Spain

Congress of Deputies

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

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)
26 Jun 2016
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
03 May 2016
Timing of election
Early elections
Number of seats at stake
350
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
51
Total number of candidates
3,816
Number of male candidates
1,980
Number of female candidates
1,836
Percentage of women candidates
48.1%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
34,597,038
Voters
24,161,083
Voter turnout
69.8%

Results

About 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
12
Percentage of parties winning seats
23.5%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
39.1%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
People's Party (PP)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
People's Party (PP) 137
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 85
Podemos (We Can") - IU (United Left) - EQUO 45
Ciudadanos (Citizens", C's) 32
En Comú Podem (ECP) 12
Podemos - COMPROMIS - EUPV (United Left of the Valencian Country) 9
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) - CATALUNYA SÍERC-CATSI 9
Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) 8
En Marea coalition (Podemos-En Marea-Anova-EU) 5
Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) 5
Unite Basque Country (Euskal Herria Bildueh Bildu, EH Bildu) 2
Canarian Coalition - Canarian Nationalist Party (CCa - PNC) 1
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
213
Number of women elected
137
Percentage of women elected
39.1%
Women Directly Elected
137
Other notes on the elections

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

Congress of Deputies (21.07.2016)

Dossier de prensa, Elecciones Generales 2016, Ministerio del Interior

BBC

The Guardian

Financial Times

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
213
Total number of women after the election
137
Percentage of women after the election
39.1%
First-term parliamentarians
63
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
18.0%
Date of the first session
19 Jul 2016

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Ana Pastor (Female)
Date of birth: 1957
Political party
People's Party (PP)
Date of election
19 Jul 2016

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No