Púnica affair brought a police raid on the PP's headquarters in Madrid over illegal financing allegations and led to Esperanza Aguirre's resignation as regional party leader.Rodríguez Jorge A. Hernández José Antonio Pérez Fernando Jesús Urra, Susana (translation) 12 February 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/12/inenglish/1455265591_452555.html Civil Guard raids Madrid Popular Party HQ for illegal financing proof El País Madrid 26 March 2026Junquera Natalia Hunter, Simon (translation) 15 February 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/15/inenglish/1455521428_034437.html PP regional chief Aguirre resigns as pressure over corruption rises El País Madrid 26 March 2026 April 2016 saw the arrest of the PP mayor of Granada in a real-estate corruption probe;Rodríguez Jorge A. Urra, Susana (translation) 13 April 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/04/13/inenglish/1460536347_456443.html Granada mayor arrested in real estate corruption probe El País Valencia / Madrid 26 March 2026 the resignation of the industry minister, José Manuel Soria, after being implicated in the Panama leaks;Burgen Stephen 15 April 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/15/spanish-minister-soria-resigns-alleged-offshore-links-panama-papers Spanish minister resigns in row over alleged offshore links The Guardian Barcelona 26 March 2026 and former prime minister José María Aznar being ordered to pay €270,000 in fines and back taxes.Burgen Stephen 14 April 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/14/former-spanish-pm-jose-maria-aznar-faces-270000-tax-demand Former Spanish PM José María Aznar faces €270,000 tax demand The Guardian Barcelona 26 March 2026 In June 2016, leaked recordings implicated the interior minister, Jorge Fernández Díaz, in an alleged plot to fabricate scandals against pro-Catalan independence politicians.Agence France-Presse 22 June 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/22/spanish-minister-accused-of-conspiring-against-political-rivals Spanish minister accused of conspiring against political rivals The Guardian Madrid 30 July 2026 Rajoy's caretaker government was also taken to court for refusing parliamentary oversight,Garea Fernando Urra, Susana (translation) 18 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/18/inenglish/1458294596_773957.html Congress to take government to court after minister’s committee no-show El País Madrid 26 March 2026 while reports that Spain had missed its 2015 deficit target forced him to acknowledge the need for further austerity measures to meet European Union requirements.González Jesús Sérvulo Urra, Susana (translation) 1 April 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/04/01/inenglish/1459497432_281039.html Deficit miss signals tough adjustment for Spain’s next government El País Madrid 26 March 2026Pérez Claudi Urra, Susana (translation) 18 May 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/05/18/inenglish/1463581059_204053.html Brussels asks Spain for €8 billion in new spending cuts El País Brussels 26 March 2026Pérez Claudi Urra, Susana (translation) 23 May 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/05/23/inenglish/1463994340_961496.html Rajoy promises Brussels further adjustments if he wins on June 26 El País Brussels 26 March 2026 After Sánchez's failed investiture, the PSOE tried to secure at least Podemos's abstention.Díez Anabel Manetto Francesco De Miguel Rafa Urra, Susana (translation) 14 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/14/inenglish/1457945418_530187.html Socialists confident divisions in Podemos will deliver abstention El País Madrid 26 March 2026Manetto Francesco Díez Anabel Urra, Susana (translation) 23 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/23/inenglish/1458747383_830279.html Podemos and Socialist leaders agree to restart negotiations next week El País Madrid 26 March 2026Garea Fernando Urra, Susana (translation) 28 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/28/inenglish/1459149883_993628.html Parties enter final stage of governing negotiations in weakened state El País Madrid 26 March 2026 Internal divisions emerged within Podemos between supporters of Iglesias's hardline negotiating stance (es pablistas) and those aligned with his deputy Íñigo Errejón (es errejonistas), who favoured allowing a PSOE-led government; this conflict led to several resignations in the party's Madrid branch.Manetto Francesco García de Blas Elsa Urra, Susana (translation) 9 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/09/inenglish/1457512828_564426.html Podemos leaders clash over control of the party El País Madrid 27 March 2026Manetto Francesco García de Blas Elsa Urra, Susana (translation) 10 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/10/inenglish/1457599829_525273.html Nine new resignations deepen internal crisis in Podemos party El País Madrid 26 March 2026 Attempts to form a three-way agreement with C's failed because of deep mutual distrust,Díez Anabel Marcos José Urra, Susana (translation) 30 March 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/03/30/inenglish/1459345267_044972.html Socialist chief insists both emerging parties must join in government deal El País Madrid 26 March 2026Díez Anabel De Miguel Rafa Urra, Susana (translation) 11 April 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/04/08/inenglish/1460102677_127564.html Three-way meeting to break Spain’s political deadlock ends in failure El País Madrid 26 March 2026Manetto Francesco Lyne, Nick (translation) 19 April 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/04/18/inenglish/1460979996_821039.html Podemos grassroots rejects doing deal with Socialists and Ciudadanos El País Madrid 26 March 2026 while Rajoy kept dismissing the possibility of forming a government himself under the existing parliamentary numbers.Casqueiro Javier Hunter, Simon (translation) 22 April 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/04/21/inenglish/1461249122_653951.html Acting PM says bid to form government at this stage “absurd” El País El Toboso 26 March 2026 A last attempt by the Valencianist party Compromís to form a left-wing coalition of independents was also rejected by Podemos,Díez Anabel Marcos José Mateo Juan José Urra, Susana (translation) 26 April 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/04/26/inenglish/1461677480_527334.html Socialists come up with last-ditch offer in bid to avoid new elections El País Madrid 26 March 2026 ultimately leading to a snap election being called for 26 June 2016 amid mutual accusations among the parties.Díez Anabel Alberola Miquel Marcos José Hunter, Simon (translation) 26 April 2016 https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/04/26/inenglish/1461689040_859333.html Socialist chief admits new elections inevitable, blaming PP and Podemos El País Madrid 26 March 2026Burgen Stephen 26 April 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/26/spain-faces-new-elections-june-parties-fail-to-form-government Spain faces new elections in June after parties fail to form a government The Guardian Barcelona 26 March 2026 Overview Under the 1978 Constitution, the Spanish es Cortes Generales no were conceived as an imperfect bicameral system.Constitution 1978 art. 66.https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=66&tipo=2 Constitución española. Título III. De las Cortes Generales. Sinopsis artículo 66 es Congress of Deputies 11 October 2025 , summarizing Constitution 1978 art. 66. The Congress of Deputies held greater legislative power than the Senate, having the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a prime minister and to override Senate vetoes by an absolute majority.Constitution 1978 arts. 90 & 99. Nonetheless, the Senate retained a limited number of specific functions—such as ratifying international treaties, authorizing cooperation agreements between autonomous communities, enforcing direct rule, regulating interterritorial compensation funds, and taking part in constitutional amendments and in the appointment of members to the Constitutional Court and the General Council of the Judiciary—which were not subject to override by Congress.Constitution 1978 arts. 74, 94, 122, 145, 155, 158–159 & 166–167. Date The term of each chamber of the es Cortes Generales no—the Congress and the Senate—expired four years from the date of their previous election, unless they were dissolved earlier.Constitution 1978 arts. 68–69. The election decree was required to be issued no later than 25 days before the scheduled expiration date of parliament and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE), with election day taking place 54 days after the decree's publication.LOREG 1985 arts. 42 & 167. The previous election was held on 20 December 2015, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 20 December 2019. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 26 November 2019, setting the latest possible date for election day on 19 January 2020. 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. Following Sánchez's nomination as investiture candidate, the president of the Congress of Deputies, Patxi López, initially scheduled the first ballot for 3 March 2016;Garea Fernando 15 February 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/02/15/actualidad/1455523517_358035.html Pedro Sánchez se someterá a la investidura el 2 de marzo es El País Madrid 6 August 2026 however, this date was moved forward to 2 March so that a hypothetical repeat election was held on 26 June (a Sunday) rather than on 27 June (Monday).23 February 2016 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20160223/pleno-investidura-pedro-sanchez-congreso-se-adelanta-dia-1-marzo/1306601.shtml Patxi López adelanta un día el pleno de investidura de Sánchez, con críticas de "partidismo" del PP y Podemos es RTVE 6 August 2026 The es Cortes Generales no were officially dissolved on 3 May 2016 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 26 June and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 19 July.Royal Decree 184/2016 2016 arts. 1–2 & 5.Garea Fernando 3 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/03/actualidad/1462259176_031391.html El Rey firma el decreto de convocatoria de nuevas elecciones para el 26 de junio es El País Madrid 6 August 2026 Electoral system Voting for each chamber of the es Cortes Generales no was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age with full political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.LOREG 1985 arts. 2–3.Carreras de Odriozola Tafunell Sambola 2005 1077 Additionally, non-resident citizens were required to apply for voting, a system known as "begged" voting (es Voto rogado).LOREG 1985 art. 75.Reig Pellicer Naiara 16 December 2015 http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/politics/article/spanish-elections-begging-for-the-right-to-vote.html Spanish elections: Begging for the right to vote cafebabel.co.uk 17 July 2017 31 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210831202218/https://cafebabel.com/en/article/spanish-elections-begging-for-the-right-to-vote-5ae00a98f723b35a145e6867/ usurped The Congress of Deputies had a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 400 seats, with electoral provisions fixing its size at 350. Of these, 348 were elected in 50 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the provinces of Spain—each of which was assigned an initial minimum of two seats and the remaining 248 distributed in proportion to population—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a three percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency. The remaining two seats were allocated to Ceuta and Melilla as single-member districts elected by plurality voting.Constitution 1978 art. 68; LOREG 1985 arts. 162–164. The use of this electoral method resulted in a higher effective threshold depending on district magnitude and vote distribution.Gallagher Michael 30 July 2012 http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php Effective threshold in electoral systems Trinity College Dublin Dublin https://web.archive.org/web/20170730092518/http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php 22 July 2017 30 July 2017 As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled the following seats:Royal Decree 184/2016 2016 art. 3 & annex. Seats Constituencies 36 Madrid 31 Barcelona 16 Valenciagreen (+1) 12 Alicante, Seville 11 Málaga 10 Murcia 9 Cádiz 8 A Coruña, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Biscay, Las Palmas 7 Granada, Pontevedra, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza 6 Almería, Badajoz, Córdoba, Gipuzkoa, Girona, Tarragona, Toledo 5 Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Huelva, Jaén, Navarre, Valladolid 4 Álava, Albacete, Burgos, Cáceres, La Rioja, Leónred (−1), Lleida, Lugo, Ourense, Salamanca 3 Ávila, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Teruel, Zamora 2 Soria 208 Senate seats were elected using open-listParties could group candidates into lists, although each candidate was treated separately for the purpose of the voting procedure. partial block voting: voters in constituencies electing four seats could choose up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, up to two; and in single-member districts, one. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces was allocated four seats, while in insular provinces—such as the Balearic and Canary Islands—the districts were the islands themselves, with the larger ones (Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife) being allocated three seats each, and the smaller ones (Menorca, Ibiza–Formentera, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma) one each. Ceuta and Melilla elected two seats each. Additionally, autonomous communities could appoint at least one senator each and were entitled to one additional seat per million inhabitants.Constitution 1978 art. 69; LOREG 1985 arts. 162 & 165–166.Carreras de Odriozola Tafunell Sambola 2005 1083 The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacant seats; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.LOREG 1985 arts. 46, 48, 164, 166 & 170–171. Outgoing parliament The tables below show the composition of the parliamentary groups in both chambers at the time of dissolution.Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/grups.html Grupos Parlamentarios en el Congreso de los Diputados y el Senado es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/senado7.html Composición del Senado 1977- es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 auto + Parliamentary composition in May 2016https://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 People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress PP 119 119 Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 81 89 PSC 8 We Can–In Common We Can–In TideParliamentary Group Podemos 50 65 BComú 4 ICV 3 Equo 3 EUiA 2 Anova 2 EU 1 Citizens Parliamentary Group Cs 40 40 Republican Left's Parliamentary Group ERC 9 9 Catalan Parliamentary Group(Democracy and Freedom) CDC 7 8 DC 1 Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ/PNV) EAJ/PNV 6 6 Mixed Parliamentary Group Compromís 4 14 IU–UPeC 2 UPN 2 Sortu 1 Alternatiba 1 CCa 1 FAC 1 NCa 1 INDEP 1Pedro Gómez de la Serna, former PP legislator.29 December 2015 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/comisionista-gomez-serna-linchamiento-venganza_1_2275725.html El PP manda a Gómez de la Serna al grupo mixto es Cadena SER 27 July 2026 1em + Parliamentary composition in May 2016https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/gruposparlamentarios/gruposparlamentariosdesde1977/index.html Grupos Parlamentarios desde 1977 es Senate of Spain 8 July 2020 Senate1 PP appointed seat remained vacant until 14 December 2016.14 December 2016 https://www.diariodevalladolid.es/castilla-y-leon/161214/205579/ignacio-cosido-elegido-senador-comunidad-votos-pp.html Ignacio Cosido, elegido senador por la Comunidad sólo con los votos del PP es Diario de Valladolid 27 July 2026 Groups Parties Senators Seats Total People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate PP 140 142 PAR 2 Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 66 67 PSC 1 We Can–In Common–Commitment–In TideParliamentary Group Podemos 17 23 ICV 3 Compromís 2 EU 1 Democracy and FreedomCatalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate CDC 7 8 DC 1 Republican Left's Parliamentary Group ERC 8 8 Basque Parliamentary Group in the Senate(EAJ/PNV) EAJ/PNV 7 7 Mixed Parliamentary Group Cs 3 10 UPN 1 FAC 1 GBai 1 Sortu 1 CCa 1 AHI 1 ASG 1 Candidates Nomination rules Spanish citizens with the right to vote could run for election, provided that they had not been criminally imprisoned by a final sentence or convicted—whether final or not—of offences that involved loss of eligibility or disqualification from public office (such as rebellion, terrorism or other crimes against the state). Additional causes of ineligibility applied to the following officials:Constitution 1978 art. 70; LOREG 1985 arts. 6 & 154. Members of the Spanish royal family and their spouses; Holders of a number of senior public or institutional posts, including the heads and members of higher courts and state institutions;These comprised the Constitutional Court, the General Council of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court, the Council of State, the Court of Auditors and the Economic and Social Council. the Ombudsman; the State's Attorney General; high-ranking officials of government departments, the Office of the Prime Minister and other state agencies; government delegates in the autonomous communities; the chair of RTVE; the director of the Electoral Register Office; the governor and deputy governor of the Bank of Spain; the heads of official credit institutions; and members of electoral commissions and of the Nuclear Safety Council; Heads of diplomatic missions abroad; Judges and public prosecutors in active service; Members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement bodies in active service. Other ineligibility provisions also applied to a number of territorial officials in these categories within their areas of jurisdiction, as well as to employees of foreign states and members of regional governments. Incompatibility rules included those of ineligibility, and also barred running in multiple constituencies or lists, holding office if the candidacy was later declared illegal (by a final ruling), and combining legislative roles (deputy, senator, and regional lawmaker) with each other or with:Constitution 1978 art. 67; LOREG 1985 arts. 6, 46 & 155–159. A number of senior public or institutional posts, including the presidency of the National Commission on Markets and Competition; and leadership positions in RTVE, government offices, public authorities (such as port authorities, hydrographic confederations, or highway concessionary companies), public entities and state-owned or publicly funded companies; Any other paid public or private position, except university teaching. Parties and lists List of political parties in Spain The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list. Concurrently, parties, federations or alliances that had not obtained a mandate in either chamber of the es Cortes no at the preceding election were required to secure the signature of at least 0.1 percent of electors in the aforementioned constituencies.LOREG 1985 arts. 44 & 169. Additionally, a balanced composition of men and women was required in the 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:https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/elecciones/coalicionesJEC?fechaeleccion=2016-06-26&tipoeleccion=Elecciones%20Generales Coaliciones electorales válidamente constituidas ante la Junta Electoral Central. Elecciones Generales del 26 de junio de 2016 es Central Electoral Commission 24 October 2026https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/informacion/enlaces/CoalicionesJEP Coaliciones electorales válidamente constituidas ante las Juntas Electorales Provinciales. Elecciones Generales del 26 de junio de 2016 es Central Electoral Commission 24 October 2026 Candidacy Parties andalliances Leading candidate Ideology Previous result Gov. Government Ref. References Congress Senate Vote % Seats Vote % Seats PP List on People's Party (PP) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Forum of Citizens (FAC) Aragonese Party (PAR) 50px Mariano Rajoy ConservatismChristian democracy 28.7% 123 30.3% 124 2 May 2016 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/585519 Rajoy convoca a su Comité Ejecutivo para ratificar a Moragas como jefe de campaña es Servimedia Madrid 24 October 2026Agencias 10 May 2016 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20160510/pp-upn-renuevan-su-acuerdo-coalicion-navarra-para-generales-del-26j/1349447.shtml PP y UPN renuevan su acuerdo de coalición en Navarra para el 26J es RTVE 24 October 2026EFE 10 May 2016 https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/aragon/2016/05/10/par-ratifica-pacto-electoral-con-con-los-mismos-puestos-programa-849805-300.html El PAR ratifica el pacto electoral con el PP es Heraldo de Aragón Zaragoza 24 October 2026EFE 13 May 2016 https://www.rtpa.es/noticias-asturias:PP-y-Foro-Asturias-firman-el-acuerdo-de-coalicion_111463143167.html PP y Foro Asturias firman el acuerdo de coalición es RTPA 24 October 2026 PSOE List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) New Canaries (NCa) 50px Pedro Sánchez Social democracy 22.0% 90 22.4% 47 Campos Carmen 14 May 2016 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20160514/psoe-proclama-candidato-pedro-sanchez-arropado-susana-diaz/1351020.shtml Pedro Sánchez pide más apoyo el 26J y promete "decencia, diálogo y dedicación" es RTVE 27 July 2026Europa Press 10 May 2016 https://diariodeavisos.elespanol.com/2016/05/psoe-aprueba-reeditar-coalicion-nueva-canarias-las-mismas-condiciones-20d/ El PSOE aprueba reeditar su coalición con Nueva Canarias con las mismas condiciones que el 20D es Diario de Avisos 24 October 2026 UnidosPodemos List on We Can (Podemos) United Left (IU)– Communist Party of Spain (PCE)– The Dawn Marxist Organization (La Aurora (OM))– Republican Left (IR)– Open Left (IzAb)– Feminist Party of Spain (PFE) Equo (Equo) More for Mallorca (Més) Assembly (Batzarre) Popular Unity in Common (UPeC) Asturian Left (IAS) Building the Left–Socialist Alternative (CLI–AS) Segoviemos (SGV) Castilian Left (IzCa) Participative Democracy (Participa) In Common We Can−Let's Win Change (ECP)– Barcelona in Common (BComú)– We Can (Podem)– Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV)– United and Alternative Left (EUiA) The Valencian Way (Compromís–Podemos–EUPV)– Commitment Coalition (Compromís)– We Can (Podemos/Podem)– United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV) In Tide (Podemos–Anova–EU)– Renewal–Nationalist Brotherhood (Anova) 50px Pablo Iglesias Left-wing populismDirect democracyDemocratic socialism 24.5%"UP" 71 22.1%Results for Podemos–ECP–És el moment–En Marea (18.5%, 16 senators), IU–UPeC (3.6%, 0 senators) and Més (0.1%, 0 senators) in the 2015 Senate election. 16 Punzón Carlos 21 April 2016 https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/galicia/2016/04/21/podemos-anova-eu-coinciden-repetir-listas-20d-convocan-elecciones-generales/0003_201604G21P7991.htm Podemos, Anova y EU coinciden en repetir sus listas del 20D si se convocan elecciones generales es La Voz de Galicia 27 July 2026Europa Press 22 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/comu-podem-presentara-confluencia-juridicas_1_4040906.html En Comú Podem se presentará el 26J como "confluencia" pero buscará "formas jurídicas" que allanen tener grupo propio es eldiario.es Madrid 27 July 2026EFE 4 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/bases-equo-respaldan-coalicion-podemos_1_4018122.html Las bases de Equo respaldan ir al 26J en coalición con Podemos es eldiario.es Madrid 27 July 2026Manetto Francesco García de Blas Elsa 9 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/09/actualidad/1462786575_146820.html Podemos e IU sellan una alianza para concurrir juntos a las elecciones es El País Madrid 27 July 202612 May 2016 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20160512/878-participantes-consulta-iu-apoya-pacto-con-podemos-con-33-participacion/1349920.shtml Las bases de IU y Podemos dan un amplio respaldo a la coalición electoral para el 26J es RTVE 24 October 2026Europa Press 13 May 2016 https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20160513/401771507794/26j-compromis-podemos-y-eupv-llegan-a-un-acuerdo-para-ir-en-coalicion-en-las-listas-al-congreso.html Compromís, Podemos y EUPV llegan a un acuerdo para ir en coalición en las listas al Congreso es La Vanguardia Valencia 27 July 2026Manetto Francesco García de Blas Elsa 16 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/13/actualidad/1463124909_878642.html Unidos Podemos, el nombre de la coalición de Podemos e IU es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 C's List on Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 50px Albert Rivera Liberalism 13.9% 40 11.2% 0 Agencias 14 May 2016 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20160514/rivera-no-quiero-espana-rojos-azules-sino-espana-todos/1351104.shtml Rivera: "No quiero una España de rojos y azules, sino una España de todos" es RTVE 24 October 2026 ERC–CatSí List on Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) Catalonia Yes (CatSí) 50px Gabriel Rufián Catalan independenceLeft-wing nationalismSocial democracy 2.4% 9 2.9% 6 Alcolea Marta 30 April 2016 https://www.elnacional.cat/es/politica/erc-ratifica-listas-26-junio_102471_102.html ERC ratifica las mismas listas para el 26-J es El Nacional Barcelona 24 October 2026 CDC List on Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) 50px Francesc Homs Catalan independenceLiberalism 2.2%"DiL" 7 2.3%"DiL" 5 EFE 9 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2016/05/09/57308f6fca4741030a8b45b4.html CDC rechaza la lista junto con Demòcrates y concurrirá sola con sus siglas es El Mundo Barcelona 27 July 2026Agencias 21 May 2016 https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20160521/bases-cdc-deciden-crear-nuevo-partido-escogen-a-homs-para-26j/1352017.shtml Las bases de CDC deciden crear un nuevo partido y escogen a Homs para el 26J es RTVE 24 October 2026 EAJ/PNV List on Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 50px Aitor Esteban Basque nationalismChristian democracy 1.2% 6 1.4% 6 EH Bildu List on Create (Sortu) Basque Solidarity (EA) Aralar (Aralar) Alternative (Alternatiba) 50px Marian BeitialarrangoitiaEH Bildu did not field a single visible leader; instead, prominence was given to the lead candidate in each of the constituencies where it ran. Marian Beitialarrangoitia from Gipuzkoa was later selected as EH Bildu's spokesperson in Congress. Basque independenceAbertzale leftSocialism 0.9% 2 0.9% 0 Agencias 11 May 2016 https://orain.eus/es/politica/2016/05/11/listas-electorales-eh-bildu-elecciones-geneles-26j/ EH Bildu renueva sus listas y Matute será el 'número uno' por Bizkaia es Orain 24 October 2026 CCa–PNC List on Canarian Coalition (CCa) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) 50px Ana Oramas RegionalismCanarian nationalismCentrism 0.3% 1 0.2% 1 EFE 14 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/politica/bermudez-cc-congreso-tenerife-oramas_1_3997486.html José Manuel Bermúdez irá de dos en la lista de CC al Congreso por Santa Cruz de Tenerife, que liderará Ana Oramas es Canarias Ahora Santa Cruz de Tenerife 24 October 2026 GBai List on Expanding (Zabaltzen) Villava Group (AT) Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 50px Daniel Innerarity Basque nationalismSocial democracy 0.1% 0 Geroa Bai (1 senator) contested the 2015 Senate election within the Cambio/Aldaketa alliance. 1 Agencias 13 May 2016 https://orain.eus/es/politica/2016/05/13/daniel-innerarity-encabeza-lista-geroa-bai-al-congreso/ Daniel Innerarity encabeza la lista de Geroa Bai al Congreso es Orain 24 October 2026 ASG List on Gomera Socialist Group (ASG) 50px Yaiza Castilla InsularismSocial democracy colspan="2" Did not contest 0.0% 1 The People's Party renewed the alliances with Navarrese People's Union in Navarre,27 April 2016 https://www.europapress.es/navarra/noticia-partidos-navarros-estudian-ya-concurriran-elecciones-26-junio-20160427114407.html Los partidos navarros estudian ya cómo concurrirán a las elecciones es Europa Press Pamplona 27 July 2026Agencias Irisarri Andoni 28 April 2016 http://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2016/04/28/politica/navarra/la-hora-de-las-coaliciones-electorales La hora de las coaliciones electorales es Noticias de Navarra Pamplona 27 July 2026 5 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160505074834/http://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2016/04/28/politica/navarra/la-hora-de-las-coaliciones-electorales dead Aragonese Party in Aragon,Europa Press 7 May 2016 https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/elecciones-generales/2016/05/07/el-ofrece-par-renovar-coalicion-847245-2091043.html El PP ofrece al PAR renovar la coalición es Heraldo de Aragón Calatayud 27 July 2026 8 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160508111648/https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/elecciones-generales/2016/05/07/el-ofrece-par-renovar-coalicion-847245-2091043.html bot: unknown and Forum of Citizens in Asturias.Europa Press 26 April 2016 http://noticias.lainformacion.com/politica/senado-y-camara-de-diputados/Foro-Asturias-coalicion-PP-cambiarlas_0_911009377.html Foro Asturias quiere repetir coalición con el PP porque "las cosas que funcionan bien, mejor no cambiarlas" es La Información Madrid 27 July 2026 16 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160516185613/http://noticias.lainformacion.com/politica/senado-y-camara-de-diputados/Foro-Asturias-coalicion-PP-cambiarlas_0_911009377.html dead The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and New Canaries maintained their alliance in the Canary Islands.EFE 6 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/politica/psoe-presentar-nueva-canarias_1_4009159.html El PSOE hace oficial que se volverá a presentar a las Generales de la mano de Nueva Canarias es Canarias Ahora Santa Cruz de Tenerife 27 July 2026EFE 7 May 2016 Nueva Canarias volverá a ir a las elecciones del 26 de junio con el PSOE es https://www.eldiario.es/politica/nueva-canarias-volvera-elecciones-psoe_1_4008390.html eldiario.es Santa Cruz de Tenerife 27 July 2026 Geroa Bai and EH Bildu explored alliance possibilities with Podemos and Izquierda-Ezkerra in Navarre,Europa Press 6 May 2016 https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/navarra/navarra/2016/05/06/las_bases_podemos_navarra_dicen_pacto_con_geroa_bai_bildu_452653_2061.html Las bases de Podemos en Navarra dicen "no" al pacto con Geroa Bai y EH Bildu es Diario de Navarra Pamplona 27 July 2026 then on a joint list after the first option was rejected,7 May 2016 http://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2016/05/07/politica/navarra/geroa-bai-y-eh-bildu-exploran-la-posibilidad-de-concurrir-juntos Geroa Bai y EH Bildu exploran la posibilidad de concurrir juntos es Noticias de Navarra Pamplona 27 July 2026 8 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160508212531/http://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/2016/05/07/politica/navarra/geroa-bai-y-eh-bildu-exploran-la-posibilidad-de-concurrir-juntos dead without success.Europa Press 10 May 2016 https://www.diariodenavarra.es/noticias/navarra/2016/05/10/geroa_bai_bildu_concurriran_coalicion_las_elecciones_generales_453477_300.html Geroa Bai y EH Bildu no concurrirán en coalición a las elecciones generales es Diario de Navarra Pamplona 27 July 2026 right 215 PP 2015.svg PP alliances for the Congress of Deputies PSOE 2015.svg PSOE for the Congress of Deputies Already from 20 April, both Podemos and United Left–Popular Unity started exploring a joint list for a likely fresh election.Mármol Iolanda 20 April 2016 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/politica/podemos-acepta-con-26-j-5070990 Podemos e IU ultiman un pacto para ir juntos si se repiten las elecciones es El Periódico de Catalunya Madrid 27 July 2026Rojo Andrés S. Macías Carmen 24 April 2016 https://www.larazon.es/espana/podemos-acepta-un-pacto-nacional-con-iu-para-ir-juntos-a-las-elecciones-PC12459655 Podemos e IU avanzan en un pacto para superar al PSOE tras el 26-J es La Razón 27 July 2026Riveiro Aitor 20 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/podemos-negociar-iu-repeticion-electoral_1_4044340.html Podemos se abre a negociar un pacto estatal con IU es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 Once the repeat election was confirmed, both parties acknowledged that talks had formally started and that an agreement was expected to be reached throughout the next week.Europa Press 30 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/podemos-iu-constatan-importantes-dificultan_1_4020137.html Podemos e IU reconocen que les separan "puntos importantes" pero se comprometen a seguir negociando es eldiario.es Madrid 27 July 2026 On 9 May, Pablo Iglesias (Podemos) and Alberto Garzón (IU) officially announced the new alliance. Equo, which had already supported the continuation of its alliance with Podemos, announced it would also participate in the newly formed platform. The Podemos–IU national agreement paved the way for IU to join the És el moment alliance in the Valencian Community,EFE 18 April 2016 https://www.lasprovincias.es/politica/201604/18/compromis-apuesta-confluir-elecciones-20160418123054.html Compromís apuesta por confluir a las elecciones con Podemos e IU es Las Provincias 27 July 2026Riveiro Aitor 26 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/compromis-coalicion-podemos-iu-elecciones_1_4040981.html Compromís apuesta por repetir su coalición con Podemos y sumar a IU si se repiten las elecciones es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 which was transformed into the A la valenciana platform.Europa Press 10 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/montiel-podemos-proximas-eupv-integrarse_1_4007503.html Montiel (Podemos) avanza que en las “próximas horas” habrá acuerdo con EUPV para integrarse en 'És el moment' es eldiario.es Valencia 27 July 2026 On 13 May, it was announced that the alliance name for the election would be Unidos Podemos (Spanish for "United We Can"). The newly formed Podemos–IU alliance offered a nationwide alliance with PSOE to contest the Senate election, in an effort to prevent a new PP absolute majority in that chamber.Manetto Francesco Marcos José 10 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/09/actualidad/1462809226_971317.html Podemos ofrece al PSOE presentar listas conjuntas para el Senado es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 Pedro Sánchez rejected such possibility despite ongoing negotiations in Aragon, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community.10 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/10/5731c17b46163f3d078b4583.html PSOE rechaza la oferta de Podemos para ir juntos en las listas del Senado es El Mundo 27 July 2026EFE / Europa Press 10 May 2016 https://www.levante-emv.com/elecciones/2016/05/10/sanchez-rechaza-lista-conjunta-senado-12403667.html Sánchez rechaza una lista conjunta con Podemos al Senado: "No, gracias" es Levante-EMV Madrid 27 July 2026 23 June 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210623212809/https://www.levante-emv.com/elecciones/2016/05/10/sanchez-rechaza-lista-conjunta-senado-12403667.html bot: unknown However, the party's Valencian branch, which advocated for an alliance with Compromís and Podemos for the Senate under the "Valencian Accord" label (In Valencian: Acord Valencià),Europa Press 10 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/ejecutiva-pspv-compromis-podemos-valencia_1_4003291.html La Ejecutiva del PSPV acuerda negociar con Compromís y Podemos un 'Acord Valencià' para el Senado es eldiario.es Valencia 27 July 2026 initially refused to acknowledge Sánchez's command,Uría Ibon 10 May 2016 https://www.infolibre.es/politica/sanchez-ximo-puig-enfrentan-pactos-senado_1_1126101.html Sánchez y Ximo Puig se enfrentan por los pactos con Podemos para el Senado es infoLibre 27 July 2026Castro Irene 10 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/psoe-sanchez-candidatura-podemos-senado_1_4003436.html Pedro Sánchez se opone a que el PSOE valenciano vaya con Podemos y Compromís al Senado es eldiario.es 27 July 202611 May 2016 https://www.europapress.es/comunitat-valenciana/noticia-mas-228-alcaldes-portavoces-pspv-respaldan-negociar-pacto-compromis-podemos-senado-20160511220941.html Más de 220 alcaldes y portavoces del PSPV respaldan negociar un pacto con Compromís y Podemos al Senado es Europa Press Valencia 27 July 2026 but was forced to cave in after several days of conflict.13 May 2016 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-ferraz-no-acepta-ir-coalicion-podemos-senado-pspv-considera-error-20160513134742.html Ferraz no acepta ir en coalición con Podemos al Senado es Europa Press Madrid 27 July 2026 left 215 Podemos 2016.svg Unidos Podemos alliance system Podemos aimed at enlarging its alliance system from December, seeking to conglomerate all forces to the left of PSOE in a single, unitary alliance for the 2016 election.García de Blas Elsa Manetto Francesco 1 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/01/actualidad/1462124934_578585.html Podemos busca unir a todas las fuerzas a la izquierda del PSOE es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 Both En Comú Podem and En Marea had already announced their intention to continue their successful alliances. Talks between Podemos and Més had also started in the Balearic Islands ahead of a prospective election alliance, aiming at forming a "grand coalition of the left" in the islands.EFE 27 April 2016 https://www.diariodemallorca.es/mallorca/2016/04/27/mes-da-bienvenida-formar-gran-3649905.html Més da la "bienvenida" a Podemos para formar una gran coalición de izquierdas es Diario de Mallorca Palma 27 July 202613 May 2016 http://www.ciutat.es/portada/politica/item/25330-podemos-y-mes-pactan-el-numero-3-de-la-lista-sera-para-mes Podemos y MÉS pactan. El número 3 de la lista será para MÉS es ciutat.es 27 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20160520102117/http://www.ciutat.es/portada/politica/item/25330-podemos-y-mes-pactan-el-numero-3-de-la-lista-sera-para-mes 20 May 2016 dead dmy-all Podemos tried to probe Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals into a common nationwide list for the 2016 election, but this was rejected by the latter as it perceived that Podemos was "not clear enough on the issue of banning bullfighting".Riveiro Aitor 28 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pacma-descarta-ir-podemos-generales_1_4023379.html El PACMA descarta ir con Podemos a las generales es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC)—which contested the 2015 election under the Democracy and Freedom (DiL) banner—made an offer to Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) to re-establish the Junts pel Sí unitary coalition under which they both contested the 2015 Catalan regional election.Europa Press 26 April 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2016/04/26/571f15e3268e3e6f648b45f4.html Homs sobre la lista conjunta CDC-ERC para las generales: "De momento me dan calabazas" es El Mundo Barcelona 27 July 2026 Former Catalan president Artur Mas offered himself to lead such an alliance into the election if it was eventually formed.Pi Jaume 29 April 2016 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20160428/401438070453/artur-mas-8tv-lista-unitaria-elecciones.html Mas sólo concurriría a las elecciones "si hubiera lista unitaria y me lo pidieran" es La Vanguardia Barcelona 27 July 2026 ERC rejected the offer and chose to run on its own instead.EFE 1 May 2016 http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/politica/noticias/7534316/05/16/ERC-decide-presentarse-con-lista-propia-a-las-elecciones-generales.html ERC decide presentarse con lista propia a las elecciones generales es El Economista 27 July 2026 2 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160502145058/http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/politica/noticias/7534316/05/16/ERC-decide-presentarse-con-lista-propia-a-las-elecciones-generales.html bot: unknown Subsequently, debate arose within CDC on the opportunity to continue the DiL alliance or to opt for alternative formulas to contest the election.Masreal Fidel 30 April 2016 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20160430/cdc-estrategia-elecciones-generales-5094041 CDC, resistir es vencer es El Periódico de Catalunya Barcelona 27 July 2026Ríos Pere Piñol Àngels 1 May 2016 https://elpais.com/ccaa/2016/04/30/catalunya/1462041074_373794.html PSC y CDC se maquillan para el 26-J es El País Barcelona 27 July 2026 Democrats of Catalonia and Reagrupament, CDC's allies within DiL, suggested rebranding the alliance as "Together for Catalonia" and demanded it to be led by an independent.EFE 6 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2016/05/06/572c82ade5fdeac6738b469f.html Ex miembros de Unió exigen un candidato independiente a CDC para concurrir juntos a las generales es El Mundo Barcelona 27 July 2026Europa Press 7 May 2016 http://noticias.lainformacion.com/politica/elecciones/RCat-presentara-candidato-secretario-CDC_0_914609252.html RCat presentará un candidato a secretario general si CDC decide crear un nuevo partido es La Información Barcelona 27 July 2026 21 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160521082558/http://noticias.lainformacion.com/politica/elecciones/RCat-presentara-candidato-secretario-CDC_0_914609252.html dead CDC leaders rejected this proposal and announced on 9 May that they were contesting the election on their own. Campaign Timetable The key dates are listed below (all times are CET. The Canary Islands used WET (UTC+0) instead):https://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/documentos/GENERALES_2016_Calendario.pdf Elecciones Generales 26 de junio de 2016. Calendario Electoral es Central Electoral Commission 24 January 2026 3 May: The election decree is issued with the countersign of the president of the Congress of Deputies, ratified by the King; formal dissolution of parliament and start of prohibition period on the inauguration of public works, services or projects. 6 May: Initial constitution of provincial and zone electoral commissions with judicial members. 9 May: Division of constituencies into polling sections and stations. 13 May: Deadline for parties and federations to report on their electoral alliances. 16 May: Deadline for electoral register consultation for the purpose of possible corrections. 23 May: Deadline for parties, federations, alliances, and groupings of electors to present electoral lists. 25 May: Publication of submitted electoral lists in the Official State Gazette (BOE). 28 May: Deadline for non-resident citizens (electors residing abroad (CERA) and citizens temporarily absent from Spain) to apply for voting. 30 May: Official proclamation of validly submitted electoral lists. 31 May: Publication of proclaimed electoral lists in the BOE. 1 June: Deadline for the selection of polling station members by sortition. 9 June: Deadline for the appointment of non-judicial members to provincial and zone electoral commissions. 10 June: Official start of electoral campaigning.Royal Decree 184/2016 2016 art. 4. 16 June: Deadline to apply for postal voting. 21 June: Start of legal ban on electoral opinion polling publication; deadline for CERA citizens to vote by mail. 22 June: Deadline for postal and temporarily absent voting. 24 June: Last day of electoral campaigning; deadline for CERA voting. 25 June: Official election silence ("reflection day"). 26 June: 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. 29 June: Start of general vote counting, including CERA votes. 2 July: Deadline for the general vote counting. 11 July: Deadline for the proclamation of elected members. 21 July: Deadline for the reconvening of parliament (date determined by the election decree, which for the 2016 election was set for 19 July).Constitution 1978 art. 68. 20 August: Deadline for the publication of definitive election results in the BOE. Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Ref. References PP « A favor » "In favour" Ruiz Marull David 11 June 2016 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/elecciones/20160610/402415441183/campana-electoral-26j-lemas.html Lemas sin alma para el 26J es La Vanguardia 27 July 2026Hernández Marisol 30 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/30/574be2ed22601d05198b4594.html El PP lanza una campaña para pedir que no se le vuelva a vetar es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 PSOE « Un SÍ por el cambio » "A YES for change" Ruiz Sierra Juan 14 May 2016 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/especial-elecciones/psoe-eslogan-elecciones-generales-26j-5131406 'Un SÍ por el cambio', eslogan del PSOE para el 26-J es El Periódico de Catalunya Madrid 27 July 2026 Unidos Podemos ECP A la valenciana En Marea Main: « La sonrisa de un país »ECP: « Guanyem el canvi »A la valenciana: « La victòria de la gent »En Marea: « O cambio non hai quen o pare » Main: "The smile of a country"ECP: "Let's win the change"A la valenciana: "Victory of the people"En Marea: "The change does not stop" Luna Victoria Calleja Ángel 2 June 2016 Unidos Podemos presenta su campaña: un corazón de colores y el lema "La sonrisa de un país" https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2762240/0/unidos-podemos-logotipo-lema-campana-sonrisa-pais/ es 20 minutos 27 July 20268 June 2016 Unidos Podemos cambia 'país' por 'pueblos' para su mitin con Colau en Barcelona https://hemeroteca.vozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/1230591/unidos-podemos-cambia-pais-por-pueblos-para-su-mitin-con-colau-en-barcelona es Voz Libre Madrid 27 July 2026 21 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190121064657/https://hemeroteca.vozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/1230591/unidos-podemos-cambia-pais-por-pueblos-para-su-mitin-con-colau-en-barcelona dead https://www.congreso.es/backoffice_doc/prensa/notas_prensa/44181_1463231938125.pdf ELECCIONES GENERALES 2016. Coaliciones válidamente constituidas ante la Junta Electoral Central es Congress of Deputies 27 July 2026 C's « Tiempo de acuerdo, tiempo de cambio » "Time of agreement, time of change" Romero Víctor 29 May 2016 https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/comunidad-valenciana/2016-05-29/albert-rivera-valencia-ciudadanos-lema-de-campana_1208185/ Rivera arranca la precampaña con guante blanco con el PSOE y ataques a PP y Podemos es El Confidencial Valencia 27 July 2026 ERC–CatSí « L'únic canvi posible » "The only possible change" 7 June 2016 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/politica/campana-elecciones-generales-rufian-tarda-junqueras-5187227 ERC ve a En Comú Podem como el "adversario electoral" a batir es El Periódico de Catalunya 27 July 2026 CDC « Fets x Catalunya » & « Molt per defensar » "Facts for Catalonia" & "Much to defend" EFE 8 June 2016 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20160608/402365977528/cdc-hara-campana-para-plantar-cara-a-los-extremismos-del-pp-y-de-la-cup.html CDC hará campaña para "plantar cara" a los "extremismos" del PP y de la CUP es La Vanguardia Barcelona 27 July 2026 EAJ/PNV « Lehenik Euskadi. Euskadi es lo que importa » "The Basque Country first. The Basque Country is what matters" EFE 30 May 2016 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20160530/402152823173/el-pnv-pide-a-los-vascos-que-marquen-la-diferencia-votando-en-clave-euskadi.html El PNV pide a los vascos que marquen la diferencia votando 'en clave Euskadi' es La Vanguardia Bilbao 27 July 2026 EH Bildu « Aukerak zabaltzera goaz »« Vamos a crear oportunidades » "Let's create opportunities" https://ehbildu.eus/es/elecciones/congreso-y-senado-2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160531053321/http://ehbildu.eus/es/elecciones/congreso-y-senado-2016 dead 31 May 2016 Vamos a crear oportunidades es EH Bildu 30 May 2016 CCa–PNC « [Ana Oramas] sí nos representa » "[Ana Oramas] represents us" https://ciudadanosencrisis.wordpress.com/2016/06/16/26j-los-partidos-regionales/ 26J: los partidos regionales es ciudadanosencrisis.wordpress 15 June 2016 16 June 2016 Events and issues As parties geared up for the upcoming election campaign, the PP faced the fresh election looking back at the corruption scandals under judicial investigation in which the party was involved. Some of such scandals, involving senior party members such as Rita Barberá, stirred up debate as to whether it was best to maintain these people within party ranks or force their withdrawal.Martín Patricia 30 April 2016 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20160430/rajoy-partido-popular-rita-barbera-campana-elecciones-expediente-militancia-5097746 El 'caso Barberá' puede complicar la campaña de Rajoy es El Periódico de Catalunya Madrid 27 July 2026 C's, on its part, discarded its pact with the PSOE after it was announced that a new election would be held, with party leaders stating that it "won't be in force anymore" once the es Cortes no were dissolved. However, they wanted to use the accord as a showing of the party's "willingness to negotiate" with forces both to the left and right of the spectrum.EFE 14 May 2016 https://www.antena3.com/noticias/espana/elecciones-generales/26-j/rivera-reafirma-que-tendera-mano-izquierda-derecha-decisivo-26j_20160514573712874beb2895a65e4743.html Rivera reafirma que tenderá la mano a "izquierda y derecha" si C's es decisivo tras el 26-J es Antena 3 Madrid 27 July 2026 The party's main aim was to prevent that a possible campaign polarization could cast "fearful" voters away to the PP to prevent Podemos' rise.Ellakuría Iñaki 30 April 2016 https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20160430/401463877182/rivera-da-por-caducado-tanto-su-acuerdo-con-el-psoe-como-a-rajoy.html Rivera da por caducado tanto su acuerdo con el PSOE como a Rajoy es La Vanguardia Barcelona 27 July 2026 Albert Rivera said that the PP was "controlled by its 'old guard'" and that his party would not negotiate with the PP so long as Rajoy remained as leader.Moraga Carmen Sanchis Luz 29 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/rivera-estrategia-pp-hastiado-rajoy_1_4021806.html Rivera alienta la rebelión de los vicesecretarios para suceder a Rajoy es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 The PSOE suffered from the end of the negotiations period. Carme Chacón—former Defence Minister under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero—and Irene Lozano—an independent, formerly aligned to UPyD, personally enlisted into PSOE by Pedro Sánchez for the December election—both announced their withdrawal from PSOE lists ahead of the June election.Mármol Iolanda 28 April 2016 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/politica/carme-chacon-anuncia-renuncia-motivos-politicos-5091936 Carme Chacón: "Me voy por motivos políticos" es El Periódico de Catalunya Madrid 27 July 2026Sanz Luis Ángel 28 April 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/04/28/5721f65a468aeb7b688b4641.html Irene Lozano también renuncia a ir en las listas del PSOE por Madrid es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Concurrently, PSOE leaders had tried to pressure United Left into avoiding an electoral alliance with Podemos out of fear of being pushed into third place nationally,Castro Irene Riveiro Aitor 26 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/psoe-presiona-iu-elecciones-podemos_1_4033866.html El PSOE presiona a IU para que no vaya a las elecciones con Podemos es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 with some commenting that the party's actions had been erratic and confusing throughout negotiations. Coupled with growing pessimism within PSOE ranks, this was said to potentially be able to harm them going into the campaign.Elordi Carlos 29 April 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/opinion/zona-critica/psoe-empieza-mal-campana_129_4021409.html El PSOE empieza mal su campaña es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 On 30 April, Sánchez tried to stir up morale among party members and asked for "unity and trust" around him ahead of the new election.Díez Anabel Marcos José 30 April 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/04/30/actualidad/1462009770_259974.html Susana Díaz marca a Pedro Sánchez el límite electoral para el 26-J: “Ganar” es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 Susana Díaz, Sánchez's rival for the party's leadership, warned him that she would only accept "a PSOE win".EFE 30 April 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/andalucia/2016/04/30/57249cc8468aeba5018b45e7.html Díaz promete ayudar a Sánchez pero avisa: "Sólo contemplo que gane el PSOE" es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Once the hegemonic party of the Spanish left, the PSOE had been pushed out of the left and into the centre, with some fearing it could run down the path of the Greek PASOK.Díez Anabel Manetto Francesco 5 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/04/actualidad/1462386560_303770.html Podemos y PSOE inician la lucha por la hegemonía de la izquierda es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Lavezzolo Sebastián 19 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/piedrasdepapel/psoe-datos_132_3987501.html El PSOE ante el 26J. Algunos datos es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 thumb|left|alt=Puerta del Sol in Madrid during the 2011 Spanish protests|The fifth anniversary of the 15-M Movement coincided with the election's pre-campaign period. As the newly formed Unidos Podemos alliance was announced on early May, the PSOE found itself under threat of being marginalized as both PP and UP sought to polarize the campaign between the two.Díez Anabel Manetto Francesco Casqueiro Javier 10 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/10/actualidad/1462905768_568969.html El duelo de ‘segunda vuelta’ entre Rajoy e Iglesias margina al PSOE es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 Sánchez tried to remain in the spotlight and cast off the phantom of party internal division by releasing a series of key announcements throughout the first weeks of May. Margarita Robles—a judge from the Spanish Supreme Court and former state secretary for Interior under Felipe González—and Josep Borrell—former minister of Public Works—were announced to be signing up for Sánchez's campaign;Sanz Luis Ángel 12 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/12/5733a248268e3e27098b45e3.html Pedro Sánchez recupera a Josep Borrell y a Margarita Robles es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 concurrently, Susana Díaz accepted to officially present Sánchez's proclamation as PSOE candidate, in a move seen as an act of apparent "reconciliation" between the two leaders ahead of the election.Díez Anabel 12 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/12/actualidad/1463080064_463757.html Susana Díaz acepta la petición de Sánchez de que le presente en su proclamación es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 Sánchez was also expected to announce his "shadow cabinet" on 15 May,Europa Press 15 May 2016 http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/elecciones-2016-26J/noticias/7565603/05/16/Pedro-Sanchez-presenta-su-gobierno-del-cambio-este-domingo-en-Barcelona.html Pedro Sánchez presenta su "gobierno del cambio" en Barcelona es El Economista 27 July 2026 16 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160516113243/http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/elecciones-2016-26J/noticias/7565603/05/16/Pedro-Sanchez-presenta-su-gobierno-del-cambio-este-domingo-en-Barcelona.html bot: unknown and tried to appeal to centrist voters that a vote for him would be a "vote for change".Díez Anabel Marcos José 14 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/14/actualidad/1463216530_923439.html Sánchez reivindica a Suárez para ampliar su oferta política al centro es El País Móstoles 27 July 2026 Pablo Iglesias blamed the PSOE for the failure in negotiations and commented that Podemos' aim in the June election would be to directly face the PP as equals, in what he referred to as a "second round" of the December run.26 April 2016 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-iglesias-pide-seguidores-dar-sorpasso-pp-ganar-elecciones-20160426220640.html Iglesias pide a sus seguidores dar el "sorpasso al PP" y "ganar las elecciones" es Europa Press Madrid 27 July 2026 Iglesias offered to explore the possibility of an accord with PSOE after the election, expressing his will to form a "progressive" government, but condemned the way the PSOE had—in his view—treated his party up until that point.27 April 2016 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2733276/0/pablo-iglesias-precampana-elecciones-junio/ganar-elecciones-pp/ Pablo Iglesias: "Nuestro enemigo no es el PSOE, a quien queremos ganar las elecciones es al PP" es 20 minutos 27 July 2026 During an interview held a few days later, Iglesias took for granted that his party had already surpassed the PSOE nationally and stated he would offer Sánchez be his deputy in a Podemos-led cabinet.Carvajal Álvaro 4 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/04/5729a4a7468aeb995f8b4612.html Pablo Iglesias da por hecho el 'sorpasso' y ofrece a Pedro Sánchez ser su vicepresidente es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Once his electoral coalition with IU had been formalized, Iglesias again reiterated his wish to see the PSOE "as an ally"—despite the Socialists having rejected Podemos' offer for an alliance to the Senate—and put overtaking the PP as his target.Rojo Andrés 15 May 2016 https://www.larazon.es/espana/pablo-igesias-para-ser-presidente-en-un-pacto-con-el-psoe-contaran-los-votos-no-los-escanos-FB12640566/ Pablo Iglesias: "Si Podemos gobierna en España, será gracias al PSOE" es La Razón 27 July 2026 For the first time since 2011, the anniversary of the 15-M Movement came marked by the pre-electoral campaign of a general election. UP, self-declared as the Movement's political heir, intended to use the event as a launching point for its campaign. Various nods to 15-M were made: the announcement of the Podemos–IU alliance was staged on 9 May at Puerta del Sol, long-regarded as a symbol and focal point for 15-M. Concurrently, Podemos launched an "accountability" campaign under the 'Congress in your square' label "to regain the connection with the streets".Carvajal Álvaro 15 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/15/573784d346163f583d8b458b.html Unidos Podemos usa el 15-M para coger impulso es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026García de Blas Elsa Manetto Francesco 15 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/14/actualidad/1463252131_317129.html Cinco años después, el 15-M quiere gobernar es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Gil Iván 13 May 2016 https://www.elconfidencial.com/elecciones-generales/2016-05-13/quinto-aniversario-del-15-m-cambios-politicos-nueva-izquierda_1199315/ De Sol al 'sorpasso': así ha cambiado a la izquierda española el terremoto del 15-M es El Confidencial 27 July 2026 On 15 May, thousands gathered at Puerta del Sol to commemorate the 15-M anniversary; the crowd shouting some of the Movement's most featured slogans, such as the "Yes we can!" warcry—which had also served as Podemos' party slogan ever since its inception.Agencias Díaz Valderrama María 15 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/15/57387ee0ca474189578b4570.html Miles de personas celebran en la Puerta del Sol el quinto aniversario del 15-M es El Mundo Paris / Madrid 27 July 2026Oliden Ander Iñaki Olías Laura 15 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/sociedad/vuelve-calles-madrid-anos-despues_1_3994806.html El 15M se reencuentra en las plazas cinco años después es eldiario.es Madrid 27 July 2026 As UP struggled to gain momentum, PP, PSOE and C's turned their attacks on the newborn alliance, trying to corner it to the far-left side of the spectrum. Andalusian president Susana Díaz said of it that it was "the reunion of the Communist Youth";13 May 2016 Susana Díaz sobre Unidos Podemos: “Es el reencuentro de las juventudes comunistas” es https://www.infolibre.es/politica/susana-diaz-unidos-reencuentro-juventudes-comunistas_1_1126282.html infoLibre 27 July 2026 the PP described it as "the old-fashioned communists but with another name".14 May 2016 https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20160514/401790069405/gonzalez-pons-unidos-podemos-son-los-comunistas-de-toda-la-vida-pero-con-otro-nombre.html González Pons: "Unidos Podemos are the old-fashioned communists but with another name" es La Vanguardia 27 July 2026 C's leader Albert Rivera commented that his party offered itself "without sickles, hammers nor corruption", in reference both to UP and the PP.González Germán 14 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/14/57370d75e2704ebd308b461c.html Albert Rivera: "C's se presenta sin hoces, ni martillos ni corrupción" es El Mundo Barcelona 27 July 2026 Following the result of the Brexit vote three days before the election in Spain, the PP issued a statement saying the country needed "stability" in the face of "radicalism" and "populism." It was also read as an attack on the Unidos Podemos coalition that vowed to fight for the least well-off. Iglesias said that Europe had to "change course. No-one would want to leave Europe if it were fair and united."26 June 2016 http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/245302151/spain-election-day-parties-look-to-break-the-stalemate Spain Election Day: Parties look to break the stalemate Big News Network.com Barcelona 27 July 2026 Debates After the success of election debates in the 2015 election, the organizing of new debates for the incoming campaign started after the es Cortes no's dissolution. As in the previous election, the first debate was organized by the Demos Association, to be held in the Charles III University of Madrid on 6 June. The leaders of the four main parties were invited, with Pablo Iglesias and Albert Rivera confirming their presence but making it conditional on Rajoy and Sánchez attending as well.4 May 2016 https://www.europapress.es/nacional/noticia-iglesias-rivera-aceptan-nuevo-debate-carlos-iii-solo-si-tambien-acuden-rajoy-sanchez-20160504144918.html Iglesias y Rivera aceptan un nuevo debate en la Carlos III, pero sólo si también acuden Rajoy y Sánchez es Europa Press Madrid 27 July 2026 Atresmedia also announced the group's intention to have a four-way debate, scheduled for 16 June, similar to the one held on 7 December.4 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/atresmedia-propone-junio-debate_1_4017477.html Atresmedia propone el 16 de junio para un nuevo debate a cuatro es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 This time, Mariano Rajoy was willing to attend a four-way leaders' debate—unlike the previous election campaign, in which his party sent Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría instead. The PP was, however, unconvinced of holding another two-way debate with Pedro Sánchez, with Rajoy displeased with the format of 14 December debate—allegedly after a harsh confrontation with Sánchez following the latter referring to Rajoy as "indecent".5 May 2016 Casqueiro Javier Díez Anabel https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/05/actualidad/1462432905_347748.html Rajoy solo quiere un debate a cuatro en terreno neutral es El País Madrid 27 July 20266 May 2016 http://ecodiario.eleconomista.es/elecciones-2016-26J/noticias/7545550/05/16/El-PP-traslada-al-PSOE-las-condiciones-de-Rajoy-solo-un-debate-a-cuatro-y-en-terreno-neutral.html El PP traslada al PSOE las exigencias de Rajoy: sólo un debate 'a cuatro' y en terreno neutral es El Economista 27 July 2026 The PSOE announced that Sánchez would not attend a debate with Iglesias and Rivera if Rajoy was not present as well. C's made Rivera's presence conditional on either Rajoy attending or having an empty lectern put in his place, but would not accept the PP sending another person instead. Podemos did not take a firm stance on the issue but Íñigo Errejón stated that his party would "go to all debates, always sending spokespeople at the same level as those sent by other political forces", thus opening the door for Iglesias not attending debates if other parties did not send their prime ministerial candidates.B. G. 5 May 2016 https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/espana/2016/05/05/pedro-sanchez-ira-debates-cuatro-va-rajoy/00031462451771819881863.htm Sánchez, Iglesias y Rivera solo irán a debates si está Rajoy es La Voz de Galicia Madrid 27 July 2026Castro Irene Riveiro Aitor 6 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/pedro-sanchez-iglesias-rivera-rajoy_1_4010422.html Pedro Sánchez cierra la puerta a debatir con Iglesias y Rivera si no está Rajoy es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 As neither Rajoy nor Sánchez confirmed their presence at the Charles III debate, the Demos Association announced its cancellation on 30 May.30 May 2016 https://www.eldiario.es/politica/asociacion-universitaria-demos-cancela-debate_1_3976787.html Las exigencias cruzadas de los partidos provocan la cancelación del debate de la asociación universitaria Demos es eldiario.es 27 July 2026 A four-way debate was announced to be held on 13 June to be organized by the TV Academy. All four main parties confirmed their presence, with the novelty that Rajoy accepted an invitation to attend as well.31 May 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/05/31/574dd8b622601d1f258b4600.html El único debate electoral entre Rajoy, Sánchez, Iglesias y Rivera se celebrará el lunes 13 de junio es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Unlike the previous campaign, the PP rejected a two-way debate between Rajoy and Sánchez, on grounds that, according to opinion polls, if a two-way debate was held "it was doubtful which party was to face Rajoy"—in reference to Unidos Podemos having overtaken the PSOE in opinion polling ahead of the election.25 May 2016 https://www.formulatv.com/noticias/56427/rajoy-sanchez-iglesias-rivera-debate-cuatro-cara-/ Rajoy rechaza un "cara a cara" con Pedro Sánchez y prefiere un debate a cuatro con Rivera e Iglesias es FormulaTV 27 July 2026 Pablo Iglesias and Albert Rivera staged a two-on-two debate in the Salvados news show hosted by Jordi Évole. The debate was not broadcast live, but rather recorded on 28 May and intentionally delayed until 5 June.3 June 2016 https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/2763833/0/pablo-iglesias-albert-rivera-salvados-jordi-evole-debate-enganchan-cara/ Se acabó la cordialidad: Rivera e Iglesias chocan con dureza en su segundo cara a cara en 'Salvados' es 20 minutos 27 July 2026 Évole had stated that the debate had been "specially harsh" between both candidates in comparison to previous similar events, and that C's had put a series of conditions in order to accept bringing Rivera to the debate.3 June 2016 http://ecoteuve.eleconomista.es/programas/noticias/7610657/06/16/El-veto-del-cara-a-cara-de-Iglesias-y-Rivera-en-Salvados-Uno-no-quiso-hacerlo-en-un-bar.html El veto del cara a cara de 'Salvados': "Ciudadanos no quiso hacerlo en un bar" es El Economista 27 July 2026 4 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160604104621/http://ecoteuve.eleconomista.es/programas/noticias/7610657/06/16/El-veto-del-cara-a-cara-de-Iglesias-y-Rivera-en-Salvados-Uno-no-quiso-hacerlo-en-un-bar.html bot: unknown + 2016 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  PP PSOE UP C's ERC CDC PNV Audience Ref. References 5 June laSexta(Salvados) Jordi Évole A A PIglesias PRivera NI NI NI 18.2%(3,237,000) EFE 6 June 2016 https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/comunicacion/2016/06/06/segundo-debate-iglesias-rivera-pierde-audiencia-897750-311.html El segundo debate Iglesias-Rivera pierde audiencia es Heraldo de Aragón Madrid 27 July 2026 9 June Atresmedia"Women's debate". Vicente Vallés PLevy PRobles PBescansa PArrimadas NI NI NI 12.7%(2,040,000) 10 June 2016 https://www.elconfidencial.com/television/audiencias/2016-06-10/supervivientes-tumba-al-debate-de-mujeres-de-antena-3_1214878/ 'Supervivientes' tumba al debate electoral de mujeres de Antena 3 es Vanitatis 27 July 2026 12 June laSexta(El Objetivo)Economic debate. Ana Pastor PDe Guindos PSevilla PGarzón PGaricano NI NI NI 11.2%(1,992,000) 13 June 2016 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/tele/20160613/audiencias-objetivo-economia-alemania-ucrania-5200704 'El objetivo' destaca en un domingo de fútbol es El Periódico de Catalunya 27 July 2026 13 June TV Academy Ana BlancoPedro PiquerasVicente Vallés PRajoy PSánchez PIglesias PRivera NI NI NI 57.0%(10,496,000) 14 June 2016 https://www.formulatv.com/noticias/56991/especial-audiencias-debate2016-supera-10-millones-entre-17-cadenas/ El 'Deb4te2016' reúne a 10.496.000 espectadores (57%), entre 17 cadenas es FormulaTV 27 July 2026 20 June La 1(El debate de La 1) Julio Somoano SCasado SRodríguez SErrejón SGirauta PRufián SCampuzano PEsteban 4.8%(845,000) 21 June 2016 http://ecoteuve.eleconomista.es/series/noticias/7651057/06/16/Solo-un-48-845000-sigue-el-debate-a-siete-en-el-prime-time-de-La-1.html El debate a siete solo interesa a un 4,8% y 845.000 espectadores en el prime time de La 1 es El Economista 27 July 2026 22 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160622143132/http://ecoteuve.eleconomista.es/series/noticias/7651057/06/16/Solo-un-48-845000-sigue-el-debate-a-siete-en-el-prime-time-de-La-1.html bot: unknown Opinion polls + Candidate viewed as "performing best" or "most convincing" in each debate Debate Polling firm/Commissioner PP PSOE UP C's Tie None 13 June Invymark/laSexta14 June 2016 Pablo Iglesias, ganador del debate 13J para el 28,9% de los encuestados seguido de Mariano Rajoy https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/nacional/elecciones-generales-2016/pablo-iglesias-ganador-del-debate-13j-seguido-de-mariano-rajoy_20160614575f43f64beb28506829c903.html es laSexta Madrid 27 July 2026 21.8 18.0 28.9 17.7 – – 13.6 Metroscopia/El PaísDe Miguel Rafa 15 June 2016 Iglesias ganó el debate a cuatro aunque Rivera jugó mejor sus bazas https://politica.elpais.com/politica/2016/06/14/actualidad/1465922796_645789.html es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 18.0 6.0 22.0 14.0 – – 40.0 NC Report/La RazónRojo Andrés 15 June 2016 El debate confirmó la polarización https://www.larazon.es/elecciones-generales/el-debate-confirmo-la-polarizacion-DK12907422 es La Razón 27 July 2026 25.5 18.7 21.5 15.0 – – 19.3 DYM/El ConfidencialGil Iván 15 June 2016 Iglesias ganó y Rajoy se benefició, pero el debate solo influye al 6% del electorado https://www.elconfidencial.com/elecciones-generales/2016-06-15/debate-a-cuatro-iglesias-ganador-rajoy-influencia-electorado_1217502/ es El Confidencial 27 July 2026 15.2 9.9 17.6 15.8 – 19.6 21.9 Sigma Dos/El MundoCruz Marisa 19 June 2016 El debate lo ganó el 'Sr. ninguno' https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/06/19/5765a254468aeba66c8b45c1.html es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 23.3 9.5 13.3 16.7 – 30.1 7.1 CISPostelectoral Elecciones Generales 2016 https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es3145marpdf es CIS 27 July 2026 21.1 10.3 14.3 9.9 3.4 32.8 8.1 Cost One of the main themes going into the June election was the economic cost that a new campaign would mean for the budget. During the final round of talks, King Felipe VI—anticipating a fresh election—had asked parties to run austere campaigns.Alberola Miquel 25 April 2016 https://politica.elpais.com/politica/2016/04/25/actualidad/1461568031_657951.html El Rey anticipa la repetición de elecciones y pide una campaña austera es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 The PP proposed that the party avoid large scale rallies, aiming at running a "simpler" campaign—with smaller events in medium-sized cities and towns26 April 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/04/26/571e797e468aebee168b45a3.html Lo que dicen los partidos sobre la campaña electoral es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026—while also suggesting reducing the campaign's length to 10 days and removing external advertising—namely that involving advertising through billboards and flags.Servimedia 30 April 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/04/30/5724dcf7268e3e3f5c8b4572.html El PP propone una campaña electoral de 10 días y sin carteles es El Mundo Madrid / Castellón 27 July 2026 The PSOE suggested reducing campaign spending by 30%, cutting mailing spending and removing external advertising.Europa Press 28 April 2016 https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-elecciones-2016-psoe-propone-reducir-30-por-ciento-presupuesto-campana-y-recortar-gasto-mailing-201604280924_noticia.html El PSOE propone reducir un 30% el presupuesto de campaña y recortar el gasto en «mailing es ABC 27 July 2026 Podemos and C's proposed unifying party mailing, with C's being favourable to cutting party spending by 50%.Esteban Paloma 27 April 2016 https://www.elconfidencial.com/elecciones-generales/2016-04-27/rivera-propone-reducir-el-gasto-electoral-un-50-y-que-haya-un-unico-envio-postal_1190950/ Rivera abre el melón: propone reducir el gasto electoral un 50% y un único 'mailing' es El Confidencial 27 July 2026 Podemos went further and suggested limiting parties' spending to 3 million each. All three PSOE, Podemos and C's were against PP's proposal of making a shorter campaign or for cuts to affect election debates. As some of these proposals required changes in the electoral law—something which could not happen as the es Cortes no would be dissolvedAgencias 27 April 2016 https://www.farodevigo.es/espana/2016/04/27/patxi-lopez-ve-dificil-acortar-16631487.html Patxi López ve difícil acortar la campaña pese a haber "cabreo y frustración" es Faro de Vigo Madrid 27 July 2026—parties called for reaching a gentlemen's agreement; in Albert Rivera's words, "a political pact through which changing the law wouldn't be necessary".Mateo Juan José Manetto Francesco Marcos José 28 April 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/04/20/actualidad/1461154943_145151.html Los partidos inician contactos para pactar una reducción del gasto electoral es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 However, negotiations held to discuss the reduction of electoral spending failed to produce an agreement, with parties expected to cut their spending at will.Mateo Juan José Díez Anabel 5 May 2016 https://elpais.com/politica/2016/05/05/actualidad/1462441156_447277.html Los partidos cierran sin acuerdo la primera reunión para reducir los gastos electorales es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Sánchez Ana I. Medialdea Sara 11 May 2016 Fracasa la negociación de los partidos políticos para reducir sus gastos electorales https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-fracasa-negociacion-partidos-politicos-para-reducir-gastos-electorales-201605111258_noticia.html es ABC 27 July 2026 Opinion polls Opinion polling for the 2016 Spanish general election OpinionPollingSpainGeneralElection2016.svg 750px Local regression trend line of poll results from 20 December 2015 to 26 June 2016, 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 2015 2016 +/– 2015 2016 +/– 2015 2016 +/– 2015 2016 +/– Andalusia 34.98% 37.60% +2.62 55.83% 50.25% −5.58 71.31% 68.16% −3.15 69.08% 66.05% −3.03 Aragon 39.38% 37.88% −1.50 59.53% 50.86% −8.67 74.71% 71.89% −2.82 72.58% 69.92% −2.66 Asturias 35.35% 34.70% −0.65 56.96% 50.84% −6.12 71.22% 68.19% −3.03 63.77% 61.09% −2.68 Balearic Islands 35.02% 34.48% −0.54 52.18% 47.05% −5.13 65.20% 62.58% −2.62 63.35% 60.73% −2.62 Basque Country 39.39% 36.05% −3.34 58.97% 51.36% −7.61 71.44% 67.44% −4.00 69.00% 65.17% −3.83 Canary Islands 27.38% 28.38% +1.00 47.42% 44.86% −2.56 65.65% 64.37% −1.28 60.33% 59.11% −1.22 Cantabria 40.34% 39.22% −1.12 62.31% 56.19% −6.12 76.00% 73.37% −2.63 70.97% 68.52% −2.45 Castile and León 37.18% 37.18% ±0.00 59.48% 53.33% −6.15 75.95% 73.34% −2.61 71.22% 68.79% −2.43 Castilla–La Mancha 37.54% 38.92% +1.38 59.70% 52.44% −7.26 76.49% 72.94% −3.55 75.26% 71.78% −3.48 Catalonia 35.24% 32.31% −2.93 56.62% 46.38% −10.24 70.98% 65.60% −5.38 68.63% 63.42% −5.21 Extremadura 35.91% 39.48% +3.57 56.39% 51.40% −4.99 74.11% 70.45% −3.66 72.17% 68.63% −3.54 Galicia 33.42% 34.07% +0.65 58.51% 51.68% −6.83 73.00% 69.63% −3.37 61.53% 58.76% −2.77 La Rioja 40.70% 40.94% +0.24 60.63% 55.61% −5.02 76.66% 74.71% −1.95 72.43% 70.62% −1.81 Madrid 40.35% 39.01% −1.34 63.37% 54.48% −8.89 77.76% 74.26% −3.50 74.12% 70.81% −3.31 Murcia 38.51% 39.96% +1.45 59.29% 52.89% −6.40 72.96% 71.35% −1.61 71.14% 69.58% −1.56 Navarre 39.53% 38.03% −1.50 59.00% 51.77% −7.23 74.28% 70.58% −3.70 70.93% 67.40% −3.53 Valencian Community 43.25% 43.34% +0.09 63.51% 56.51% −7.00 76.58% 74.09% −2.49 74.79% 72.37% −2.42 Ceuta 25.36% 24.97% −0.39 42.33% 37.51% −4.82 56.44% 52.59% −3.85 54.36% 50.65% −3.19 Melilla 23.04% 21.82% −1.22 38.81% 34.32% −4.49 53.29% 51.35% −1.94 49.35% 47.55% −1.80 Total 37.01% 36.87% −0.14 58.37% 51.21% −7.16 73.20% 69.83% −3.37 69.67% 66.48% −3.19 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 Congress of Deputies results by autonomous community/constituency Results of the 2016 Spanish Congress election elected deputies 12th Congress of Deputies + ← Summary of 26 June 2016 Congress of Deputies election results → center|400px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 7,941,236 33.01 +4.30 137 +14 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 5,443,846 22.63 +0.63 85 −5 United We Can (Unidos Podemos) 5,087,538 21.15 −3.34 71 ±0 United We Can (Podemos–IU–Equo)1 3,227,123 13.42 −2.63 45 +1 In Common We Can–Let's Win the Change (ECP) 853,102 3.55 −0.14 12 ±0 The Valencian Way (Podemos–Compromís–EUPV)2 659,771 2.74 −0.38 9 ±0 In Tide (Podemos–Anova–EU) 347,542 1.44 −0.19 5 −1 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 3,141,570 13.06 −0.88 32 −8 Republican Left–Catalonia Yes (ERC–CatSí) 639,652 2.66 +0.26 9 ±0 Republican Left–Catalonia Yes (ERC–CatSí) 632,234 2.63 +0.24 9 ±0 Sovereignty for the Isles (SI) 7,418 0.03 New 0 ±0 Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC)3 483,488 2.01 −0.24 8 ±0 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 287,014 1.19 −0.01 5 −1 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 286,702 1.19 +0.32 0 ±0 Basque Country Gather (EH Bildu) 184,713 0.77 −0.10 2 ±0 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CCa–PNC) 78,253 0.33 +0.01 1 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 51,907 0.22 +0.03 0 ±0 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 50,247 0.21 −0.41 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 47,182 0.20 −0.03 0 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc–We–Galician Candidacy (BNG–Nós)4 45,252 0.19 −0.09 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 26,627 0.11 −0.01 0 ±0 Yes to the Future (GBai) 14,343 0.06 −0.06 0 ±0 Blank Seats (EB) 11,669 0.05 +0.01 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS) 9,909 0.04 +0.01 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre (CCD) 8,945 0.04 ±0.00 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre (CCD) 6,273 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre–Independent Candidacy (CCD–CI) 2,672 0.01 New 0 ±0 We Are Valencian (SOMVAL) 6,647 0.03 +0.01 0 ±0 Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) 3,110 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 3,012 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 The Eco-pacifist Greens (Centro Moderado) 3,011 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Libertarian Party (P–LIB) 2,996 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 2,295 0.01 New 0 ±0 Spanish Communist Workers' Party (PCOE) 1,822 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 We Are Andalusians Party, For Andalusia and the Peoples (AND) 1,727 0.01 New 0 ±0 Together for Canaries (JxC) 1,190 0.00 New 0 ±0 Family and Life Party (PFyV) 846 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 United Free Citizens (CILUS) 830 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Platform for Catalonia (PxC) 724 0.00 New 0 ±0 Social Aragonese Movement (MAS) 723 0.00 New 0 ±0 Navarrese Freedom (Ln) 702 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Navarrese Freedom (Ln) 622 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Rioja Southern Territory–Navarrese Freedom (HRTS–Ln) 80 0.00 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Anticapitalist Left (IZAR) 687 0.00 New 0 ±0 Unity of the People (UP)5 686 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 668 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Political Renovation (RePo) 570 0.00 New 0 ±0 Independents for Aragon (i) 550 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Forward (Entabán) 377 0.00 New 0 ±0 Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC) 356 0.00 New 0 ±0 State of Spain Unionist Party (PUEDE) 336 0.00 New 0 ±0 The Phalanx (FE) 254 0.00 New 0 ±0 Alliance of the Democratic Centre (ALCD) 214 0.00 New 0 ±0 Spain Elders' Force (FME) 200 0.00 New 0 ±0 Union of Everyone (UdT) 48 0.00 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 179,081 0.74 −0.01 Total 24,053,755 350 ±0 Valid votes 24,053,755 99.07 −0.04 Invalid votes 225,504 0.93 +0.04 Votes cast / turnout 24,279,259 66.48 −3.19 Abstentions 12,241,654 33.52 +3.19 Registered voters 36,520,913 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2016.html Elecciones Generales 26 de junio de 2016 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 202522 July 2016 Acuerdo de 20 de julio de 2016, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se publica el resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 184/2016, de 3 de mayo, y celebradas el 26 de junio de 2016, conforme a las actas de escrutinio general y de proclamación de electos remitidas por las correspondientes Juntas Electorales Provinciales y por las Juntas Electorales de Ceuta y de Melilla https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2016/07/22/pdfs/BOE-A-2016-7133.pdf es Official State Gazette 176 0212-033X 51661–51727 19 October 2025 left Footnotes: 1 United We Can results are compared to the combined totals of We Can, United Left–Popular Unity in Common and More for the Balearic Islands in the 2015 election. It does not include results in Catalonia, Galicia and Valencian Community. 2 The Valencian Way results are compared to the combined totals of It is Time and United Left of the Valencian Country in the 2015 election. 3 Democratic Convergence of Catalonia results are compared to Democracy and Freedom totals in the 2015 election. 4 Galician Nationalist Bloc–We–Galician Candidacy results are compared to We–Galician Candidacy totals in the 2015 election. 5 Unity of the People results are compared to Canaries Decides totals in the 2015 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 33.01 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 22.63 Unidos Podemos Unidos Podemos 21.15 C's Citizens (Spanish political party) 13.06 ERC–CatSí Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes 2.66 CDC Democratic Convergence of Catalonia 2.01 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.19 PACMA Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals 1.19 EH Bildu EH Bildu 0.77 CCa–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.33 Others #777777 1.26 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 0.74 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 39.14 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 24.29 Unidos Podemos Unidos Podemos 20.29 C's Citizens (Spanish political party) 9.14 ERC–CatSí Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes 2.57 CDC Democratic Convergence of Catalonia 2.29 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.43 EH Bildu EH Bildu 0.57 CCa–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.29 Senate + ← Summary of the 26 June 2016 Senate of Spain election results → center|375px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP) 22,285,969 34.22 +3.91 130 +6 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 15,354,929 23.58 +1.14 43 −4 United We Can (Unidos Podemos) 12,786,779 19.63 −2.50 16 ±0 United We Can (Podemos–IU–Equo)1 8,033,194 12.33 −2.24 8 −1 In Common We Can–Let's Win the Change (ECP) 1,983,121 3.05 ±0.00 4 ±0 The Valencian Way (Podemos–Compromís–EUPV)2 1,882,388 2.89 −0.12 3 +2 In Tide (Podemos–Anova–EU) 888,076 1.36 −0.14 1 −1 Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 6,894,853 10.59 −0.59 0 ±0 Republican Left–Catalonia Yes (ERC–CatSí) 1,943,829 2.98 +0.12 10 +4 Republican Left–Catalonia Yes (ERC–CatSí) 1,928,472 2.96 +0.11 10 +4 Sovereignty for the Isles (SI) 15,357 0.02 New 0 ±0 Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC)3 1,421,653 2.18 −0.13 2 −4 Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 1,213,871 1.86 +0.30 0 ±0 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 885,860 1.36 −0.01 5 −1 Basque Country Gather (EH Bildu) 587,650 0.90 +0.05 0 ±0 Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 186,127 0.29 −0.65 0 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc–We–Galician Candidacy (BNG–Nós)4 184,812 0.28 −0.14 0 ±0 Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) 180,500 0.28 +0.02 0 ±0 Vox (Vox) 165,740 0.25 −0.05 0 ±0 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CCa–PNC) 148,970 0.23 −0.01 1 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 71,540 0.11 −0.05 0 ±0 Blank Seats (EB) 66,445 0.10 −0.03 0 ±0 Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS) 35,187 0.05 −0.01 0 ±0 Yes to the Future (GBai)5 32,082 0.05 n/a 0 −1 We Are Valencian (SOMVAL) 23,629 0.04 +0.01 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre (CCD) 15,355 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre (CCD) 11,459 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Citizens of Democratic Centre–Independent Candidacy (CCD–CI) 3,896 0.01 New 0 ±0 Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) 12,670 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 The Eco-pacifist Greens (Centro Moderado) 8,401 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 8,088 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 6,949 0.01 New 0 ±0 Libertarian Party (P–LIB) 6,042 0.01 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 5,668 0.01 New 0 ±0 Gomera Socialist Group (ASG) 4,340 0.01 New 1 ±0 Forward Badajoz (BA) 3,012 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Independents for Aragon (i) 2,506 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Navarrese Freedom (Ln) 2,503 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Navarrese Freedom (Ln) 2,250 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Rioja Southern Territory–Navarrese Freedom (HRTS–Ln) 253 0.00 New 0 ±0 Together for Canaries (JxC) 2,239 0.00 New 0 ±0 Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC) 1,948 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Social Aragonese Movement (MAS) 1,868 0.00 New 0 ±0 United Free Citizens (CILUS) 1,633 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Family and Life Party (PFyV) 1,597 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Platform for Catalonia (PxC) 991 0.00 New 0 ±0 Unity of the People (UP)6 971 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Political Renovation (RePo) 938 0.00 New 0 ±0 Forward (Entabán) 765 0.00 New 0 ±0 The Phalanx (FE) 391 0.00 New 0 ±0 Alliance of the Democratic Centre (ALCD) 300 0.00 New 0 ±0 Union of Everyone (UdT) 73 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. 565,563 2.42 −1.64 Total 65,125,236 208 ±0 Valid votes 23,393,161 97.47 +0.69 Invalid votes 606,435 2.53 −0.69 Votes cast / turnout 23,999,596 65.71 −2.55 Abstentions 12,521,317 34.29 +2.55 Registered voters 36,520,913 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2016comp.html#s Elecciones al Senado 2016 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 left Footnotes: 1 United We Can results are compared to the combined totals of We Can and United Left–Popular Unity in Common and More for Mallorca in the 2015 election. It does not include results in Catalonia, Galicia and Valencian Community. 2 The Valencian Way results are compared to the combined totals of It is Time and United Left of the Valencian Country in the 2015 election. 3 Democratic Convergence of Catalonia results are compared to Democracy and Freedom totals in the 2015 election. 4 Galician Nationalist Bloc–We–Galician Candidacy results are compared to We–Galician Candidacy totals in the 2015 election. 5 Within the Change alliance in the 2015 election. 6 Unity of the People results are compared to Canaries Decides totals in the 2015 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 34.22 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 23.58 Unidos Podemos Unidos Podemos 19.63 C's Citizens (Spanish political party) 10.59 ERC–CatSí Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes 2.98 CDC Democratic Convergence of Catalonia 2.18 PACMA Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals 1.86 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.36 CCa–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.23 ASG Gomera Socialist Group 0.01 Others #777777 2.99 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 2.42 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 62.50 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 20.67 Unidos Podemos Unidos Podemos 7.69 ERC–CatSí Republican Left of Catalonia–Catalonia Yes 4.81 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 2.40 CDC Democratic Convergence of Catalonia 0.96 CCa–PNC Agreement of Nationalist Unity 0.48 ASG Gomera Socialist Group 0.48 Maps Aftermath Outcome The People's Party (PP) emerged as the largest party, securing the most seats—137—but just as in the previous election, failed to obtain an overall majority. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) clung on to second place but fell to a new record low of 85, whereas Unidos Podemos, the alliance between Podemos and United Left (IU) remained at third place with 71 seats. The PP increased its seat count by a surprising 14, capitalising on losses by both PSOE and liberal Citizens (C's). Unidos Podemos' second placed projection failed to materialize at the polls, although they maintained the same number of seats as in the previous election.Jones Sam 27 June 2016 Spanish elections: renewed deadlock beckons as no party wins majority https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/26/spanish-elections-exit-polls-show-deadlock-likely-to-continue The Guardian Madrid 27 July 2026Saez Santiago 27 June 2016 https://www.dw.com/en/spanish-election-cements-deadlock/a-19359134 Spanish election cements deadlock Deutsche Welle Madrid 27 July 2026 Overall, the parliamentary deadlock remained, as neither bloc could gather an absolute majority of seats. However, the PP–C's bloc gained strength, climbing from 163 to 169, whereas the PSOE–Podemos–IU bloc was reduced from 161 to 156. The attempted PSOE–C's pact was reduced to 117 seats, now outnumbered by the PP alone. Regionally, the PP swept all the autonomous communities except for Catalonia and the Basque Country, where Unidos Podemos retained first place. The PSOE, which had narrowly won in its strongholds of Andalusia and Extremadura in the 2015 election, was pushed to second place in both of them, being unable to retain first place in any region only for the second time in democracy (the first being in 2011). Nonetheless, it recovered slightly on some of the regions where it performed the worst in December 2015, with notable advances in Madrid, Valencian Community, Navarre, Asturias, Galicia and the Canary Islands. However, this contrasted with setbacks in the party's own strongholds of Andalusia, Extremadura and Castile-La Mancha. The Unidos Podemos alliance only managed to improve on the 2015 combined results of Podemos and IU in the Basque Country and Navarre, suffering losses everywhere else. In Catalonia, the Republican Left–Catalonia Yes coalition (ERC–CatSí) saw gains at the expense of Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC), which lost both Girona and Lleida which the Democracy and Freedom coalition had won in 2015. This marked the first time in democracy that ERC managed to come out on top in any province in a general election. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) lost in Biscay only for the second time since the return of democracy, which cost them the loss of the province's 3rd seat to Unidos Podemos.27 June 2016 https://www.thespainreport.com/articles/783-160627192009-which-parties-won-and-lost-votes-in-which-spanish-regions-in-the-2016-general-election Which Parties Won And Lost Votes in Which Spanish Regions in the 2016 General Election? The Spain Report 27 July 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20160815085737/https://www.thespainreport.com/articles/783-160627192009-which-parties-won-and-lost-votes-in-which-spanish-regions-in-the-2016-general-election 15 August 2016 dead dmy-all Failure in opinion polling was largely attributed to the sudden abstention of roughly 1 million Podemos' voters from December 2015, unsure of their party's chances of ruling after the election and partially disenchanted with politics at large after the failed negotiations in forming a government throughout the previous six months. At the same time, the PP result was attributed to a last-hour surge motivated by centre-right tactical voting against Pablo Iglesias, influenced by Unidos Podemos' strong showing in opinion polls.Europa Press 27 June 2016 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2016/06/27/5770fe0d268e3e863a8b45e4.html Achacan el "fallo" de las encuestas a la abstención de un millón de votantes de Podemos es El Mundo Madrid 27 July 2026 Voter turnout was a record low 66.5%, exceeding the previous lowest ever recorded turnout of 68.0% at the 1979 election. Of the four main parties, all except for the PP attracted fewer total votes than in 2015. The PSOE lost about 100,000 votes, the Unidos Podemos alliance 1,080,000 and C's 370,000. The PP received about 700,000 more votes. Government formation 2015–2016 Spanish government formation#Second formation round (June–October 2016) 2016 PSOE leadership crisis Second government of Mariano Rajoy On 29 October, Mariano Rajoy succeeded in his investiture attempt with the support of 170 MPs to 111 against and 68 abstentions.Forster Katie 29 October 2016 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spain-government-latest-minority-votes-result-mariano-rajoy-prime-minister-sworn-in-protests-madrid-a7386826.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spain-government-latest-minority-votes-result-mariano-rajoy-prime-minister-sworn-in-protests-madrid-a7386826.html 1 May 2022 subscription live Spanish Parliament votes to reappoint Mariano Rajoy Prime Minister as thousands protest The Independent 27 July 2026 InvestitureCongress of DeputiesNomination of Mariano Rajoy (PP) Ballot → 31 August 2016 2 September 2016 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Simple 15 Yes • PP (134) • C's (32) • UPN (2) • CCa (1) • FAC (1) 170 350 green 125px 170 350 green 125px No • PSOE (84) • UP–ECP–EM (67) • ERC (9) • PDeCAT (8) • PNV (5) • Compromís (4) • EH Bildu (2) • NCa (1) 180 350 red 125px 180 350 red 125px Abstentions 0 350 gray 125px 0 350 gray 125px Absentees 0 350 black 125px 0 350 black 125px SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes es historiaelectoral.com 25 August 2025 InvestitureCongress of DeputiesNomination of Mariano Rajoy (PP) Ballot → 27 October 2016 29 October 2016 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Simple 15 Yes • PP (134) • C's (32) • UPN (2) • CCa (1) • FAC (1) 170 350 green 125px 170 350 green 125px No • PSOE (84) (15 on 29 Oct) • UP–ECP–EM (67) • ERC (9) • PDeCAT (8) • PNV (5) • Compromís (4) • EH Bildu (2) • NCa (1) 180 350 red 125px 111 350 red 125px Abstentions • PSOE (68) (on 29 Oct) 0 350 gray 125px 68 350 gray 125px Absentees • PSOE (1) (on 29 Oct) 0 350 black 125px 1 350 black 125px Sources 2017 motion of no confidence 2017 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy On 14 June 2017, a motion of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy tabled by Unidos Podemos (over a string of corruption scandals involving the ruling PP) was defeated 170 to 82, with the main opposition PSOE abstaining. Motion of no confidenceCongress of DeputiesNomination of Pablo Iglesias (Podemos) Ballot → 14 June 2017 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Yes • UP–ECP–EM (67) • ERC (9) • Compromís (4) • EH Bildu (2) 82 350 green 125px No • PP (134) • Cs (32) • UPN (2) • CCa (1) • FAC (1) 170 350 red 125px Abstentions • PSOE (84) • PDeCAT (7) • PNV (5) • NCa (1) 97 350 gray 125px Absentees • PDeCAT (1) 1 350 black 125px Sources 2018 motion of no confidence 2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy A motion of no confidence in the Spanish government of Mariano Rajoy was held between 31 May and 1 June 2018. The motion was registered by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) on 25 May after the ruling People's Party (PP) was found to have profited from the illegal kickbacks-for-contracts scheme of the Gürtel affair. The motion was successful and resulted in Mariano Rajoy being replaced by PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez as prime minister. Motion of no confidenceCongress of DeputiesNomination of Pedro Sánchez (PSOE) Ballot → 1 June 2018 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Yes • PSOE (84) • UP–ECP–EM (67) • ERC (9) • PDeCAT (8) • PNV (5) • Compromís (4) • EH Bildu (2) • NCa (1) 180 350 green 125px No • PP (134) • Cs (32) • UPN (2) • FAC (1) 169 350 red 125px Abstentions • CCa (1) 1 350 gray 125px Absentees 0 350 black 125px Sources Notes References Bibliography Legislation y Constitución Española Constitution 27 December 1978 version as of 27 September 2011 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1978-31229 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&p=20110927 27 December 2016 Constitution 1978 y Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General Organic Law 5/1985 19 June 1985 version as of 31 March 2015 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-11672 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=20150331 28 December 2016 LOREG 1985 y Real Decreto 184/2016, de 3 de mayo, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones Royal Decree 184/2016 3 May 2016 Official State Gazette BOE-A-2016-4280 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2016-4280 1 April 2026 Royal Decree 184/2016 2016 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:2016 elections in Spain 2016 Category:June 2016 in Spain