Spain

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
26.06.2016
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
03.05.2016
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Early election
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
30.11.2023
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
208
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
1,317
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
761
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
556
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
42.22%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
48

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
These snap elections were held just six months after the previous polls. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party (PP) won more seats in both chambers but failed to win an outright majority. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), led by Mr. Pedro Sánchez, remained the second-largest party, but lost seats. Ciudadanos ("Citizens"), led by Mr. Alberto Rivera, also lost seats but remained the third-largest party. Mr. Pablo Iglesias' Podemos ("We Can") had formed an electoral alliance, Unidos Podemos ("United We Can" - see note). It won more seats, but not as many as pre-election polls had predicted.

The snap elections in 2016 were called because it had proved impossible to form a new government after the December 2015 elections in which no party had won a majority. During the election campaigning, the major parties focused on the economy, measures to lower unemployment and the stability of the country.

Note
At the national level, the Unidos Podemos electoral alliance comprised Podemos ("We Can"), IU ("United Left", led by the head of the Communist Party, Mr. Alberto Garzon) and EQUO.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
11
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
22.92%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
62.5%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Note on the alternation of power
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's People's Party governed the country until Dec 2015. No government was formed following the 2015 elections and snap elections were held in June 2016. Mr. Rajoy and his party formed a minority government in October 2016.
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
People's Party (PP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
People's Party (PP) 130
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 43
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) - CATALUNYA SÍERC-CATSI 10
Podemos ("We Can") - IU (United Left) - EQUO 8
Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) 5
En Comú Podem (ECP) 4
Commitment coalition (PODEMOS-ÉS EL MOMENTPODEMOS, COMPROMIS) 3
Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) 2
Canarian Coalition - Canarian Nationalist Party (CCa - PNC) 1
Gomera Socialist Group (ASG) 1
En Marea coalition (Podemos-En Marea-Anova-EU) 1
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
162
Number of women elected
101
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
48.56%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
Eighty-three women were directly elected and 18 others were indirectly elected.
Other notes
Expected date of next elections: July - August 2020. Elections shall take place between thirty and sixty days after the end of the previous term of office.
Sources
IPU Group (21.07.2016)
Dossier de prensa, Elecciones Generales 2016, Ministerio del Interior
BBC
The Guardian
Financial Times
Women Directly Elected
83
Women Indirectly Elected
18

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
162
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
101
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
19.07.2016
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Pío García-Escudero Márquez (Male)
Political party
People's Party (PP)
Date of election
19.07.2016