1979 Spanish general election

1979 Spanish general election

←  1977 1 March 1979 1982  →
All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and all 208 seats in the Senate 176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies
Opinion polls
Registered	26,836,490 13.8%
Turnout	18,259,192 (68.0%) 10.8 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Adolfo Suárez Felipe González Santiago Carrillo Party UCD PSOE PCE Leader since 3 May 1977 13 October 1974 3 July 1960 Leader's seat Madrid Madrid Madrid Last election 165 seats, 34.4% 124 seats, 33.8% [lower-alpha 1] 20 seats, 9.3% Seats won 168 121 23 Seat change 3 3 3 Popular vote 6,268,593 5,469,813 1,938,487 Percentage 34.8% 30.4% 10.8% Swing 0.4 pp 3.4 pp 1.5 pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Manuel Fraga Jordi Pujol Xabier Arzalluz Party CD CiU EAJ/PNV Leader since 9 October 1976 17 November 1974 1977 Leader's seat Madrid Barcelona Guipúzcoa Last election 16 seats, 8.4% [lower-alpha 2] 13 seats, 3.8% [lower-alpha 3] 8 seats, 1.6% Seats won 9 8 7 Seat change 7 5 1 Popular vote 1,094,438 483,353 296,597 Percentage 6.1% 2.7% 1.6% Swing 2.3 pp 1.1 pp 0.0 pp
Election results by Congress of Deputies constituency Winner strength by province Winner strength by autonomous community
Prime Minister before election Adolfo Suárez UCD Prime Minister after election Adolfo Suárez UCD

The 1979 Spanish general election was held on Thursday, 1 March 1979, to elect the 1st Cortes Generales of the Kingdom of Spain. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as all 208 seats in the Senate.

This was the first election held under the Spanish Constitution of 1978. The Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) remained the largest party, winning 168 of the 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 119 of the 208 seats in the Senate. As a result, Adolfo Suárez went on to form a minority government, depending on support from Manuel Fraga's Democratic Coalition, which experienced an electoral decline.

Overview

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 18 years of age 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 an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. 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 fixed among the constituencies in proportion to their populations, at a rate of approximately one seat per each 144,500 inhabitants or fraction greater than 70,000. Ceuta and Melilla were allocated the two remaining seats, which were elected using plurality voting. ^{[4] [5]} The use of the electoral method resulted in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies. ^[6]

As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled to the following seats: ^{[7] [8]}

Seats	Constituencies
33	Barcelona
32	Madrid
15	Valencia
12	Seville
10	Biscay, Oviedo
9	Alicante, La Coruña
8	Cádiz, Málaga, Murcia, Pontevedra, Zaragoza
7	Badajoz, Córdoba, Granada, Guipúzcoa, Jaén, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
6	Balearics, Las Palmas, León
5	Almería, Cáceres, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Gerona, Huelva, Lugo, Navarre, Orense, Santander, Tarragona, Toledo, Valladolid
4	Álava, Albacete, Burgos, Cuenca, Lérida, Logroño, Salamanca, Zamora
3	Ávila, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Teruel

For the Senate, 208 seats were elected using an open list partial block voting system, 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. ^{[9] [10]} The law also provided for by-elections to fill Senate seats vacated up to two years into the legislature. ^[11]

Election date

The term of the Cortes elected in the 1977 election was not to be continued beyond 15 June 1981 in the event they were not dissolved earlier. ^[12] An election was required to be held within from 30 to 60 days after the date of expiry of the Cortes Generales, ^[4] setting the latest possible election date for the Cortes Generales on Friday, 14 August 1981.

The prime minister had the prerogative 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 had elapsed since the previous one. 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. ^[13] Barred this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections for the Congress and the Senate. Still, as of 2024 there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution.

The Spanish Cortes were officially dissolved on 1 January 1979 after the publication of the dissolution decree in the Official State Gazette (BOE), setting the election date for 1 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 23 March (for the Congress) and 27 March (for the Senate). ^[8]

Parties and candidates

The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within fifteen days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one permille—and, in any case, 500 signatures—of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates. ^[14]

Below is a list of the main parties and coalitions which contested the election:

Candidacy		Parties and alliances	Leading candidate		Ideology	Previous result			Gov.	Ref.
						Votes (%)	Con.	Sen.
	UCD	List Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)		Adolfo Suárez	Centrism	34.44%	165	106	Y
	PSOE	List Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC)		Felipe González	Social democracy Democratic socialism Marxism	33.78% [lower-alpha 1]	124	53 [lower-alpha 4]	N
	PCE	List Communist Party of Spain (PCE) Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC)		Santiago Carrillo	Eurocommunism	9.33%	20	1 [lower-alpha 5]	N
	CD	List People's Alliance (AP) Liberal Citizens Action (ACL) Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Foral Union of the Basque Country (UFPV) – People's Alliance (AP) – Basque Independent Democrats (DIV)		Manuel Fraga	Conservatism	8.41% [lower-alpha 2]	16	2	N
	CiU	List Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC)		Jordi Pujol	Catalan nationalism Centrism	3.75% [lower-alpha 3]	13	2	N
	EAJ/PNV	List Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)		Xabier Arzalluz	Basque nationalism Christian democracy Conservative liberalism	1.62%	8	6	N
	ERC–FNC	List Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) National Front of Catalonia (FNC) Social Democratic Party of Catalonia (PSDC)		Heribert Barrera	Catalan nationalism Left-wing nationalism Social democracy	0.79% [lower-alpha 6]	1	— [lower-alpha 4]	N
	EE	List Basque Country Left–Left for Socialism (EE)		Juan María Bandrés	Basque nationalism Socialism	0.34%	1	0	N
	PAR	List Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR)		Hipólito Gómez de las Roces	Regionalism Conservatism	0.20% [lower-alpha 7]	1	0	N
	UN	List New Force (FN) Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) José Antonio Circles (CJA) National Confederation of Veterans (CNE) Traditionalist Youth Group (AJT)		Blas Piñar	Ultranationalism National catholicism Francoism	0.57% [lower-alpha 8]	0	0	N
	HB	List Basque Socialist Party (ESB/PSV) Revolutionary Patriotic Workers' Party (LAIA) People's Socialist Revolutionary Party (HASI) Basque Nationalist Action (EAE/ANV) Patriotic Socialist Committees (ASK)		Francisco Letamendia	Basque independence Abertzale left Revolutionary socialism	0.24% [lower-alpha 9]	0	0	N
	PSC–ERC	List Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)		Josep Andreu	Catalanism Social democracy	Senate		8 [lower-alpha 4]	N
	PSUC–PTC	List Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC) Party of Labour of Catalonia (PTC)		Josep Benet	Communism Marxism-Leninism Republicanism	Senate		4 [lower-alpha 5]	N
	PSA–PA	List Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party (PSA–PA)		Alejandro Rojas-Marcos	Andalusian nationalism Social democracy	New			N
	UPC	List United Canarian People (PCU) – Communist Party of the Canary Islands (provisional) (PCC(p)) – Communist Cells (CC) Party of Communist Unification in the Canaries (PUCC) Socialist Party of the Canary Islands (PSC)		Fernando Sagaseta	Canarian nationalism Socialism	New			N
	UPN	List Navarrese People's Union (UPN)		Jesús Aizpún	Navarrese regionalism Conservatism Christian democracy	New			N

Opinion polls

Main article: Opinion polling for the 1979 Spanish general election

Results

Congress of Deputies

For results by autonomous community/constituency, see Results breakdown of the 1979 Spanish general election (Congress).

← Summary of the 1 March 1979 Congress of Deputies election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	6,268,593	34.84	+0.40	168	+3
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1	5,469,813	30.40	–3.44	121	–3
	Communist Party of Spain (PCE)	1,938,487	10.77	+1.44	23	+3
	Democratic Coalition (CD)	1,094,438	6.08	–2.33	9	–7
	Democratic Coalition (CD)2	1,060,330	5.89	–2.05	9	–6
	Foral Union of the Basque Country (UFPV)3	34,108	0.19	–0.29	0	–1
	Convergence and Union (CiU)4	483,353	2.69	–1.06	8	–5
	National Union (UN)5	378,964	2.11	+1.54	1	+1
	Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party (PSA–PA)	325,842	1.81	New	5	+5
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	296,597	1.65	+0.03	7	–1
	Party of Labour of Spain (PTE)6	192,798	1.07	+0.40	0	±0
	Popular Unity (HB)7	172,110	0.96	+0.72	3	+3
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	138,487	0.77	+0.22	0	±0
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)8	127,517	0.71	+0.29	0	±0
	Navarrese Left Union (UNAI)	10,970	0.06	–0.07	0	±0
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh)9	133,869	0.74	+0.05	0	±0
	Republican Left of Catalonia–National Front of Catalonia (ERC–FNC)10	123,452	0.69	–0.10	1	±0
	Basque Country Left (EE)	85,677	0.48	+0.14	1	±0
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (MC–OIC)	84,856	0.47	+0.28	0	±0
	Galician National-Popular Bloc (BNPG)	60,889	0.34	+0.22	0	±0
	Canarian People's Union (UPC)	58,953	0.33	New	1	+1
	Left Bloc for National Liberation (BEAN)	56,582	0.31	New	0	±0
	Galician Unity (PG–POG–PSG)11	55,555	0.31	+0.16	0	±0
	Republican Left (IR)	55,384	0.31	New	0	±0
	Carlist Party (PC)	50,552	0.28	+0.23	0	±0
	Communist Organization–Communist Unification (OCEBR–UCE)	47,937	0.27	New	0	±0
	Workers' Communist Party (PCT)	47,896	0.27	New	0	±0
	Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR)12	38,042	0.21	+0.01	1	±0
	Revolutionary Communist League (LCR)13	36,662	0.20	–0.02	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (Authentic) (FE–JONS(A))	30,252	0.17	–0.08	0	±0
	Navarrese People's Union (UPN)	28,248	0.16	New	1	+1
	Coalition for Aragon (PSAr–PSDA)	19,220	0.11	New	0	±0
	Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL)	16,016	0.09	New	0	±0
	Liberal Party (PL)	15,774	0.09	New	0	±0
	Valencian Regional Union (URV)	15,694	0.09	New	0	±0
	Nationalist Party of the Valencian Country (PNPV)	13,828	0.08	New	0	±0
	Spanish Ruralist Party (PRE)	10,324	0.06	New	0	±0
	Party of the Canarian Country (PPC)	10,099	0.06	New	0	±0
	Socialists of Majorca and Menorca (SMiM)	10,022	0.06	New	0	±0
	Syndicalist Party (PSIN)	9,777	0.05	New	0	±0
	Union for the Freedom of Speech (ULE)	7,126	0.04	New	0	±0
	Catalan State (EC)	6,328	0.04	New	0	±0
	Cantonal Party (PCAN)	6,290	0.03	New	0	±0
	Independent Candidacy of the Countryside (CIC)	6,115	0.03	New	0	±0
	Social Christian Democracy of Catalonia (DSCC)	4,976	0.03	–0.02	0	±0
	Proverist Party (PPr)	4,939	0.03	±0.00	0	±0
	Spanish Democratic Republican Action (ARDE)	4,826	0.03	New	0	±0
	Communist League (LC)	3,614	0.02	New	0	±0
	Asturian Nationalist Council (CNA)	3,049	0.02	New	0	±0
	Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA)	2,736	0.02	New	0	±0
	Pro-Austerity Policy Political Party (PIPPA)	2,409	0.01	New	0	±0
	Workers and Peasants Party (POC)	2,314	0.01	New	0	±0
	Independent Candidates of Melilla (CIME)	1,820	0.01	New	0	±0
	Falangist Unity–Independent Spanish Phalanx (UF–FI–AT)	1,188	0.01	New	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx–Falangist Unity (FE–UF)	876	0.00	New	0	±0
	Centre Independent Candidacy (CIC)	n/a	n/a	–0.16	0	–1
Blank ballots		57,267	0.32	+0.07
Total		17,990,915			350	±0
Valid votes		17,990,915	98.53	–0.04
Invalid votes		268,277	1.47	+0.04
Votes cast / turnout		18,259,192	68.04	–10.79
Abstentions		8,577,298	31.96	+10.79
Registered voters		26,836,490
Sources [15] [16]
Footnotes: 1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and People's Socialist Party–Socialist Unity in the 1977 election. 2 Democratic Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1977 election, not including results in the Basque Country. 3 Foral Union of the Basque Country results are compared to the combined totals of People's Alliance in the Basque Country and Basque Independent Democrats in the 1977 election. 4 Convergence and Union results are compared to the combined totals of Democratic Pact for Catalonia and Union of the Centre and Christian Democracy of Catalonia in the 1977 election. 5 National Union results are compared to the combined totals of National Alliance July 18 and José Antonio Circles in the 1977 election. 6 Party of Labour of Spain results are compared to Democratic Left Front totals in the 1977 election. 7 Popular Unity results are compared to the combined totals of the Basque Socialist Party and Basque Nationalist Action in the 1977 election. 8 Workers' Revolutionary Organization results are compared to Workers' Electoral Group totals in the 1977 election. 9 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) results are compared to Democratic Socialist Alliance totals in the 1977 election. 10 Republican Left of Catalonia–National Front of Catalonia results are compared to Left of Catalonia–Democratic Electoral Front totals in the 1977 election. 11 Galician Unity results are compared to Galician Socialist Party totals in the 1977 election. 12 Regionalist Aragonese Party results are compared to Centre Independent Aragonese Candidacy totals in the 1977 election. 13 Revolutionary Communist League results are compared to Front for Workers' Unity totals in the 1977 election.

Popular vote UCD   34.84% PSOE   30.40% PCE   10.77% CD   6.08% CiU   2.69% UN   2.11% PSA–PA   1.81% EAJ/PNV   1.65% PTE   1.07% HB   0.96% ERC–FNC   0.69% EE   0.48% UPC   0.33% PAR   0.21% UPN   0.16% Others   5.43% Blank ballots   0.32%

Seats UCD   48.00% PSOE   34.57% PCE   6.57% CD   2.57% CiU   2.29% EAJ/PNV   2.00% PSA–PA   1.43% HB   0.86% UN   0.29% ERC–FNC   0.29% EE   0.29% UPC   0.29% PAR   0.29% UPN   0.29%

Senate

← Summary of the 1 March 1979 Senate of Spain election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	16,374,726	32.60	+3.22	119	+13
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1	12,762,128	25.41	–4.28	60	–1
	Communist Party of Spain (PCE)	4,407,905	8.78	+6.82	0	±0
	Democratic Coalition (CD)	3,213,680	6.40	–2.82	3	+1
	Democratic Coalition (CD)2	3,167,973	6.31	–2.39	3	+1
	Foral Union of the Basque Country (UFPV)3	45,707	0.09	–0.43	0	±0
	New Agreement (PSC–ERC)4	2,708,504	5.39	n/a	10	+2
	For the Agreement (PSUC–PTC)4	1,832,941	3.65	n/a	1	–3
	Convergence and Union (CiU)5	1,387,176	2.76	+0.21	1	–1
	National Union (UN)6	1,089,883	2.17	+0.60	0	±0
	Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party (PSA–PA)	1,026,345	2.04	New	0	±0
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)7	843,452	1.68	–1.63	8	–2
	Popular Unity (HB)8	465,852	0.93	+0.74	1	+1
	Party of Labour of Spain (PTE)9	412,782	0.82	+0.57	0	±0
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	290,967	0.58	–0.04	0	±0
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)10	276,457	0.55	+0.13	0	±0
	Navarrese Left Union (UNAI)	14,510	0.03	–0.17	0	±0
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (MC–OIC)	257,830	0.51	New	0	±0
	Basque Country Left (EE)	209,107	0.42	+0.18	0	–1
	Republican Left (IR)	205,512	0.41	New	0	±0
	Galician National-Popular Bloc (BNPG)	196,920	0.39	+0.07	0	±0
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh)11	179,519	0.36	–0.82	0	±0
	Galician Unity (PG–POG–PSG)	177,549	0.35	New	0	±0
	Navarrese Unity (UNA)	137,275	0.27	New	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx–Falangist Unity (FE–UF)	130,616	0.26	New	0	±0
	Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR)12	117,150	0.23	–0.37	0	–1
	Valencian Regional Union (URV)	116,386	0.23	New	0	±0
	Canarian People's Union (UPC)	115,878	0.23	New	0	±0
	Liberal Party (PL)	110,347	0.22	New	0	±0
	Revolutionary Communist League (LCR)	109,118	0.22	New	0	±0
	Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC)	90,065	0.18	New	0	±0
	Navarrese People's Union (UPN)	84,289	0.17	New	0	±0
	Carlist Party (PC)	84,028	0.17	+0.10	0	±0
	Spanish Democratic Republican Action (ARDE)	73,308	0.15	New	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (Authentic) (FE–JONS(A))	70,659	0.14	+0.14	0	±0
	Group of Independent Electors (ADEI)13	63,257	0.13	–0.02	3	–1
	Left Bloc for National Liberation (BEAN)	54,055	0.11	New	0	±0
	Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA)	49,190	0.10	New	0	±0
	Coalition for Aragon (PSAr–PSDA)	48,031	0.10	New	0	±0
	Communist Organization–Communist Unification (OCEBR–UCE)	41,656	0.08	New	0	±0
	Spanish Ruralist Party (PRE)	40,086	0.08	New	0	±0
	Union for the Freedom of Speech (ULE)	38,968	0.08	New	0	±0
	Pro-Austerity Policy Political Party (PIPPA)	36,280	0.07	New	0	±0
	Independent (INDEP)	32,055	0.06	New	0	±0
	Social Christian Democracy of Catalonia (DSCC)	29,367	0.06	New	0	±0
	Galician Democratic Candidacy (CDG)	26,426	0.05	–1.11	0	–3
	Party of the Canarian Country (PPC)	25,960	0.05	New	0	±0
	Independent (INDEP)	21,891	0.04	New	1	+1
	Socialist Party of Majorca (PSM)	19,753	0.04	New	0	±0
	Workers' Communist Party (PCT)	17,888	0.04	New	0	±0
	Salamancan Regionalist Candidacy (CRS)	17,019	0.03	New	0	±0
	Independent (INDEP)	14,758	0.03	New	0	±0
	Menorcan Progressive Candidacy (PSM–PSOE–PCIB–PTI)	11,745	0.02	New	1	+1
	Independent Candidacy of the Countryside (CIC)	10,333	0.02	New	0	±0
	Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL)	8,795	0.02	New	0	±0
	Asturian Nationalist Council (CNA)	8,309	0.02	New	0	±0
	Entirely Anti-Partisan (EA)	7,931	0.02	New	0	±0
	Independent Progressive Candidacy (CPI)	7,763	0.02	New	0	±0
	Independent (INDEP)	7,266	0.01	New	0	±0
	New National Left (NIN)	7,053	0.01	New	0	±0
	Catalan State (EC)	6,998	0.01	New	0	±0
	Riojan Autonomy (AR)	6,835	0.01	New	0	±0
	Independent (INDEP)	5,263	0.01	New	0	±0
	Zamorans for Zamora–Independent Candidacy (ZZ)	5,125	0.01	New	0	±0
	National Front of Catalonia (FNC)	4,566	0.01	New	0	±0
	Majorera Assembly (AM)	4,458	0.01	±0.00	0	–1
	Spanish Communist Workers' Party (PCOE)	3,431	0.01	New	0	±0
	Independent (INDEP)	3,416	0.01	New	0	±0
	Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC)	3,141	0.01	New	0	±0
	Independent (INDEP)	1,698	0.00	New	0	±0
	Proverist Party (PPr)	242	0.00	New	0	±0
	Xirinacs Electoral Group (AE Xirinacs)	n/a	n/a	–1.06	0	–1
	Aragonese Candidacy of Democratic Unity (CAUD)	n/a	n/a	–1.04	0	–3
Blank ballots [lower-alpha 10]		259,613	1.48
Total		50,232,518			208	+1
Valid votes		17,588,988	97.20
Invalid votes		507,434	2.80
Votes cast / turnout		18,096,422	67.43
Abstentions		8,740,068	32.57
Registered voters		23,583,762
Sources [15] [16] [17] [18]
Footnotes: 1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, Democratic Senate, People's Socialist Party–Socialist Unity and Independent Progressives and Socialists in the 1977 election. 2 Democratic Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1977 election, not including results in the Basque Country. 3 Foral Union of the Basque Country results are compared to the combined totals of People's Alliance in the Basque Country and Basque Independent Democrats in the 1977 election. 4 Within the Agreement of the Catalans alliance in the 1977 election. 5 Convergence and Union results are compared to Democracy and Catalonia totals in the 1977 election. 6 National Union results are compared to the combined totals of National Alliance July 18 and José Antonio Circles in the 1977 election. 7 Basque Nationalist Party results are compared to Autonomous Front totals in the 1977 election. 8 Popular Unity results are compared to the combined totals of the Basque Socialist Party and Basque Nationalist Action in the 1977 election. 9 Party of Labour of Spain results are compared to Democratic Left Front totals in the 1977 election. 10 Workers' Revolutionary Organization results are compared to Workers' Electoral Group totals in the 1977 election. 11 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) results are compared to Democratic Socialist Alliance totals in the 1977 election. 12 Regionalist Aragonese Party results are compared to Centre Independent Aragonese Candidacy totals in the 1977 election. 13 Group of Independent Electors results are compared to Independents of Soria totals in the 1977 election.

Popular vote UCD   32.60% PSOE   25.41% PCE   8.78% CD   6.40% PSC–ERC   5.39% PSUC–PTC   3.65% CiU   2.76% UN   2.17% PSA–PA   2.04% EAJ/PNV   1.68% HB   0.93% ADEI   0.13% INDEP   0.04% CPMen   0.02% Others   8.07% Blank ballots   1.48%

Seats UCD   57.21% PSOE   28.85% PSC–ERC   4.81% EAJ/PNV   3.85% CD   1.44% ADEI   1.44% PSUC–PTC   0.48% CiU   0.48% HB   0.48% CPMen   0.48% INDEP   0.48%

Aftermath

Government formation

Further information: Third government of Adolfo Suárez

Investiture Adolfo Suárez (UCD)
Ballot →		30 March 1979
Required majority →		176 out of 350 Y
	Yes • UCD (168) • CD (8) • PSA–PA (5) • PAR (1) • UPN (1)	183 / 350
	No • PSOE (94) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (16) • PNV (6) • PSE (6) • UN (1) • ERC (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1)	149 / 350
	Abstentions • CiU (8)	8 / 350
	Absentees • PSOE (4) • HB (3) • PSC (1) • CD (1) • PNV (1)	10 / 350
Sources [19]

1980 motion of no confidence

Further information: 1980 vote of no confidence in the government of Adolfo Suárez

Motion of no confidence Felipe González (PSOE)
Ballot →		30 May 1980
Required majority →		176 out of 350 N
	Yes • PSOE (97) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (17) • PSE (6) • PSA–PA (5) • ERC (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1) • Independent (1)	152 / 350
	No • UCD (166)	166 / 350
	Abstentions • CD (9) • CiU (7) • Independents (2) • FN (1) • PAR (1) • UPN (1)	21 / 350
	Absentees • PNV (7) • HB (3) • CiU (1)	11 / 350
Sources [19]

1980 motion of confidence

Motion of confidence Adolfo Suárez (UCD)
Ballot →		18 September 1980
Required majority →		Simple Y
	Yes • UCD (165) • CiU (8) • PSA–PA (5) • Independents (2)	180 / 350
	No • PSOE (97) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (16) • CD (9) • PNV (7) • PSE (6) • FN (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1) • PAR (1) • UPN (1) • Independent (1)	164 / 350
	Abstentions • ERC (1) • Independent (1)	2 / 350
	Absentees • HB (3) • PSC (1)	4 / 350
Sources [19]

1981 investiture

Investiture Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo (UCD)
Ballot →		21 February 1981	23 February 1981	25 February 1981
Required majority →		176 out of 350 N	Simple	Simple Y
	Yes • UCD (165) • CD (9) (3 on 21 Feb) • CiU (9) (on 25 Feb) • PAR (1) (on 25 Feb) • UPN (1) • UA (1) (on 25 Feb)	169 / 350	Cancelled (as a result of the 23-F coup d'etat attempt)	186 / 350
	No • PSOE (95) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (16) • PNV (7) • PSE (6) • PSA–PA (4) • Independents (3) • FN (1) • ERC (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1)	158 / 350		158 / 350
	Abstentions • CiU (9) (on 21 Feb) • CD (6) (on 21 Feb) • PAR (1) (on 21 Feb) • UA (1) (on 21 Feb)	17 / 350		0 / 350
	Absentees • HB (3) • PSOE (2) (1 on 21 Feb) • PSC (1) • PSA–PA (1) (on 21 Feb)	6 / 350		6 / 350
Sources [19]

Notes

1. Results for PSOE (29.32%, 118 deputies and 49 senators) and PSP–US (4.46%, 6 deputies and 4 senators) in the 1977 election.
2. Results for AP (8.33%, 16 deputies and 2 senators) and DIV (0.08%, 0 seats) in the 1977 election.
3. Results for PDC (2.81%, 11 deputies) and UCiDCC (0.94%, 2 deputies and 0 senators) in the 1977 election.
4. PSC–PSOE (7 senators) and ERC (1 senator) joined the Nova Entesa alliance ahead of the 1979 Senate election.
5. PSUC (4 senators) joined the Per l'Entesa alliance ahead of the 1979 Senate election.
6. Results for EC–FED in the 1977 election.
7. Results for CAIC in the 1977 election.
8. Results for AN18 (0.53%, 0 seats) and CJA (0.04%, 0 seats) in the 1977 election.
9. Results for ESB/PSV (0.20%, 0 seats) and EAE/ANV (0.04%, 0 seats) in the 1977 election.
10. The 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.

References

1. Const. Esp. (1978) , tit. III, ch. I, art. 66.
2. "Sinopsis artículo 66". Constitución española (in Spanish). Congress of Deputies . Retrieved 12 September 2020, summarizing Const. Esp. (1978) , tit. III, ch. I, art. 66.
3. Carreras de Odriozola & Tafunell Sambola 2005, p. 1077.
4. Const. Esp. (1978) , tit. III, ch. I, art. 68.
5. RDL 20/1977 (1977) , tit. II, ch. II, art. 19–20.
6. Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). "Effective threshold in electoral systems". Trinity College, Dublin. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
7. RDL 20/1977 (1977) , tit. II, ch. II, art. 19.
8. "Real Decreto 3073/1978, de 29 de diciembre, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones generales" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (1): 3. 1 January 1979. ISSN   0212-033X.
9. Const. Esp. (1978) , tit. III, ch. I, art. 69.
10. RDL 20/1977 (1977) , tit. II, ch. II, art. 19 & 21.
11. RDL 20/1977 (1977) , tit. III, art. 29.
12. Const. Esp. (1978) , trans. prov. 8.
13. Const. Esp. (1978) , tit. IV, art. 99.
14. RDL 20/1977 (1977) , tit. IV, art. 30–31 & 34.
15. "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales". Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2022.
16. "Elecciones Generales 1 de marzo de 1979". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 October 2021.
17. "Elecciones al Senado 1979". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 September 2017.
18. "Composición del Senado 1977-2024". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 October 2021.
19. "Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 September 2017.

Bibliography

• Constitución Española (version as of 29 December 1978). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Vol. 311. 29 December 1978. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
• Real Decreto-ley 20/1977, de 18 de marzo, sobre Normas Electorales (Royal Decree-Law 20). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Vol. 70. 18 March 1977. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
• Carreras de Odriozola, Albert; Tafunell Sambola, Xavier (2005) [1989]. Estadísticas históricas de España, siglos XIX-XX (PDF) (in Spanish). Vol. 1 (II ed.). Bilbao: Fundación BBVA. pp. 1072–1097. ISBN   84-96515-00-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015.

External links

• Media related to Spanish general election, 1979 at Wikimedia Commons