# 1996 Spanish general election

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1996 Spanish general election ← 1993 3 March 1996 2000 → All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 257) seats in the Senate 176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies Opinion polls Registered 32,531,833 4.8% Turnout 25,172,058 (77.4%) 1.0 pp First party Second party Third party Leader José María Aznar Felipe González Julio Anguita Party PP PSOE IU Leader since 2 September 1989 28 September 1979 12 February 1989 Leader's seat Madrid Madrid Madrid Last election 142 seats, 35.4%[a] 159 seats, 38.8% 18 seats, 9.6% Seats won 156 141 21 Seat change 14 18 3 Popular vote 9,716,006 9,425,678 2,639,774 Percentage 38.8% 37.6% 10.5% Swing 3.4 pp 1.2 pp 0.9 pp Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party Leader Joaquim Molins Iñaki Anasagasti José Carlos Mauricio Party CiU EAJ/PNV CC Leader since 1 February 1995 1986 1996 Leader's seat Barcelona Biscay Las Palmas Last election 17 seats, 4.9% 5 seats, 1.2% 4 seats, 0.9% Seats won 16 5 4 Seat change 1 0 0 Popular vote 1,151,633 318,951 220,418 Percentage 4.6% 1.3% 0.9% Swing 0.3 pp 0.1 pp 0.0 pp Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress) Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress) Election results by constituency (Congress) Prime Minister before election Felipe González PSOE Prime Minister after election José María Aznar PP

A [general election](/source/General_elections_in_Spain) was held in [Spain](/source/Spain) on 3 March 1996 to elect the members of the 6th [Cortes Generales](/source/Cortes_Generales) under the [Spanish Constitution of 1978](/source/Spanish_Constitution_of_1978). All 350 seats in the [Congress of Deputies](/source/Congress_of_Deputies) were up for election, as well as 208 of 257 seats in the [Senate](/source/Senate_of_Spain). It was held concurrently with a [regional election in Andalusia](/source/1996_Andalusian_regional_election).

Ever since forming a [minority government](/source/Minority_government) after its victory in the [1993 election](/source/1993_Spanish_general_election), the [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party](/source/Spanish_Socialist_Workers'_Party) (PSOE) had to deal with the impact of the [early 1990s recession](/source/Early_1990s_recession) in the [Spanish economy](/source/Spanish_economy), amid soaring [unemployment](/source/Unemployment), an increase in [public deficit](/source/Public_deficit) and [GDP contraction](/source/Recession). The [cabinet](/source/Fourth_government_of_Felipe_Gonz%C3%A1lez) of [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Spain) [Felipe González](/source/Felipe_Gonz%C3%A1lez) was also rocked by the unveiling of a string of [scandals](/source/Political_scandal), including accusations of funding [state terrorism](/source/State_terrorism) through the [GAL](/source/GAL_(paramilitary_group)), the [misuse of public funds](/source/Embezzlement) to pay for undeclared bonuses to high-ranking officials, [tax evasion](/source/Tax_evasion) by former and current cabinet members and illegal [espionage](/source/Espionage) by the [CESID](/source/Centro_Superior_de_Informaci%C3%B3n_de_la_Defensa), the Spanish intelligence agency. A [snap election](/source/Snap_election) was triggered after [Convergence and Union](/source/Convergence_and_Union) (CiU) withdrew its [confidence and supply](/source/Confidence_and_supply) support from the government in mid 1995 and helped vote down the 1996 [General State Budget](/source/General_State_Budget) in October that year.

The election resulted in the first PSOE defeat in a general election since [1979](/source/1979_Spanish_general_election), but predictions of a [landslide victory](/source/Landslide_victory) by the opposition [José María Aznar](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_Aznar)'s [People's Party](/source/People's_Party_(Spain)) (PP)—which had achieved resounding wins in the [European Parliament](/source/1994_European_Parliament_election_in_Spain), [local](/source/1995_Spanish_local_elections) and [regional](/source/1995_Spanish_regional_elections) elections held in 1994 and 1995, and was predicted by [opinion polls](/source/Opinion_polling_for_the_1996_Spanish_general_election) to secure an outright [overall majority](/source/Overall_majority) or come short of it by few seats—failed to materialize. Instead, the election turned into the closest result between the two major parties in the Spanish democratic period to date; a PSOE comeback, fueled by a strong 77.4% [voter turnout](/source/Voter_turnout) (the highest scored ever since) left the PP leading by just 1.2 percentage points and 290,000 votes, falling 20 seats short of an absolute majority. [Julio Anguita](/source/Julio_Anguita)'s [United Left](/source/United_Left_(Spain))—which had hoped to come close or even surpass the PSOE, in the so-called *sorpasso*—also failed to meet expectations, despite scoring over 10% in their best overall result in a general election since the [Communist Party of Spain](/source/Communist_Party_of_Spain) in [1979](/source/1979_Spanish_general_election).

At 156 seats, this would be the worst performance for a winning party in the democratic period until the [2015 election](/source/2015_Spanish_general_election). The results forced Aznar to tone down his attacks on [Catalan](/source/Catalan_nationalism) and [Basque](/source/Basque_nationalism) nationalists in order to garner their support for his investiture. After two months of negotiations, agreements were reached with CiU—the [Majestic Pact](/source/Majestic_Pact)—the [Basque Nationalist Party](/source/Basque_Nationalist_Party) and [Canarian Coalition](/source/Canarian_Coalition), enabling José María Aznar to become prime minister of a centre-right [minority cabinet](/source/First_government_of_Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_Aznar) and marking the end of over 13 years of Socialist government.

## Background

Following the victory of the ruling [Spanish Socialist Workers' Party](/source/Spanish_Socialist_Workers'_Party) (PSOE) at the [1993 general election](/source/1993_Spanish_general_election), [Felipe González](/source/Felipe_Gonz%C3%A1lez) was able to be re-elected as [prime minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Spain) for a fourth term in office through a [confidence and supply](/source/Confidence_and_supply) alliance with the [Catalan nationalist](/source/Catalan_nationalist) [Convergence and Union](/source/Convergence_and_Union) (CiU) and the support of the [Basque Nationalist Party](/source/Basque_Nationalist_Party) (PNV).[1][2]

The [international economic crisis of 1992–1993](/source/Early_1990s_recession) continued, with the [newly-elected cabinet](/source/Fourth_government_of_Felipe_Gonz%C3%A1lez) having to face the impact of [unemployment](/source/Unemployment) growth, a large [public deficit](/source/Public_deficit) and [recession](/source/Recession).[3][4][5] In an attempt to curb rising joblessness, the government passed a [labour reform](/source/Labour_reform) (legalizing [temporary work agencies](/source/Temporary_work), introducing "junk contracts", easening employers' ability to modify working condition, reducing [overtime](/source/Overtime) and [severance](/source/Severance_package) pays and making regulations on hiring and [collective bargaining](/source/Collective_bargaining) more flexible), which was met with a [general strike on 27 January 1994](/source/List_of_strikes_in_Spain).[6][7][8] Economic recovery started that year with a slow decrease of unemployment rates and a GDP growth of 2%,[9][10] but the deficit in the [social security system](/source/Social_security_in_Spain) led to the [Toledo Pact](/source/Toledo_Pact): a multi-party agreement to transfer all obligations arising from the [health care system](/source/Health_care_in_Spain) and [social assistance benefits](/source/Social_protection)—which would henceforth be financed entirely by general taxes—to the [General State Budget](/source/General_State_Budget_(Spain)), while social security contributions would be maintained to fund [pensions](/source/Pensions_in_Spain).[11][12]

The Basque separatist group [ETA](/source/ETA_(separatist_group)) maintained its activity during this period, including the [López de Hoyos bombing in Madrid](/source/1993_Madrid_bombings) which killed seven amid the 1993 government negotiations,[13] the killing of PP local councillor in [San Sebastián](/source/San_Sebasti%C3%A1n) [Gregorio Ordóñez](/source/Gregorio_Ord%C3%B3%C3%B1ez),[14] an unsuccessful attempt to kill [opposition leader](/source/Leader_of_the_Opposition_(Spain)) [José María Aznar](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_Aznar) in April 1995 with a [car bomb](/source/Car_bomb) detonated at the passing of his official car,[15] an [attempted assassination plot](/source/Attempted_assassination_of_Juan_Carlos_I) of [King Juan Carlos I](/source/King_Juan_Carlos_I) in the summer of 1995,[16] a [car bombing in Puente de Vallecas](/source/1995_Vallecas_bombing) in December 1995 which killed six,[17] and the kidnapping of prison officer [José Antonio Ortega Lara](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Antonio_Ortega_Lara) in January 1996,[18] [among others](/source/List_of_ETA_attacks).

[Luis Roldán](/source/Luis_Rold%C3%A1n) served as [director general of the Civil Guard](/source/List_of_directors_general_of_the_Civil_Guard_(Spain)) from 1986 to 1993.

The 1993–1996 period was marked by the uncovering of numerous [corruption scandals](/source/Political_scandal) affecting the ruling party. In November 1993, Spanish daily *[Diario 16](/source/Diario_16)* unveiled that the [Civil Guard](/source/Civil_Guard_(Spain)) [director general](/source/List_of_directors_general_of_the_Civil_Guard_(Spain)), [Luis Roldán](/source/Luis_Rold%C3%A1n), had amassed a large fortune since assuming office in 1986, which he proved unable to legally justify.[19] In March 1994, *[El Mundo](/source/El_Mundo_(Spain))* revealed that officers from the [interior ministry](/source/Ministry_of_the_Interior_(Spain)) had used money from the "reserved funds"—government [slush funds](/source/Slush_fund) originally intended to finance operations against [terrorism](/source/Basque_conflict) and [drug trafficking](/source/Illegal_drug_trade) and not subject to publicity, justification or external oversight[20]—to make bonus payments to high-ranking officers from the ministry, with Roldán's name appearing among the beneficiaries.[19] In April that year, both media revealed that former [Navarrese president](/source/Navarrese_president) [Gabriel Urralburu](/source/Gabriel_Urralburu) had collected millions in [kickbacks](/source/Kickback_(bribery)) through the awarding of public works during his tenure, with Roldán having also benefitted from it.[21] Roldán fled the country to escape legal prosecution, forcing interior minister [Antoni Asunción](/source/Antoni_Asunci%C3%B3n)'s resignation for failing to monitor him.[19][22] During his time on the run, Roldán admitted to having been paid bonuses from the reserved funds together with other high-ranking Interior ministry (including former minister [José Luis Corcuera](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Luis_Corcuera)) and that he was told that prime minister González was "aware of everything".[19] Roldán was captured on 27 February 1995 in [Laos](/source/Laos) amidst claims that he had reached an agreement with the PSOE government (in what would be coined as the "Laos papers") to charge the former with just two crimes—[bribery](/source/Bribery) and [embezzlement](/source/Embezzlement)—in exchange for his voluntary surrender, a claim rejected by the Spanish government.[19][23] Roldán would later be convicted for these crimes as well as [fraud](/source/Fraud), [forgery](/source/Forgery) and [tax evasion](/source/Tax_evasion).[24]

Concurrently, it was revealed in April 1994 that former [governor of the Bank of Spain](/source/Governor_of_the_Bank_of_Spain) [Mariano Rubio](/source/Mariano_Rubio) had 130 million Ptas of undeclared money in a secret [bank account](/source/Bank_account) in the Ibercorp [investment bank](/source/Investment_bank), which had been intervened by the [Bank of Spain](/source/Bank_of_Spain) during Rubio's tenure in 1992.[25][26] The new revelations in the "Ibercorp case" forced the resignations of [Carlos Solchaga](/source/Carlos_Solchaga) (former [economy minister](/source/Ministry_of_Economy_(Spain)) and then PSOE spokesperson in [Congress](/source/Congress_of_Deputies), who had backed Rubio in 1992)[27][28] and [Vicente Albero](/source/Vicente_Albero) ([agriculture minister](/source/Ministry_of_Agriculture%2C_Food_and_Environment_(Spain)), who in May 1994 was discovered to own a secret account with undeclared money related to the scandal).[26][29][30] This scandal would serve as a symbol of the connections between the PSOE government and the so-called "beautiful people": businessmen and *[nouveau riche](/source/Nouveau_riche)* who had emerged during the Socialist era.[26][31]

Symbol used by the [GAL](/source/GAL_(paramilitary_group)) death squads.

In December 1994, two policemen convicted in 1991 for participating in the [Liberation Antiterrorist Groups](/source/GAL_(paramilitary_group)) (GAL)—[death squads](/source/Death_squad) involved in a "[dirty war](/source/State_terrorism)" against ETA—confessed to judge [Baltasar Garzón](/source/Baltasar_Garz%C3%B3n) that a number of former [police](/source/National_Police_Corps) and Interior ministry officers were involved and that the GAL had been financed through the reserved funds.[32] Among those were former interior minister [José Barrionuevo](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Barrionuevo), former [state security directors](/source/Secretary_of_State_for_Security_(Spain)) Julián Sancristóbal and Rafael Vera, former [Biscay](/source/Biscay) PSOE secretary-general Ricardo García Damborenea and a number of police officers.[32] Throughout early 1995, those accused except for Barrionuevo were arrested and court-questioned, leading to the "GAL case" being re-opened by the [Spanish National Court](/source/Spanish_National_Court) on 20 February.[32] Barrionuevo argued that Garzón, who had contested the 1993 general election in the PSOE's electoral lists, was acting out of personal revenge against the party after political differences leading to his resignation as [deputy](/source/Deputy_(legislator)) in May 1994.[32] Some defendants accused Felipe González of "knowing and allowing such activities", even pointing out that he could have been the person establishing and financing the GAL (the "Mr. X" person who was attributed leadership over the GAL network).[33][34] Barrionuevo, Vera and Sancristóbal were convicted for the scandal, but the [Spanish Supreme Court](/source/Spanish_Supreme_Court) concluded in 1996 that there was not proof of González's involvement and that the accusations were based on mere suspicions.[32] Declassified [CIA](/source/CIA) files in 2020 pointed to González having "agreed to the formation of a group of [mercenaries](/source/Mercenaries), controlled by the [Army](/source/Spanish_Army), to combat the terrorists outside the law".[35][36]

In June 1995, *El Mundo* revealed that the [Superior Center of Defense Information](/source/Centro_Superior_de_Informaci%C3%B3n_de_la_Defensa) (CESID), the main Spanish [intelligence agency](/source/Intelligence_agency) at the time, had been recording and keeping the taped telephone conversations of dozens of prominent public figures for years, including politicians, businessmen, journalists and [King Juan Carlos I](/source/King_Juan_Carlos_I) himself, apparently without the cabinet's knowledge.[37][38][39] This illegal [espionage](/source/Espionage) scandal led to the resignations of [defence minister](/source/Ministry_of_Defence_(Spain)) [Julián García Vargas](/source/Juli%C3%A1n_Garc%C3%ADa_Vargas), under whose authority the CESID was responsible to, and [deputy prime minister](/source/Deputy_Prime_Minister_of_Spain) [Narcís Serra](/source/Narc%C3%ADs_Serra), who had been Vargas's predecessor in the office between 1982 and 1991.[40][41][42]

The mounting scandals and the impact of the economic crisis took their toll on González's party: it suffered its first-ever nationwide defeat to the opposition [People's Party](/source/People's_Party_(Spain)) (PP) in the [1994 European Parliament election](/source/1994_European_Parliament_election_in_Spain),[43] and the 1995 [local](/source/1995_Spanish_local_elections) and [regional](/source/1995_Spanish_regional_elections) elections brought about the loss of many Socialist governments throughout Spain and a decline in [Catalonia](/source/Catalonia) for PSOE's parliamentary partner, CiU, which withdrew its [confidence and supply](/source/Confidence_and_supply) support in July 1995.[44][45][46] This materialized in the 1996 General State Budget being voted down by the Congress of Deputies on 25 October 1995.[47][48] As a result, González was forced to call a [snap election](/source/Snap_election) for early 1996, fifteen months ahead of schedule.[49][50]

## Overview

Under the [1978 Constitution](/source/Spanish_Constitution_of_1978), the Spanish [Cortes Generales](/source/Cortes_Generales) were conceived as an [imperfect bicameral](/source/Imperfect_bicameral) system.[51][52] The [Congress of Deputies](/source/Congress_of_Deputies) held greater legislative power than the [Senate](/source/Senate_of_Spain), having the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a [prime minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Spain) and to override Senate [vetoes](/source/Veto) by an [absolute majority](/source/Absolute_majority).[53] Nonetheless, the Senate retained a limited number of specific functions—such as [ratifying](/source/Ratifying) international treaties, authorizing cooperation agreements between [autonomous communities](/source/Autonomous_communities_of_Spain), enforcing [direct rule](/source/Direct_rule), regulating interterritorial compensation funds, and taking part in [constitutional amendments](/source/Constitutional_amendment) and in the appointment of members to the [Constitutional Court](/source/Constitutional_Court_of_Spain) and the [General Council of the Judiciary](/source/General_Council_of_the_Judiciary)—which were not subject to override by Congress.[54]

### 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](/source/Dissolution_of_parliament) earlier.[55] The election [decree](/source/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](/source/Official_State_Gazette) (BOE), with [election day](/source/Election_day) taking place 54 days after the decree's publication.[56] The [previous election](/source/1993_Spanish_general_election) was held on 6 June 1993, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 6 June 1997. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 13 May 1997, setting the latest possible date for election day on 6 July 1997.

The prime minister had the prerogative to propose the [monarch](/source/Monarchy_of_Spain) to dissolve both chambers at any given time—either jointly or separately—and call a [snap election](/source/Snap_election), provided that no [motion of no confidence](/source/Motion_of_no_confidence) was in process, no [state of emergency](/source/State_of_emergency) was in force and that dissolution did not occur before one year after a previous one.[57] Additionally, both chambers were to be dissolved and a new election called if an [investiture](/source/Investiture) process failed to elect a prime minister within a two-month period from the first ballot.[58] Barring this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections to the Congress and the Senate.[59] Still, as of 2026, there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution.

Felipe González's government had been intent on ending the legislative term in 1997,[60][61][62] but the opposition PP had insisted on a snap election being held as soon as possible.[63][64][65] CiU leader and [Catalan president](/source/Catalan_president), [Jordi Pujol](/source/Jordi_Pujol), sought to secure a balance between his party's preference for the [next Catalan regional election](/source/1995_Catalan_regional_election)—initially scheduled for March or April 1996—being held ahead of the general election, and the belief that González could not politically survive the mounting scandals.[66][67][68] Following the local and regional elections on 28 May 1995, Pujol opted to hold the Catalan election in the autumn and force a general election for February or March 1996.[69][70][71][72] While González resisted,[73][74] he did no longer rule out an early electoral call in 1996.[75] On 14 July, González and Pujol agreed for the Catalan election to be held in November and the general election in March, certifying the end of CiU's support to the government.[76][77][78]

In September, CiU [U-turned](/source/U-turn_(politics)) and announced that it would reject the 1996 General State Budget to trigger an earlier general election,[47][79] but González's refusal to alter the agreed electoral calendar forced Pujol to advance the Catalan election to November.[80][81][82] The State Budget was voted down by the Congress of Deputies on 25 October,[48] Pujol and his party lost their absolute majority in Catalonia in the 19 November regional election,[83] and González announced the parliament's dissolution—and the end of the 5th Cortes Generales—on 28 December.[50]

The Cortes Generales were officially dissolved on 9 January 1996 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 3 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 27 March.[84]

### Electoral system

Voting for each chamber of the Cortes Generales was based on [universal suffrage](/source/Universal_suffrage), comprising all [Spanish nationals](/source/Spanish_national) over 18 years of age with full [political rights](/source/Political_rights), provided that they had not been [deprived of the right to vote](/source/Disfranchisement) by a final [sentence](/source/Sentence_(law)), nor were [legally incapacitated](/source/Capacity_(law)).[85][86]

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](/source/Multi-member_district) corresponding to the [provinces of Spain](/source/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](/source/D'Hondt_method) and [closed-list](/source/Closed-list) [proportional voting](/source/Proportional_voting), with a three percent-[threshold](/source/Electoral_threshold) of valid votes (including [blank ballots](/source/Blank_ballot)) in each constituency. The remaining two seats were allocated to [Ceuta](/source/Ceuta) and [Melilla](/source/Melilla) as [single-member districts](/source/Single-member_district) elected by [plurality voting](/source/Plurality_voting).[87] The use of this electoral method resulted in a higher [effective threshold](/source/Electoral_threshold#Natural_threshold) depending on [district magnitude](/source/District_magnitude) and vote distribution.[88]

As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled the following seats:[89]

Seats Constituencies 34 Madrid 31 Barcelona(–1) 16 Valencia 13 Seville(+1) 11 Alicante(+1) 10 Málaga 9 Asturias, Biscay, Cádiz, La Coruña, Murcia 8 Pontevedra 7 Balearics, Córdoba, Granada, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza 6 Badajoz, Guipúzcoa, Jaén, Tarragona 5 Almería, Cáceres, Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Girona, Huelva, León, Navarre, Toledo, Valladolid 4 Álava, Albacete, Burgos, La Rioja, Lleida, Lugo(–1), Orense, Salamanca 3 Ávila, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Teruel, Zamora

208 Senate seats were elected using [open-list](/source/Open-list) [partial block voting](/source/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](/source/Balearic_Islands) and [Canary Islands](/source/Canary_Islands)—the districts were the islands themselves, with the larger ones ([Mallorca](/source/Mallorca), [Gran Canaria](/source/Gran_Canaria) and [Tenerife](/source/Tenerife)) being allocated three seats each, and the smaller ones ([Menorca](/source/Menorca), [Ibiza](/source/Ibiza)–[Formentera](/source/Formentera), [Fuerteventura](/source/Fuerteventura), [La Gomera](/source/La_Gomera), [El Hierro](/source/El_Hierro), [Lanzarote](/source/Lanzarote) and [La Palma](/source/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.[90][91]

The law did not provide for [by-elections](/source/By-election) to fill [vacant seats](/source/Casual_vacancy); instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the [party lists](/source/Electoral_list) or, when required, by designated [substitutes](/source/Substitute_(elections)).[92]

### Outgoing parliament

The tables below show the composition of the [parliamentary groups](/source/Parliamentary_group) in both chambers at the time of dissolution.[93][94]

Parliamentary composition in January 1996[95] Congress of Deputies Groups Parties Deputies Seats Total Socialist Group of the Congress PSOE 141 159 PSC 18 People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress PP 138 141 UPN 3 United Left–Initiative for Catalonia Federal Parliamentary Group IU 15 18 IC 3 Catalan Parliamentary Group (Convergence and Union) CDC 12 17 UDC 5 Basque Group (PNV) EAJ/PNV 5 5 Canarian Coalition's Parliamentary Group AIC 2 4 ICAN 1 CCN 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group HB 2 6 ERC 1 EA 1 UV 1 PAR 1 Parliamentary composition in January 1996[96] Senate Groups Parties Senators Seats Total People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate PP 111 114 UPN 3 Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 103 111 PSC 8 Convergence and Union's Catalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate CDC 9 13 UDC 4 Basque Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group EAJ/PNV 5 5 Canarian Coalition's Parliamentary Group in the Senate AIC 2 5 ICAN 1 AM 1 AHI 1 Mixed Parliamentary Group IU 2 8 HB 1 EA 1 ERC 1 UV 1 CDN 1 PIL 1

## Candidates

### Nomination rules

Spanish citizens with the [right to vote](/source/Right_to_vote) could [run for election](/source/Nomination_rules), provided that they had not been criminally [imprisoned](/source/Imprisoned) by a final sentence or [convicted](/source/Convicted)—whether final or not—of offences that involved loss of eligibility or disqualification from public office (such as [rebellion](/source/Rebellion) or [terrorism](/source/Terrorism), when involving crimes [against life](/source/Homicide), [physical integrity](/source/Battery_(crime)) or [personal freedom](/source/Kidnapping)). Additional causes of ineligibility applied to the following officials:[97]

- Members of the [Spanish royal family](/source/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;[b] the [Ombudsman](/source/Spanish_Ombudsman); the [State's Attorney General](/source/Spanish_Attorney_General); high-ranking officials of [government departments](/source/Spanish_government_departments), the [Office of the Prime Minister](/source/Office_of_the_Prime_Minister_(Spain)) and other [state agencies](/source/List_of_agencies_in_Spain); [government delegates in the autonomous communities and civil governors](/source/Government_Delegation_(Spain)); the [director-general of RTVE](/source/Chair_of_RTVE); the director of the Electoral Register Office; the [governor](/source/Governor_of_the_Bank_of_Spain) and deputy governor of the [Bank of Spain](/source/Bank_of_Spain); the heads of [official credit institutions](/source/Official_Credit_Institute); and members of [electoral commissions](/source/Electoral_commission) and of the [Nuclear Safety Council](/source/Nuclear_Safety_Council_(Spain));

- Heads of [diplomatic missions](/source/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Spain) abroad;

- [Judges](/source/Judiciary_of_Spain) and [public prosecutors](/source/Prosecution_Ministry) in active service;

- Members of the [Armed Forces](/source/Spanish_Armed_Forces) and [law enforcement bodies](/source/Law_enforcement_in_Spain) in active service.

Other ineligibility provisions also applied to a number of territorial officials in these categories within their [areas of jurisdiction](/source/Jurisdiction_(area)), as well as to employees of foreign states and members of regional governments.[97]

[Incompatibility rules](/source/Incompatibility_rule) 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:[98]

- A number of senior public or institutional posts, including the presidency of the [Competition Defence Court](/source/National_Commission_on_Markets_and_Competition); and leadership positions in RTVE, government offices, public authorities (such as [port authorities](/source/Port_authorities), hydrographic confederations, or [highway concessionary companies](/source/Highways_in_Spain)), public entities and state-owned or publicly funded companies;

- Any other paid [public](/source/Public_sector) or [private](/source/Private_sector) position, except [university teaching](/source/University_professor).

### Parties and lists

See also: [List of political parties in Spain](/source/List_of_political_parties_in_Spain)

The electoral law allowed for [parties](/source/Political_party) and [federations](/source/Political_alliance) registered in the [interior ministry](/source/Ministry_of_the_Interior_(Spain)), [alliances](/source/Electoral_alliance) and [groupings of electors](/source/Grouping_of_electors_(Spain)) to present [lists of candidates](/source/Electoral_list). 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.[99]

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

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) Felipe González Social democracy 38.8% 159 39.0% [c] 96 [100] [101] PP List People's Party (PP) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Aragonese Party (PAR) José María Aznar Conservatism Christian democracy 35.4% [a] 142 35.2% [d] 93 [102] [103] IU List United Left (IU) – Communist Party of Spain (PCE) – Socialist Action Party (PASOC) – Republican Left (IR) – Collectives for the Unity of Workers (CUT) Initiative for Catalonia–The Greens (IC–EV) – Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC) – Party of the Communists of Catalonia (PCC) – The Greens–Ecologist Confederation of Catalonia (EV–CEC) The Greens (LV)[e] Julio Anguita Socialism Communism 9.6% 18 9.5% [c] 0 CiU List Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC) Joaquim Molins Catalan nationalism Centrism 4.9% 17 5.3% 10 EAJ/PNV List Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) Iñaki Anasagasti Basque nationalism Christian democracy 1.2% 5 1.3% 3 CC List Canarian Independent Groups (AIC) – Tenerife Group of Independents (ATI) – La Palma Group of Independents (API) – Gomera Group of Independents (AGI) Nationalist Canarian Initiative (ICAN) Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) Majorera Assembly (AM) José Carlos Mauricio Regionalism Canarian nationalism Centrism 0.9% 4 0.6% 5 HB List Popular Unity (HB) – Basque Nationalist Action (EAE/ANV) — Basque independence Abertzale left Revolutionary socialism 0.9% 2 0.9% 1 ERC List Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) Pilar Rahola Catalan independence Left-wing nationalism Social democracy 0.8% 1 0.4% [c] 0 EA List Basque Solidarity (EA) Begoña Lasagabaster Basque nationalism Social democracy 0.5% 1 0.6% 0 UV List Valencian Union (UV) José María Chiquillo Blaverism Conservatism 0.5% 1 0.5% 0 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) – Galician Unity (UG) Francisco Rodríguez Galician nationalism Left-wing nationalism 0.5% 0 0.5% 0 EFS List Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) United Left (EU) Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) The Greens of Ibiza (EV–Eiv) Pilar Costa Progressivism —N/a 0.0% [f] 0 [104] PIL List Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) Cándido Armas Insularism Canarian nationalism Did not contest

There was speculation on whether prime minister Felipe González would run as PSOE's candidate for a fifth term in office, which he initially confirmed "if his party asked him to",[105][106] being re-elected as PSOE leader in the [party's 1994 congress](/source/1994_PSOE_federal_party_congress).[107] However, the judicial probe into the GAL case and political weariness made him reconsider,[108][109] and by the second half of 1995 he was said to have taken the decision not to continue.[110][111] The election of [Foreign Affairs minister](/source/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Spain)) [Javier Solana](/source/Javier_Solana)—widely seen as González's most likely successor—as [NATO secretary-general](/source/NATO_secretary-general) in December 1995 thwarted González's plans to retire,[112][113] with him confirming a new run following overwhelming support from his party.[100][114][115]

The PSOE, [United Left](/source/United_Left_(Spain)) (IU), [The Greens](/source/Confederation_of_the_Greens) (LV), [Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement](/source/Entesa_Nacionalista_i_Ecologista) (ENE) and [Republican Left of Catalonia](/source/Republican_Left_of_Catalonia) (ERC) formed the [Ibiza and Formentera in the Senate](/source/Pacte_Progressista) alliance for the Senate election.[104]

## Campaign

### Party slogans

Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Ref. PSOE « España en positivo » "Spain in positive" [116][117] PP « Con la nueva mayoría » "With the new majority" [116][118][119] IU « IU decide » "IU decides" [116][120]

## Opinion polls

Main article: [Opinion polling for the 1996 Spanish general election](/source/Opinion_polling_for_the_1996_Spanish_general_election)

[Local regression](/source/Local_regression) trend line of poll results from 6 June 1993 to 3 March 1996, with each line corresponding to a political party.

## Results

### Congress of Deputies

For results by autonomous community/constituency, see [Results breakdown of the 1996 Spanish general election (Congress)](/source/Results_breakdown_of_the_1996_Spanish_general_election_(Congress)).

← Summary of the 3 March 1996 Congress of Deputies election results → Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP)1 9,716,006 38.79 +3.42 156 +14 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 9,425,678 37.63 −1.15 141 −18 United Left (IU) 2,639,774 10.54 +0.99 21 +3 Convergence and Union (CiU) 1,151,633 4.60 −0.34 16 −1 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 318,951 1.27 +0.03 5 ±0 Canarian Coalition (CC) 220,418 0.88 ±0.00 4 ±0 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 220,147 0.88 +0.34 2 +2 Popular Unity (HB) 181,304 0.72 −0.16 2 ±0 Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 167,641 0.67 −0.13 1 ±0 Andalusian Party (PA)2 134,800 0.54 −0.05 0 ±0 Basque Solidarity (EA) 115,861 0.46 −0.09 1 ±0 Valencian Union (UV) 91,575 0.37 −0.11 1 ±0 The European Greens (LVE) 61,689 0.25 −0.54 0 ±0 Aragonese Union (CHA) 49,739 0.20 +0.17 0 ±0 Centrist Union (UC) 44,771 0.18 −1.58 0 ±0 Valencian People's Union–Nationalist Bloc (UPV–BN) 26,777 0.11 −0.06 0 ±0 Nationalists of the Balearic Islands (PSM–ENE) 24,644 0.10 +0.01 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 17,177 0.07 New 0 ±0 Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) 17,020 0.07 New 0 ±0 Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRT)3 14,854 0.06 −0.07 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 14,513 0.06 +0.02 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 13,482 0.05 +0.01 0 ±0 Asturianist Party (PAS) 12,213 0.05 ±0.00 0 ±0 Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA) 12,114 0.05 +0.05 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 12,049 0.05 −0.01 0 ±0 Basque Citizen Initiative (ICV–Gorordo) 11,833 0.05 New 0 ±0 The Greens of Madrid (LVM) 8,483 0.03 New 0 ±0 Extremaduran Coalition (CEx)4 7,312 0.03 −0.03 0 ±0 Majorcan Union (UM) 6,943 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) 6,206 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Riojan Party (PR) 6,065 0.02 −0.01 0 ±0 Ecologist Party of Catalonia (PEC) 4,305 0.02 −0.02 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 4,061 0.02 +0.01 0 ±0 Andalusian Nation (NA) 3,505 0.01 New 0 ±0 Alliance for National Unity (AUN) 3,397 0.01 New 0 ±0 Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL (PREPAL) 2,762 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 SOS Nature (SOS) 2,753 0.01 New 0 ±0 Republican Coalition (CR)5 2,744 0.01 −0.02 0 ±0 Popular Front of the Canary Islands (FREPIC) 2,567 0.01 New 0 ±0 Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) 2,365 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Castilla-La Mancha (PRCM) 2,279 0.01 New 0 ±0 Galician People's Front (FPG) 2,065 0.01 New 0 ±0 Independent Socialists of Extremadura (SIEx) 1,678 0.01 New 0 ±0 Madrilenian Independent Regional Party (PRIM) 1,671 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Red–Green Party (PRV) 1,656 0.01 New 0 ±0 Independent Spanish Phalanx (FEI) 1,550 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 New Region (NR) 1,452 0.01 New 0 ±0 Republican Action (AR) 1,237 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Citizen Independent Platform of Catalonia (PICC) 1,229 0.00 New 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) 1,023 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Party of El Bierzo (PB) 1,000 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 Nationalist Canarian Party (PCN) 722 0.00 New 0 ±0 Alicantine Provincial Union (UPRA) 651 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Democratic Andalusian Unity (UAD) 627 0.00 New 0 ±0 Citizen Democratic Action (ADEC) 598 0.00 New 0 ±0 Voice of the Andalusian People (VDPA) 529 0.00 New 0 ±0 European Nation State (N) 495 0.00 New 0 ±0 Social and Autonomist Liberal Group (ALAS) 402 0.00 New 0 ±0 Balearic Alliance (ABA) 379 0.00 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) 338 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spanish Autonomous League (LAE) 296 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Social Dynamic (DSA) 265 0.00 New 0 ±0 Party of The People (LG) 243 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Inter-Zamoran Party (PIZ) 215 0.00 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Melilla (PNM) 200 0.00 New 0 ±0 Centrists of the Valencian Community (CCV) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR) 0 0.00 −0.03 0 ±0 Party of Self-employed of Spain (PAE) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Tenerife Independent Familiar Groups (AFIT) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots 243,345 0.97 +0.17 Total 25,046,276 350 ±0 Valid votes 25,046,276 99.50 +0.04 Invalid votes 125,782 0.50 −0.04 Votes cast / turnout 25,172,058 77.38 +0.94 Abstentions 7,359,775 22.62 −0.94 Registered voters 32,531,833 Sources[121][122][123][124] Footnotes: 1 People's Party results are compared to the combined totals of the People's Party and the Aragonese Party in the 1993 election. 2 Andalusian Party results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Andalusian Progress Party in the 1993 election. 3 Workers' Revolutionary Party results are compared to Workers' Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election. 4 Extremaduran Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of United Extremadura and Extremaduran Regionalist Party in the 1993 election. 5 Republican Coalition results are compared to Coalition for a New Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election.

Popular vote PP 38.79% PSOE 37.63% IU 10.54% CiU 4.60% EAJ/PNV 1.27% CC 0.88% BNG 0.88% HB 0.72% ERC 0.67% EA 0.46% UV 0.37% Others 2.21% Blank ballots 0.97%

Seats PP 44.57% PSOE 40.29% IU 6.00% CiU 4.57% EAJ/PNV 1.43% CC 1.14% BNG 0.57% HB 0.57% ERC 0.29% EA 0.29% UV 0.29%

### Senate

← Summary of the 3 March 1996 Senate of Spain election results → Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− People's Party (PP)1 26,788,282 39.04 +3.87 112 +19 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 25,865,206 37.70 −1.32 81 −15 United Left (IU) 6,851,023 9.99 +0.52 0 ±0 Convergence and Union (CiU) 3,338,737 4.87 −0.43 8 −2 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 918,692 1.34 +0.04 4 +1 Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 670,346 0.98 +0.36 0 ±0 Popular Unity (HB) 516,007 0.75 −0.17 0 −1 Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 493,480 0.72 +0.35 0 ±0 Andalusian Party (PA)2 415,676 0.61 −0.07 0 ±0 Canarian Coalition (CC) 388,366 0.57 −0.04 1 −4 Basque Solidarity (EA) 337,911 0.49 −0.09 0 ±0 Valencian Union (UV) 280,383 0.41 −0.12 0 ±0 Aragonese Union (CHA) 136,157 0.20 +0.16 0 ±0 Centrist Union (UC) 129,432 0.19 −1.63 0 ±0 The European Greens (LVE) 127,576 0.19 −0.69 0 ±0 Valencian People's Union–Nationalist Bloc (UPV–BN) 93,337 0.14 −0.07 0 ±0 The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 67,439 0.10 New 0 ±0 Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) 54,016 0.08 New 0 ±0 Nationalists of the Balearic Islands (PSM–ENE) 50,928 0.07 +0.01 0 ±0 Leonese People's Union (UPL) 48,214 0.07 −0.02 0 ±0 Asturianist Party (PAS) 41,127 0.06 −0.01 0 ±0 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 34,495 0.05 ±0.00 0 ±0 Alliance for National Unity (AUN) 32,451 0.05 New 0 ±0 Basque Citizen Initiative (ICV–Gorordo) 31,632 0.05 New 0 ±0 Extremaduran Coalition (CEx)3 30,213 0.04 −0.05 0 ±0 Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA) 27,999 0.04 +0.03 0 ±0 Ecologist Party of Catalonia (PEC) 24,662 0.04 −0.04 0 ±0 Humanist Party (PH) 24,149 0.04 +0.02 0 ±0 Ibiza and Formentera in the Senate (PSOE–EU–ENE–ERC–EV–Eiv) 21,365 0.03 New 1 +1 Riojan Party (PR) 20,172 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) 20,119 0.03 ±0.00 0 ±0 Majorcan Union (UM) 18,944 0.03 −0.01 0 ±0 Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL (PREPAL) 17,024 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Republican Coalition (CR)4 15,958 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Independent Spanish Phalanx (FEI) 14,963 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRT)5 14,618 0.02 −0.05 0 ±0 Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 14,362 0.02 ±0.00 0 ±0 Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) 13,161 0.02 New 1 +1 The Greens of Madrid (LVM) 13,080 0.02 New 0 ±0 Andalusian Nation (NA) 12,803 0.02 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL) 10,268 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Party of El Bierzo (PB) 8,641 0.01 ±0.00 0 ±0 Independent Socialists of Extremadura (SIEx) 8,018 0.01 New 0 ±0 Madrilenian Independent Regional Party (PRIM) 6,409 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 Republican Action (AR) 6,398 0.01 −0.01 0 ±0 Red–Green Party (PRV) 6,232 0.01 New 0 ±0 SOS Nature (SOS) 6,149 0.01 New 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Castilla-La Mancha (PRCM) 6,106 0.01 New 0 ±0 Democratic Party of the People (PDEP) 6,061 0.01 New 0 ±0 Popular Front of the Canary Islands (FREPIC) 4,764 0.01 New 0 ±0 Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) 4,107 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Natural Culture (CN) 3,986 0.01 +0.01 0 ±0 Galician People's Front (FPG) 3,727 0.01 New 0 ±0 Citizen Independent Platform of Catalonia (PICC) 3,408 0.00 New 0 ±0 Independent Candidacy of Valladolid (CIV) 3,270 0.00 New 0 ±0 Join Action (AY) 2,573 0.00 New 0 ±0 Alicantine Provincial Union (UPRA) 2,536 0.00 New 0 ±0 Voice of the Andalusian People (VDPA) 2,352 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Unity (UA) 2,305 0.00 New 0 ±0 Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) 2,080 0.00 −0.01 0 ±0 National Workers' Party (PNT) 1,788 0.00 New 0 ±0 New Region (NR) 1,754 0.00 New 0 ±0 Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR) 1,438 0.00 −0.02 0 ±0 Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) 1,305 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Citizen Democratic Action (ADEC) 1,187 0.00 New 0 ±0 Social and Autonomist Liberal Group (ALAS) 1,099 0.00 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Canarian Party (PCN) 934 0.00 New 0 ±0 Inter-Zamoran Party (PIZ) 912 0.00 New 0 ±0 Iberian Unity (UI) 883 0.00 New 0 ±0 European Nation State (N) 816 0.00 New 0 ±0 Democratic Andalusian Unity (UAD) 783 0.00 New 0 ±0 Spanish Autonomous League (LAE) 610 0.00 New 0 ±0 Nationalist Party of Melilla (PNM) 595 0.00 New 0 ±0 Aragonese Social Dynamic (DSA) 581 0.00 New 0 ±0 Independents of Menorca (INME) 558 0.00 New 0 ±0 Proverist Party (PPr) 373 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Spanish Action (AE) 256 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0 Clean Hands Project (PML) 231 0.00 New 0 ±0 Party of The People (LG) 125 0.00 New 0 ±0 Tenerife Independent Familiar Groups (AFIT) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Centrists of the Valencian Community (CCV) 0 0.00 New 0 ±0 Blank ballots[g] 482,601 1.97 +0.34 Total 68,612,724 208 ±0 Valid votes 24,502,854 97.41 −0.29 Invalid votes 652,656 2.59 +0.29 Votes cast / turnout 25,155,510 77.33 +0.84 Abstentions 7,376,323 22.67 −0.84 Registered voters 32,531,833 Sources[94][121][122][123][125] Footnotes: 1 People's Party results are compared to the combined totals of the People's Party and the Aragonese Party in the 1993 election. 2 Andalusian Party results are compared to the combined totals of Andalusian Party and Andalusian Progress Party in the 1993 election. 3 Extremaduran Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of United Extremadura and Extremaduran Regionalist Party in the 1993 election. 4 Republican Coalition results are compared to Coalition for a New Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election. 5 Workers' Revolutionary Party results are compared to Workers' Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election.

Popular vote PP 39.04% PSOE 37.70% IU 9.99% CiU 4.87% EAJ/PNV 1.34% CC 0.57% EFS 0.03% PIL 0.02% Others 5.75% Blank ballots 1.97%

Seats PP 53.85% PSOE 38.94% CiU 3.85% EAJ/PNV 1.92% CC 0.48% EFS 0.48% PIL 0.48%

### Maps

		- Election results by constituency (Congress).

		- Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress).

		- Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress).

## Aftermath

### Government formation

Further information: [1996 Spanish government formation](/source/1996_Spanish_government_formation) and [First government of José María Aznar](/source/First_government_of_Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_Aznar)

Investiture Congress of Deputies Nomination of José María Aznar (PP) Ballot → 4 May 1996 Required majority → 176 out of 350 Y Yes • PP (156) • CiU (16) • PNV (5) • CC (4) 181 / 350 No • PSOE (141) • IU–IC (21) • BNG (2) • ERC (1) • EA (1) 166 / 350 Abstentions • UV (1) 1 / 350 Absentees • HB (2) 2 / 350 Sources[126]

## Notes

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PP+PAR_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PP+PAR_1-1) Results for [PP](/source/People's_Party_(Spain)) (34.8%, 141 deputies) and [PAR](/source/Aragonese_Party) (0.6%, 1 deputy) in the 1993 Congress election.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-99)** These comprised the [Constitutional Court](/source/Constitutional_Court_of_Spain), the [General Council of the Judiciary](/source/General_Council_of_the_Judiciary), the [Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_Spain), the [Council of State](/source/Spanish_Council_of_State), the [Court of Auditors](/source/Court_of_Auditors_(Spain)) and the [Economic and Social Council](/source/Economic_and_Social_Council_(Spain)).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Ibiza_102-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Ibiza_102-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Ibiza_102-2) Results in the 1993 Senate election, not including Ibiza–Formentera.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-105)** Results for [PP](/source/People's_Party_(Spain)) (34.5%, 93 senators) and [PAR](/source/Aragonese_Party) (0.7%, 0 senators) in the 1993 Senate election.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-108)** Only in Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-109)** Results for [PSOE](/source/Spanish_Socialist_Workers'_Party) (0.0%, 0 senators), [IU](/source/United_Left_(Spain)) (0.0%, 0 senators), [EVIB](/source/Confederation_of_the_Greens) (0.0%, 0 senators), [PSM–ENE](/source/Nationalist_Left_of_the_Balearic_Islands_Federation) (0.0%, 0 senators) and [ERC](/source/Republican_Left_of_Catalonia) (0.0%, 0 senators) in the 1993 Senate election in Ibiza–Formentera.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-131)** 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. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["CiU garantizará la investidura de González sin contrapartidas"](https://elpais.com/diario/1993/07/03/portada/741650401_850215.html). *[El País](/source/El_Pa%C3%ADs)* (in Spanish). 3 July 1993. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (5 July 1993). ["El PNV decide apoyar la investidura de González y continúa negociando su entrada en el Gobierno"](https://elpais.com/diario/1993/07/05/espana/741823214_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Arancibia, Salvador (25 November 1993). ["El déficit público hasta octubre, 2,7 billones de pesetas, duplica al del año anterior"](https://elpais.com/diario/1993/11/25/economia/754182024_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Parra, Carmen (19 February 1994). ["422.450 empleos se destruyeron en el año 1993"](https://elpais.com/diario/1994/02/19/economia/761612428_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["España sufrió en 1993 la peor recesión económica registrada en los últimos 30 años"](https://elpais.com/diario/1994/03/04/economia/762735606_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. 5 July 1993. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Parra, Carmen (28 January 1994). ["Gutiérrez y Redondo esperan que no se ignore la masiva protesta"](https://elpais.com/diario/1994/01/28/espana/759711618_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Así fueron las principales reformas laborales y acuerdos sociales de la democracia"](https://www.20minutos.es/lainformacion/economia/asi-fueron-las-principales-reformas-laborales-acuerdos-sociales-democracia-2088346/). *[20 minutos](/source/20_minutos)* (in Spanish). 10 February 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Cañada, Manuel (1 May 1994). ["Olvidos que hablan: la huelga general del 94 y las Marchas de la Dignidad"](https://www.elsaltodiario.com/lucha-obrera/olvidos-hablan-huelga-general-del-94-marchas-dignidad). *[El Salto](/source/El_Salto_(newspaper))* (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Arancibia, Salvador (4 February 1995). ["El impulso de la inversión eleva al 2% el crecimiento de la economía española en 1994"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/04/economia/791852401_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Parra, Carmen (18 February 1995). ["La creación de 46.570 empleos en 1994 rompe la senda de destrucción iniciada hace tres años"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/18/economia/793062017_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Irazusta, María; Sierra, Antonio (2 June 1996). ["Las Recetas del Pacto de Toledo"](https://www.elmundo.es/sudinero/noticias/act-33-5.html). *[El Mundo](/source/El_Mundo_(Spain))* (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Barea, José (14 February 2009). ["Déficit en las pensiones"](https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2009/02/14/economia/1234727744_850215.html). *[Cinco Días](/source/Cinco_D%C3%ADas)* (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Hart, Robert; Hayley, Julia (21 June 1993). ["Rush-hour car bombs kill seven in Madrid"](https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/europe/rushhour-car-bombs-kill-seven-in-madrid-explosions-thought-to-be-eta-s-response-to-the-jailing-of-its-leaders-and-the-failure-of-its-political-wing-at-the-polls-1493097.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Intxausti, Aurora (24 January 1995). ["ETA asesina de un tiro en la nuca a Gregorio Ordóñez"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/01/24/espana/790902018_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). San Sebastián. Retrieved 19 March 2025.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-47)** Mira, Nieves (29 January 2016). ["Cuando González y Aznar tuvieron que pactar sus investiduras"](https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-cuando-gonzalez-y-aznar-tuvieron-pactar-investiduras-201601290201_noticia.html). *ABC* (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EP130995_48-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EP130995_48-1) Mauri, Luis (13 September 1995). ["CiU rechaza los Presupuestos para forzar elecciones"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/13/espana/810943213_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EP261095_49-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EP261095_49-1) Díez, Anabel (26 October 1995). ["La oposición devuelve los Presupuestos y exige elecciones"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/26/espana/814662020_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-50)** Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (21 September 1995). ["Las elecciones generales serán en marzo"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/21/espana/811634401_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EP291295_51-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EP291295_51-1) Díez, Anabel (29 December 1995). ["González confirma las elecciones para el 3 de marzo y se ofrece a gobernar en coalición"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/29/espana/820191610_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 16 March 2025.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-54)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), arts. 90 & 99.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-55)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), arts. 74, 94, 122, 145, 155, 158–159 & 166–167.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-56)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), arts. 68–69.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-57)** [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 42 & 167.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-58)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), arts. 115–116.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-59)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), art. 99.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-60)** ["Constitución española. Título V. De las relaciones entre el Gobierno y las Cortes Generales. Sinopsis artículo 115"](https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=115&tipo=2) (in Spanish). [Congress of Deputies](/source/Congress_of_Deputies). Retrieved 31 October 2025, summarizing [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), art. 115.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-64)** González Ibáñez, Juan (20 June 1994). ["El PP exigirá el anticipo de las elecciones si el Gobierno le margina"](https://elpais.com/diario/1994/06/20/espana/772063202_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-66)** Pastor, Carles (21 July 1995). ["Aznar exige elecciones inmediatas para superar una crisis "insostenible""](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/21/espana/806277618_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-67)** Pastor, Carles (3 February 1995). ["Pujol admite que prevé un adelanto electoral"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/02/03/espana/791766003_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-68)** ["La fecha electoral"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/03/14/opinion/795135601_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). 14 March 1995. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-69)** Company, Enric (11 June 1995). ["La carta del anticipo electoral"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/11/espana/802821601_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-70)** Parra, Carmen (22 June 1995). ["Pujol y Durán optan por que autonómicas y legislativas se celebren antes de abril"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/22/espana/803772006_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-71)** Company, Enric; Pastor, Carles (26 June 1995). ["Perspectivas de adelanto para las elecciones catalanas"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/26/espana/804117603_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-72)** Pastor, Carles (30 June 1995). ["Pujol espera que González anuncie el martes en el Congreso que en marzo habrá elecciones anticipadas"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/06/30/espana/804463223_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-73)** Badia, Enric (9 July 1995). ["Pujol exige a González que disuelva las Cortes el 31 de diciembre"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/09/espana/805240813_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Sant Feliu Sasserra. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-74)** Cembrero, Ignacio; Díez, Anabel (4 July 1995). ["González hace oídos sordos a Pujol y se niega a poner fecha a las elecciones generales"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/04/espana/804808823_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-75)** Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (10 July 1995). ["Los socialistas califican de "intromisión inaceptable" que Pujol fije las elecciones"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/10/espana/805327214_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-76)** Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (7 July 1995). ["González abre la puerta a unas elecciones en 1996"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/07/espana/805068017_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-77)** Mauri, Luis (7 July 1995). ["CiU romperá con el PSOE el 17-J y exigirá elecciones a primeros de año"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/07/espana/805068002_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 30 November 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-78)** Pastor, Carles; Díez, Anabel (14 July 1995). ["González y Pujol preparan elecciones para marzo"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/14/espana/805672823_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-79)** Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis; Pastor, Carles (10 September 1995). ["Pujol hace firme la ruptura con González, pero se reserva su posición ante los presupuestos"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/10/espana/810684011_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-80)** Pastor, Carles (8 September 1995). ["Pujol planteará mañana a González un cambio de calendario electoral"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/08/espana/810511206_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-81)** Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (9 September 1995). ["González rechazará la sugerencia de Pujol de celebrar las elecciones antes de marzo"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/09/espana/810597615_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-82)** Pastor, Carles (12 September 1995). ["Pujol convocará para noviembre si González persiste en sus tesis"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/09/12/espana/810856802_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-83)** ["Pujol convoca elecciones catalanas para el 19 de noviembre y critica la falta de "credibilidad" del Gobierno González"](https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/pujol-convoca-elecciones-catalanas-para-19-noviembre-critica-falta-credibilidad-gobierno-gonzalez/1410890442) (in Spanish). Barcelona: Servimedia. 25 September 1995. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-84)** Serrano, Sebastián (20 November 1995). ["Pujol tendrá que gobernar con apoyos"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/11/20/espana/816822014_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-85)** [Royal Decree 1/1996 (1996)](#CITEREFRoyal_Decree_1/19961996), arts. 1–2 & 5.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-86)** [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 2–3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarreras_de_OdriozolaTafunell_Sambola20051077_87-0)** [Carreras de Odriozola & Tafunell Sambola 2005](#CITEREFCarreras_de_OdriozolaTafunell_Sambola2005), p. 1077.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-88)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), art. 68; [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 162–164.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-89)** Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). ["Effective threshold in electoral systems"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170730092518/http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php). Dublin: [Trinity College Dublin](/source/Trinity_College_Dublin). Archived from [the original](http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php) on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-90)** [Royal Decree 1/1996 (1996)](#CITEREFRoyal_Decree_1/19961996), art. 3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-91)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), art. 69; [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 162 & 165–166.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECarreras_de_OdriozolaTafunell_Sambola20051083_92-0)** [Carreras de Odriozola & Tafunell Sambola 2005](#CITEREFCarreras_de_OdriozolaTafunell_Sambola2005), p. 1083.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-93)** [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 46, 48, 164, 166 & 170–171.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-94)** Lozano, Carles. ["Grupos Parlamentarios en el Congreso de los Diputados y el Senado"](https://www.historiaelectoral.com/grups.html). *Historia Electoral.com* (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HESenate_95-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HESenate_95-1) Lozano, Carles. ["Composición del Senado 1977-2026"](https://www.historiaelectoral.com/senado7.html). *Historia Electoral.com* (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-96)** ["Grupos parlamentarios"](https://www.congreso.es/web/guest/grupos/composicion-en-la-legislatura). *[Congress of Deputies](/source/Congress_of_Deputies)* (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-97)** ["Grupos Parlamentarios desde 1977"](https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/gruposparlamentarios/gruposparlamentariosdesde1977/index.html). *[Senate of Spain](/source/Senate_of_Spain)* (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CEArt70LOREGArt6_98-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CEArt70LOREGArt6_98-1) [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), art. 70; [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 6 & 154.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-100)** [Constitution (1978)](#CITEREFConstitution1978), art. 67; [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 46 & 155–159.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-101)** [LOREG (1985)](#CITEREFLOREG1985), arts. 44 & 169.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EP191295_103-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EP191295_103-1) Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (19 December 1995). ["González será candidato por séptima vez"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/19/espana/819327609_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-104)** Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (23 December 1995). ["El comité federal del PSOE proclama candidato a Felipe González sin ningún voto en contra"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/23/espana/819673206_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-106)** ["PP y Par se alían para asegurar la mayoría absoluta en Aragón"](https://elpais.com/diario/1996/01/19/espana/822006003_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). 19 January 1996. Retrieved 19 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-107)** ["Aznar rebaña votos de los regionalistas para rentabilizar el reparto de escaños"](https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/27/espana/825375614_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). 27 February 1996. Retrieved 19 March 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EEIF_110-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EEIF_110-1) ["Eivissa i Formentera al Senat"](http://www.eeif.es/veus/Eivissa-i-Formentera-al-Senat/). *eeif.es* (in Catalan). L'Enciclopèdia d'Eivissa i Formentera. Retrieved 19 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-111)** ["González asegura que está dispuesto a luchar por un quinto mandato como presidente del Gobierno"](https://elpais.com/diario/1994/02/25/espana/762130820_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. 25 February 1994. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-112)** ["El jefe de Gobierno dice que será candidato en 1997, aunque tiene "dos o tres" sucesores"](https://elpais.com/diario/1994/10/20/espana/782607617_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). 20 October 1994. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-113)** ["PSOE. González abandonó el congreso sin saludar a Guerra"](https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/psoe-gonzalez-abandono-congreso-saludar-guerra/1410870529) (in Spanish). Madrid: Servimedia. 20 March 1994. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-114)** ["Ciscar confirma que el PSOE elegirá al sucesor de González en septiembre"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/21/espana/806277612_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. 21 July 1995. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-115)** Díez, Anabel (7 August 1995). ["González confirmará en otoño a su partido que no volverá a ser candidato a la presidencia"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/08/07/espana/807746410_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-116)** Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis; Díez, Anabel (8 October 1995). ["Los íntimos de Felipe González le ven resuelto a no presentarse"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/08/espana/813106804_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-117)** Galán, Lola; Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (7 December 1995). ["González admite en público que ahora puede ser un "problema" y no "la solución" para su partido"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/07/espana/818290814_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-118)** Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (22 November 1995). ["La candidatura de Solana a la OTAN condiciona los planes de González de renunciar a la reelección"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/11/22/espana/816994824_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-119)** Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (2 December 1995). ["Borrell gana espacio como candidato y arrecian las presiones sobre González"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/12/02/espana/817858824_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-120)** Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (31 July 1995). ["El PSOE se moviliza para que González vuelva a encabezar su candidatura"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/07/31/espana/807141603_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-121)** Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis; Díez, Anabel (1 October 1995). ["El PSOE presiona a González para que opte a la reeleccion por temor a un descalabro en las urnas"](https://elpais.com/diario/1995/10/01/espana/812502017_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Slogans_122-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Slogans_122-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Slogans_122-2) ["Los lemas que ganaron elecciones"](https://ciudadanosencrisis.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/los-lemas-que-ganaron-elecciones/) (in Spanish). Ciudadanos en crisis. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-123)** Valenzuela, Javier (19 February 1996). ["El PSOE asegura que su vídeo es legal y responde a tres años de "ataques brutales" del PP"](https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/19/espana/824684424_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 18 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-124)** Casqueiro, Javier (12 February 1996). ["Aznar "¡Quiero el programa ya!"](https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/12/espana/824079604_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 18 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-125)** Julve, Rafa (14 December 2015). ["Los carteles del PP y AP para las elecciones generales desde 1982"](https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20151214/carteles-electorales-partido-popular-elecciones-generales-fraga-aznar-rajoy-4740802). *El Periódico de Catalunya* (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-126)** Serrano, Rodolfo (9 February 1996). ["La campaña metafísica de Anguita"](https://elpais.com/diario/1996/02/09/espana/823820410_850215.html). *El País* (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 18 February 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-InfoE_127-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-InfoE_127-1) ["Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales"](https://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/) (in Spanish). [Ministry of the Interior](/source/Ministry_of_the_Interior_(Spain)). Retrieved 15 April 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HE_128-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HE_128-1) Lozano, Carles. ["Elecciones Generales 3 de marzo de 1996"](https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e1996.html). *Historia Electoral.com* (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Results_129-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Results_129-1) ["Acuerdo de 25 de marzo de 1996, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se ordena la publicación del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones para el Congreso de los Diputados y el Senado, convocadas por Real Decreto 1/1996, de 8 de enero, y celebradas el 3 de marzo de 1996, conforme a las actas de escrutinio general remitidas por las distintas Juntas Electorales Provinciales y las Juntas Electorales de Ceuta y Melilla"](https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1996/03/27/pdfs/A11749-11774.pdf) (PDF). *[Official State Gazette](/source/Official_State_Gazette)* (in Spanish) (75): 11749–11774. 27 March 1996. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0212-033X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0212-033X). Retrieved 19 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-130)** ["Acuerdo de 30 de abril de 1996, de la Junta Electoral Central, de publicación de corrección de errores del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones para el Congreso de los Diputados convocadas por Real Decreto 1/1996 de 8 de enero, y celebradas el 3 de marzo de 1996, según los datos que figuran en las actas de escrutinio general remitidas por cada una de las Juntas Electorales Provinciales"](https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1996/05/11/pdfs/A16606-16606.pdf) (PDF). *[Official State Gazette](/source/Official_State_Gazette)* (in Spanish) (115): 16606. 11 May 1996. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0212-033X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0212-033X). Retrieved 19 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-132)** Lozano, Carles. ["Elecciones al Senado 1996"](https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e1996comp.html#s). *Historia Electoral.com* (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-HECongressVotes_133-0)** Lozano, Carles. ["Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes"](https://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html). *Historia Electoral.com* (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2025.

## Bibliography

**Legislation**

- [*Constitución Española*](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19920828) (Constitution). [Official State Gazette](/source/Official_State_Gazette) (in Spanish). 27 December 1978 [version as of 28 August 1992]. BOE-A-1978-31229. Retrieved 27 December 2016.

- [*Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General*](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=19951124) (Organic Law 5/1985). [Official State Gazette](/source/Official_State_Gazette) (in Spanish). 19 June 1985 [version as of 24 November 1995]. BOE-A-1985-11672. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

- [*Real Decreto 1/1996, de 8 de enero, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones*](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1996-508) (Royal Decree 1/1996). [Official State Gazette](/source/Official_State_Gazette) (in Spanish). 8 January 1996. BOE-A-1996-508. Retrieved 1 April 2026.

**Other**

- Carreras de Odriozola, Albert; Tafunell Sambola, Xavier (2005) [1989]. [*Estadísticas históricas de España, siglos XIX-XX*](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010950/http://www.fbbva.es/TLFU/dat/autores.pdf) (PDF) (in Spanish). Vol. 1 (II ed.). Bilbao: Fundación BBVA. pp. 1072–1097. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [84-96515-00-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/84-96515-00-1). Archived from [the original](http://www.fbbva.es/TLFU/dat/autores.pdf) (PDF) on 24 September 2015.

## External links

- Media related to [Spanish general election, 1996](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Spanish_general_election,_1996) at Wikimedia Commons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [1996 Spanish general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Spanish_general_election) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Spanish_general_election?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.