Next PSOE federal party congress

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Next PSOE federal party congress
← 2024
No later than 2028
All delegates in the Federal Congress
Plurality of delegates needed to win
Opinion polls
 
Candidate Pedro Sánchez
Incumbent Party leader

Pedro Sánchez


The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) is expected to hold its 42nd federal congress no later than 2028, to renovate its governing bodies—including the post of secretary-general, which amounts to that of party leader, through a primary election—and establish the party platform and policy until the next congress.

The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) was briefly thrown into disarray in April 2024 after party leader and prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, announced a five-day reflection on his political future—a result of a judicial investigation on his wife, Begoña Gómez—during which he remained silent and self-confined in the prime ministerial residence at Moncloa Palace, with no apparent successor in the event of a prospective resignation.[1] Sánchez ultimately chose to continue, but the crisis evidenced what was described as Sánchez's "hyper-leadership" over his party, which made it difficult to find a replacement.[2] Subsequently, the PSOE congress in late 2024, held one year ahead of schedule,[3] saw the introduction of a number of statutory amendments that reinforced Sánchez's position as secretary-general, such as an increase in the number of endorsements required to contest the post and the elimination of such obligation in the event of only a single candidacy being submitted.[4][5]

Overview

Role

The federal congress of the PSOE is the party's highest decision-making body, having the power to define its platform and policy, amend its statutes and internal regulations and elect its federal governing bodies,[6] which include the executive commission (responsible for the party's day-to-day management under the coordination of a secretary-general, which is the party leader) and one-third of the members in the federal committee (made up of party notables and elected representatives, which is the PSOE's highest body between congresses).[7][8]

Depending on whether a congress is held following the natural end of its term or due to any other exceptional circumstances, it can be of either ordinary or extraordinary nature. Ordinary congresses are to be held every three or four years and called at least 45 days in advance—though they can be postponed by the federal committee for up to one additional year when there are sufficient reasons to justify it—whereas extraordinary congresses can be called at any time by the federal committee or by the executive commission, as well as when requested by more than half of the party's membership, but are limited to the specific purpose for which they are convened.[6][9]

Procedure

Decisions at PSOE party congresses are adopted through delegate voting.[10] The 500 to 2,000 congress delegates—with the exact number being determined by the federal committee[6]—are elected by party members and direct affiliates of the corresponding territorial area and in full enjoyment of their political rights,[11][12] using closed list proportional representation and a majority bonus of half-plus-one of the delegates at stake being awarded to the candidacy winning a plurality of votes; the remaining delegates are distributed among all other candidacies, provided that they secure over 20 percent of the votes.[13] Candidates seeking to lead a congress delegation are required to collect the endorsements of between 15 and 20 percent of members in the territorial scope for which they seek election.[11] In the event of only one candidate meeting this requirement, the election shall be left uncontested, with such candidate being granted the right to appoint half-plus-one of the delegation and the corresponding territorial executive commission appointing the rest.[11][13]

The election of the secretary-general is on the basis of a two-round primary election system; if no candidate secures over 50 percent of votes in the first round, a second round shall be held between the two candidates receiving the most votes.[11][14] Voting in the primaries comprises all members and direct affiliates of the PSOE, the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), the Socialist Youth of Spain (JSE) and the Socialist Youth of Catalonia (JSC).[11][15] Candidates seeking to run are required to collect the endorsements of between 10 and 12 percent of members, except when only one candidacy is submitted.[11] In the event of only one candidate meeting this requirement, the primaries shall be left uncontested with such candidate being elected unopposed.[11][16]

Candidates

Candidate Notable positions Ref.

Incumbent

Incumbent secretary-general.
 Pedro Sánchez
(age 54)		 President of the Socialist International (since 2022)
Prime Minister of Spain (since 2018)
Secretary-General of the PSOE (2014–2016 and since 2017)
Member of the Congress of Deputies for Madrid
(2009–2011, 2013–2016 and since 2019)
President pro tempore of the Council of the European Union (2023)
Leader of the Opposition of Spain (2014–2016 and 2017–2018)
City Councillor of Madrid (2004–2009)		 [17]

Potential

The individuals in this section were the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy:

Declined

The individuals in this section were the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy, but publicly denied or recanted interest in running:

Opinion polls

Poll results are listed in the tables below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first, and using the date the survey's fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. If such date is unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the candidate's colour. In the instance of a tie, the figures with the highest percentages are shaded. Polls show data gathered among PSOE voters/supporters as well as Spanish voters as a whole, but not among party members, who are the ones ultimately entitled to vote in the primary election.

PSOE voters

Spanish voters

Notes

References

Bibliography

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