2008 Spanish general election

Date

The term of each chamber of the Cortes Generales—the Congress and the Senate—expired four years from the date of their previous election, unless they were dissolved earlier.^[5] The election decree was required to be issued no later than 25 days before the scheduled expiration date of parliament and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE), with election day taking place 54 days after the decree's publication.^[6] The previous election was held on 14 March 2004, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 14 March 2008. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 19 February 2008, setting the latest possible date for election day on 13 April 2008.

The prime minister had the prerogative to propose the monarch 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 after a previous one.^[7] 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.^[8] Barring this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections to the Congress and the Senate.^[9] Still, as of 2026, there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution.

In November 2007, it was announced by Andalusian president Manuel Chaves that he had agreed with Zapatero to hold the regional election in Andalusia simultaneously with the 2008 Spanish general election in March.^[10][11] The Cortes Generales were officially dissolved on 15 January 2008 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 9 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 1 April.^[12]

Electoral system

Voting for each chamber of the Cortes Generales was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age with full political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.^[13][14]

The Congress of Deputies had a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 400 seats, with electoral provisions fixing its size at 350. Of these, 348 were elected in 50 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the provinces of Spain—each of which was assigned an initial minimum of two seats and the remaining 248 distributed in proportion to population—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a three percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency. The remaining two seats were allocated to Ceuta and Melilla as single-member districts elected by plurality voting.^[15] The use of this electoral method resulted in a higher effective threshold depending on district magnitude and vote distribution.^[16]

As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled the following seats:^[17]

208 Senate seats were elected using open-list partial block voting: voters in constituencies electing four seats could choose up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, up to two; and in single-member districts, one. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces was allocated four seats, while in insular provinces—such as the Balearic and Canary Islands—the districts were the islands themselves, with the larger ones (Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife) being allocated three seats each, and the smaller ones (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 seat per million inhabitants.^[18][19]

The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacant seats; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.^[20]

Outgoing parliament

The tables below show the composition of the parliamentary groups in both chambers at the time of dissolution.^[21][22]

Nomination rules

Spanish citizens with the right to vote could run for election, provided that they had not been criminally imprisoned by a final sentence or convicted—whether final or not—of offences that involved loss of eligibility or disqualification from public office (such as rebellion, terrorism or other crimes against the state). Additional causes of ineligibility applied to the following officials:^[27]

• Members of the Spanish royal family and their spouses;
• Holders of a number of senior public or institutional posts, including the heads and members of higher courts and state institutions;^[c] the Ombudsman; the State's Attorney General; high-ranking officials of government departments, the Office of the Prime Minister and other state agencies; government delegates in the autonomous communities; the director-general of RTVE; the director of the Electoral Register Office; the governor and deputy governor of the Bank of Spain; the heads of official credit institutions; and members of electoral commissions and of the Nuclear Safety Council;
• Heads of diplomatic missions abroad;
• Judges and public prosecutors in active service;
• Members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement bodies in active service.

Other ineligibility provisions also applied to a number of territorial officials in these categories within their areas of jurisdiction, as well as to employees of foreign states and members of regional governments.^[27]

Incompatibility rules included those of ineligibility, and also barred running in multiple constituencies or lists, and combining legislative roles (deputy, senator, and regional lawmaker) with each other or with:^[28]

• A number of senior public or institutional posts, including the presidency of the National Commission on Markets and Competition; and leadership positions in RTVE, government offices, public authorities (such as port authorities, hydrographic confederations, or highway concessionary companies), public entities and state-owned or publicly funded companies;
• Any other paid public or private position, except university teaching.

Parties and lists

The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list.^[29] Amendments in 2007 required a balanced composition of men and women in the electoral lists, so that candidates of either sex made up at least 40 percent of the total composition.^[30]

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

More information Candidacy, Parties and alliances ...

Candidacy		Parties and alliances	Leading candidate		Ideology	Previous result				Gov.	Ref.
						Congress		Senate
						Vote %	Seats	Vote %	Seats
	PSOE	List Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Extremaduran Coalition (PREx–CREx) – Extremaduran Regionalist Party (PREx) – Regionalist Convergence of Extremadura (CREx) Coalition for Melilla (CpM) Ibiza for Change (ExC) – United Left of Ibiza (EU) – The Greens (Verds) – Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE) – Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) PSOE–EU–PSM–Verds (PSOE–EU–PSM–Verds) – United Left of Menorca (EU) – Socialist Party of Menorca (PSM) – The Greens (Verds)		José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	Social democracy	42.6%	164	36.5%	81		[31] [32]
	PP	List People's Party (PP) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Independents of Fuerteventura (IF)		Mariano Rajoy	Conservatism Christian democracy	37.7%	148	37.9%	102		[33] [34]
	CiU	List Convergence and Union (CiU) – Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) – Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC)		Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida	Catalan nationalism Centrism	3.2%	10	3.8%	4		[35] [36]
	esquerra	List Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)		Joan Ridao	Catalan independence Left-wing nationalism Social democracy	2.5%	8	—N/a[d]			[37]
	EAJ/PNV	List Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)		Josu Erkoreka	Basque nationalism Christian democracy	1.6%	7	1.7%	6
	IU	List United Left (IU) – Communist Party of Spain (PCE) – Collective for the Unity of Workers–Andalusian Left Bloc (CUT–BAI) – Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR) Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and Alternative Left (ICV–EUiA) – Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) – United and Alternative Left (EUiA) United Left–Greens (EB–B) Bloc for Asturias (BA) The Greens of Asturias (LVA) The Greens of Majorca (LVM) United and Republican Left (EUPV–IR) – United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV) – Republican Left (IR)		Gaspar Llamazares	Socialism Communism	5.0%	5	4.1%	0		[38]
	CC–PNC	List Canarian Coalition (CC) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI)		Ana Oramas	Regionalism Canarian nationalism Centrism	0.9%	3	0.6%	3		[39]
	BNG	List Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) – Galician People's Union (UPG) – Socialist Collective (CS) – Galician Nationalist Party–Galicianist Party (PNG–PG) – Nationalist Left (EN) – Inzar (Inzar) – Movement for the Grassroots (MpB) – Irmandiño Meeting (EI)		Francisco Jorquera	Galician nationalism Left-wing nationalism Socialism	0.8%	2	1.1%	0		[40] [41]
	CHA	List Aragonese Union (CHA)		Bizén Fuster	Aragonese nationalism Eco-socialism	0.4%	1	0.3%	0		[42]
	EA	List Basque Solidarity (EA)		Nekane Altzelai	Basque nationalism Social democracy	0.3%	1	0.3%	0		[43]
	NaBai	List Basque Solidarity (EA) Aralar (Aralar) Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) Assembly (Batzarre)		Uxue Barkos	Basque nationalism Social democracy	0.2%	1	0.3%	0		[44]
	PSC–ERC– ICV–EUiA	List Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) United and Alternative Left (EUiA)		Maite Arqué	Catalanism Social democracy Eco-socialism	—N/a		8.7%	12		[45]
	UPyD	List Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)		Rosa Díez	Social liberalism Radical centrism	Did not contest					[46] [47]

Close

In the Canary Islands, an alliance was formed between New Canaries (NC) and Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN), two splinter groups from Canarian Coalition.^[48] In the Valencian Community, Valencian People's Initiative (IdPV)—splinter from United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV)—joined a coalition with the Valencian Nationalist Bloc (Bloc) and The Greens–Ecologist Left of the Valencian Country (EVEE).^[49] Unity for the Isles, an electoral alliance based in the Balearic Islands, was formed by PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN), Majorcan Union (UM), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Agreement for Majorca (ExM) and The Greens of Menorca (EV–Me).^[50]

Timetable

The key dates are listed below (all times are CET. The Canary Islands used WET (UTC+0) instead):^[51]

• 14 January: The election decree is issued with the countersign of the prime minister, after deliberation in the Council of Ministers, ratified by the King.
• 15 January: Formal dissolution of parliament and start of prohibition period on the inauguration of public works, services or projects.
• 18 January: Initial constitution of provincial and zone electoral commissions with judicial members.
• 21 January: Division of constituencies into polling sections and stations.
• 25 January: Deadline for parties and federations to report on their electoral alliances.
• 28 January: Deadline for electoral register consultation for the purpose of possible corrections.
• 4 February: Deadline for parties, federations, alliances, and groupings of electors to present electoral lists.
• 6 February: Publication of submitted electoral lists in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
• 9 February: Deadline for non-resident citizens (electors residing abroad (CERA) and citizens temporarily absent from Spain) to apply for voting.
• 11 February: Official proclamation of validly submitted electoral lists.
• 12 February: Publication of proclaimed electoral lists in the BOE.
• 13 February: Deadline for the selection of polling station members by sortition.
• 21 February: Deadline for the appointment of non-judicial members to provincial and zone electoral commissions.
• 22 February: Official start of electoral campaigning.^[52]
• 28 February: Deadline to apply for postal voting.
• 4 March: Start of legal ban on electoral opinion polling publication; deadline for CERA citizens to vote by mail.
• 5 March: Deadline for postal and temporarily absent voting.
• 7 March: Last day of electoral campaigning;^[52] deadline for CERA voting.
• 8 March: Official election silence ("reflection day").
• 9 March: Election day (polling stations open at 9 am and close at 8 pm or once voters present in a queue at/outside the polling station at 8 pm have cast their vote); provisional vote counting.
• 12 March: Start of general vote counting, including CERA votes.
• 15 March: Deadline for the general vote counting.
• 24 March: Deadline for the proclamation of elected members.
• 3 April: Deadline for the reconvening of parliament (date determined by the election decree, which for the 2008 election was set for 1 April).^[12][53]
• 3 May: Deadline for the publication of definitive election results in the BOE.

Party slogans

Although the official electoral campaign period in Spain only lasts for the 15 days before the election, (with the exception of the day just before the election), many parties, especially the PP and PSOE, start their "pre-campaigns" months in advance, often before having finalised their electoral lists.

The first phase campaign was done under the slogan "Con Z de Zapatero" (With Z of Zapatero), a joke based on the Prime Minister and socialist candidate's habit of tending to pronounce words ending with D as if they ended with Z. The campaign was linked to terms like equality (Igualdad-Igualdaz) or solidarity (Solidaridad-Solidaridaz), emphasizing the policies carried out by the current government. The second phase was done under the slogan "La Mirada Positiva" (The Positive outlook), emphasising the future government platform, and "Vota con todas tus fuerzas" (Vote with all of your strength), aiming to mobilize the indecisive or potentially abstaining voters. Another common slogan through all the campaign was "Motivos para creer" (Reasons to believe in).

For the pre-campaign the PP used the slogan "Con Rajoy es Posible" (With Rajoy it's Possible). Usually emphasizing PP's campaign proposals, such as "Llegar a fin de mes, Con Rajoy es Posible" (Making ends meet, With Rajoy it's Possible). IU accused PP of copying its slogan from the last municipal elections^[69]

IU chose the pre-campaign slogan "LlamazarES + Más Izquierda" (LlamazarES (is) More Left), calling attention to their position as the third national party.

Events and issues

The economy became a major campaign issue due to a number of factors:

• A slowing down in the housing market, with prices even beginning to fall in some areas.
• Sharp increases in prices of some basic commodities.
• Global instability as a result of market uncertainty.
• A rise in unemployment.

The sudden emergence of the economy as a political issue came after several years of steady economic growth, and led some observers to suggest that maybe the government would have benefitted from calling an earlier election.^[70] In addition to those factors both the PP and the PSOE made competing proposals on taxation.

Debates

Opinion polls

More information Debate, Polling firm/Commissioner ...

Candidate viewed as "performing best" or "most convincing" in each debate

Debate	Polling firm/Commissioner	PSOE	PP	Tie	None	?
21 February	TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[71]	47.4	37.0	–	15.6	–
25 February	Sigma Dos/El Mundo[78][79]	45.5	42.0	–	–	12.5
	Metroscopia/El País[80]	46.0	42.0	12.0	–	–
	Opina/Cuatro[81]	45.4	33.4	8.2	–	13.0
	Invymark/laSexta[81]	45.7	30.1	24.1	–	–
	TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[82]	45.4	39.3	–	15.3	–
3 March	Sigma Dos/El Mundo[83]	49.0	40.2	–	–	10.8
	Metroscopia/El País[84]	53.0	38.0	9.0	–	–
	Opina/Cuatro[85]	50.8	29.0	13.4	–	6.8
	Invymark/laSexta[86]	49.2	29.8	21.0	–	–
	CIS[87]	53.3	21.5	6.9	15.8	2.5

Close

Congress of Deputies

More information Parties and alliances, Popular vote ...

← Summary of the 9 March 2008 Congress of Deputies election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	11,289,335	43.87	+1.28	169	+5
	People's Party (PP)	10,278,010	39.94	+2.23	154	+6
	United Left (IU)	969,946	3.77	−1.19	2	−3
	Convergence and Union (CiU)	779,425	3.03	−0.20	10	±0
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	306,128	1.19	−0.44	6	−1
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)	306,079	1.19	New	1	+1
	Republican Left of Catalonia (esquerra)	298,139	1.16	−1.36	3	−5
	Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)	212,543	0.83	+0.02	2	±0
	Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)1	174,629	0.68	−0.25	2	−1
	Andalusian Coalition (CA)2	68,679	0.27	−0.52	0	±0
	Navarre Yes (NaBai)	62,398	0.24	±0.00	1	±0
	Basque Solidarity (EA)	50,371	0.20	−0.11	0	−1
	The Greens (Verdes)	49,355	0.19	−0.01	0	±0
	The Greens (Verdes)	41,531	0.16	+0.10	0	±0
	The Greens (EV–LV)3	7,824	0.03	−0.11	0	±0
	Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)	46,313	0.18	New	0	±0
	Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA)	44,795	0.17	New	0	±0
	Aragonese Party (PAR)	40,054	0.16	+0.02	0	±0
	Aragonese Union (CHA)	38,202	0.15	−0.21	0	−1
	New Canaries–Canarian Centre (NC–CCN)	38,024	0.15	New	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV)	30,840	0.12	+0.07	0	±0
	Aralar (Aralar)	29,989	0.12	−0.03	0	±0
	Bloc–Initiative–Greens (Bloc–IdPV–EVEE)	29,760	0.12	−0.04	0	±0
	Unity for the Isles (UIB)4	25,454	0.10	−0.10	0	±0
	For a Fairer World (PUM+J)	23,318	0.09	New	0	±0
	The Greens of Europe (LVdE)5	20,419	0.08	±0.00	0	±0
	Social Democratic Party (PSD)	20,126	0.08	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)	20,030	0.08	+0.03	0	±0
	Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB)	14,193	0.06	−0.10	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS)	14,023	0.05	±0.00	0	±0
	National Democracy (DN)	12,836	0.05	−0.01	0	±0
	The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative (EV–AE)	12,561	0.05	−0.07	0	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFyV)	9,882	0.04	−0.02	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	9,056	0.04	−0.04	0	±0
	Party of Almería (PdeAL)	8,451	0.03	New	0	±0
	Navarrese Cannabis Representation (RCN/NOK)	7,769	0.03	−0.04	0	±0
	Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)	7,386	0.03	±0.00	0	±0
	Spanish Alternative (AES)	7,300	0.03	New	0	±0
	Spain 2000 (E–2000)	6,906	0.03	+0.01	0	±0
	Catalan Republican Party (RC)	6,746	0.03	New	0	±0
	Valencian Coalition (CVa)	5,424	0.02	New	0	±0
	Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD)	5,035	0.02	+0.01	0	±0
	Commoners' Land (TC)	4,796	0.02	−0.01	0	±0
	Authentic Phalanx (FA)	4,607	0.02	±0.00	0	±0
	Leonese People's Union (UPL)	4,509	0.02	−0.03	0	±0
	Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn)	3,885	0.02	New	0	±0
	Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD)	3,829	0.01	New	0	±0
	Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA)	3,050	0.01	New	0	±0
	Republican Left (IR)	2,899	0.01	−0.06	0	±0
	Riojan Party (PR)	2,837	0.01	New	0	±0
	National Alliance (AN)	2,737	0.01	+0.01	0	±0
	Alternative in Blank (ABLA)	2,460	0.01	New	0	±0
	United Extremadura (EU)	2,346	0.01	−0.01	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV)	2,028	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Carlist Party (PC)	1,956	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Party for Catalonia (PxCat)	1,919	0.01	New	0	±0
	Non-Smokers' Party (PNF)	1,616	0.01	New	0	±0
	Union for Leganés (ULEG)	1,566	0.01	New	0	±0
	Spanish Front (Frente)	1,539	0.01	New	0	±0
	Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL)	1,503	0.01	New	0	±0
	Valencian Nationalist Option (ONV)	1,490	0.01	New	0	±0
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	1,362	0.01	−0.12	0	±0
	Andecha Astur (AA)	1,299	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL)	1,278	0.00	−0.01	0	±0
	Spanish Democratic Centre (CDEs)	1,047	0.00	New	0	±0
	Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC)	1,017	0.00	New	0	±0
	Civil Liberties Party (PLCI)	888	0.00	New	0	±0
	Unity (Unidá)	848	0.00	New	0	±0
	Liberal Party of State Employment and Housing (PLEVE)	786	0.00	New	0	±0
	Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI))	722	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Unity of the People (UP)	699	0.00	New	0	±0
	For the Valencian Republic (plRV)	645	0.00	New	0	±0
	Centrist Party (PCTR)	509	0.00	New	0	±0
	Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC)	497	0.00	New	0	±0
	Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA)	475	0.00	New	0	±0
	Citizens' Union–Independent Progressives of Canaries (UC–PIC)	464	0.00	New	0	±0
	Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV)	449	0.00	−0.01	0	±0
	Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL)	423	0.00	New	0	±0
	State of Spain Unionist Party (PUEDE)	414	0.00	New	0	±0
	People of El Bierzo (PB–UB)	385	0.00	New	0	±0
	Islander Party of the Balearic Islands (PIIB)	360	0.00	New	0	±0
	Christian Positivist Party (PPCr)	300	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC)	218	0.00	New	0	±0
	Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS)	216	0.00	New	0	±0
	Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC)	202	0.00	New	0	±0
	Castilian Unity (UdCa)	198	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	European Ibero-American Alliance Party (PAIE)	174	0.00	New	0	±0
	Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD)	159	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU)	152	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Balearic Alliance (ABA)	145	0.00	New	0	±0
	Electronic Voting Assembly (AVE)	144	0.00	New	0	±0
	Liberal Centrist Union (UCL)	124	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Alliance for Burgos (AxB)	123	0.00	New	0	±0
	Burgalese Citizen Initiative (ICBur)	109	0.00	New	0	±0
	We Are (N Som)	105	0.00	New	0	±0
	Independents for Cuenca (ixC)	100	0.00	New	0	±0
	Citizens' Group (AGRUCI)	79	0.00	New	0	±0
	Falangist Movement of Spain (MFE)	68	0.00	New	0	±0
	Aitch Party (PHache)	0	0.00	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		286,182	1.11	−0.47
Total		25,734,863			350	±0
Valid votes		25,734,863	99.36	+0.37
Invalid votes		165,576	0.64	−0.37
Votes cast / turnout		25,900,439	73.85	−1.81
Abstentions		9,172,740	26.15	+1.81
Registered voters		35,073,179
Sources[88][89][90][91]
Footnotes: 1 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition and the Canarian Nationalist Party in the 2004 election. 2 Andalusian Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Socialist Party of Andalusia in the 2004 election. 3 The Greens results are compared to The Eco-pacifist Greens totals in the 2004 election. 4 Unity for the Isles results are compared to the combined totals of Progressives for the Balearic Islands and Majorcan Union in the 2004 election. 5 The Greens of Europe results are compared to The Greens of the Community of Madrid totals in the 2004 election.

Close

Senate

More information Parties and alliances, Popular vote ...

← Summary of the 9 March 2008 Senate of Spain election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	28,039,592	40.20	+2.28	101	−1
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1	25,965,221	37.22	+0.74	86	+5
	Catalan Agreement of Progress (PSC–ERC–ICV–EUiA)	5,280,590	7.57	−1.09	12	±0
	Convergence and Union (CiU)	2,437,338	3.49	−0.31	4	±0
	United Left (IU)2	2,015,249	2.89	−1.17	0	±0
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	903,072	1.29	−0.45	2	−4
	Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)	726,317	1.04	−0.03	0	±0
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)	691,695	0.99	New	0	±0
	Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party (CC–PNC)3	302,729	0.43	−0.16	1	−2
	Andalusian Coalition (CA)4	229,917	0.33	−0.47	0	±0
	Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)	200,242	0.29	New	0	±0
	Navarre Yes (NaBai)	183,873	0.26	+0.01	0	±0
	The Greens (Verdes)	181,253	0.26	+0.09	0	±0
	The Greens (Verdes)	162,124	0.23	+0.15	0	±0
	The Greens (EV–LV)5	19,129	0.03	−0.06	0	±0
	Basque Solidarity (EA)	143,294	0.21	−0.10	0	±0
	For a Fairer World (PUM+J)	133,678	0.19	New	0	±0
	Aragonese Party (PAR)	132,738	0.19	+0.01	0	±0
	Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA)	132,171	0.19	+0.10	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV)	112,561	0.16	+0.13	0	±0
	Aragonese Union (CHA)	107,282	0.15	−0.17	0	±0
	Bloc–Initiative–Greens (Bloc–IdPV–EVEE)	92,588	0.13	−0.06	0	±0
	Aralar (Aralar)	75,476	0.11	−0.02	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)	66,163	0.10	+0.03	0	±0
	New Canaries–Canarian Centre (NC–CCN)	65,248	0.09	New	0	±0
	The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative (EV–AE)	58,725	0.08	−0.20	0	±0
	The Greens of Europe (LVdE)6	50,067	0.07	+0.03	0	±0
	Unity for the Isles (UIB)7	45,972	0.07	−0.03	0	±0
	Catalan Republican Party (RC)	44,394	0.06	New	0	±0
	Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC)	44,050	0.06	+0.03	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS)	42,112	0.06	±0.00	0	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFyV)	41,599	0.06	+0.01	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	38,437	0.06	−0.06	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV)	33,776	0.05	+0.04	0	±0
	Social Democratic Party (PSD)	31,703	0.05	New	0	±0
	Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)	28,197	0.04	−0.04	0	±0
	Republican Left of the Valencian Country (esquerra–PV)	28,089	0.04	+0.01	0	±0
	Party of Almería (PdeAL)	27,651	0.04	New	0	±0
	PSOE–Ibiza for Change (PSOE–ExC)8	26,513	0.04	+0.01	1	+1
	National Democracy (DN)	25,140	0.04	+0.01	0	±0
	Carlist Party (PC)	23,685	0.03	+0.02	0	±0
	Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn)	23,531	0.03	New	0	±0
	Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA)	22,141	0.03	New	0	±0
	Commoners' Land (TC)	21,995	0.03	−0.03	0	±0
	Spanish Alternative (AES)	21,570	0.03	New	0	±0
	Leonese People's Union (UPL)	21,227	0.03	−0.05	0	±0
	PSOE–Left of Menorca–PSM–Greens (PSOE–EU–PSM–Verds)9	21,023	0.03	±0.00	1	+1
	Nation and Revolution (NyR)	19,044	0.03	New	0	±0
	Republican Left (IR)	19,005	0.03	−0.01	0	±0
	Spain 2000 (E–2000)	17,897	0.03	+0.01	0	±0
	United Extremadura (EU)	15,110	0.02	−0.01	0	±0
	National Alliance (AN)	13,113	0.02	+0.02	0	±0
	Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD)	12,149	0.02	+0.01	0	±0
	Alternative in Blank (ABLA)	11,974	0.02	New	0	±0
	Riojan Party (PR)	10,482	0.02	New	0	±0
	Spanish Front (Frente)	10,418	0.01	New	0	±0
	Valencian Coalition (CVa)	10,330	0.01	New	0	±0
	Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL)	10,057	0.01	New	0	±0
	Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD)	9,438	0.01	New	0	±0
	Navarrese Cannabis Representation (RCN/NOK)	8,234	0.01	−0.07	0	±0
	Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI))	8,224	0.01	−0.01	0	±0
	Valencian Nationalist Option (ONV)	7,159	0.01	New	0	±0
	Non-Smokers' Party (PNF)	7,000	0.01	New	0	±0
	Party for Catalonia (PxCat)	6,805	0.01	New	0	±0
	Spanish Catholic Movement (MCE)	6,234	0.01	New	0	±0
	Authentic Phalanx (FA)	5,213	0.01	−0.02	0	±0
	Commoners (comuner@s)	5,149	0.01	New	0	±0
	Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC)	4,988	0.01	New	0	±0
	Andecha Astur (AA)	4,964	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL)	4,851	0.01	±0.00	0	±0
	Spanish Democratic Centre (CDEs)	4,522	0.01	New	0	±0
	Citizen Union for Democracy (UCiD)	3,999	0.01	New	0	±0
	Natural Culture (CN)	3,687	0.01	+0.01	0	±0
	Union for Leganés (ULEG)	3,096	0.00	New	0	±0
	Yuntar Action (AY)	3,000	0.00	−0.10	0	±0
	Unity (Unidá)	2,962	0.00	New	0	±0
	Citizens' Group (AGRUCI)	2,806	0.00	New	0	±0
	Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL)	2,563	0.00	New	0	±0
	The Republic (La República)	2,517	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB)	2,507	0.00	−0.05	0	±0
	Unity of the People (UP)	2,350	0.00	New	0	±0
	Action for Justice (AXJ)	2,223	0.00	New	0	±0
	Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV)	2,087	0.00	−0.01	0	±0
	Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA)	1,615	0.00	New	0	±0
	For the Valencian Republic (plRV)	1,485	0.00	New	0	±0
	People of El Bierzo (PB–UB)	1,417	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC)	1,323	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Merindades of Castile Initiative (IMC)	1,311	0.00	New	0	±0
	Electronic Voting Assembly (AVE)	1,273	0.00	New	0	±0
	Cantabrian Party (Cántabro)	1,189	0.00	New	0	±0
	Independent Alternative of Galicia (AIdG)	1,150	0.00	New	0	±0
	Castilian Unity (UdCa)	942	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Aragonese Land (TA)	928	0.00	New	0	±0
	Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS)	925	0.00	New	0	±0
	25 May Citizens' Alternative (AC25M)	773	0.00	−0.01	0	±0
	Civil Liberties Party (PLCI)	712	0.00	New	0	±0
	Islander Party of the Balearic Islands (PIIB)	683	0.00	New	0	±0
	Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU)	656	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC)	639	0.00	New	0	±0
	Christian Positivist Party (PPCr)	638	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Galician Identity (IG)	590	0.00	New	0	±0
	Citizens' Union–Independent Progressives of Canaries (UC–PIC)	494	0.00	New	0	±0
	Progress Party of Castile and León Cities (PPCCAL)	484	0.00	New	0	±0
	Spanish Democratic Front (FDE)	459	0.00	New	0	±0
	Alternative Island (ISAL)	449	0.00	New	0	±0
	Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD)	403	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Republican Castile (CARE)	400	0.00	New	0	±0
	Burgalese Citizen Initiative (ICBur)	379	0.00	New	0	±0
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	341	0.00	−0.13	0	±0
	Independents for Cuenca (ixC)	309	0.00	New	0	±0
	Liberal Centrist Union (UCL)	235	0.00	±0.00	0	±0
	Falangist Movement of Spain (MFE)	218	0.00	New	0	±0
	Justice and Development Party of Spain (PJDE)	105	0.00	New	0	±0
Blank ballots[i]		524,750	2.06	−0.61
Total		69,753,316			208	±0
Valid votes		25,527,940	97.71	+0.62
Invalid votes		597,299	2.29	−0.62
Votes cast / turnout		26,125,239	74.49	−1.26
Abstentions		8,947,940	25.51	+1.26
Registered voters		35,073,179
Sources[22][88][89][90][92][93]
Footnotes: 1 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to Spanish Socialist Workers' Party totals in the 2004 election, not including results in Fuerteventura and Menorca. 2 United Left results are compared to United Left totals in the 2004 election, not including results in Menorca. 3 Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition and the Canarian Nationalist Party in the 2004 election. 4 Andalusian Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Socialist Party of Andalusia in the 2004 election. 5 The Greens results are compared to The Eco-pacifist Greens totals in the 2004 election. 6 The Greens of Europe results are compared to The Greens of the Community of Madrid totals in the 2004 election. 7 Unity for the Isles results are compared to the combined totals of Progressives for the Balearic Islands and Majorcan Union in Majorca in the 2004 election. 8 PSOE–Ibiza for Change results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and Progressives for the Balearic Islands in Ibiza–Formentera in the 2004 election. 9 PSOE–Left of Menorca–PSM–Greens results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in Menorca, Socialist Party of Menorca–Nationalist Agreement and Left of Menorca in the 2004 election.

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Maps

• 
  Election results by constituency (Congress).
• 
  Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress).
• 
  Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress).

Government formation

More information Ballot →, 9 April 2008 ...

Investiture Congress of Deputies Nomination of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE)
Ballot →		9 April 2008	11 April 2008
Required majority →		176 out of 350 N	Simple Y
	Yes • PSOE (169) (168 on 9 Apr)	168 / 350	169 / 350
	No • PP (154) • ERC (3) • UPyD (1)	158 / 350	158 / 350
	Abstentions • CiU (10) • PNV (6) • IU–ICV (2) • BNG (2) • CC (2) • NaBai (1)	23 / 350	23 / 350
	Abstentees • PSOE (1) (on 9 Apr)	1 / 350	0 / 350
Sources[94]

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