1996 Spanish general election

none November 2023 1996 Spanish general election Spain parliamentary no 1993 Spanish general election 1993 2000 Spanish general election 2000 All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 257) seats in the Senate176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies Opinion polling for the 1996 Spanish general election 32,531,833 10px 4.8% 25,172,058 (77.4%)10px 1.0 pp 3 March 1996 170x170px José María Aznar People's Party (Spain) 2 September 1989 Madrid 142 seats, 35.4%"PP+PAR" Results for PP (34.8%, 141 deputies) and PAR (0.6%, 1 deputy) in the 1993 Congress election. 156 10px 14 9,716,006 38.8% 10px 3.4 pp 170x170px Felipe González Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 28 September 1979 Madrid 159 seats, 38.8% 141 10px 18 9,425,678 37.6% 10px 1.2 pp 170x170px Julio Anguita United Left (Spain) 12 February 1989 Madrid 18 seats, 9.6% 21 10px 3 2,639,774 10.5% 10px 0.9 pp 170x170px Joaquim Molins Convergence and Union 31 January 1995 Barcelona 17 seats, 4.9% 16 10px 1 1,151,633 4.6% 10px 0.3 pp 170x170px Iñaki Anasagasti Basque Nationalist Party 1986 Biscay 5 seats, 1.2% 5 10px 0 318,951 1.3% 10px 0.1 pp 170x170px José Carlos Mauricio Canarian Coalition 1996 Las Palmas 4 seats, 0.9% 4 10px 0 220,418 0.9% 10px 0.0 pp x315px|Map of Spain showcasing winning party's strength by constituency Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress) x315px|Map of Spain showcasing winning party's strength by autonomous community Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress) x315px|Map of Spain showcasing seat distribution by Congress of Deputies constituency Election results by constituency (Congress) Prime Minister Prime Minister after election Felipe González Spanish Socialist Workers' Party José María Aznar People's Party (Spain) A general election was held in Spain on 3 March 1996 to elect the members of the 6th 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 257 seats in the Senate. It was held concurrently with a regional election in Andalusia and fifteen months ahead of schedule, after a legislative term of just two-and-a-half years.Valdecantos Camilo 9 January 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/01/09/espana/821142002_850215.html Punto final a dos años y medio de legislatura es El País Madrid 5 August 2026EFE 15 February 2019 https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2019/02/15/ocho-adelantos-electorales-una-repeticion-anos-1292680-305.html Ocho adelantos electorales y una repetición en 40 años es Heraldo de Aragón 5 August 2026 Ever since forming a minority government after its victory in the 1993 election, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) had to deal with the impact of the early 1990s recession in the Spanish economy, amid soaring unemployment, an increase in public deficit and GDP contraction. Internal divisions flourished at the 1994 PSOE congress between supporters of Prime Minister Felipe González and those of deputy leader Alfonso Guerra. González's cabinet was also rocked by the unveiling of a string of scandals, including accusations of misusing the "reserved funds" (the government's black budget for special operations) to pay for undeclared bonuses to high-ranking officials (the Roldán affair) and fund a "dirty war" against the ETA group through the GAL death squads; ongoing investigations into the Filesa and Ibercorp affairs; alleged tax evasion by former and current cabinet members; and illegal espionage by the CESID, the Spanish intelligence agency. Amid mounting political pressure, a snap election was triggered after Convergence and Union (CiU) withdrew its confidence and supply support from the government in mid 1995 and helped vote down the 1996 General State Budget in October that year. The election resulted in the first PSOE defeat in a general election since 1979, but opinion poll predictions of a landslide victory by the opposition José María Aznar's People's Party (PP)—which had achieved resounding wins in the 1994 European Parliament election and the 1995 local and regional elections—failed to materialize. The PP, which aimed to secure enough support to govern alone (Aznar's coined "sufficient majority"),Díez Anabel 13 October 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/13/espana/813538830_850215.html Aznar persigue una mayoría suficiente para formar un Gobierno con "manos libres" es El País Madrid 5 August 2026 saw the election turn into the closest result between the two major parties in the Spanish democratic period to date; a PSOE comeback, fueled by a strong 77.4% voter turnout (the highest scored ever since) left the PP leading by just 1.2 percentage points and 290,000 votes, falling 20 seats short of an outright overall majority. Julio Anguita's United Left—which had hoped to come close or even surpass the PSOE, in the so-called sorpassoSerrano Rodolfo 16 June 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/16/espana/803253614_850215.html Anguita afirma que hay que combatir "directamente y desde ya" al PP es El País Madrid 5 August 2026—also failed to meet expectations, despite scoring over 10% in their best overall result in a general election since the Communist Party of Spain's one in 1979. At 156 seats, this would be the worst performance for a winning party in the democratic period until the 2015 election. The results forced Aznar to seek support for his investiture from peripheral nationalists, which he had ferociously attacked in the previous years over their alliance with González's government. After two months of negotiations, agreements were reached with CiU, the Basque Nationalist Party and Canarian Coalition (in what would become known as the Majestic Pacts), enabling Aznar to become prime minister at the helm of a centre-right minority cabinet, and signalling the end of over 13 years of Socialist government in Spain. Background Premiership of Felipe González Following the victory of the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) at the 1993 general election, Felipe González was able to be re-elected as prime minister of Spain for a fourth term in office through a confidence and supply alliance with the Catalan nationalist Convergence and Union (CiU) and the support of the Basque Nationalist Party,3 July 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/07/03/portada/741650401_850215.html CiU garantizará la investidura de González sin contrapartidas es El País 16 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 5 July 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/07/05/espana/741823214_850215.html El PNV decide apoyar la investidura de González y continúa negociando su entrada en el Gobierno es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 both of which rejected the possibility of joining a coalition cabinet despite earlier speculation.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Díez Anabel 25 June 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/06/25/espana/740959223_850215.html Pujol rechaza formar Gobierno con González es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Gorospe Pedro 25 November 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/07/11/espana/742341610_850215.html El PNV rechaza entrar en el Gobierno es El País Vitoria 2 August 2026 The animosity between González's PSOE and Julio Anguita's United Left (IU) made any agreement between the two parties unfeasible, despite their combined parliamentary majority.Pastor Carles 9 June 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/06/09/espana/739576805_850215.html IU emplaza a González a dar el primer paso para un pacto parlamentario es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Rivas Javier 19 June 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/06/19/espana/740440803_850215.html Julio Anguita pide al PSOE un programa común de izquierdas es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Rivas Javier Valdecantos Camilo 30 June 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/06/30/espana/741391215_850215.html González impuso la ruptura del acuerdo con IU es El País Madrid 2 August 2026 The 1992–1993 economic crisis continued, with González's fourth government having to face the impact of unemployment growth, a large public deficit and recession.Arancibia Salvador 25 November 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/11/25/economia/754182024_850215.html El déficit público hasta octubre, 2,7 billones de pesetas, duplica al del año anterior es El País Madrid 16 March 2025Parra Carmen 19 February 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/02/19/economia/761612428_850215.html 422.450 empleos se destruyeron en el año 1993 es El País Madrid 16 March 20255 July 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/03/04/economia/762735606_850215.html España sufrió en 1993 la peor recesión económica registrada en los últimos 30 años es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 The cabinet enforced a labour reform legalizing temporary work agencies, introducing "junk contracts", easening employers' ability to modify working conditions, reducing overtime and severance pays and making regulations on hiring and collective bargaining more flexible; this was met with a general strike in January 1994.Parra Carmen 28 January 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/01/28/espana/759711618_850215.html Gutiérrez y Redondo esperan que no se ignore la masiva protesta es El País Madrid 17 March 202510 February 2012 https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia/asi-fueron-las-principales-reformas-laborales-acuerdos-sociales-democracia-2088346/ Así fueron las principales reformas laborales y acuerdos sociales de la democracia es 20 minutos 17 March 2025Cañada Manuel 1 May 1994 https://www.elsaltodiario.com/lucha-obrera/olvidos-hablan-huelga-general-del-94-marchas-dignidad Olvidos que hablan: la huelga general del 94 y las Marchas de la Dignidad es El Salto 17 March 2025 Economic recovery started that year with a slow decrease of unemployment rates and a GDP growth of 2%,Arancibia Salvador 4 February 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/04/economia/791852401_850215.html El impulso de la inversión eleva al 2% el crecimiento de la economía española en 1994 es El País Madrid 16 March 2025Parra Carmen 18 February 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/18/economia/793062017_850215.html La creación de 46.570 empleos en 1994 rompe la senda de destrucción iniciada hace tres años es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 but the deficit in the social security system led to the Toledo Pact: a multi-party agreement to transfer all health care system and social assistance benefit financial obligations to the General State Budget (being henceforth funded through general taxes), while social security contributions were maintained to fund pensions.Irazusta María Sierra Antonio 2 June 1996 https://www.elmundo.es/sudinero/noticias/act-33-5.html Las Recetas del Pacto de Toledo es El Mundo 16 March 2025Barea José 14 February 2009 https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2009/02/14/economia/1234727744_850215.html Déficit en las pensiones es Cinco Días 16 March 2025 Another agreement also saw the approval of the first fully-democratic Criminal Code.Belloch Juan Alberto 9 November 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/11/09/espana/815871619_850215.html Código Penal del Parlamento es El País 5 August 2026Tapia Isidoro 3 April 2018 https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/desde-fuera/2018-04-03/legislatura1993-pensiones-felipe-gonzalez-sombra_1543674/ La sombra de la legislatura de 1993-96 es El Confidencial 5 August 2026 The Basque ETA group maintained its activity, which saw the 1993 Madrid bombings,Hart Robert Hayley Julia 21 June 1993 Rush-hour car bombs kill seven in Madrid https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/europe/rushhour-car-bombs-kill-seven-in-madrid-explosions-thought-to-be-eta-s-response-to-the-jailing-of-its-leaders-and-the-failure-of-its-political-wing-at-the-polls-1493097.html The Independent Madrid 16 March 2025 the January 1995 killing of Gregorio Ordóñez (a PP local councillor in San Sebastián),Intxausti Aurora 24 January 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/01/24/espana/790902018_850215.html ETA asesina de un tiro en la nuca a Gregorio Ordóñez es El País San Sebastián 19 March 2025 attempted assassination plots on the opposition leader, José María Aznar (in April 1995),Associated Press 20 April 1995 Spain Opposition Leader Survives Assassination Bid https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-20-mn-56856-story.html Los Angeles Times Madrid 16 March 2025 and on King Juan Carlos I (in the summer of 1995),Manresa Andreu 30 June 1996 La Casa del Rey extrema la seguridad a un año del abortado atentado de ETA https://www1.udel.edu/leipzig/texts/ela30066.html es University of Delaware Palma de Mallorca 16 March 2025 the 1995 Vallecas bombing,Lázaro Fernando 29 May 2006 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/05/29/comunicacion/1148919765.html La matanza de Vallecas: 10 años sin olvido es El Mundo Madrid 16 March 2025 and the kidnapping of prison officer José Antonio Ortega Lara in January 1996.1 July 1997 La Guardia Civil libera a Ortega Lara, el secuestrado que más tiempo retuvo ETA https://www1.udel.edu/leipzig/texts2/ela01077.htm es El País University of Delaware San Sebastián 16 March 2025 The internal conflict within the PSOE between González's "renovators" (es renovadores no) and Alfonso Guerra's supporters (guerristas) led to the former's victory at the 1994 party congress,21 March 1994 González toma el control del partido con ayuda de los renovadores, pero el guerrismo se resiste https://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1994/03/21/pagina-9/34402690/pdf.html es La Vanguardia Madrid 12 April 2025 while disagreements with González led to the resignation from the government of judge Baltasar Garzón, a star candidate in the 1993 election.7 May 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/05/07/portada/768261601_850215.html Garzón dimite al sentirse desoído por Felipe González es El País 2 August 2026Duva Jesús 10 May 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/05/10/espana/768520824_850215.html Garzón: "González me ha utilizado como un muñeco" es El País Madrid 2 August 2026 Internationally, Spain held the presidency of the Council of the European Union in 1995González Juan Carlos 15 March 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/03/15/internacional/795222021_850215.html Solana presenta las bases de la presidencia española de la UE en Estrasburgo es El País Strasbourg 3 August 2026Cembrero Ignacio 2 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/02/espana/817858825_850215.html España cambia su imagen en la UE al lograr estrechar la relación con Estados Unidos es El País Madrid 3 August 2026 and was part of the NATO intervention in the Bosnian War (particularly the May 1995 Pale air strikes),González Miguel 28 May 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/05/28/internacional/801612004_850215.html El Ejército del Aire considerá "un éxito" la intervención de sus F-18 en los ataques es El País Madrid 2 August 2026 which helped the selection of the Spanish foreign minister, Javier Solana, as new NATO secretary general in December 1995.Vidal-Folch Xavier 2 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/02/espana/817858822_850215.html Solana se alza con la secretaría general de la OTAN es El País Brussels 2 August 2026Vidal-Folch Xavier 20 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/20/internacional/819414029_850215.html Javier Solana anuncia al asumir la secretaría de la OTAN que irá pronto a Bosnia es El País Brussels 2 August 2026 165px|thumb|left|alt=Close-up photo of Luis Roldán|Luis Roldán served as director general of the Civil Guard from 1986 to 1993. This period saw the uncovering of numerous corruption scandals affecting the ruling PSOE.James Barry 29 November 1994 https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/29/IHT-in-spain-its-been-an-exceptional-year-of-sorts-for-embezzlers.html In Spain, It's Been an Exceptional Year of Sorts for Embezzlers The New York Times 2 August 2026 The Roldán affair kicked off in November 1993 with reports of a large increase in Luis Roldán's wealth during his time as Civil Guard's director;27 February 1998 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/1998/febrero/27/nacional/cronologia.html Cronología del escándalo más sonado de la democracia es El Mundo 16 March 2025 this was later traced to illicit bonus payments from the Interior ministry's "reserved funds" (the government's black budget intended to finance operations against terrorism and drug trafficking)1 September 2001 https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2001/09/nacional/fondosreservados/fondos.html ¿Qué son los fondos reservados? es El Mundo 16 March 2025 and the collection of kickbacks from the awarding of public contracts by Gabriel Urralburu while serving as Navarrese president.Saiz Rodrigo 7 September 2023 https://www.eldiario.es/navarra/25-anos-condena-socialista-urralburu-primer-presidente-autonomico-encarcelado-cobro-comisiones_1_10494636.html 25 años de la condena al socialista Urralburu, el primer presidente autonómico encarcelado por el cobro de comisiones es elDiario.es 16 March 2025 In April 1994, Roldán fled the country to escape prosecutionDavison Phil 2 May 1994 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spain-in-crisis-after-former-civil-guard-chief-flees-1433161.html Spain in crisis after former Civil Guard chief flees The Independent 2 August 2026—causing the resignation of the interior minister, Antoni AsunciónDuva Jesús Valdecantos Camilo 5 May 1994 Asunción se va sin explicar al Parlamento la fuga de Roldán https://elpais.com/diario/1994/05/05/espana/768088821_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025—and later admitted to the wrongdoing. He was captured on 27 February 1995 in Laos amid unconfirmed claims of a deal with the government.27 February 1998 http://www.elmundo.es/1998/02/27/espana/27N0019.html El escándalo por corrupción más sonado de la democracia es El Mundo 8 July 2020 unfit https://web.archive.org/web/20010621002233/http://www.elmundo.es/1998/02/27/espana/27N0019.html 21 June 2001Irujo José María 13 July 2013 https://elpais.com/politica/2013/07/13/actualidad/1373744179_938788.html Chantajistas, pero condenados es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 Concurrently, Mariano Rubio was revealed to own undeclared bank accounts in the Ibercorp investment bank and to have used insider trading as Bank of Spain governor to amass his wealth;Noceda Miguel Ángel Ayuso Javier 16 February 1992 https://elpais.com/diario/1992/02/16/economia/698194808_850215.html El Banco de España prestó más de 2.000 millones a Ibercorp para mantener su liquidez es El País Madrid 18 March 2025Justicia Francisco 18 October 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2007/10/comunicacion/18elmundo/ibercop.html La corrupción del poder económico y sus amigos es El Mundo 16 March 2025 this prompted the resignations as PSOE's parliamentary spokesperson of Carlos Solchaga (former economy minister and a Rubio supporter in the early stages of the Ibercorp affair)5 May 1994 Solchaga dimite para que el Gobierno tenga un mayor margen de maniobra en la actual situación de crispación política https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/solchaga-dimite-para-gobierno-tenga-mayor-margen-maniobra-actual-situacion-crispacion-politica/1410837461 es Servimedia Madrid 21 March 2025Arancibia Salvador 16 June 1994 Rubio mintió al Parlamento en 1992 y Solchaga fue informado sobre Ibercorp https://elpais.com/diario/1994/06/16/espana/771717629_850215.html es El País Madrid 21 March 2025 and of Vicente Albero as agriculture minister (after it transpired that he owned an undeclared bank account related to the scandal).Rivera Jorge 5 May 1994 Albero se va para "dañar lo menos posible al Gobierno" https://elpais.com/diario/1994/05/05/espana/768088817_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 150px|thumb|alt=Logo of the GAL|Symbol used by the GAL death squads In December 1994, two policemen convicted in 1991 for the Marey affair—the use of death squads, the Liberation Antiterrorist Groups (GAL), in a "dirty war" against ETA—admitted the involvement of a number of former National Police and Interior ministry officers (including former minister José Barrionuevo and security directors Julián Sancristóbal and Rafael Vera) and the financing of the GAL through the reserved funds, leading the Spanish National Court to re-open investigations on the affair in February 1995.1 June 2001 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2001/05/31/espana/991332870.html Cronología del 'caso Marey', la historia de un secuestro es El Mundo 16 March 2025 Some defendants accused Felipe González of "knowing and allowing [the GAL's] activities", even hinting at his responsibility in establishing and financing the squads (the "Mr. X" person attributed leadership over the GAL network).Yoldi José 21 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/21/espana/806277614_850215.html Damborenea acusa a González de autorizar los GAL es El País Madrid 16 March 2025Yoldi José 29 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/29/espana/806968818_850215.html Garzón imputa a González un delito de fundación de la banda armada GAL y otro de malversación es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 The new investigations also involved the GAL in the killing of Lasa and Zabala one decade earlier.2 November 2010 https://elpais.com/elpais/2010/10/30/actualidad/1288426624_850215.html Cronología del caso Lasa-Zabala es El País 2 August 2026 Barrionuevo, Vera and Sancristóbal would be convicted for the scandal,Martínez Lázaro Julio Duva Jesús 30 July 1998 https://elpais.com/diario/1998/07/30/espana/901749601_850215.html El Tribunal Supremo condena a los 12 encausados por el secuestro de Segundo Marey es El País 2 August 2026De la Cuadra Bonifacio Martínez Lázaro Julio 17 March 2001 https://elpais.com/diario/2001/03/17/espana/984783601_850215.html El Constitucional confirma las penas a Barrionuevo y Vera es El País Madrid 2 August 2026 but the Spanish Supreme Court concluded in 1996 that there was no proof of González's involvement.5 November 1996 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/gal-supremo-rechaza-citar-gonzalez-mayoria-seis-diez-miembros-sala-segunda/1410928106 GAL. El Supremo rechaza citar a González por mayoría de seis de los diez miembros de la Sala Segunda es Servimedia Madrid 2 August 2026Martínez Lázaro Julio 16 November 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/11/16/espana/848098811_850215.html El Supremo exculpa a González en el 'caso GAL' porque no encuentra motivos para el suplicatorio es El País Madrid 2 August 2026 Other scandals would see Banesto chairman Mario Conde prosecuted for various crimes: fraud and misappropriation over the Banesto affair in late 1993 (the entity's failure and subsequent intervention by the government)July 2002 https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2002/07/economia/conde/cronologia.html Caso Banesto es El Mundo 2 August 2026Riding Alan 29 December 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/29/business/ambitious-bank-in-spain-stumbles-and-is-taken-over.html Ambitious Bank in Spain Stumbles and Is Taken Over The New York Times 2 August 2026 and forgery over the Argentia Trust affair in 1994;29 July 2002 https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2002/07/29/empresas/1028109548_850215.html CRONOLOGÍA: Los casos ‘Banesto’ y ‘Argentia Trust’ es Cinco Días Madrid 2 August 2026R. L. 1 May 2006 El principio del fin de Mario Conde https://www.expansion.com/especiales/20aniversario/20diasespana/argentia.html es Expansión Madrid 2 August 2026 the BOE affair (alleged embezzlement of public funds through the purchase of overpriced newsprint for the Official State Gazette, BOE);Duva Jesús De la Cuadra Bonifacio 30 November 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/11/30/espana/754614016_850215.html Detenida por orden judicial la ex directora del BOE por delitos vinculados a la compra de papel prensa es El País Madrid 17 March 2025De la Cuadra Bonifacio 5 December 1993 https://elpais.com/diario/1993/12/05/espana/755046003_850215.html La inocencia de comprar dos objetos de plata en Navidad es El País Madrid 17 March 2025De la Cuadra Bonifacio 6 February 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/06/espana/823561205_850215.html Salanueva y otras 9 personas se sentarán en el banquillo por el fraude del BOE es El País Madrid 2 August 2026EFE 21 September 2001 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2001/09/21/espana/1001069365.html La Audiencia Nacional absuelve a los acusados por el 'caso BOE' es El Mundo Madrid 2 August 2026 the Salanueva affair (involving former BOE director Carmen Salanueva fraudulently purchasing paintings at low prices invoking the names of Queen Sofía and González's spouse, Carmen Romero);Hernández José Antonio 16 June 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/06/16/espana/771717610_850215.html La policía investiga a Salanueva por presunta apropiación de cuadros es El País Madrid 17 March 20258 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/08/espana/818377218_850215.html Salanueva, condenada a cuatro años por comprar cuadros a bajo precio en nombre de la Reina es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Europa Press 18 January 2000 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2000/01/18/espana/948199232.html Muere de un cáncer Carmen Salanueva, ex directora general del BOE es El Mundo Madrid 17 March 2025 and the ongoing judicial probe on the Filesa affair (the alleged illegal funding of PSOE campaigns).Martínez Lázaro Julio 23 March 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/03/23/espana/764377227_850215.html El fiscal pide que se desglosen del 'caso Filesa' las investigaciones sobre Siemens y Viajes Ceres es El País Madrid 2 August 202623 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/23/portada/819673201_850215.html El 'caso Filesa' lleva al banquillo a siete de los 39 acusados es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Yanel Agustín 18 October 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2007/10/comunicacion/18elmundo/filesa.html La trama ilegal que usó el PSOE para financiarse es El Mundo 2 August 2026 In June 1995, it was revealed that the Superior Centre of Defense Information (CESID)—the main Spanish intelligence agency at the time—had been recording and keeping the taped telephone conversations of dozens of prominent public figures for years, including politicians, businessmen, journalists and the King himself, apparently without the cabinet's knowledge.Nash Elizabeth 22 June 1995 Bugging scandal threatens Gonzalez https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/bugging-scandal-threatens-gonzalez-1587676.html The Independent Madrid 27 July 2026Galiacho Juan Luis 18 October 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2007/10/comunicacion/18elmundo/cesid.html Los espías del gobierno grababan hasta al rey es El Mundo 16 March 2025Galiacho Juan Luis 10 May 2017 https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2017/05/10/59119d72268e3e85668b459d.html Así reveló EL MUNDO que el Cesid espiaba a políticos, empresarios e incluso al Rey Juan Carlos es El Mundo 16 March 2025 This illegal espionage scandal led to the resignations of the defence minister, Julián García Vargas (under whose authority the CESID was responsible to), and deputy prime minister Narcís Serra (Vargas's predecessor in the office).18 June 1995 Serra presentó su dimisión el martes https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/18/portada/803426402_850215.html es El País 27 July 2026Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Díez Anabel 29 June 1995 Unos relevos de larga digestión https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/29/espana/804376802_850215.html es El País Madrid 27 July 202629 June 1995 16 días en el disparadero https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/29/espana/804376801_850215.html es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 The mounting scandals and the impact of the economic crisis prompted a harsh opposition campaign by the People's Party (PP)—which had its greatest expression in Aznar's coined phrase of "Go away, Mr. González" (es Váyase, señor González no) in every parliamentary interventionRuiz de Azúa Victorino 20 April 1994 Aznar sólo deja una opción a González: "iVáyase!" https://elpais.com/diario/1994/04/20/espana/766792802_850215.html es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Méndez Lucía 18 October 2007 https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2007/10/comunicacion/18elmundo/aznar.html Así se convirtió la oposición en alternativa de Gobierno es El Mundo 2 August 2026—but also by the left-wing IU, which frequently coincided with the PP in opposition to weaken the PSOE government (particularly following the 1994 Andalusian election).Lucio Lourdes 29 June 1994 IU llega a un principio de acuerdo con el PP para presidir el Parlamento andaluz https://elpais.com/diario/1994/06/29/espana/772840808_850215.html es El País Seville 3 August 2026Díez Anabel 10 July 1994 Anguita proclama su disposición a pactar con el Partido Popular tantas veces como sea necesario https://elpais.com/diario/1994/07/10/espana/773791212_850215.html es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Caballero Marisa 18 January 2015 Aznar, a Anguita en 1995: "Nada impide coincidir en lo inviable de la actual situación" https://www.abc.es/espana/20150118/abci-aznar-anguita-1995-nada-201501172056.html es ABC 2 August 2026 Throughout 1995, both parties considered supporting a no-confidence motion on González,Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 13 January 1995 Aznar se ofrece a presentar la moción de censura si el Parlamento le garantiza la investidura https://elpais.com/diario/1995/01/13/espana/789951612_850215.html es El País Madrid 2 August 2026Comas José 19 January 1995 El líder popular invita por carta a Anguita a que respalde una moción de censura https://elpais.com/diario/1995/01/19/espana/790470006_850215.html es El País Madrid 2 August 2026 but talks failed due to it requiring CiU's support to succeed.23 January 1995 Anguita condiciona su apoyo a una moción de censura de Aznar a que este obtenga el respaldo previo de CiU y PNV https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/anguita-condiciona-apoyo-una-mocion-censura-aznar-este-obtenga-respaldo-previo-ciu-pnv/1410873252 es Servimedia Madrid 2 August 202618 September 1995 Aznar ataca a CiU por el apoyo dado al Gobierno y al PNV por identificar al PP con la "derecha agresiva" https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/aznar-ataca-ciu-apoyo-dado-gobierno-pnv-identificar-pp-derecha-agresiva/1410889712 es Servimedia Barcelona 2 August 2026 While González responded by accusing both parties of staging a "pincer movement" on the PSOE,Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 12 July 1994 González acusa a Anguita de incoherencia por recurrir al PP para hacer "una pinza" al PSOE https://elpais.com/diario/1994/07/12/espana/773964019_850215.html es El País Madrid 2 August 2026L. C. L. 24 March 2015 La "pinza" acabó en veinte meses con el único gobierno en minoría de Andalucía https://www.abc.es/espana/20150324/abci-andalucia-gobierno-minoria-201503201725.html es ABC 2 August 2026 his government's accumulated erosion took its toll: González's party suffered its first-ever nationwide defeat to the PP in the 1994 European Parliament election,Yárnoz Carlos 13 June 1994 Aznar gana con claridad a González https://elpais.com/diario/1994/06/13/espana/771458433_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 and the 1995 local and regional elections brought about the loss of many Socialist governments throughout Spain and a decline in Catalonia for PSOE's parliamentary partner, CiU, which withdrew its confidence and supply support.Pastor Carles 18 July 1995 CiU recupera la "libertad de acción" y pide elecciones al acabar la presidencia europea https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/18/espana/806018436_850215.html es El País Barcelona 17 March 202513 February 2019 El Congreso devuelve los presupuestos al Gobierno por segunda vez en la historia https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20190213/congreso-devuelve-presupuestos-gobierno-por-segunda-vez-historia/1883526.shtml es RTVE 16 March 2025Mira Nieves 29 January 2016 https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-cuando-gonzalez-y-aznar-tuvieron-pactar-investiduras-201601290201_noticia.html Cuando González y Aznar tuvieron que pactar sus investiduras es ABC 16 March 2025 This was materialized in the 1996 General State Budget being voted down by the Congress of Deputies on 25 October 1995,Mauri Luis 13 September 1995 CiU rechaza los Presupuestos para forzar elecciones https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/13/espana/810943213_850215.html es El País Barcelona 16 March 2025Díez Anabel 26 October 1995 La oposición devuelve los Presupuestos y exige elecciones https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/26/espana/814662020_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 prompting González to call a snap election for March 1996, fifteen months ahead of schedule.Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 21 September 1995 Las elecciones generales serán en marzo https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/21/espana/811634401_850215.html es El País Madrid 16 March 2025Díez Anabel 29 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/29/espana/820191610_850215.html González confirma las elecciones para el 3 de marzo y se ofrece a gobernar en coalición es El País Madrid 16 March 2025 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 6 June 1993, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 6 June 1997. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 13 May 1997, setting the latest possible date for election day on 6 July 1997. 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. González initially rejected calls from opposition parties for a snap election amid the mounting scandals,González Ibáñez Juan 20 June 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/06/20/espana/772063202_850215.html El PP exigirá el anticipo de las elecciones si el Gobierno le margina es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Casqueiro Javier 9 February 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/09/espana/792284431_850215.html Aznar propone un pacto para celebrar en mayo las elecciones legislativas, autonómicas y municipales es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Pastor Carles 21 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/21/espana/806277618_850215.html Aznar exige elecciones inmediatas para superar una crisis "insostenible" es El País Barcelona 17 March 2025 instead intending to serve out the legislative term until 1997.Moreno Marife 13 November 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/11/13/espana/784681203_850215.html Serra descarta un posible adelanto de elecciones generales es El País León 17 March 20259 February 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/09/espana/792284425_850215.html "Soy partidario de cumplir los mandatos" es El País Madrid 17 March 202525 May 1995 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/gonzalez-anuncia-convocara-elecciones-ano-97-para-volver-ganar/1410876904 González anuncia que convocará elecciones en el año 97 para "volver a ganar" es Servimedia Barcelona 17 March 2025 Catalan president and González's ally, Jordi Pujol, sought to balance CiU's preference for the incoming Catalan election being held separately, and his belief that the government could not survive the political crisis.Pastor Carles 3 February 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/03/espana/791766003_850215.html Pujol admite que prevé un adelanto electoral es El País Barcelona 17 March 202514 March 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/03/14/opinion/795135601_850215.html La fecha electoral es El País 17 March 2025Company, Enric 11 June 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/11/espana/802821601_850215.html La carta del anticipo electoral es El País Barcelona 17 March 2025 Following the PSOE's crash in the May 1995 local and regional elections, Pujol opted to have the Catalan election in the autumn and the general election in early 1996.Parra Carmen 22 June 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/22/espana/803772006_850215.html Pujol y Durán optan por que autonómicas y legislativas se celebren antes de abril es El País Barcelona 17 March 2025Company, Enric Pastor Carles 26 June 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/26/espana/804117603_850215.html Perspectivas de adelanto para las elecciones catalanas es El País Barcelona 17 March 2025Pastor Carles 30 June 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/30/espana/804463223_850215.html Pujol espera que González anuncie el martes en el Congreso que en marzo habrá elecciones anticipadas es El País Barcelona 17 March 2025Badia Enric 9 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/09/espana/805240813_850215.html Pujol exige a González que disuelva las Cortes el 31 de diciembre es El País Sant Feliu Sasserra 17 March 2025 While González resisted,Cembrero Ignacio Díez Anabel 4 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/04/espana/804808823_850215.html González hace oídos sordos a Pujol y se niega a poner fecha a las elecciones generales es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 7 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/07/espana/805068017_850215.html González abre la puerta a unas elecciones en 1996 es El País 17 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 10 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/10/espana/805327214_850215.html Los socialistas califican de "intromisión inaceptable" que Pujol fije las elecciones es El País Madrid 17 March 2025 he ultimately acceded to November and March as the regional and general election dates.Mauri Luis 7 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/07/espana/805068002_850215.html CiU romperá con el PSOE el 17-J y exigirá elecciones a primeros de año es El País Barcelona 30 November 2025Pastor Carles Díez Anabel 14 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/14/espana/805672823_850215.html González y Pujol preparan elecciones para marzo es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Pastor Carles 10 September 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/10/espana/810684011_850215.html Pujol hace firme la ruptura con González, pero se reserva su posición ante los presupuestos es El País Madrid 17 March 2025 Two months later, CiU U-turned and announced that it would seek an earlier general election by rejecting the 1996 General State Budget;Pastor Carles 8 September 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/08/espana/810511206_850215.html Pujol planteará mañana a González un cambio de calendario electoral es El País Barcelona 17 March 2025 González's refusal to alter the agreed timetable forced the Catalan election for November as initially planned.Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 9 September 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/09/espana/810597615_850215.html González rechazará la sugerencia de Pujol de celebrar las elecciones antes de marzo es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Pastor Carles 12 September 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/12/espana/810856802_850215.html Pujol convocará para noviembre si González persiste en sus tesis es El País Barcelona 17 March 202525 September 1995 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/pujol-convoca-elecciones-catalanas-para-19-noviembre-critica-falta-credibilidad-gobierno-gonzalez/1410890442 Pujol convoca elecciones catalanas para el 19 de noviembre y critica la falta de "credibilidad" del Gobierno González es Servimedia Barcelona 17 March 2025 The government's budget was voted down in Congress on 25 October, CiU suffered a setback in the Catalan election,Serrano Sebastián 20 November 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/11/20/espana/816822014_850215.html Pujol tendrá que gobernar con apoyos es El País Barcelona 17 March 2025 and the parliament's dissolution—with the election date for 3 March, concurrently with a snap election in Andalusia—was announced on 28 December,Díez Anabel 27 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/27/espana/820018818_850215.html González comunicará mañana al Consejo de Ministros que las elecciones serán el 3 de marzo es El País Madrid 5 August 2026 ending the legislative term after only two-and-a-half years. The es Cortes Generales no were officially dissolved on 9 January 1996 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 3 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 27 March.Royal Decree 1/1996 1996 arts. 1–2 & 5. Electoral system Voting for each chamber of the es Cortes Generales no was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age with full political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.LOREG 1985 arts. 2–3.Carreras de Odriozola Tafunell Sambola 2005 1077 The Congress of Deputies had a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 400 seats, with electoral provisions fixing its size at 350. Of these, 348 were elected in 50 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the provinces of Spain—each of which was assigned an initial minimum of two seats and the remaining 248 distributed in proportion to population—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a three percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency. The remaining two seats were allocated to Ceuta and Melilla as single-member districts elected by plurality voting.Constitution 1978 art. 68; LOREG 1985 arts. 162–164. The use of this electoral method resulted in a higher effective threshold depending on district magnitude and vote distribution.Gallagher Michael 30 July 2012 http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php Effective threshold in electoral systems Trinity College Dublin Dublin https://web.archive.org/web/20170730092518/http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php 22 July 2017 30 July 2017 As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled the following seats:Royal Decree 1/1996 1996 art. 3. Seats Constituencies 34 Madrid 31 Barcelonared (−1) 16 Valencia 13 Sevillegreen (+1) 11 Alicantegreen (+1) 10 Málaga 9 Asturias, Biscay, Cádiz, La Coruña, Murcia 8 Pontevedra 7 Balearics, Córdoba, Granada, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza 6 Badajoz, Guipúzcoa, Jaén, Tarragona 5 Almería, Cáceres, Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Girona, Huelva, León, Navarre, Toledo, Valladolid 4 Álava, Albacete, Burgos, La Rioja, Lleida, Lugored (−1), Orense, Salamanca 3 Ávila, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Teruel, Zamora 208 Senate seats were elected using open-listParties could group candidates into lists, although each candidate was treated separately for the purpose of the voting procedure. partial block voting: voters in constituencies electing four seats could choose up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, up to two; and in single-member districts, one. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces was allocated four seats, while in insular provinces—such as the Balearic and Canary Islands—the districts were the islands themselves, with the larger ones (Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife) being allocated three seats each, and the smaller ones (Menorca, Ibiza–Formentera, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma) one each. Ceuta and Melilla elected two seats each. Additionally, autonomous communities could appoint at least one senator each and were entitled to one additional seat per million inhabitants.Constitution 1978 art. 69; LOREG 1985 arts. 162 & 165–166.Carreras de Odriozola Tafunell Sambola 2005 1083 The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacant seats; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.LOREG 1985 arts. 46, 48, 164, 166 & 170–171. Outgoing parliament The tables below show the composition of the parliamentary groups in both chambers at the time of dissolution.Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/grups.html Grupos Parlamentarios en el Congreso de los Diputados y el Senado es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025Lozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/senado7.html Composición del Senado 1977- es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 auto + Parliamentary composition in January 1996https://www.congreso.es/web/guest/grupos/composicion-en-la-legislatura Grupos parlamentarios es Congress of Deputies 7 December 2020 Congress of Deputies Groups Parties Deputies Seats Total Socialist Group of the Congress PSOE 141 159 PSC 18 People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress PP 138 141 UPN 3 United Left–Initiative for CataloniaFederal Parliamentary Group IU 15 18 IC 3 Catalan Parliamentary Group(Convergence and Union) CDC 12 17 UDC 5 Basque Group (PNV) EAJ/PNV 5 5 Canarian Coalition's Parliamentary Group AIC 2 4 ICAN 1 CCN 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group HB 2 6 ERC 1 EA 1 UV 1 PAR 1 1em + Parliamentary composition in January 1996https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/gruposparlamentarios/gruposparlamentariosdesde1977/index.html Grupos Parlamentarios desde 1977 es Senate of Spain 8 July 2020 Senate Groups Parties Senators Seats Total People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate PP 111 114 UPN 3 Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 103 111 PSC 8 Convergence and Union'sCatalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate CDC 9 13 UDC 4 Basque Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group EAJ/PNV 5 5 Canarian Coalition'sParliamentary Group in the Senate AIC 2 5 ICAN 1 AM 1 AHI 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group IU 2 8 HB 1 EA 1 ERC 1 UV 1 CDN 1 PIL 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 or terrorism, when involving crimes against life, physical integrity or personal freedom). Additional causes of ineligibility applied to the following officials:Constitution 1978 art. 70; LOREG 1985 arts. 6 & 154. Members of the Spanish royal family and their spouses; Holders of a number of senior public or institutional posts, including the heads and members of higher courts and state institutions;These comprised the Constitutional Court, the General Council of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court, the Council of State, 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 and civil governors; the director-general of RTVE; the director of the Electoral Register Office; the governor and deputy governor of the Bank of Spain; the heads of official credit institutions; and members of electoral commissions and of the Nuclear Safety Council; Heads of diplomatic missions abroad; Judges and public prosecutors in active service; Members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement bodies in active service. Other ineligibility provisions also applied to a number of territorial officials in these categories within their areas of jurisdiction, as well as to employees of foreign states and members of regional governments. Incompatibility rules included those of ineligibility, and also barred running in multiple constituencies or lists, and combining legislative roles (deputy, senator, and regional lawmaker) with each other or with:Constitution 1978 art. 67; LOREG 1985 arts. 46 & 155–159. A number of senior public or institutional posts, including the presidency of the Competition Defence Court; and leadership positions in RTVE, government offices, public authorities (such as port authorities, hydrographic confederations, or highway concessionary companies), public entities and state-owned or publicly funded companies; Any other paid public or private position, except university teaching. Parties and lists List of political parties in Spain The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list.LOREG 1985 arts. 44 & 169. Below is a list of the main parties and alliances which contested the election: Candidacy Parties andalliances Leading candidate Ideology Previous result Gov. Government Ref. References Congress Senate Vote % Seats Vote % Seats PSOE List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) 50px Felipe González Social democracy 38.8% 159 39.0%"Ibiza" Results in the 1993 Senate election, not including Ibiza–Formentera. 96 15 Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 19 December 1995 González será candidato por séptima vez https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/19/espana/819327609_850215.html es El País Madrid 6 April 2025Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 23 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/23/espana/819673206_850215.html El comité federal del PSOE proclama candidato a Felipe González sin ningún voto en contra es El País Madrid 6 April 2025 PP List on People's Party (PP) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Aragonese Party (PAR) 50px José María Aznar ConservatismChristian democracy 35.4%"PP+PAR" 142 35.2%Results for PP (34.5%, 93 senators) and PAR (0.7%, 0 senators) in the 1993 Senate election. 93 15 Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 19 January 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/01/19/espana/822006003_850215.html PP y Par se alían para asegurar la mayoría absoluta en Aragón es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Altable Juan 27 February 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/27/espana/825375614_850215.html Aznar rebaña votos de los regionalistas para rentabilizar el reparto de escaños es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 IU List on United Left (IU)– Communist Party of Spain (PCE)– Socialist Action Party (PASOC)– Republican Left (IR)– Collectives for the Unity of Workers (CUT) Initiative for Catalonia–The Greens (IC–EV)– Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC)– Party of the Communists of Catalonia (PCC)– The Greens–Ecologist Confederation of Catalonia (EV–CEC) The Greens (LV)Only in Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia. 50px Julio Anguita SocialismCommunism 9.6% 18 9.5%"Ibiza" 0 15 Rivas Javier Díez Anabel 12 December 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/12/12/espana/787186814_850215.html Anguita: "Somos la última esperanza que queda" es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 CiU List on Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC) 50px Joaquim Molins Catalan nationalismCentrism 4.9% 17 5.3% 10 15 7 January 1996 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/esteve-elegido-secretario-general-cdc-molins-candidato-ciu-barcelona-generales/1410934293 Esteve, elegido secretario general de CDC y Molins candidato de CiU por Barcelona a las generales es Servimedia Barcelona 30 July 2026EFE 5 April 2013 https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/04/05/espana/1365144237.html De la 'operación Roca' a la 'operación Infanta' es El Mundo Madrid 30 July 2026 EAJ/PNV List on Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 50px Iñaki Anasagasti Basque nationalismChristian democracy 1.2% 5 1.3% 3 15 CC List on Canarian Independent Groups (AIC)– Tenerife Group of Independents (ATI)– La Palma Group of Independents (API)– Gomera Group of Independents (AGI) Nationalist Canarian Initiative (ICAN) Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) Majorera Assembly (AM) 50px José Carlos Mauricio RegionalismCanarian nationalismCentrism 0.9% 4 0.6% 5 15 HB List on Popular Unity (HB)– Basque Nationalist Action (EAE/ANV) 50px — Basque independenceAbertzale leftRevolutionary socialism 0.9% 2 0.9% 1 15 ERC List on Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 50px Pilar Rahola Catalan independenceLeft-wing nationalismSocial democracy 0.8% 1 0.4%"Ibiza" 0 15 EA List on Basque Solidarity (EA) 50px Begoña Lasagabaster Basque nationalismSocial democracy 0.5% 1 0.6% 0 15 UV List on Valencian Union (UV) 50px José María Chiquillo BlaverismConservatism 0.5% 1 0.5% 0 15 BNG List on Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)– Galician People's Union (UPG)– Socialist Collective (CS)– Galician Nationalist Party–Galicianist Party (PNG–PG)– Nationalist Left (EN)– Inzar (Inzar)– Galician Unity (UG) 50px Francisco Rodríguez Galician nationalismLeft-wing nationalism 0.5% 0 0.5% 0 15 EFS List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)"Ib+Form" In Ibiza and Formentera. United Left (EU)"Ib+Form" Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)"Ib+Form" The Greens of Ibiza (EV–Eiv) 50px Pilar Costa Progressivism colspan="2" Did not contest 0.0%Results for PSOE (0.0%, 0 senators), IU (0.0%, 0 senators), EVIB (0.0%, 0 senators), PSM–ENE (0.0%, 0 senators) and ERC (0.0%, 0 senators) in the 1993 Senate election in Ibiza–Formentera. 0 15 https://www.eeif.es/veus/Eivissa-i-Formentera-al-Senat/ Eivissa i Formentera al Senat ca L'Enciclopèdia d'Eivissa i Formentera 27 July 2026 PIL List on Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) 50px Cándido Armas InsularismCanarian nationalism colspan="4" Did not contest 15 There was speculation on whether prime minister Felipe González would run as PSOE's candidate for a fifth term in office, which he initially confirmed "if his party asked him to",25 February 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/02/25/espana/762130820_850215.html González asegura que está dispuesto a luchar por un quinto mandato como presidente del Gobierno es El País Madrid 17 March 202520 October 1994 https://elpais.com/diario/1994/10/20/espana/782607617_850215.html El jefe de Gobierno dice que será candidato en 1997, aunque tiene "dos o tres" sucesores es El País 17 March 2025 being re-elected as PSOE leader in the party's 1994 congress.20 March 1994 https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/psoe-gonzalez-abandono-congreso-saludar-guerra/1410870529 PSOE. González abandonó el congreso sin saludar a Guerra es Servimedia Madrid 17 March 2025 However, the judicial probe into the GAL affair and political weariness made him reconsider,21 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/21/espana/806277612_850215.html Ciscar confirma que el PSOE elegirá al sucesor de González en septiembre es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Díez Anabel 7 August 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/08/07/espana/807746410_850215.html González confirmará en otoño a su partido que no volverá a ser candidato a la presidencia es El País Madrid 17 March 2025 and by the second half of 1995 he was said to have taken the decision not to continue.Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Díez Anabel 8 October 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/08/espana/813106804_850215.html Los íntimos de Felipe González le ven resuelto a no presentarse es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Galán Lola Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 7 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/07/espana/818290814_850215.html González admite en público que ahora puede ser un "problema" y no "la solución" para su partido es El País Madrid 17 March 2025 The election of Foreign Affairs minister Javier Solana—widely seen as González's most likely successor—as NATO secretary-general in December 1995 thwarted González's plans to retire,Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 22 November 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/11/22/espana/816994824_850215.html La candidatura de Solana a la OTAN condiciona los planes de González de renunciar a la reelección es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 2 December 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/02/espana/817858824_850215.html Borrell gana espacio como candidato y arrecian las presiones sobre González es El País Madrid 17 March 2025 with him confirming a new run following overwhelming support from his party.Díez Anabel Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis 31 July 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/31/espana/807141603_850215.html El PSOE se moviliza para que González vuelva a encabezar su candidatura es El País Madrid 17 March 2025Rodríguez Aizpeolea Luis Díez Anabel 1 October 1995 https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/01/espana/812502017_850215.html El PSOE presiona a González para que opte a la reeleccion por temor a un descalabro en las urnas es El País Madrid 17 March 2025 The PSOE, United Left (IU), The Greens (LV), Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE) and Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) formed the Ibiza and Formentera in the Senate alliance for the Senate election. Campaign Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Ref. References PSOE « España en positivo » "Spain in positive" 8 November 2011 https://ciudadanosencrisis.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/los-lemas-que-ganaron-elecciones/ Los lemas que ganaron elecciones es Ciudadanos en crisis 24 January 2019Valenzuela Javier 19 February 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/19/espana/824684424_850215.html El PSOE asegura que su vídeo es legal y responde a tres años de "ataques brutales" del PP es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 PP « Con la nueva mayoría » "With the new majority" Casqueiro Javier 12 February 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/12/espana/824079604_850215.html Aznar "¡Quiero el programa ya! es El País Madrid 27 July 2026Julve Rafa 14 December 2015 https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20151214/carteles-electorales-partido-popular-elecciones-generales-fraga-aznar-rajoy-4740802 Los carteles del PP y AP para las elecciones generales desde 1982 es El Periódico de Catalunya Barcelona 27 July 2026 IU « Decide » "Decide" Serrano Rodolfo 9 February 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/09/espana/823820410_850215.html La campaña metafísica de Anguita es El País Madrid 27 July 2026 CiU « Fem que Catalunya sigui clau » "Let's make Catalonia key" 28 February 2016 https://www.libertaddigital.com/cultura/historia/2016-02-28/carteles-electorales-aznar-1941312/ Carteles electorales de las elecciones de 1996 es Libertad Digital 7 August 2026 EAJ/PNV « LLevamos Euskadi. Euskadirekin » "We carry the Basque Country. With the Basque Country" 22 January 1996 https://elpais.com/diario/1996/01/22/espana/822265217_850215.html 'Llevamos Euskadi', lema del PNV en la campaña electoral es El País Madrid 8 August 2026 Opinion polls Opinion polling for the 1996 Spanish general election OpinionPollingSpainGeneralElection1996.svg 750px Local regression trend line of poll results from 6 June 1993 to 3 March 1996, 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 1993 1996 +/– 1993 1996 +/– 1993 1996 +/– 1993 1996 +/– Andalusia 42.12% 41.48% −0.64 61.65% 65.17% +3.52 76.52% 78.48% +1.96 76.20% 78.00% +1.80 Aragon 44.95% 42.09% −2.86 62.83% 62.80% −0.03 78.48% 77.90% −0.58 78.16% 77.46% −0.70 Asturias 41.68% 38.05% −3.63 62.00% 62.12% +0.12 76.16% 77.06% +0.90 75.43% 75.91% +0.48 Balearic Islands 41.46% 39.45% −2.01 56.61% 59.38% +2.77 72.78% 71.91% −0.87 72.56% 71.63% −0.93 Basque Country 37.92% 37.20% −0.72 54.60% 56.42% +1.82 69.99% 71.91% +1.92 69.73% 71.53% +1.80 Canary Islands 31.24% 29.56% −1.68 51.59% 50.42% −1.17 69.34% 69.79% +0.45 68.92% 69.14% +0.22 Cantabria 38.60% 39.30% +0.70 62.49% 64.88% +2.39 79.61% 80.12% +0.51 78.98% 79.31% +0.33 Castile and León 43.39% 40.91% −2.48 64.42% 65.19% +0.77 78.92% 79.94% +1.02 78.27% 79.01% +0.74 Castilla–La Mancha 45.59% 43.72% −1.87 67.35% 69.54% +2.19 82.37% 83.43% +1.06 82.13% 83.09% +0.96 Catalonia 41.68% 39.93% −1.75 59.16% 61.05% +1.89 75.69% 76.98% +1.29 75.37% 76.52% +1.15 Extremadura 47.49% 46.53% −0.96 66.14% 69.61% +3.47 80.89% 82.96% +2.07 80.46% 82.33% +1.87 Galicia 34.74% 33.09% −1.65 55.62% 60.03% +4.41 71.30% 73.84% +2.54 69.64% 71.40% +1.76 La Rioja 47.45% 44.34% −3.11 65.23% 65.91% +0.68 80.37% 81.53% +1.16 80.00% 80.92% +0.92 Madrid 40.67% 39.12% −1.55 64.20% 65.01% +0.81 78.99% 80.18% +1.19 78.92% 79.59% +0.67 Murcia 47.65% 45.01% −2.64 66.19% 70.04% +3.85 81.96% 82.52% +0.56 81.56% 82.00% +0.44 Navarre 40.00% 35.51% −4.49 57.08% 57.37% +0.29 74.05% 74.07% +0.02 73.58% 73.45% −0.13 Valencian Community 48.43% 45.75% −2.68 68.11% 68.81% +0.70 82.10% 82.13% +0.03 81.71% 81.66% −0.05 Ceuta 35.49% 33.51% −1.98 50.07% 50.74% +0.67 62.55% 64.29% +1.74 62.13% 63.81% +1.68 Melilla 35.06% 32.21% −2.85 51.37% 49.73% −1.64 66.87% 62.84% −4.03 66.14% 61.95% −4.19 Total 41.83% 40.10% −1.73 61.57% 63.45% +1.88 76.94% 78.08% +1.14 76.44% 77.38% +0.94 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 1996 Spanish Congress election + ← Summary of the 3 March 1996 Congress of Deputies election results → center|400px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP)1 9,716,006 38.79 +3.42 156 +14 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 9,425,678 37.63 −1.15 141 −18 United Left (IU) 2,639,774 10.54 +0.99 21 +3 Convergence and Union (CiU) 1,151,633 4.60 −0.34 16 −1 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 318,951 1.27 +0.03 5 ±0 Canarian Coalition (CC) 220,418 0.88 ±0.00 4 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 220,147 0.88 +0.34 2 +2 Popular Unity (HB) 181,304 0.72 −0.16 2 ±0 Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 167,641 0.67 −0.13 1 ±0 Andalusian Party (PA)2 134,800 0.54 −0.05 0 ±0 Basque Solidarity (EA) 115,861 0.46 −0.09 1 ±0 Valencian Union (UV) 91,575 0.37 −0.11 1 ±0 The European Greens (LVE) 61,689 0.25 −0.54 0 ±0 Aragonese Union (CHA) 49,739 0.20 +0.17 0 ±0 Centrist Union (UC) 44,771 0.18 −1.58 0 ±0 Valencian People's Union–Nationalist Bloc (UPV–BN) 26,777 0.11 −0.06 0 ±0 Nationalists of the Balearic Islands (PSM–ENE) 24,644 0.10 +0.01 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 17,177 0.07 New 0 ±0 Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) 17,020 0.07 New 0 ±0 Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRT)3 14,854 0.06 −0.07 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 14,513 0.06 +0.02 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 13,482 0.05 +0.01 0 ±0 Asturianist Party (PAS) 12,213 0.05 ±0.00 0 ±0 Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA) 12,114 0.05 +0.05 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 12,049 0.05 −0.01 0 ±0 Basque Citizen Initiative (ICV–Gorordo) 11,833 0.05 New 0 ±0 The Greens of Madrid (LVM) 8,483 0.03 New 0 ±0 Extremaduran Coalition (CEx)4 7,312 0.03 −0.03 0 ±0 Majorcan Union (UM) 6,943 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) 6,206 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Riojan Party (PR) 6,065 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Ecologist Party of Catalonia (PEC) 4,305 0.02 −0.02 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 4,061 0.02 +0.01 0 ±0 Andalusian Nation (NA) 3,505 0.01 New 0 ±0 Alliance for National Unity (AUN) 3,397 0.01 New 0 ±0 Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL (PREPAL) 2,762 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 SOS Nature (SOS) 2,753 0.01 New 0 ±0 Republican Coalition (CR)5 2,744 0.01 −0.02 0 ±0 Popular Front of the Canary Islands (FREPIC) 2,567 0.01 New 0 ±0 Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) 2,365 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Castilla-La Mancha (PRCM) 2,279 0.01 New 0 ±0 Galician People's Front (FPG) 2,065 0.01 New 0 ±0 Independent Socialists of Extremadura (SIEx) 1,678 0.01 New 0 ±0 Madrilenian Independent Regional Party (PRIM) 1,671 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Red–Green Party (PRV) 1,656 0.01 New 0 ±0 Independent Spanish Phalanx (FEI) 1,550 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 New Region (NR) 1,452 0.01 New 0 ±0 Republican Action (AR) 1,237 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Citizen Independent Platform of Catalonia (PICC) 1,229 0.00 New 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) 1,023 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Party of El Bierzo (PB) 1,000 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Nationalist Canarian Party (PCN) 722 0.00 New 0 ±0 Alicantine Provincial Union (UPRA) 651 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Democratic Andalusian Unity (UAD) 627 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizen Democratic Action (ADEC) 598 0.00 New 0 ±0 Voice of the Andalusian People (VDPA) 529 0.00 New 0 ±0 European Nation State (N) 495 0.00 New 0 ±0 Social and Autonomist Liberal Group (ALAS) 402 0.00 New 0 ±0 Balearic Alliance (ABA) 379 0.00 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) 338 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spanish Autonomous League (LAE) 296 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Social Dynamic (DSA) 265 0.00 New 0 ±0 Party of The People (LG) 243 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Inter-Zamoran Party (PIZ) 215 0.00 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Melilla (PNM) 200 0.00 New 0 ±0 Centrists of the Valencian Community (CCV) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR) 0 0.00 −0.03 0 ±0 Party of Self-employed of Spain (PAE) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Tenerife Independent Familiar Groups (AFIT) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 243,345 0.97 +0.17 Total 25,046,276 350 ±0 Valid votes 25,046,276 99.50 +0.04 Invalid votes 125,782 0.50 −0.04 Votes cast / turnout 25,172,058 77.38 +0.94 Abstentions 7,359,775 22.62 −0.94 Registered voters 32,531,833 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e1996.html Elecciones Generales 3 de marzo de 1996 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 202527 March 1996 Acuerdo de 25 de marzo de 1996, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se ordena la publicación del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones para el Congreso de los Diputados y el Senado, convocadas por Real Decreto 1/1996, de 8 de enero, y celebradas el 3 de marzo de 1996, conforme a las actas de escrutinio general remitidas por las distintas Juntas Electorales Provinciales y las Juntas Electorales de Ceuta y Melilla https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1996/03/27/pdfs/A11749-11774.pdf es Official State Gazette 75 0212-033X 11749–11774 19 October 202511 May 1996 Acuerdo de 30 de abril de 1996, de la Junta Electoral Central, de publicación de corrección de errores del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones para el Congreso de los Diputados convocadas por Real Decreto 1/1996 de 8 de enero, y celebradas el 3 de marzo de 1996, según los datos que figuran en las actas de escrutinio general remitidas por cada una de las Juntas Electorales Provinciales https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1996/05/11/pdfs/A16606-16606.pdf es Official State Gazette 115 0212-033X 16606 19 October 2025 left Footnotes: 1 People's Party results are compared to the combined totals of the People's Party and the Aragonese Party in the 1993 election. 2 Andalusian Party results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Andalusian Progress Party in the 1993 election. 3 Workers' Revolutionary Party results are compared to Workers' Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election. 4 Extremaduran Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of United Extremadura and Extremaduran Regionalist Party in the 1993 election. 5 Republican Coalition results are compared to Coalition for a New Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 38.79 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 37.63 IU United Left (Spain) 10.54 CiU Convergence and Union 4.60 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.27 CC Canarian Coalition 0.88 BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc 0.88 HB Herri Batasuna 0.72 ERC Republican Left of Catalonia 0.67 EA Eusko Alkartasuna 0.46 UV Valencian Union 0.37 Others #777777 2.21 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 0.97 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 44.57 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 40.29 IU United Left (Spain) 6.00 CiU Convergence and Union 4.57 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.43 CC Canarian Coalition 1.14 BNG Galician Nationalist Bloc 0.57 HB Herri Batasuna 0.57 ERC Republican Left of Catalonia 0.29 EA Eusko Alkartasuna 0.29 UV Valencian Union 0.29 Senate + ← Summary of the 3 March 1996 Senate of Spain election results → center|375px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP)1 26,788,282 39.04 +3.87 112 +19 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 25,865,206 37.70 −1.32 81 −15 United Left (IU) 6,851,023 9.99 +0.52 0 ±0 Convergence and Union (CiU) 3,338,737 4.87 −0.43 8 −2 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 918,692 1.34 +0.04 4 +1 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 670,346 0.98 +0.36 0 ±0 Popular Unity (HB) 516,007 0.75 −0.17 0 −1 Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 493,480 0.72 +0.35 0 ±0 Andalusian Party (PA)2 415,676 0.61 −0.07 0 ±0 Canarian Coalition (CC) 388,366 0.57 −0.04 1 −4 Basque Solidarity (EA) 337,911 0.49 −0.09 0 ±0 Valencian Union (UV) 280,383 0.41 −0.12 0 ±0 Aragonese Union (CHA) 136,157 0.20 +0.16 0 ±0 Centrist Union (UC) 129,432 0.19 −1.63 0 ±0 The European Greens (LVE) 127,576 0.19 −0.69 0 ±0 Valencian People's Union–Nationalist Bloc (UPV–BN) 93,337 0.14 −0.07 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 67,439 0.10 New 0 ±0 Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) 54,016 0.08 New 0 ±0 Nationalists of the Balearic Islands (PSM–ENE) 50,928 0.07 +0.01 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 48,214 0.07 −0.02 0 ±0 Asturianist Party (PAS) 41,127 0.06 −0.01 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 34,495 0.05 ±0.00 0 ±0 Alliance for National Unity (AUN) 32,451 0.05 New 0 ±0 Basque Citizen Initiative (ICV–Gorordo) 31,632 0.05 New 0 ±0 Extremaduran Coalition (CEx)3 30,213 0.04 −0.05 0 ±0 Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA) 27,999 0.04 +0.03 0 ±0 Ecologist Party of Catalonia (PEC) 24,662 0.04 −0.04 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 24,149 0.04 +0.02 0 ±0 Ibiza and Formentera in the Senate (PSOE–EU–ENE–ERC–EV–Eiv) 21,365 0.03 New 1 +1 Riojan Party (PR) 20,172 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) 20,119 0.03 ±0.00 0 ±0 Majorcan Union (UM) 18,944 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL (PREPAL) 17,024 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Republican Coalition (CR)4 15,958 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Independent Spanish Phalanx (FEI) 14,963 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRT)5 14,618 0.02 −0.05 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 14,362 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) 13,161 0.02 New 1 +1 The Greens of Madrid (LVM) 13,080 0.02 New 0 ±0 Andalusian Nation (NA) 12,803 0.02 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL) 10,268 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Party of El Bierzo (PB) 8,641 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Independent Socialists of Extremadura (SIEx) 8,018 0.01 New 0 ±0 Madrilenian Independent Regional Party (PRIM) 6,409 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 Republican Action (AR) 6,398 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 Red–Green Party (PRV) 6,232 0.01 New 0 ±0 SOS Nature (SOS) 6,149 0.01 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Castilla-La Mancha (PRCM) 6,106 0.01 New 0 ±0 Democratic Party of the People (PDEP) 6,061 0.01 New 0 ±0 Popular Front of the Canary Islands (FREPIC) 4,764 0.01 New 0 ±0 Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) 4,107 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Natural Culture (CN) 3,986 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Galician People's Front (FPG) 3,727 0.01 New 0 ±0 Citizen Independent Platform of Catalonia (PICC) 3,408 0.00 New 0 ±0 Independent Candidacy of Valladolid (CIV) 3,270 0.00 New 0 ±0 Join Action (AY) 2,573 0.00 New 0 ±0 Alicantine Provincial Union (UPRA) 2,536 0.00 New 0 ±0 Voice of the Andalusian People (VDPA) 2,352 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Unity (UA) 2,305 0.00 New 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) 2,080 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 National Workers' Party (PNT) 1,788 0.00 New 0 ±0 New Region (NR) 1,754 0.00 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR) 1,438 0.00 −0.02 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) 1,305 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Citizen Democratic Action (ADEC) 1,187 0.00 New 0 ±0 Social and Autonomist Liberal Group (ALAS) 1,099 0.00 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Canarian Party (PCN) 934 0.00 New 0 ±0 Inter-Zamoran Party (PIZ) 912 0.00 New 0 ±0 Iberian Unity (UI) 883 0.00 New 0 ±0 European Nation State (N) 816 0.00 New 0 ±0 Democratic Andalusian Unity (UAD) 783 0.00 New 0 ±0 Spanish Autonomous League (LAE) 610 0.00 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Melilla (PNM) 595 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Social Dynamic (DSA) 581 0.00 New 0 ±0 Independents of Menorca (INME) 558 0.00 New 0 ±0 Proverist Party (PPr) 373 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spanish Action (AE) 256 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Clean Hands Project (PML) 231 0.00 New 0 ±0 Party of The People (LG) 125 0.00 New 0 ±0 Tenerife Independent Familiar Groups (AFIT) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Centrists of the Valencian Community (CCV) 0 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. 482,601 1.97 +0.34 Total 68,612,724 208 ±0 Valid votes 24,502,854 97.41 −0.29 Invalid votes 652,656 2.59 +0.29 Votes cast / turnout 25,155,510 77.33 +0.84 Abstentions 7,376,323 22.67 −0.84 Registered voters 32,531,833 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e1996comp.html#s Elecciones al Senado 1996 es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 left Footnotes: 1 People's Party results are compared to the combined totals of the People's Party and the Aragonese Party in the 1993 election. 2 Andalusian Party results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Andalusian Progress Party in the 1993 election. 3 Extremaduran Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of United Extremadura and Extremaduran Regionalist Party in the 1993 election. 4 Republican Coalition results are compared to Coalition for a New Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election. 5 Workers' Revolutionary Party results are compared to Workers' Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election. Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 39.04 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 37.70 IU United Left (Spain) 9.99 CiU Convergence and Union 4.87 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.34 CC Canarian Coalition 0.57 EFS Pacte Progressista 0.03 PIL Lanzarote Independents Party 0.02 Others #777777 5.75 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 1.97 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PP People's Party (Spain) 53.85 PSOE Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 38.94 CiU Convergence and Union 3.85 EAJ/PNV Basque Nationalist Party 1.92 CC Canarian Coalition 0.48 EFS Pacte Progressista 0.48 PIL Lanzarote Independents Party 0.48 Maps Aftermath Government formation 1996 Spanish government formation First government of José María Aznar InvestitureCongress of DeputiesNomination of José María Aznar (PP) Ballot → 4 May 1996 Required majority → 176 out of 350 15 Yes • PP (156) • CiU (16) • PNV (5) • CC (4) 181 350 green 125px No • PSOE (141) • IU–IC (21) • BNG (2) • ERC (1) • EA (1) 166 350 red 125px Abstentions • UV (1) 1 350 gray 125px Absentees • HB (2) 2 350 black 125px SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes es Historia Electoral.com 25 August 2025 Notes References Bibliography Legislation y Constitución Española Constitution 27 December 1978 version as of 28 August 1992 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1978-31229 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19920828 27 December 2016 Constitution 1978 y Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General Organic Law 5/1985 19 June 1985 version as of 24 November 1995 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-11672 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=19951124 28 December 2016 LOREG 1985 y Real Decreto 1/1996, de 8 de enero, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones Royal Decree 1/1996 8 January 1996 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1996-508 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1996-508 1 April 2026 Royal Decree 1/1996 1996 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:1996 elections in Spain 1996 Category:March 1996 in Spain