Spanish general election, 2004

14 March 2004

All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of the 259) seats in the Senate 176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies

Opinion polls
Registered	34,571,831 1.8%
Turnout	26,155,436 (75.7%) 7.0 pp
	First party	Second party	Third party

Leader	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	Mariano Rajoy	Gaspar Llamazares
Party	PSOE	PP	IU
Leader since	22 July 2000	2 September 2003	29 October 2000
Last election	125 seats, 34.2%	183 seats, 44.5%	9 seats, 6.0%^{[lower-alpha 1]}
Seats won	164	148	5
Seat change	39	35	4
Popular vote	11,026,163	9,763,144	1,284,081
Percentage	42.6%	37.7%	5.0%
Swing	8.4 pp	6.8 pp	1.0 pp

	Fourth party	Fifth party	Sixth party

Leader	Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida	Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira	Josu Erkoreka
Party	CiU	ERC	EAJ-PNV
Leader since	2004	2004	2004
Last election	15 seats, 4.2%	1 seat, 0.8%	7 seats, 1.5%
Seats won	10	8	7
Seat change	5	7	0
Popular vote	835,471	652,196	420,980
Percentage	3.2%	2.5%	1.6%
Swing	1.0 pp	1.7 pp	0.1 pp

Navarre

Castile–
La Mancha

Asturias

Santa Cruz
de Tenerife

Las Palmas

Most voted party in each autonomous community and province. Every province is a multi-member district for the Congress.

Prime Minister before election

José María Aznar
PP

Elected Prime Minister

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
PSOE

The 2004 Spanish general election was held on Sunday, 14 March, to elect the 8th Cortes Generales of the Kingdom of Spain. At stake were all 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 of 259 seats in the Senate.

The governing People's Party (PP) was led into the campaign by Mariano Rajoy, successor to outgoing Prime Minister José María Aznar. The election result took many by surprise, as polling leading up to the day of the election had shown the People's Party under leader Rajoy to be consistently ahead. The electoral outcome was heavily influenced by the 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings and the PP government's handling of the attacks (maintaining the theory of ETA's responsibility even when evidence pointed to Islamist extremist groups), which resulted in large demonstrations on the days before the election.

The day after the election, Zapatero announced his intention to form a minority PSOE government, without a coalition, saying in a radio interview: "the implicit mandate of the people is for us to form a minority government negotiating accords on each issue with other parliamentary groups". Two minor left-wing parties, Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and IU, immediately announced their intention to support Zapatero's government. On April 16, 2004, Zapatero got the approval of the outright majority of the new Congress, with 183 out of 350 members voting for him, and became the Prime Minister of Spain the next day.^[1]

Overview

Electoral system

Congress of Deputies

The 350 members of the Congress of Deputies were elected in 50 multi-member districts using the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation. Ceuta and Melilla elected 1 member each using plurality voting. Each district was entitled to an initial minimum of 2 seats, with the remaining 248 seats being allocated among the 50 provinces in proportion to their populations. Only lists polling above 3% of the total vote in each district (which includes blank ballots—for none of the above) were entitled to enter the seat distribution.

Senate

For the Senate, each of the 47 peninsular provinces was assigned 4 seats. For insular provinces, such as Baleares and Canarias, districts are the islands themselves, with the larger — Mallorca, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife — being assigned 3 seats each, and the smaller — Menorca, Ibiza-Formentera, Fuerteventura, Gomera, Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma — 1 each. Ceuta and Melilla were assigned 2 seats each, for a total of 208 directly elected seats. In districts electing 4 seats, electors could vote for up to 3 candidates; in those with 2 or 3 seats, for up to 2 candidates; and for 1 candidate in single member constituencies. Electors would vote for individual candidates: those attaining the largest number of votes in each district would be elected for a 4-year term of office.

In addition, the legislative assemblies of the autonomous communities are entitled to appoint at least 1 senator each, as well as 1 senator for every million inhabitants, adding up a variable number of appointed seats to the directly-elected 208 senators.^[2] This appointment usually did not take place at the same time that the general election, but when the autonomous communities held their elections.

Eligibility

Dual membership of both chambers of the Cortes or of the Cortes and regional assemblies was prohibited. Active judges, magistrates, ombudsmen, serving military personnel, active police officers and members of constitutional and electoral tribunals were also ineligible,^[3] as well as CEOs or equivalent leaders of state monopolies and public bodies, such as the Spanish state broadcaster RTVE.^[4] Additionally, under the Political Parties Law, June 2002, parties and individual candidates may be prevented from standing by the Spanish Supreme Court, if they were judicially perceived to discriminate against people on the basis of ideology, religion, beliefs, nationality, race, gender or sexual orientation, foment or organise violence as a means of achieving political objectives or support or compliment the actions of "terrorist organisations".^[5]

Parties and coalitions of different parties which had registered with the Electoral Commission could present lists of candidates. Groups of electors which had not registered with the commission could also present lists, provided that they obtained the signatures of 1% of registered electors in a particular district.^[4]

Opinion polls

Main article: Opinion polling for the Spanish general election, 2004

15-day average trend line of poll results from March 2000 to March 2004, with each line corresponding to a political party.

Congress of Deputies results

Overall

← Summary of the 14 March 2004 Spanish Congress of Deputies election results →
Party		Vote			Seats

Party		Votes	%	±pp	Won	+/−
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	11,026,163	42.59	8.43	164	39
	People's Party (PP)	9,763,144	37.71	6.81	148	35
	United Left (IU)^{[lower-alpha 1]}	1,284,081	4.96	1.00	5	4
	Convergence and Union (CiU)	835,471	3.23	0.96	10	5
	Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)	652,196	2.52	1.68	8	7
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV)	420,980	1.63	0.10	7	±0
	Canarian Coalition (CC)	235,221	0.91	0.16	3	1
	Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)	208,688	0.81	0.51	2	1
	Andalusian Party (PA)	181,868	0.70	0.19	0	1
	Aragonese Union (CHA)	94,252	0.36	0.03	1	±0
	Basque Solidarity (EA)	80,905	0.31	0.12	1	±0
	Yes to Navarre (NaBai)	61,045	0.24	New	1	1
	Valencian Nationalist Bloc-Green Left (BNV-EV)	40,759	0.16	0.09	0	±0
	Nationalist Agreement (PSM-EN,EU,EV,ER)	40,289	0.16	0.06	0	±0
	Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB)	40,208	0.16	New	0	±0
	Aralar-Standing (Aralar-Zutik)	38,560	0.15	New	0	±0
	The Greens Ecopacifists (LVE)	37,499	0.14	0.04	0	±0
	Aragonese Party (PAR)	36,540	0.14	0.03	0	±0
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	34,101	0.13	0.03	0	±0
	The Greens-The Ecologist Alternative (EV-AE)	30,528	0.12	New	0	±0

Parties with less than 0.1% of the vote		341,006	1.32	–	±0
	Andalusian Socialist Party (PSA)	24,127	0.09	New	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	21,758	0.08	±0.00	±0
	The Greens of the Madrid Community (LVCM)	19,600	0.08	0.01	±0
	Republican Left (IR)	16,993	0.07	New	±0
	Cannabis Party for Legalisation and Normalisation (PCLyN)	16,918	0.07	New	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFyV)	16,699	0.06	New	±0
	National Democracy (DN)	15,180	0.06	0.02	±0
	Leonese People's Union (UPL)	14,160	0.05	0.13	±0
	Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)	12,979	0.05	0.01	±0
	The Greens-Green Group (LV-GV)	12,749	0.05	0.04	±0
	Spanish Falange of the JONS (FE-JONS)	12,266	0.05	0.02	±0
	Majorcan Union (UM)	10,558	0.04	±0.00	±0
	The Falange (FE)	10,311	0.04	0.02	±0
	Communal Land-Castilian Nationalist Party (TC-PNC)	8,866	0.03	0.05	±0
	Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)	8,003	0.03	0.02	±0
	The Greens of the Region of Murcia (LVRM)	7,074	0.03	New	±0
	Republican Social Movement (MSR)	6,768	0.03	New	±0
	Spanish Democratic Party (PADE)	5,677	0.02	0.02	±0
	Democrats Convergence of Navarre (CDN)	5,573	0.02	0.02	±0
	The Greens of Asturias (Verdes)	5,013	0.02	New	±0
	Authentic Falange (FA)	4,589	0.02	New	±0
	Asturianist Party (PAS)	4,292	0.02	0.01	±0
	Spain 2000 (E-2000)	4,231	0.02	0.02	±0
	Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC)	4,092	0.02	New	±0
	United Extremadura (EU)	3,916	0.02	±0.00	±0
	The Greens of Extremadura (LV)	3,133	0.01	New	±0
	Freelance and Professionals' Party (AUTONOMO)	3,124	0.01	0.01	±0
	Initiative for the Development of Soria (IDeS)	2,934	0.01	New	±0
	Andalusia Assembly (A)	2,930	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Canarian People's Alternative (APCa)	2,715	0.01	New	±0
	European Green Group (GVE)	2,662	0.01	New	±0
	Independent Candidate - Castilla and Leon Party (PCL)	2,421	0.01	0.01	±0
	Unsubmissive Seats (Ei)	2,332	0.01	New	±0
	Democratic Karma Party (PKD)	2,300	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Galician Popular Front (FPG)	2,257	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Galician Coalition (CG)	2,235	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Alliance for the Development and Nature (ADN)	2,215	0.01	New	±0
	Party for Precarious-Employed Workers (PTPRE)	2,115	0.01	New	±0
	Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV)	2,111	0.01	New	±0
	Freelancers, Retired and Widows' Party (PAE)	2,082	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Andecha Astur (AA)	1,970	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Union of the Salamancan People (UPSa)	1,871	0.01	±0.00	±0
	The Greens-Green Alternative (EV-AV)	1,836	0.01	0.04	±0
	Carlist Party (PC)	1,813	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Romantic Mutual Support Party (PMAR)	1,561	0.01	New	±0
	Cantabrian Nationalist Council (CNC)	1,431	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL)	1,322	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Another Democracy is Possible (OtraDem)	1,302	0.01	±0.00	±0
	Independent Social Group (ASI)	1,237	0.00	New	±0
	Independent Social Democratic Party of the VC (PSICV)	1,096	0.00	New	±0
	Republican Party (PRF)	1,051	0.00	New	±0
	Alternative for Gran Canaria (AxGC)	957	0.00	New	±0
	Alliance for the National Unity (AUN)	923	0.00	New	±0
	Left Assembly-Initiative for Andalusia (A-IZ)	901	0.00	New	±0
	Christian Positivist Party (PPCr)	892	0.00	±0.00	±0
	Asturian Left (IAS)	854	0.00	±0.00	±0
	Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC)	807	0.00	±0.00	±0
	Liberal Centrist Union (UCL)	798	0.00	New	±0
	Caló Nationalist Party (PNCA)	757	0.00	0.01	±0
	United Zamora (ZU)	754	0.00	New	±0
	Union of Centrists of Majorca (UCM)	751	0.00	New	±0
	Internationalist Fight (LI)	668	0.00	0.01	±0
	Spanish Democratic Front (FDE)	619	0.00	New	±0
	Castilian Unity (UdCa)	601	0.00	New	±0
	Andalusian Social Democratic Party (PSDA)	583	0.00	New	±0
	Nationalist Maga Alternative (AMAGA)	468	0.00	New	±0
	Union of the Balearic People (UPB)	411	0.00	±0.00	±0
	European National State (N)	410	0.00	±0.00	±0
	Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD)	407	0.00	New	±0
	Workers' National Party (PNT)	379	0.00	New	±0
	Party of the People (LG)	378	0.00	New	±0
	Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU)	330	0.00	±0.00	±0
	National Union (UN)	318	0.00	±0.00	±0
	Southeast Citizen Convergence (CCSE)	308	0.00	±0.00	±0
	National Democratic Party of Spain (PDN)	232	0.00	New	±0
	Spanish Absolute Honesty Political Group (GPHAE)	52	0.00	New	±0

	Blank ballots	407,795	1.58	±0.00

Total		25,891,299	100.00		350	±0

Valid votes		25,891,299	98.99	0.33
Invalid votes		264,137	1.01	0.33
Votes cast / turnout		26,155,436	75.66	6.95
Abstentions		8,416,395	24.34	6.95
Registered voters		34,571,831

Source: Ministry of the Interior

Vote share

PSOE			42.59%
PP			37.71%
IU			4.96%
CiU			3.23%
ERC			2.52%
EAJ-PNV			1.63%
CC			0.91%
BNG			0.81%
CHA			0.36%
EA			0.31%
NaBai			0.24%
Others			3.17%
Blank ballots			1.58%

Parliamentary seats

PSOE			46.86%
PP			42.29%
CiU			2.86%
ERC			2.29%
EAJ-PNV			2.00%
IU			1.43%
CC			0.89%
BNG			0.57%
CHA			0.29%
EA			0.29%
NaBai			0.29%

Results by region

Election results by province.

Party			AN	AR	AS	BA	BC	CI	CN	CM	CL	CA	CE	EX	GA	LR	MA	ME	MU	NA	VA	Total
	PSOE	S	38	7	4	4	7	6	2	9	14	21	0	5	10	2	16	0	3	2	14	164
	PSOE	V	52.9	41.3	43.4	39.5	27.2	34.5	40.9	46.5	41.9	39.5	35.8	51.2	37.2	44.0	44.1	41.4	35.0	33.6	42.5	42.6
	PP	S	23	5	4	4	4	6	3	11	19	6	1	5	12	2	17	1	6	2	17	148
	PP	V	33.7	36.5	43.8	45.9	18.9	35.4	51.9	47.4	50.3	15.6	59.2	42.4	47.2	49.9	45.0	54.6	57.4	37.6	46.8	37.7
	IU	S	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	5
	IU	V	6.4	2.8	8.4		8.2	1.9	3.3	3.4	2.8	5.8	0.6	3.5	1.7	2.8	6.4	0.8	4.3	5.9	4.7	5.0
	CiU	S										10										10
	CiU	V										20.8										3.2
	ERC	S										8									0	8
	ERC	V										15.9									0.5	2.5
	PNV	S					7															7
	PNV	V					33.7															1.6
	CC	S						3														3
	CC	V						24.3														0.9
	BNG	S													2							2
	BNG	V													11.4							0.8
	CHA	S		1																		1
	CHA	V		12.1																		0.3
	EA	S					1															1
	EA	V					6.5															0.3
	Na-Bai	S																		1		1
	Na-Bai	V																		18.0		0.2
	Others	V	5.3	5.3	2.3	12.7	4.1	2.8	1.6	1.1	3.0	1.5	3.0	1.6	0.9	1.2	2.4	1.6	1.9	2.9	4.0	3.3
	Blank		1.7	2.0	2.1	1.9	1.4	1.1	2.3	1.6	2.0	0.9	1.4	1.3	1.6	2.1	2.1	1.6	1.4	2.0	1.5	1.6
	Total seats		61	13	8	8	19	15	5	20	33	47	1	10	24	4	35	1	9	5	32	350

Turnout			74.8	77.0	71.7	68.8	75.0	66.7	77.2	79.9	77.8	76.0	63.5	79.3	71.0	79.5	78.9	55.8	77.1	76.2	77.7	75.7

Senate results

Summary of the 14 March 2004 Spanish Senate election results
Party		Vote			Seats

Party		Votes	%	+/−	Won	+/−	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)				102	25	126	24
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)				81	28	96	29
	Catalan Agreement of Progress (PSC-ERC-ICV)				12	4	16	4
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV)				6	±0	7	±0
	Convergence and Union (CiU)				4	4	6	4
	Canarian Coalition (CC)				3	2	4	2
	United Left (IU)				0	±0	2	1
	Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)				0	±0	1	±0
	Aragonese Party (PAR)				0	±0	1	±0
	Others				0	1	0	2
	Blank ballots	679,816	2.67	0.15

Total		25,426,107	100.00		208	±0	259	±0

Valid votes		25,426,107	97.09	0.42
Invalid votes		761,055	2.91	0.42
Votes cast / turnout		26,187,162	75.75	6.92
Abstentions		8,384,669	24.25	6.92
Registered voters		34,571,831

Source(s): Ministry of the Interior Historia Electoral

Parliamentary seats

PP			48.65%
PSOE			37.07%
PSC-ERC-ICV			6.18%
EAJ-PNV			2.70%
CiU			2.32%
CC			1.54%
IU			0.77%
BNG			0.39%
PAR			0.39%

The Spanish Senate at the time of the 2004 election was composed by 208 directly-elected seats and 51 seats appointed by the regional parliaments of the autonomous communities when a new Parliament resulting from a regional election convenes. The appointment process of these seats depended on the political composition of those regional assemblies, and as such, it could change each time regional elections were held.

Post-election

Investiture voting

Candidate	Date	Vote	PSOE	PP	CiU	ERC	PNV	IU	CC	BNG	CHA	EA	NB	Total
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE)	16 Apr 2004 Majority required: Absolute (176/350)	YYes	164			8		5	3	2	1			183 / 350
		No		148										148 / 350
		Abst.			10		7					1	1	19 / 350
Source: Historia Electoral - Spanish General Election 14 March 2004

References

↑ Zapatero, inaugurated as Prime Minister with absolute majority - ABC (Spanish)
↑ "General Aspects of the Electoral System".
↑ "The Spanish Constitution of 1978".
↑ 4.0 4.1 "Law governing electoral procedures". Retrieved 2011-03-06.
↑ "Law regarding registration of political parties". Retrieved 2011-03-06.

Notes

↑ 1.0 1.1 United Left results are compared to the combined totals of United Left and Initiative for Catalonia Greens in the 2000 election.

External links

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