Results breakdown of the 1979 Spanish local elections (Basque Country)

This is the results breakdown of the local elections held in the Basque Country on 3 April 1979. The following tables show detailed results in the autonomous community's most populous municipalities, sorted alphabetically. ^{[1] [2]}

City control

The following table lists party control in the most populous municipalities, including provincial capitals (shown in bold). ^[1]

Municipality	Population	New control
Baracaldo	122,540		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Basauri	53,946		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Bilbao	450,661		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Guecho	63,926		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Irún	53,921		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Portugalete	56,501		Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)
Rentería	48,586		Popular Unity (HB)
San Sebastián	174,818		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Santurce Antiguo	54,470		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Vitoria	181,216		Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)

Municipalities

Baracaldo

Population: 122,540

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Baracaldo election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	14,445	26.21	n/a	8	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	13,189	23.93	n/a	7	n/a
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	11,726	21.27	n/a	7	n/a
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	6,293	11.42	n/a	3	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	3,927	7.12	n/a	2	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	2,388	4.33	n/a	0	n/a
	Independents of Baracaldo (IB)	1,704	3.09	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	820	1.49	n/a	0	n/a
	Party of Labour of the Basque Country (PTE)	353	0.64	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	136	0.25	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	0	0.00	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		138	0.25	n/a
Total		55,119			27	n/a
Valid votes		55,119	99.06	n/a
Invalid votes		525	0.94	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		55,644	61.13	n/a
Abstentions		35,387	38.87	n/a
Registered voters		91,031
Sources [1] [3] [4]

Basauri

Population: 53,946

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Basauri election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	6,800	34.97	n/a	10	n/a
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	4,838	24.88	n/a	7	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	3,416	17.56	n/a	5	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	1,647	8.47	n/a	2	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	1,158	5.95	n/a	1	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	948	4.87	n/a	0	n/a
	Party of Labour of the Basque Country (PTE)	241	1.24	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	211	1.08	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		189	0.97	n/a
Total		19,448			25	n/a
Valid votes		19,448	98.10	n/a
Invalid votes		376	1.90	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		19,824	54.19	n/a
Abstentions		16,759	45.81	n/a
Registered voters		36,583
Sources [1] [3] [4]

Bilbao

Population: 450,661

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Bilbao election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	75,791	39.25	n/a	13	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	33,315	17.25	n/a	6	n/a
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	33,187	17.19	n/a	5	n/a
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	26,888	13.93	n/a	4	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	10,625	5.50	n/a	1	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	7,740	4.01	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	2,181	1.13	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	1,042	0.54	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	847	0.44	n/a	0	n/a
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh)	651	0.34	n/a	0	n/a
	Republican Left (IR)	286	0.15	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		525	0.27	n/a
Total		193,078			29	n/a
Valid votes		193,078	99.10	n/a
Invalid votes		1,751	0.90	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		194,829	59.48	n/a
Abstentions		132,743	40.52	n/a
Registered voters		327,572
Sources [1] [3] [4] [5]

Guecho

Population: 63,926

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Guecho election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	11,849	45.25	n/a	13	n/a
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	6,073	23.19	n/a	7	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	4,380	16.73	n/a	4	n/a
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	1,686	6.44	n/a	1	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	1,144	4.37	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	673	2.57	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	192	0.73	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	119	0.45	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		67	0.26	n/a
Total		26,183			25	n/a
Valid votes		26,183	99.28	n/a
Invalid votes		191	0.72	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		26,374	62.24	n/a
Abstentions		16,002	37.76	n/a
Registered voters		42,376
Sources [1] [3] [4]

Irún

Population: 53,921

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Irún election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	6,184	28.30	n/a	9	n/a
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	5,962	27.29	n/a	8	n/a
	Uranzu–Independent Candidacy (Uranzu)	2,545	11.65	n/a	3	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	2,465	11.28	n/a	3	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	2,035	9.31	n/a	2	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	946	4.33	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	623	2.85	n/a	0	n/a
	Carlist Party (EKA/PC)	367	1.68	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	225	1.03	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	101	0.46	n/a	0	n/a
	Party of Labour of the Basque Country (PTE)	0	0.00	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		396	1.81	n/a
Total		21,849			25	n/a
Valid votes		21,849	98.26	n/a
Invalid votes		387	1.74	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		22,236	59.25	n/a
Abstentions		15,290	40.75	n/a
Registered voters		37,526
Sources [1] [3] [4]

Portugalete

Population: 56,501

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Portugalete election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	6,659	30.83	n/a	9	n/a
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	6,548	30.31	n/a	8	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	3,122	14.45	n/a	4	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	2,821	13.06	n/a	3	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	1,439	6.66	n/a	1	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	399	1.85	n/a	0	n/a
	Party of Labour of the Basque Country (PTE)	0	0.00	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	0	0.00	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		653	3.02	n/a
Total		21,602			25	n/a
Valid votes		21,602	97.44	n/a
Invalid votes		567	2.56	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		22,169	53.30	n/a
Abstentions		19,421	46.70	n/a
Registered voters		41,590
Sources [1] [3] [4]

Rentería

Population: 48,586

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Rentería election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	4,845	25.83	n/a	6	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	4,801	25.60	n/a	6	n/a
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	3,981	21.22	n/a	5	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	1,780	9.49	n/a	2	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	1,190	6.34	n/a	1	n/a
	Socialist Unification of the Basque Country (ESEI)	973	5.19	n/a	1	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	599	3.19	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	259	1.38	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	170	0.91	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		159	0.85	n/a
Total		18,757			21	n/a
Valid votes		18,757	97.87	n/a
Invalid votes		409	2.13	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		19,166	59.89	n/a
Abstentions		12,836	40.11	n/a
Registered voters		32,002
Sources [1] [3] [4]

San Sebastián

Population: 174,818

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of San Sebastián election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	21,539	29.81	n/a	9	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	15,079	20.87	n/a	6	n/a
	Independent Coordinator (UCD–DCV) (CI)	11,896	16.46	n/a	5	n/a
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	11,420	15.80	n/a	4	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	8,402	11.63	n/a	3	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	1,667	2.31	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	1,081	1.50	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	539	0.75	n/a	0	n/a
	Carlist Party (EKA/PC)	298	0.41	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	141	0.20	n/a	0	n/a
	Party of Labour of the Basque Country (PTE)	3	0.00	n/a	0	n/a
	Foral Union of the Basque Country (UFPV)	1	0.00	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		200	0.28	n/a
Total		72,266			27	n/a
Valid votes		72,266	99.30	n/a
Invalid votes		507	0.70	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		72,773	55.13	n/a
Abstentions		59,233	44.87	n/a
Registered voters		132,006
Sources [1] [3] [4]

Santurce Antiguo

Population: 54,470

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Santurce Antiguo election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	5,459	25.12	n/a	7	n/a
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	5,010	23.05	n/a	6	n/a
	Popular Unity (HB)	4,915	22.61	n/a	6	n/a
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	2,225	10.24	n/a	3	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	1,969	9.06	n/a	2	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	1,227	5.65	n/a	1	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	434	2.00	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	279	1.28	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	155	0.71	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		61	0.28	n/a
Total		21,734			25	n/a
Valid votes		21,734	99.09	n/a
Invalid votes		200	0.91	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		21,934	58.35	n/a
Abstentions		15,654	41.65	n/a
Registered voters		37,588
Sources [1] [3] [4]

Vitoria

Population: 181,216

Summary of the 3 April 1979 City Council of Vitoria election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	25,357	32.15	n/a	10	n/a
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	20,374	25.83	n/a	8	n/a
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	14,551	18.45	n/a	6	n/a
	Independents of Vitoria (IV)	7,989	10.13	n/a	3	n/a
	Basque Country Left (EE)	3,754	4.76	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	3,042	3.86	n/a	0	n/a
	Independents (INDEP)	1,458	1.85	n/a	0	n/a
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	1,020	1.29	n/a	0	n/a
	Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (EMK–OIC)	639	0.81	n/a	0	n/a
	Revolutionary Communist League (LKI/LCR)	429	0.54	n/a	0	n/a
Blank ballots		268	0.34	n/a
Total		78,881			27	n/a
Valid votes		78,881	99.31	n/a
Invalid votes		549	0.69	n/a
Votes cast / turnout		79,430	64.40	n/a
Abstentions		43,918	35.60	n/a
Registered voters		123,348
Sources [1] [3] [4]

General Assemblies

Further information: 1979 Basque foral elections

References

1. Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones Municipales en Euskadi y Navarra (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2025.
2. "Elecciones Municipales. 3 de abril de 1979. Euskadi". eldiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2025.
3. "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior . Retrieved 23 December 2025.
4. "Resultados Electorales" (in Spanish). Basque Government . Retrieved 28 December 2025.
5. Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones municipales en Bilbao (Bilbo) (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2025.