Spanish general election, 2008

Electoral system

The Spanish Cortes Generales were envisaged as an imperfect bicameral system. The Congress of Deputies had greater legislative power than the Senate, having the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a Prime Minister and to override Senate vetoes by an absolute majority of votes. Nonetheless, the Senate possessed a few exclusive, yet limited in number functions—such as its role in constitutional amendment—which were not subject to the Congress' override.^[1][2] Voting for the Cortes Generales was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen and in full enjoyment of their political rights.^[3]

For the Congress of Deputies, 348 seats were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 3 percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution. Additionally, the use of the D'Hondt method might result in an effective threshold over three percent, depending on the district magnitude.^[4] Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Spain. Each constituency was entitled to an initial minimum of two seats, with the remaining 248 allocated among the constituencies in proportion to their populations. Ceuta and Melilla were allocated the two remaining seats, which were elected using plurality voting.^[1][5][6][7]

For the Senate, 208 seats were elected using an open list partial block voting, with electors voting for individual candidates instead of parties. In constituencies electing four seats, electors could vote for up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, for up to two candidates; and for one candidate in single-member districts. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces was allocated four seats, whereas for insular provinces, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, districts were the islands themselves, with the larger—Majorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife—being allocated three seats each, and the smaller—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 senator per each million inhabitants.^[1][5][6][7]

The electoral law provided that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors were allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors were required to secure the signature of at least 1 percent of the electors registered in the constituency for which they sought election. Electors were barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called.^[5][7]

Election date

The term of each House of the Cortes Generales—the Congress and the Senate—expired four years from the date of their previous election, unless they were dissolved earlier. The election Decree was required to be issued no later than the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of the Cortes in the event that the Prime Minister did not make use of his prerogative of early dissolution. The Decree was to be published on the following day in the Official State Gazette, with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication. The previous election was held on 14 March 2004, which meant that the legislature's term would expire on 14 March 2008. The election Decree was required to be published no later than 19 February 2008, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Cortes Generales on Sunday, 13 April 2008.^[5][7]

The Prime Minister had the prerogative to dissolve both Houses 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 had elapsed since the previous one. Additionally, both Houses 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.^[1][6] Barred this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections for the Congress and the Senate, there being no precedent of separate elections and with governments having long preferred that elections for the two Houses take place simultaneously.

PSOE

The first phase campaign was done under the slogan "Con Z de Zapatero" (With Z of Zapatero), a joke based on the Prime Minister and socialist candidate's habit of tending to pronounce words ending with D as if they ended with Z. The campaign was linked to terms like equality (Igualdad-Igualdaz) or solidarity (Solidaridad-Solidaridaz), emphasizing the policies carried out by the current government. The second phase was done under the slogan "La Mirada Positiva" (The Positive outlook), emphasising the future government platform, and "Vota con todas tus fuerzas" (Vote with all of your strength), aiming to mobilize the indecisive or potentially abstaining voters. Another common slogan through all the campaign was "Motivos para creer" (Reasons to believe in).

PP

For the pre-campaign the PP used the slogan "Con Rajoy es Posible" (With Rajoy it's Possible). Usually emphasizing PP's campaign proposals, such as "Llegar a fin de mes, Con Rajoy es Posible" (Making ends meet, With Rajoy it's Possible). IU accused PP of copying its slogan from the last municipal elections^[8]

IU

IU chose the pre-campaign slogan "LlamazarES + Más Izquierda" (LlamazarES (is) More Left), calling attention to their position as the third national party.

Campaign issues

Congress of Deputies

← Summary of the 9 March 2008 Congress of Deputies election results →

Parties and coalitions			Popular vote			Seats
			Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)		11,289,335	43.87	+1.28	169	+5
	People's Party (PP)		10,278,010	39.94	+2.23	154	+6
	United Left (IU)		969,946	3.77	–1.19	2	–3
	Convergence and Union (CiU)		779,425	3.03	–0.20	10	±0
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)		306,128	1.19	–0.44	6	–1
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)		306,079	1.19	New	1	+1
	Republican Left of Catalonia (esquerra)		298,139	1.16	–1.36	3	–5
	Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)		212,543	0.83	+0.02	2	±0
	Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)1		174,629	0.68	–0.25	2	–1
	Andalusian Coalition (CA)2		68,679	0.27	–0.52	0	±0
	Navarre Yes (NaBai)3		62,398	0.24	±0.00	1	±0
	Basque Solidarity (EA)		50,371	0.20	–0.11	0	–1
	The Greens (LV)		49,355	0.19	+0.05	0	±0
		The Greens (LV)	41,531	0.16	New	0	±0
		The Greens (EV–LV)4	7,824	0.03	–0.11	0	±0
	Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)		46,313	0.18	New	0	±0
	Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA)		44,795	0.17	New	0	±0
	Aragonese Party (PAR)		40,054	0.16	+0.02	0	±0
	Aragonese Union (CHA)		38,202	0.15	–0.21	0	–1
	New Canaries–Canarian Centre (NC–CCN)		38,024	0.15	New	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV)		30,840	0.12	+0.07	0	±0
	Aralar (Aralar)		29,989	0.12	–0.03	0	±0
	Bloc–Initiative–Greens (Bloc–IdPV–EVEE)		29,760	0.12	–0.04	0	±0
	Unity for the Isles (UIB)5		25,454	0.10	–0.10	0	±0
	For a Fairer World (PUM+J)		23,318	0.09	New	0	±0
	The Greens of Europe (LVdE)6		20,419	0.08	±0.00	0	±0
	Social Democratic Party (PSD)		20,126	0.08	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)		20,030	0.08	+0.03	0	±0
	Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB)		14,193	0.06	–0.10	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS)		14,023	0.05	±0.00	0	±0
	National Democracy (DN)		12,836	0.05	–0.01	0	±0
	The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative (EV–AE)		12,561	0.05	–0.07	0	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFyV)		9,882	0.04	–0.02	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)		9,056	0.04	–0.04	0	±0
	Party of Almería (PdeAL)		8,451	0.03	New	0	±0
	Navarrese Cannabis Representation (RCN/NOK)		7,769	0.03	–0.04	0	±0
	Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)		7,386	0.03	±0.00	0	±0
	Spanish Alternative (AES)		7,300	0.03	New	0	±0
	Spain 2000 (E–2000)		6,906	0.03	+0.01	0	±0
	Catalan Republican Party (RC)		6,746	0.03	New	0	±0
	Valencian Coalition (CVa)		5,424	0.02	New	0	±0
	Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD)		5,035	0.02	+0.01	0	±0
	Commoners' Land (TC)		4,796	0.02	–0.01	0	±0
	Authentic Phalanx (FA)		4,607	0.02	±0.00	0	±0
	Leonese People's Union (UPL)		4,509	0.02	–0.03	0	±0
	Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn)		3,885	0.02	New	0	±0
	Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD)		3,829	0.01	New	0	±0
	Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA)		3,050	0.01	New	0	±0
	Riojan Party (PR)		2,837	0.01	New	0	±0
	National Alliance (AN)		2,737	0.01	+0.01	0	±0
	Alternative in Blank (ABLA)		2,460	0.01	New	0	±0
	United Extremadura (EU)		2,346	0.01	–0.01	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV)		2,028	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Carlist Party (PC)		1,956	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Party for Catalonia (PxCat)		1,919	0.01	New	0	±0
	Non-Smokers' Party (PNF)		1,616	0.01	New	0	±0
	Union for Leganés (ULEG)		1,566	0.01	New	0	±0
	Spanish Front (Frente)		1,539	0.01	+0.01	0	±0
	Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL)		1,503	0.01	New	0	±0
	Valencian Nationalist Option (ONV)		1,490	0.01	New	0	±0
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)		1,362	0.01	–0.12	0	±0
	Andecha Astur (AA)		1,299	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL)		1,278	0.00	–0.01	0	±0
	Spanish Democratic Centre (CDEs)		1,047	0.00	New	0	±0
	Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC)		1,017	0.00	New	0	±0
	Civil Liberties Party (PLCI)		888	0.00	New	0	±0
	Unity (Unidá)		848	0.00	New	0	±0
	Liberal Party of State Employment and Housing (PLEVE)		786	0.00	New	0	±0
	Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI))		722	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Unity of the People (UP)		699	0.00	New	0	±0
	For the Valencian Republic (plRV)		645	0.00	New	0	±0
	Centrist Party (PCTR)		509	0.00	New	0	±0
	Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC)		497	0.00	New	0	±0
	Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA)		475	0.00	New	0	±0
	Citizen Union–Independent Progressives of Canaries (UC–PIC)		464	0.00	New	0	±0
	Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV)		449	0.00	–0.01	0	±0
	Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL)		423	0.00	New	0	±0
	State of Spain Unionist Party (PUEDE)		414	0.00	New	0	±0
	People of El Bierzo (PB–UB)		385	0.00	New	0	±0
	Islander Party of the Balearic Islands (PIIB)		360	0.00	New	0	±0
	Christian Positivist Party (PPCr)		300	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC)		218	0.00	New	0	±0
	Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS)		216	0.00	New	0	±0
	Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC)		202	0.00	New	0	±0
	Castilian Unity (UdCa)		198	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	European Ibero-American Alliance Party (PAIE)		174	0.00	New	0	±0
	Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD)		159	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU)		152	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Balearic Alliance (ABA)		145	0.00	New	0	±0
	Electronic Voting Assembly (AVE)		144	0.00	New	0	±0
	Liberal Centrist Union (UCL)		124	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Alliance for Burgos (AxB)		123	0.00	New	0	±0
	Burgalese Citizen Initiative (ICBur)		109	0.00	New	0	±0
	We Are (N Som)		105	0.00	New	0	±0
	Independents for Cuenca (ixC)		100	0.00	New	0	±0
	Citizen Group (AGRUCI)		79	0.00	New	0	±0
	Falangist Movement of Spain (MFE)		68	0.00	New	0	±0
	Aitch Party (PHache)		0	0.00	New	0	±0
Blank ballots			286,182	1.11	–0.47
Total			25,734,863			350	±0
Valid votes			25,734,863	99.36	+0.37
Invalid votes			165,576	0.64	–0.37
Votes cast / turnout			25,900,439	73.85	–1.81
Abstentions			9,172,740	26.15	+1.81
Registered voters			35,073,179
Sources[10][11]
Footnotes: 1 Canarian Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition and the Canarian Nationalist Party in the 2004 election. 2 Andalusian Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Socialist Party of Andalusia in the 2004 election. 3 Navarre Yes was supported by the Basque Nationalist Party, Basque Solidarity and Aralar in Navarre, but it acted on its own and was an independent alliance. 4 The Greens results are compared to The Eco-pacifist Greens totals in the 2004 election. 5 Unity for the Isles results are compared to the combined totals of Progressives for the Balearic Islands and Majorcan Union in the 2004 election. 6 The Greens of Europe results are compared to The Greens of the Community of Madrid totals in the 2004 election.

Senate

← Summary of the 9 March 2008 Senate of Spain election results →

Parties and coalitions				Directly elected			Regional appointees		Total seats
				Total	Seats	+/−	Total	Seats	Total	Seats
	People's Party		People's Party (PP)1	101	98	±0	23	23	124	121
			Navarrese People's Union (UPN)		3	±0		0		3
			Valencian Union (UV)		0	–1		0		0
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)			88	88	+7	19	19	107	107
	Catalan Agreement of Progress		Socialists' Party of Catalonia–CpC (PSC–CpC)	12	8	±0	4	2	16	10
			Republican Left of Catalonia (esquerra)		3	±0		1		4
			Initiative for Catalonia Greens–EUiA (ICV–EUiA)		1	±0		1		2
	Convergence and Union		Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC)	4	4	±0	3	2	7	6
			Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC)		0	±0		1		1
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)			2	2	–4	2	2	4	4
	Canarian Coalition– Canarian Nationalist Party		Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)2	1	0	–2	1	1	2	1
			Independent Herrenian Group (AHI)		1	±0		0		1
	Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)			0	0	±0	1	1	1	1
	Aragonese Party (PAR)			0	0	±0	1	1	1	1
	Socialist Party of Majorca (PSM)			0	0	±0	1	1	1	1
	Independents			0	0	±0	1	1	1	1
Total				208	208	±0	56	56	264	264
Sources[12][13][14][11]
Footnotes: 1 People's Party results are compared to the combined totals of the People's Party and Melillan People's Union in the 2004 election. 2 Canarian Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Independent Groups, Nationalist Canarian Initiative and Majorera Assembly in the 2004 election.