2004 Spanish general election

{{Short description|none}}  {{Infobox election | election_name = 2004 Spanish general election | country = Spain | type = parliamentary | ongoing = no | previous_election = 2000 Spanish general election | previous_year = 2000 | next_election = 2008 Spanish general election | next_year = 2008 | outgoing_members = | elected_members = | seats_for_election = All 350 seats in the [[Congress of Deputies]] and 208 (of 259) seats in the [[Senate of Spain|Senate]] 176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies | opinion_polls = Opinion polling for the 2004 Spanish general election | registered = 34,571,831 {{increase|size=10px}} 1.8% | turnout = 26,155,436 (75.7%) {{increase|size=10px}} 7.0 [[Percentage point|pp]] | election_date = 14 March 2004

| image1 = [[File:José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero 2004b (cropped).jpg|170x170px]] | leader1 = [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] | party1 = Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | leader_since1 = [[2000 PSOE federal party congress|22 July 2000]] | leaders_seat1 = [[Madrid (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Madrid]] | last_election1 = 125 seats, 34.2%{{efn|name="PSOE"|Results for [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]–[[Democratic Party of the New Left|p]] (34.2%, 125 deputies) and [[Extremaduran Coalition]] (0.0%, 0 deputies) in the 2000 Congress election.}} | seats1 = 164 | seat_change1 = {{increase|size=10px}} 39 | popular_vote1 = 11,026,163 | percentage1 = 42.6% | swing1 = {{increase|size=10px}} 8.3 [[Percentage point|pp]]

| image2 = [[File:Mariano Rajoy 2003 (cropped).jpg|170x170px]] | leader2 = [[Mariano Rajoy]] | party2 = People's Party (Spain) | leader_since2 = 2 September 2003 | leaders_seat2 = [[Madrid (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Madrid]] | last_election2 = 183 seats, 44.5% | seats2 = 148 | seat_change2 = {{decrease|size=10px}} 35 | popular_vote2 = 9,763,144 | percentage2 = 37.7% | swing2 = {{decrease|size=10px}} 6.8 [[Percentage point|pp]]

| image3 = [[File:Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida 2006 (cropped).jpg|170x170px]] | leader3 = [[Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida]] | leaders_seat3 = [[Barcelona (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Barcelona]] | leader_since3 = 24 January 2004 | party3 = Convergence and Union | last_election3 = 15 seats, 4.2% | seats3 = 10 | seat_change3 = {{decrease|size=10px}} 5 | popular_vote3 = 835,471 | percentage3 = 3.2% | swing3 = {{decrease|size=10px}} 1.0 [[Percentage point|pp]]

| image4 = [[File:Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira 2001 (cropped).jpg|170x170px]] | leader4 = [[Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira]] | party4 = Republican Left of Catalonia | leader_since4 = 2 February 2004 | leaders_seat4 = [[Barcelona (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Barcelona]] | last_election4 = 1 seat, 0.8% | seats4 = 8 | seat_change4 = {{increase|size=10px}} 7 | popular_vote4 = 652,196 | percentage4 = 2.5% | swing4 = {{increase|size=10px}} 1.7 [[Percentage point|pp]]

| image5 = [[File:Josu Erkoreka 2009 (cropped).jpg|170x170px]] | leader5 = [[Josu Erkoreka]] | party5 = Basque Nationalist Party | leader_since5 = 2004 | leaders_seat5 = [[Biscay (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Biscay]] | last_election5 = 7 seats, 1.5% | seats5 = 7 | seat_change5 = {{steady|size=10px}} 0 | popular_vote5 = 420,980 | percentage5 = 1.6% | swing5 = {{increase|size=10px}} 0.1 [[Percentage point|pp]]

| image6 = [[File:Gaspar Llamazares 2011 (cropped).jpg|170x170px]] | leader6 = [[Gaspar Llamazares]] | party6 = United Left (Spain) | leader_since6 = 29 October 2000 | leaders_seat6 = [[Madrid (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Madrid]] | last_election6 = 9 seats, 6.0%{{efn|name="IU+ICV"|Results for [[United Left (Spain)|IU]] (5.4%, 8 deputies) and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|IC–V]] (0.5%, 1 deputy) in the 2000 Congress election.}} | seats6 = 5 | seat_change6 = {{decrease|size=10px}} 4 | popular_vote6 = 1,284,081 | percentage6 = 5.0% | swing6 = {{decrease|size=10px}} 1.0 [[Percentage point|pp]]

| map = {{Switcher | [[File:2004 Spanish election - Results.svg|x315px|Map of Spain showcasing winning party's strength by constituency]] | Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress) | [[File:2004 Spanish election - AC results.svg|x315px|Map of Spain showcasing winning party's strength by autonomous community]] | Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress) | [[File:2004 Spanish general election map.svg|x315px|Map of Spain showcasing seat distribution by Congress of Deputies constituency]] | Election results by constituency (Congress) }}

| title = [[Prime Minister of Spain|Prime Minister]] | posttitle = Prime Minister after election | before_election = [[José María Aznar]] | before_party = People's Party (Spain) | after_election = [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] | after_party = Spanish Socialist Workers' Party }} A [[General elections in Spain|general election]] was held in [[Spain]] on 14 March 2004 to elect the members of the 8th {{lang|es|[[Cortes Generales]]|italic=no}} under the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]]. All 350 seats in the [[Congress of Deputies]] were up for election, as well as 208 of 259 seats in the [[Senate of Spain|Senate]]. It was held concurrently with a [[2004 Andalusian regional election|regional election in Andalusia]].

Since [[2000 Spanish general election|2000]], the ruling [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP) had governed with an [[absolute majority]] in the [[Congress of Deputies]], allowing it to renegue from [[Majestic Pact|its previous agreements]] with [[Peripheral nationalism|peripheral nationalist]] parties. This period saw sustained [[Economy of Spain|economic growth]], but the controversial management—and, at times, attempted [[cover-up]]—of a number of crises affected the standing of [[Second government of José María Aznar|Aznar's government]] and fostered perceptions of arrogance: this included the Gescartera case, the [[Prestige oil spill|''Prestige'' oil spill]] and the [[Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines Flight 4230|Yak-42 plane crash]]. A reform of [[Unemployment benefits in Spain|unemployment benefits]] led to a [[List of strikes in Spain|general strike in 2002]], and the unpopular decision to [[Coalition of the willing (Iraq War)|intervene]] in the [[Iraq War]] sparked [[Protests against the Iraq War|massive protests]] across Spain. The incumbent [[Prime Minister of Spain|prime minister]], [[José María Aznar]], renounced to seek a third term at the [[2002 PP national party congress|2002 party congress]], being replaced as candidate by the [[Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|first deputy prime minister]], [[Mariano Rajoy]]. The opposition [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE) elected [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] as new leader in [[2000 PSOE federal party congress|July 2000]], under a platform of party renewal. The [[fight against terrorism]] (particularly from the Basque separatist [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA group]]) and the need for [[political change]] were themes that dominated party campaigns going into the election.

The electoral outcome was heavily influenced by the [[Madrid train bombings]] on 11 March, which saw Aznar's government [[2004 Madrid train bombings#Allegations of ETA involvement|blaming]] ETA for the attacks in spite of mounting evidence suggesting [[Islamist]] authorship. The ruling PP was accused by the opposition of staging a [[Controversies about the 2004 Madrid train bombings|disinformation campaign]] to prevent the blame on the bombings being linked to Spain's involvement in Iraq. Results saw Zapatero's PSOE securing an unprecedented 11 million votes, with a net gain of 39 seats up to 164, whereas the PP (which had been predicted by [[Opinion polling for the 2004 Spanish general election|opinion polls]] to secure a diminished but still commanding victory) was left in shock as it unexpectedly lost 35 seats in the worst defeat for a sitting Spanish government up to that point since [[1982 Spanish general election|1982]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Marcos |first=Pilar |date=16 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/16/espana/1079391611_850215.html |title=La noche negra del PP: de la perplejidad a la conmoción |language=es |newspaper=[[El País]] |location=Madrid |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Winneker |first=Craig |date=17 March 2004 |title=Spain’s front-runner |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/spains-front-runner/ |language=en |newspaper=[[Politico]] |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] benefitted from the impact of the Carod case—the revelation that party leader [[Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira]] had held a meeting with ETA shortly after joining the [[Government of Pasqual Maragall|new Catalan regional government]] of [[Pasqual Maragall]]—which gave the party publicity to the detriment of [[Convergence and Union]]. The 75.7% [[voter turnout]] was among the highest since the [[Spanish transition to democracy]] and was attributed to public shock and grief caused by the Madrid attacks, with no subsequent general election having exceeded such figure.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 March 2004 |url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2004/03/15/economia/1079333781_850215.html |title=La masacre de Madrid dispara la participación del electorado |language=es |newspaper=[[Cinco Días]] |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref> The number of votes cast, at 26.1 million votes, remained the highest figure in gross terms for any Spanish election until [[April 2019 Spanish general election|April 2019]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=15 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/15/espana/1079305204_850215.html |title=El PSOE da el gran vuelco electoral |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Romero |first=José Manuel |date=15 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/15/espana/1079305201_850215.html |title=Zapatero vence con casi 11 millones de votos |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Castaño |first=Federico |date=15 March 2004 |url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2004/03/15/economia/1079333780_850215.html |title=Zapatero derrota a Rajoy en la recta final |language=es |newspaper=Cinco Días |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>

The election result was described by some media as an "unprecedented electoral [[Upset (competition)|upset]]".<ref>{{cite news |date=15 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/15/portada/1079305201_850215.html |title=Zapatero derrota a Rajoy en un vuelco electoral sin precedentes |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=27 September 2025}}</ref> Perceived PP abuses and public rejection at Spain's involvement in Iraq were said to help fuel a wave of discontent against the incumbent ruling party, with Aznar's mismanagement of the 11M bombings serving as the final catalyst for change to happen.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 March 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/03/15/enespecial/1079334666.html |title=El voto de castigo dio la victoria al PSOE, según la prensa |language=es |newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=16 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/16/espana/1079391601_850215.html |title=Zapatero atribuye su victoria a las "ganas de cambio en España" y no al atentado del 11-M |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> Zapatero announced his will to form a [[First government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero|minority PSOE government]], seeking the parliamentary support of other parties once elected.<ref name="ABC160404">{{cite news |date=16 April 2004 |url=https://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-16-04-2004/abc/Nacional/zapatero-investido-presidente-del-gobierno-con-mayoria-absoluta_962990422349.html |title=Zapatero, investido presidente del Gobierno con mayoría absoluta |language=es |newspaper=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>

==Background== {{See also|Premiership of José María Aznar}} The [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP) secured an [[absolute majority]] of seats for the first time ever in the [[2000 Spanish general election|2000 general election]], which allowed [[José María Aznar]] to be re-elected for a second term in office as [[prime minister of Spain]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gooch |first=Adela |date=13 March 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/mar/13/3 |title=Spanish PM wins historic second term by a landslide |language=en |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2000 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/675320.stm |title=Spanish PM sweeps back in |language=en |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=27 April 2000 |title=Aznar, investido por segunda vez presidente del Gobierno |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2000/04/26/espana/956729513.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> The defeat of the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE) prompted the resignation of party leader [[Joaquín Almunia]] and a [[2000 PSOE federal party congress|leadership contest]] being triggered.<ref>{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=13 March 2000 |title=Joaquín Almunia asume la derrota y dimite |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/03/13/espana/952902020_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 March 2000 |title=El comité federal resuelve la dimisión de Almunia con un congreso ordinario y una gestora de 15 miembros |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/03/23/espana/953766067_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref> A [[dark horse candidate]], [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]], emerged as new leader in a surprise victory over the [[president of Castilla–La Mancha]], [[José Bono]], by adhering to a "New Way" position that proposed party renewal and internal reforms.<ref>{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=23 July 2000 |title=Zapatero gana a Bono por sólo 9 votos |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/07/23/espana/964303201_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=23 July 2000 |title=Spain's new Socialist leader unveils fresh team |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/07/23/spain.socialists.reut/ |language=en |publisher=[[CNN]] |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref>

With a low [[Unemployment in Spain|unemployment under Spanish standards]] and the [[Economy of Spain|country's economy]] growing at a steady pace, [[Second government of José María Aznar|Aznar's government]] continued its [[Economic liberalization|liberalization]] policy in a wide range of activities (including sectors previously subject to [[state monopoly]]),<ref>{{cite news |date=24 June 2000 |title=El Gobierno afirma que las nuevas medidas acaban con los monopolios |url=https://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/2000/06/24/pagina-69/34097985/pdf.html |language=es |newspaper=[[La Vanguardia]] |location=Madrid |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> as well as the completion of the [[privatization]] of the [[Iberia airline]] (postponed several times over pilots' opposition, adverse economic conditions and failed acquisition talks).{{sfn|Sangrador-Vegas|2020}}<ref>{{cite news |date=27 March 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1246467.stm |title=Iberia's troublesome float |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> Together with the continued inflow of [[Cohesion Fund|European funds]], this provided [[Spain]] with extraordinary revenues that contributed to curb the [[fiscal deficit]] and reduce [[public debt]], though the [[Spanish government]]'s overreliance on [[housing]] as an economic locomotive generated a [[Spanish property bubble|real estate bubble]] due to a rise in [[speculation]].{{sfn|Sangrador-Vegas|2020}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Fernández-Palacios |first=Miguel |date=26 April 2017 |title=Desmontando el mito del milagro económico de Aznar |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/entre-todos/participacion/desmontando-el-mito-del-milagro-economico-de-aznar-125599 |language=es |newspaper=[[El Periódico de Catalunya]] |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> The [[cash rounding]] resulting from the final replacement of the [[Spanish peseta]] by the [[euro]] on 1 January 2002 also led to a rise in the [[inflation rate]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=Servimedia |date=31 December 2002 |title=La cesta de la compra subió un 8% con el redondeo del euro |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2002/12/30/economia/1041270031.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=31 December 2002 |title=Economía admite que el redondeo por el euro afectó a la inflación |url=https://elpais.com/economia/2002/12/31/actualidad/1041323574_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>

Domestically, Aznar had to deal with the [[mad cow crisis]] early into his second term (with the first confirmed case of the [[Bovine spongiform encephalopathy|disease]] in Spain),<ref>{{cite news |date=23 November 2000 |title=Mad cow disease strikes Spain |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/11/22/spain.madcow/ |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=[[EFE]] |date=7 April 2008 |title=Ocho años de 'vacas locas' en España |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20080407/ocho-anos-de-vacas-locas-en-espana/19090.shtml |language=es |publisher=[[RTVE]] |access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> as well as a diplomatic standoff with the [[UK]] over the [[HMS Tireless (S88)|HMS ''Tireless'']]'s presence in [[Gibraltar]] for repairs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Norton-Taylor |first=Richard |date=29 October 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/oct/28/richardnortontaylor |title=Nuclear sub was hours from meltdown |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=12 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowcott |first1=Owen |last2=Black |first2=Ian |date=27 January 2001 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/27/gibraltar.ianblack |title=Nuclear sub keeps Gibraltar in a rage |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Gibraltar / Brussels |access-date=12 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=7 May 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1317133.stm |title=Nuclear sub leaves Gibraltar |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=12 April 2026}}</ref> In the summer of 2001, it was unveiled that the Gescartera [[investment company]] had engaged in profit-making activities by [[defrauding]] its clients through the [[misappropriation of funds]] and [[influence peddling]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Lorenzo |first=Ana |date=18 October 2007 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2007/10/comunicacion/18elmundo/gescartera.html |title=La trama oculta del 'chiringuito' de Camacho |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 March 2019 |url=https://www.lasexta.com/programas/donde-estabas-entonces/mejores-momentos/el-caso-gescartera-la-estafa-que-acabo-con-todos-los-ahorros-de-mas-de-4000-clientes-en-el-ano-2000-video_201903285c9d45660cf221c68703118e.html |title=El caso Gescartera, la estafa que acabó con todos los ahorros de más de 4.000 clientes en el año 2000 |language=es |publisher=[[laSexta]] |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> the scandal saw the resignations of the then treasury state secretary, Enrique Giménez-Reyna (brother to Gescartera's chairwoman) and the president of the [[National Securities Market Commission]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Vitzthum |first=Carlta |date=20 September 2001 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1000938547341076200 |title=Gescartera Scandal Fallout Continues As Spanish Market Regulator Resigns |language=en |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=21 September 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1556372.stm |title=Heads roll in Spanish finance scam |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> On the issue of [[Immigration to Spain|immigration]], Aznar's government reformed the Aliens Law to curtail some migrants' rights and introduce harsher entry restrictions, a faster [[deportation]] process, and tighter conditions for [[travel visa]]s.{{sfn|Sangrador-Vegas|2020}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Rodríguez Arroyo |first=Jorge |date=25 November 2000 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/11/25/espana/975106812_850215.html |title=El Congreso aprueba la Ley de Extranjería con el rechazo general al recorte de derechos |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=19 May 2003 |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-aznar-anuncia-reforma-importante-ley-extranjeria-200305190300-181973_noticia.html |title=Aznar anuncia una reforma «importante» de la Ley de Extranjería |language=es |newspaper=ABC |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 May 2003 |url=https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/espana/2003/05/20/aznar-reforma-ley-extranjeria-tercera-48316500.html |title=Aznar reforma la ley de extranjería por tercera vez |language=es |newspaper=[[El Periódico de Aragón]] |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref> An attempt by the government to tighten [[Unemployment benefits in Spain|unemployment benefits]] and other [[working conditions]] through [[Royal Decree-Law (Spain)|decree-law]] led to a [[List of strikes in Spain|general strike in 2002]],<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencies |date=20 June 2002 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jun/20/spain |title=Strike causes shutdown in Spain |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 June 2002 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/06/20/spanish.strike/index.html |title=Spain strike: Unions claim victory |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> forcing the proposal—which would later be struck by the [[Constitutional Court of Spain]] in 2007<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=30 March 2007 |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2007/03/30/economia/1175211553_850215.html |title=Declarado inconstitucional el 'decretazo' de Aznar que llevó a la huelga general en 2002 |language=es |publisher=[[Cadena SER]] |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>—to be watered down.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 June 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2055125.stm |title=Spanish unions threaten more action |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 June 2002 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2002/06/espana/huelga/decreto.html |title=El decreto |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> The [[Perejil Island crisis]] in July 2002, which saw a squad of the [[Royal Moroccan Navy]] temporarily occupy the uninhabited island, was resolved after a bloodless intervention by the [[Spanish military]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=13 July 2002 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/13/spain.gilestremlett |title=Moroccans seize Parsley Island and leave a bitter taste in Spanish mouths |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2133084.stm |title=Moroccan troops ousted from island |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> Finally, a proposal for a [[Water supply and sanitation in Spain|water transfer]] from the [[Ebro river]] to south-eastern provinces to supply [[Tourism in Spain|tourism]] and [[Agriculture in Spain|agriculture]] was criticized as poorly planned and met with mass [[protest]]s, particularly in [[Aragon]] and [[Catalonia]].<ref>{{cite news |last=James |first=Barry |date=4 April 2002 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/04/IHT-madrid-calls-ebro-project-a-symbol-critics-call-it-folly.html |title=Madrid calls Ebro project a symbol, critics call it folly |language=en |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pettifer |first=Julian |date=7 August 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/2176914.stm |title=Spain's troubled waters |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Coward |first=Ros |date=27 November 2002 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/nov/27/guardiansocietysupplement3 |title=Clear conflict |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=26 March 2026}}</ref>

[[File:MV Prestige.jpg|thumb|left|alt=MV Prestige shortly before her sinking|The [[Prestige oil spill|''Prestige'' oil spill]] in November 2002 became Spain's biggest [[environmental crisis]] and came to be seen in the country as a symbol of government [[Crisis management|mismanagement]].]] [[Terrorism in Spain|Terrorism]] was a major issue during Aznar's second term as prime minister, as the [[ETA (separatist group)|ETA]] group conducted major [[List of ETA attacks|attacks]] such as the killings of [[Ernest Lluch]] (a former [[Ministry of Health (Spain)|health minister]]),<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=22 November 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/nov/22/spain |title=Former minister shot dead in Spain |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Barcelona |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> the [[October 2000 Madrid bombing]] which killed a [[Supreme Court of Spain|Supreme Court]] judge,<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencies |date=30 October 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/oct/30/spain |title=Eta blamed as Madrid car bomb kills three |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> or the [[2001 Madrid bombing]] injuring 99.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 November 2001 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/car-bomb-injures-99-in-madrid/ |title=Car Bomb Injures 99 In Madrid |language=en |publisher=[[CBS News]] |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> PP and PSOE signed the 2000 Anti-Terrorist Pact as a show of unity in response,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodríguez Aizpeolea |first1=Luis |last2=Díez |first2=Anabel |date=13 December 2000 |title=PSOE y PP rechazan en la firma del pacto contra ETA rebajar las exigencias a los nacionalistas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/12/13/espana/976662001_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> and a new Political Parties Law was approved in 2002 which allowed the [[List of banned political parties|banning]] of the [[Batasuna]] party over its links and support to ETA's actions.{{sfn|Sangrador-Vegas|2020}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Jane |date=27 August 2002 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/aug/27/spain.guardiananalysispage |title=Beating Batasuna |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 March 2003 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2857437.stm |title=Batasuna banned permanently |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> The increase of [[counterterrorism]] cooperation with [[France]] and the [[European Union]], together with renewed police action, eroded ETA's operational capacity.{{sfn|Whitfield|2015}} Concurrently, and in opposition to Aznar's hardline position against ETA violence, the [[Basque Nationalist Party]] under [[Lehendakari]] [[Juan José Ibarretxe]] sought to resolve the [[Basque conflict]] through [[sovereigntism]] and broad-based talks, a position which received the endorsement of voters in the snap [[2001 Basque election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Goodman |first=Al |date=20 February 2001 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/02/20/spain.basque/index.html |title=Basque region calls early elections |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=14 May 2001 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/may/14/spain.world |title=Vote split in the battle for Basque hearts |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=15 May 2001 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/may/15/spain.gilestremlett |title=Basque voters turn against Eta |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> Following failed talks with the Spanish government,<ref>{{cite news |date=31 July 2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1464080.stm |title=Limited progress at Madrid-Basque talks |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref> Ibarretxe laid out a peace scheme in 2003—dubbed the [[Ibarretxe Plan]]—that envisaged a referendum to decide on a proposed reform of the [[Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country|Basque Statute of Autonomy]] which, if approved, would turn the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] into an [[associated state]] on an equal footing with Spain (including a [[right to self-determination]]).<ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=27 October 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/27/spain.gilestremlett |title=Basque plan is treason, say critics |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=31 October 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/31/spain.gilestremlett |title=Basque nationalists demand referendum |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=G. Torres |first=Laura |date=19 May 2008 |title=El Plan Ibarretxe |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20080519/plan-ibarretxe/57950.shtml |language=es |publisher=RTVE |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>

This period also saw the controversial [[Crisis management|management]] of a number of crises by Aznar's government; criticism over the perceived [[cover-up]] nature of its actions—frequently through [[denialism]] and [[diffusion of responsibility]]—negatively affected its public standing and fostered a perception of arrogance in the exercise of power.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ordaz |first=Pablo |date=22 March 2021 |title=Negar la realidad y perseguir al que discrepa |url=https://elpais.com/espana/2021-03-22/negar-la-realidad-y-perseguir-al-que-discrepa.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Molina |first=Chema |date=17 November 2024 |title=Prestige, Yak-42, 11M o DANA de València: el PP repite su gestión de tragedias con mentiras y evasión de responsabilidades |url=https://www.publico.es/politica/prestige-yak-42-11m-dana-valencia-pp-repite-gestion-tragedias-mentiras-evasion-responsabilidades.html |language=es |newspaper=Público |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> The [[Prestige oil spill|''Prestige'' oil spill]] in November 2002 saw extensive damage to the coast of [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] in what was described as Spain's biggest [[environmental crisis]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez Martinez |first1=Marta |last2=Llach |first2=Laura |date=14 November 2022 |title=Spain's biggest environmental disaster: The Prestige oil spill 20 years later |url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/11/14/spains-biggest-environmental-disaster-the-prestige-20-years-after |language=en |publisher=[[Euronews]] |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> The Spanish government was criticized for its decision to tow the ailing wreck out to sea (where it split in two) rather than allow it to take refuge in a sheltered port, which was seen as a major contributing factor to the scale of the disaster.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencies |date=16 December 2002 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2002/dec/16/oilspills.pollution |title=Thousands join Prestige protest |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=21 June 2012 |title=Prestige oil spill trial date set 10 years after Galicia coast blighted |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2012/06/21/inenglish/1340280280_830619.html |language=en |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> The [[Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines Flight 4230|Yak-42 plane crash]] in May 2003, with the death of all 75 occupants, saw a misidentification of bodies (with some remains being returned to the wrong relatives and others being mixed-up) as well as questions on the plane's poor condition and the pilots' readiness.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencies |date=26 May 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/26/spain.turkey |title=74 killed in Turkey plane crash |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=González |first=Miguel |date=27 May 2013 |title=Ten years on from the Yak-42 air crash, and no one is held responsible |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/05/27/inenglish/1369662862_851894.html |language=en |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref>

[[File:Bush, Barroso, Blair, Aznar at Azores.jpg|thumb|alt=José Manuel Durão Barroso, Tony Blair, George W. Bush and José María Aznar at the Azores Summit|The [[Azores Summit]] preceded the [[U.S. invasion of Iraq]], which was unpopular among the Spanish public and led to [[15 February 2003 Iraq War protests#Spain|anti-war protests]].]] At the international level, the [[2000 United States presidential election|election]] of [[George W. Bush]] as [[U.S. president]] and the [[9/11 attacks]] in 2000 saw Spain aligning closer to the [[United States]], with Aznar voicing his support to Bush's [[missile shield]], [[war on terror]] and [[invasion of Afghanistan]],<ref>{{cite news |date=13 June 2001 |title=Aznar, primer líder europeo que apoya el escudo antimisiles de Bush |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2001/06/13/internacional/992383201_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gaynor |first=Tim |date=12 March 2004 |title=Aznar put war on terror at the heart of his government |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/aznar-put-war-on-terror-at-the-heart-of-his-government-63983.html |language=en |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> in exchange for U.S. support to Spain's fight against ETA's terrorism.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=15 June 2001 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/15/spain.usa |title=US offers to spy on Eta for Spain |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Europa Press]] |date=2 May 2002 |title=Bush ratifica su compromiso con España en la lucha contra ETA |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2002/05/02/enespecial/1020370056.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Washington D.C. |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref> Spain's rapprochement to the United States and [[Tony Blair]]'s [[United Kingdom]], and their unsuccessful attempts to secure a new [[UN Security Council]] resolution that could lead to war—superseding [[Resolution 1441]]—culminated in the [[Azores Summit]] on 16 March 2003, which led to the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|subsequent invasion of Iraq]] under the alleged aim of disarming [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime of "[[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]]".<ref>{{cite news |date=14 March 2003 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/bush-blair-aznar-to-hold-emergency-summit-in-azores-1.374190 |title=Bush, Blair, Aznar to hold emergency summit in Azores |language=en |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=González |first1=Miguel |author2=Urra, Susana (translation) |date=7 July 2016 |url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2016/07/07/inenglish/1467879224_196507.html |title=Aznar and Blair agreed on joint Iraq war communications strategy |language=en |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> The Spanish government's decision to [[Coalition of the willing (Iraq War)|intervene]] in the [[Iraq War]] proved highly unpopular among the public,<ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=3 March 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/03/worlddispatch.spain |title=On his own head be it |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tremlett |first1=Giles |last2=Arie |first2=Sophie |date=29 March 2003 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/29/spain.iraq |title=Aznar faces 91% opposition to war |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid / Rome |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> sparking [[Protests against the Iraq War|massive anti-war protests]] across the country.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 February 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2003/02/15/actualidad/1045263602_850215.html |title=Los organizadores cifran en más de tres millones los manifestantes en Madrid y Barcelona |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=22 March 2003 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/22/sprj.irq.western.protests/ |title=Clashes at Madrid anti-war protest |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> Aznar had also hinted at withdrawing from politics after two consecutive terms,<ref>{{cite news |last=Casqueiro |first=Javier |date=28 January 2000 |title=Aznar: "No deseo ser presidente continuamente más de ocho años" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/01/28/espana/949014014_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 March 2000 |title=Aznar optará a la presidencia del PP en el 2002 pero no se presentará a las elecciones generales del 2004 |url=https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/aznar-optara-presidencia-pp-2002-pero-no-presentara-elecciones-generales-2004/1411071056 |language=es |publisher=Servimedia |location=Madrid |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> a decision he confirmed at the [[2002 PP national party congress|2002 PP congress]],<ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 2002 |title=Congreso PP. Aznar ratifica que no se presentará a las elecciones ni será presidente del PP a partir del próximo congreso |url=https://www.servimedia.es/noticias/congreso-pp-aznar-ratifica-no-presentara-elecciones-ni-sera-presidente-pp-partir-proximo-congreso/1411118389 |language=es |publisher=Servimedia |location=Madrid |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 2002 |title=El PP refrenda el último mandato de Aznar con un abrumador 99,6% de votos |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2002/01/26/actualidad/1012036619_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 April 2002 |title=Aznar anuncia que tampoco se presentará a diputado en las próximas elecciones |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2002/04/18/espana/1019080803_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> while also rejecting a new run as MP.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Tracy |date=9 November 2003 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-09-fg-aznar9-story.html |title=Spain’s Aznar Will Not Seek Reelection |language=en |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> The [[Deputy Prime Minister of Spain|first deputy prime minister]], [[Mariano Rajoy]], was selected to succeed him as the party's prime ministerial candidate in September 2003.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 August 2002 |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2002/08/01/spains-would-be-heirs-to-aznar |title=Spain's would-be heirs to Aznar |language=en |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref name="EP020903">{{cite news |date=2 September 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2003/09/02/actualidad/1062490617_850215.html |title=Rajoy asume el legado de Aznar tras ser ratificado como candidato del PP a La Moncloa |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=27 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 September 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3201363.stm |title=Spanish right chooses new leader |language=en |publisher=BBC News |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref>

Despite the growing unpopularity of Aznar's government, the PP was able to come out of the [[2003 Spanish local elections|2003 local]] and [[2003 Spanish regional elections|regional elections]] with limited losses.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goodman |first=Al |date=26 May 2003 |title=Voters punish Aznar on Iraq |url=https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/05/25/spain.elections/index.html |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 May 2003 |url=https://www.dw.com/es/leve-castigo-para-aznar/a-878557 |title=Leve castigo para Aznar |language=es |newspaper=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> The outcome of the [[May 2003 Madrilenian regional election|regional election in Madrid]] was significant as it hinted at the formation of a left-wing [[coalition government]] in Spain's capital region.<ref>{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Emma |date=26 May 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/26/world/aznar-s-party-keeps-hold-on-madrid-in-vote.html |title=Aznar's Party Keeps Hold on Madrid in Vote |language=en |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> However, a parliamentary scandal seeing two PSOE MPs refusing to follow [[party discipline]] (which would be referred to as the ''[[Tamayazo scandal|Tamayazo]]'')<ref>{{cite news |last=Mármol |first=Iolanda |date=2 May 2016 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20160502/tamayazo-unico-precedente-repeticion-electoral-espana-5103069 |title=El 'tamayazo', único precedente de repetición electoral en España |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> prevented the regional PSOE leader from becoming [[President of the Community of Madrid|president]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Martín |first=José Luis |date=29 June 2003 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/06/28/madrid/1056825603.html |title=La abstención de Tamayo y Sáez impide que Simancas sea investido |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Emma |date=2 July 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/02/world/madrid-regional-legislature-is-split-over-corruption-charges.html |title=Madrid Regional Legislature Is Split Over Corruption Charges |language=en |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> forcing a [[October 2003 Madrilenian regional election|repeat election in October]] in which PP's [[Esperanza Aguirre]] secured a majority.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fuchs |first=Dale |date=27 October 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/27/world/premier-s-party-regains-power-in-madrid-vote-ousting-leftists.html |title=Premier's Party Regains Power In Madrid Vote, Ousting Leftists |language=en |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> The [[2003 Catalan regional election|Catalan election in November 2003]] saw the [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]] (PSC)—PSOE's sister party—oust the nationalist [[Convergence and Union]] from the [[Executive Council of Catalonia|regional government]] after 23 years of uninterrupted rule,<ref>{{cite news |last=Goodman |first=Al |date=17 November 2003 |title=Post-poll deals key to Catalonia |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/11/16/spain.catalonia/ |language=es |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=17 December 2003 |title=Maragall es elegido presidente de Cataluña después de 23 años de Gobierno de Jordi Pujol |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/12/16/espana/1071594958.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> with a [[Government of Pasqual Maragall|tripartite cabinet]] between PSC, [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens]] being formed under [[Pasqual Maragall]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=15 December 2003 |title=El tripartito firma el acuerdo de gobierno que hará a Maragall presidente de la Generalitat |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2003/12/14/espana/1071393768.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Barcelona |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> The new Catalan government came under fire in January 2004 after it was unveiled that its deputy head, ERC's [[Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira]], had held a secret meeting with ETA to negotiate a Catalonia-limited ceasefire, in what became known as the Carod case;<ref>{{cite news |last=Rusiñol |first=Pere |date=20 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/20/espana/1077231602_850215.html |title=Maragall da por cerrada la crisis tras la renuncia de Carod a volver al Gobierno tripartito |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Brussels |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref> while Carod-Rovira denied all claims of deal-seeking, the public backlash prompted him to apologize and resign from his government posts.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tremlett |first=Giles |date=28 January 2004 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jan/28/spain.gilestremlett |title=Secret meeting with Eta hits Socialist poll hopes |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}}</ref><ref name="SER280104">{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=28 January 2004 |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2004/01/27/espana/1075164615_850215.html |title=Carod-Rovira deja la Generalitat y se mantiene el tripartito en Cataluña |language=es |publisher=Cadena SER |location=Madrid |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>

==Overview== Under the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|1978 Constitution]], the Spanish {{lang|es|[[Cortes Generales]]|italic=no}} were conceived as an [[imperfect bicameral]] system.<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 66}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=66&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Título III. De las Cortes Generales. Sinopsis artículo 66 |language=es |publisher=[[Congress of Deputies]] |access-date=11 October 2025 |postscript=,}} summarizing {{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 66}}.</ref> The [[Congress of Deputies]] held greater legislative power than the [[Senate of Spain|Senate]], having the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a [[Prime Minister of Spain|prime minister]] and to override Senate [[veto]]es by an [[absolute majority]].<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=arts. 90 & 99}}.</ref> Nonetheless, the Senate retained a limited number of specific functions—such as [[ratifying]] international treaties, authorizing cooperation agreements between [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]], enforcing [[direct rule]], regulating interterritorial compensation funds, and taking part in [[constitutional amendment]]s and in the appointment of members to the [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Constitutional Court]] and the [[General Council of the Judiciary]]—which were not subject to override by Congress.<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=arts. 74, 94, 122, 145, 155, 158–159 & 166–167}}.</ref>

===Date=== The term of each chamber of the {{lang|es|Cortes Generales|italic=no}}—the Congress and the Senate—expired four years from the date of their previous election, unless they were [[Dissolution of parliament|dissolved]] earlier.<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=arts. 68–69}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 42 & 167}}.</ref> The [[2000 Spanish general election|previous election]] was held on 12 March 2000, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 12 March 2004. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 17 February 2004, setting the latest possible date for election day on 11 April 2004.

The prime minister had the prerogative to propose the [[Monarchy of Spain|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.<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=arts. 115–116}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 99}}.</ref> Barring this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections to the Congress and the Senate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=115&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Título V. De las relaciones entre el Gobierno y las Cortes Generales. Sinopsis artículo 115 |language=es |publisher=[[Congress of Deputies]] |access-date=31 October 2025 |postscript=,}} summarizing {{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 115}}.</ref> Still, as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution.

On 9 January 2004, it was announced that the general election would be held in March,<ref>{{cite news |last=Rodríguez Aizpeolea |first=Luis |date=10 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/10/espana/1073689207_850215.html |title=Aznar disolverá el Parlamento el día 19 y convocará elecciones para el 14 de marzo |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/20/portada/1074553202_850215.html |title=Aznar convoca las elecciones y advierte de que sería un riesgo votar al PSOE |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> with the election date being agreed with [[Andalusian president]] [[Manuel Chaves (politician)|Manuel Chaves]] to make it being held concurrently with the [[2004 Andalusian regional election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lucio |first=Lourdes |date=10 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/10/andalucia/1073690524_850215.html |title=Chaves pacta con Aznar simultanear el 14 de marzo las elecciones andaluzas y generales |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Seville |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>

The {{lang|es|Cortes Generales|italic=no}} were officially dissolved on 20 January 2004 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 14 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 2 April.<ref>{{harvp|Royal Decree 100/2004|2004|loc=arts. 1–2 & 5}}.</ref>

===Electoral system=== Voting for each chamber of the {{lang|es|Cortes Generales|italic=no}} was based on [[universal suffrage]], comprising all [[Spanish national]]s over 18 years of age with full [[political rights]], provided that they had not been [[Disfranchisement|deprived of the right to vote]] by a final [[Sentence (law)|sentence]], nor were [[Capacity (law)|legally incapacitated]].<ref>{{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 2–3}}.</ref>{{sfn|Carreras de Odriozola|Tafunell Sambola|2005|p=1077}}

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 district|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-[[Electoral threshold|threshold]] of valid votes (including [[blank ballot]]s) in each constituency. The remaining two seats were allocated to [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]] as [[single-member district]]s elected by [[plurality voting]].<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 68}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 162–164}}.</ref> The use of this electoral method resulted in a higher [[Electoral threshold#Natural threshold|effective threshold]] depending on [[district magnitude]] and vote distribution.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Michael |date=30 July 2012 |url=http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php |title=Effective threshold in electoral systems |publisher=[[Trinity College Dublin]] |location=Dublin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730092518/http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php |access-date=22 July 2017 |archive-date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled the following seats:<ref>{{harvp|Royal Decree 100/2004|2004|loc=art. 3}}.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |- ! width="50"| Seats ! width="600"| Constituencies |- | align="center"| '''35''' | [[Madrid (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Madrid]]{{font color|green|(+1)}} |- | align="center"| '''31''' | [[Barcelona (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Barcelona]] |- | align="center"| '''16''' | [[Valencia (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Valencia]] |- | align="center"| '''12''' | [[Seville (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Seville]]{{font color|red|(–1)}} |- | align="center"| '''11''' | [[Alicante (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Alicante]] |- | align="center"| '''10''' | [[Málaga (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Málaga]] |- | align="center"| '''9''' | [[A Coruña (Congress of Deputies constituency)|A Coruña]], [[Biscay (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Biscay]], [[Cádiz (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Cádiz]], [[Murcia (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Murcia]] |- | align="center"| '''8''' | [[Asturias (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Asturias]]{{font color|red|(–1)}}, [[Balearic Islands (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Balearic Islands]]{{font color|green|(+1)}}, [[Las Palmas (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Las Palmas]]{{font color|green|(+1)}} |- | align="center"| '''7''' | [[Córdoba (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Córdoba]], [[Granada (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Granada]], [[Pontevedra (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Pontevedra]]{{font color|red|(–1)}}, [[Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Santa Cruz de Tenerife]], [[Zaragoza (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Zaragoza]] |- | align="center"| '''6''' | [[Badajoz (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Badajoz]], [[Girona (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Girona]]{{font color|green|(+1)}}, [[Gipuzkoa (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Guipúzcoa]], [[Jaén (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Jaén]], [[Tarragona (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Tarragona]] |- | align="center"| '''5''' | [[Almería (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Almería]], [[Cantabria (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Cantabria]], [[Castellón (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Castellón]], [[Ciudad Real (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Ciudad Real]], [[Huelva (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Huelva]], [[León (Congress of Deputies constituency)|León]], [[Navarre (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Navarre]], [[Toledo (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Toledo]], [[Valladolid (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Valladolid]] |- | align="center"| '''4''' | [[Álava (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Álava]], [[Albacete (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Albacete]], [[Burgos (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Burgos]], [[Cáceres (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Cáceres]]{{font color|red|(–1)}}, [[La Rioja (Congress of Deputies constituency)|La Rioja]], [[Lleida (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Lleida]], [[Lugo (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Lugo]], [[Ourense (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Ourense]], [[Salamanca (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Salamanca]] |- | align="center"| '''3''' | [[Ávila (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Ávila]], [[Cuenca (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Cuenca]], [[Guadalajara (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Guadalajara]], [[Huesca (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Huesca]], [[Palencia (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Palencia]], [[Segovia (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Segovia]], [[Soria (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Soria]], [[Teruel (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Teruel]], [[Zamora (Congress of Deputies constituency)|Zamora]] |}

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 Islands|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.<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 69}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 162 & 165–166}}.</ref>{{sfn|Carreras de Odriozola|Tafunell Sambola|2005|p=1083}}

The law did not provide for [[by-election]]s to fill [[Casual vacancy|vacant seats]]; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the [[Electoral list|party lists]] or, when required, by designated [[Substitute (elections)|substitutes]].<ref>{{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 46, 48, 164, 166 & 170–171}}.</ref>

===Outgoing parliament=== The tables below show the composition of the [[parliamentary group]]s in both chambers at the time of dissolution.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lozano |first=Carles |url=https://www.historiaelectoral.com/grups.html |title=Grupos Parlamentarios en el Congreso de los Diputados y el Senado |language=es |website=Historia Electoral.com |access-date=25 August 2025}}</ref><ref name="HESenate">{{cite web |last=Lozano |first=Carles |url=https://www.historiaelectoral.com/senado7.html |title=Composición del Senado 1977-{{year}} |language=es |website=Historia Electoral.com |access-date=25 August 2025}}</ref>

{{col-begin|width=auto}} {{col-break}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |+ Parliamentary composition in January 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congreso.es/web/guest/grupos/composicion-en-la-legislatura |title=Grupos parlamentarios |language=es |website=[[Congress of Deputies]] |access-date=7 December 2020}}</ref> |- ! colspan="6"| Congress of Deputies |- ! rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Groups ! rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Parties ! colspan="2"| Deputies |- ! Seats ! Total |- | width="1" rowspan="2" bgcolor="{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | rowspan="2"| People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress | width="1" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] | 180 | rowspan="2"| '''183''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Navarrese People's Union}}"| | [[Navarrese People's Union|UPN]] | 3 |- | rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | rowspan="2"| Socialist Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] | 107 | rowspan="2"| '''124''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialists' Party of Catalonia}}"| | [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]] | 17 |- | rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence and Union}}"| | rowspan="2"| Catalan Parliamentary Group (Convergence and Union) | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic Convergence of Catalonia}}"| | [[Democratic Convergence of Catalonia|CDC]] | 11 | rowspan="2"| '''15''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic Union of Catalonia}}"| | [[Democratic Union of Catalonia|UDC]] | 4 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}"| | United Left's Federal Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}"| | [[United Left (Spain)|IU]] | 8 | '''8''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ/PNV) | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | [[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]] | 7 | '''7''' |- | rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}"| | rowspan="2"| Canarian Coalition's Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Independent Groups}}"| | [[Canarian Independent Groups|AIC]] | 2 | rowspan="2"| '''4''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Nationalist Canarian Initiative}}"| | [[Nationalist Canarian Initiative|ICAN]] | 2 |- | rowspan="7" bgcolor="gray"| | rowspan="7"| Mixed Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}"| | [[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]] | 3 | rowspan="7"| '''9''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusian Party}}"| | [[Andalusian Party|PA]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left of Catalonia}}"| | [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Initiative for Catalonia Greens}}"| | [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|ICV]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Eusko Alkartasuna}}"| | [[Eusko Alkartasuna|EA]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Chunta Aragonesista}}"| | [[Chunta Aragonesista|CHA]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent politician}}"| | [[Independent politician|INDEP]] | 1{{efn|[[Cristina Alberdi]], former [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] legislator.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 December 2003 |title=La ex ministra Alberdi se va del PSOE tras 5 meses de disputa |url=https://www.diariocordoba.com/noticias/espana/ex-ministra-alberdi-va-psoe-5-meses-disputa_95935.html |language=es |newspaper=[[Córdoba (newspaper)|Córdoba]] |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>}} |} {{col-break|gap=1em}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |+ Parliamentary composition in January 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senado.es/web/composicionorganizacion/gruposparlamentarios/gruposparlamentariosdesde1977/index.html |title=Grupos Parlamentarios desde 1977 |language=es |website=[[Senate of Spain]] |access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref> |- ! colspan="6"| Senate |- ! rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Groups ! rowspan="2" colspan="2"| Parties ! colspan="2"| Senators |- ! Seats ! Total |- | width="1" rowspan="2" bgcolor="{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | rowspan="2"| People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate | width="1" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] | 147 | rowspan="2"| '''150''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Navarrese People's Union}}"| | [[Navarrese People's Union|UPN]] | 3 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | Socialist Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] | 67 | '''67''' |- | rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Catalan Agreement of Progress}}"| | rowspan="3"| Catalan Agreement of Progress Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialists' Party of Catalonia}}"| | [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]] | 9 | rowspan="3"| '''12''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left of Catalonia}}"| | [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]] | 2 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Initiative for Catalonia Greens}}"| | [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|ICV]] | 1 |- | rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence and Union}}"| | rowspan="2"| Convergence and Union's Catalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic Convergence of Catalonia}}"| | [[Democratic Convergence of Catalonia|CDC]] | 7 | rowspan="2"| '''10''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic Union of Catalonia}}"| | [[Democratic Union of Catalonia|UDC]] | 3 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | Basque Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | [[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]] | 7 | '''7''' |- | rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}"| | rowspan="4"| Canarian Coalition Senators' Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Independent Groups}}"| | [[Canarian Independent Groups|AIC]] | 2 | rowspan="4"| '''6''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Nationalist Canarian Initiative}}"| | [[Nationalist Canarian Initiative|ICAN]] | 2 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent Herrenian Group}}"| | [[Independent Herrenian Group|AHI]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Majorera Assembly}}"| | [[Majorera Assembly|AM]] | 1 |- | rowspan="5" bgcolor="gray"| | rowspan="5"| Mixed Parliamentary Group | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}"| | [[United Left (Spain)|IU]] | 3 | rowspan="5"| '''7''' |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}"| | [[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Aragonese Party}}"| | [[Aragonese Party|PAR]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Lanzarote Independents Party}}"| | [[Lanzarote Independents Party|PIL]] | 1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent politician}}"| | [[Independent politician|INDEP]] | 1{{efn|Enrique Bellido, former [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] legislator.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rodríguez |first=José Luis |date=5 September 2002 |title=Bellido deja la presidencia de la Comisión de Sanidad |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2002/09/05/andalucia/1031178124_850215.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Córdoba |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>}} |} {{col-end}}

==Candidates== ===Nomination rules=== Spanish citizens with the [[right to vote]] could [[Nomination rules|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:<ref name="CEArt70LOREGArt6">{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 70}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 6 & 154}}.</ref> *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;{{efn|These comprised the [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Constitutional Court]], the [[General Council of the Judiciary]], the [[Supreme Court of Spain|Supreme Court]], the [[Spanish Council of State|Council of State]], the [[Court of Auditors (Spain)|Court of Auditors]] and the [[Economic and Social Council (Spain)|Economic and Social Council]].}} the [[Spanish Ombudsman|Ombudsman]]; the [[Spanish Attorney General|State's Attorney General]]; high-ranking officials of [[Spanish government departments|government departments]], the [[Office of the Prime Minister (Spain)|Office of the Prime Minister]] and other [[List of agencies in Spain|state agencies]]; [[Government Delegation (Spain)|government delegates in the autonomous communities]]; the [[chair of RTVE|director-general of RTVE]]; the director of the Electoral Register Office; the [[Governor of the Bank of Spain|governor]] and deputy governor of the [[Bank of Spain]]; the heads of [[Official Credit Institute|official credit institutions]]; and members of [[electoral commission]]s and of the [[Nuclear Safety Council (Spain)|Nuclear Safety Council]]; *Heads of [[List of diplomatic missions of Spain|diplomatic missions]] abroad; *[[Judiciary of Spain|Judges]] and [[Prosecution Ministry|public prosecutors]] in active service; *Members of the [[Spanish Armed Forces|Armed Forces]] and [[Law enforcement in Spain|law enforcement bodies]] in active service.

Other ineligibility provisions also applied to a number of territorial officials in these categories within their [[Jurisdiction (area)|areas of jurisdiction]], as well as to employees of foreign states and members of regional governments.<ref name="CEArt70LOREGArt6"/>

[[Incompatibility rule]]s 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:<ref>{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 67}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 46 & 155–159}}.</ref> *A number of senior public or institutional posts, including the presidency of the [[National Commission on Markets and Competition|Competition Defence Court]]; and leadership positions in RTVE, government offices, public authorities (such as [[port authorities]], hydrographic confederations, or [[Highways in Spain|highway concessionary companies]]), public entities and state-owned or publicly funded companies; *Any other paid [[Public sector|public]] or [[Private sector|private]] position, except [[University professor|university teaching]].

===Parties and lists=== {{See also|List of political parties in Spain}} The electoral law allowed for [[Political party|parties]] and [[Political alliance|federations]] registered in the [[Ministry of the Interior (Spain)|interior ministry]], [[Electoral alliance|alliances]] and [[Grouping of electors (Spain)|groupings of electors]] to present [[Electoral list|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.<ref>{{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 44 & 169}}.</ref>

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

{| class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.35em; text-align:left;" |- ! colspan="2" rowspan="3"| Candidacy ! rowspan="3"| Parties and alliances ! colspan="2" rowspan="3"| Leading candidate ! rowspan="3"| Ideology ! colspan="4"| Previous result ! rowspan="3"| {{abbr|Gov.|Government}} ! rowspan="3"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}} |- ! colspan="2"| Congress ! colspan="2"| Senate |- ! Vote % ! Seats ! Vote % ! Seats |- | width="1" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | align="center"| '''[[People's Party (Spain)|PP]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP) | [[Navarrese People's Union]] (UPN) | [[Valencian Union]] (UV) | Independents of Fuerteventura (IF) }} | [[File:Mariano Rajoy 2003 (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[Mariano Rajoy]] | [[Conservatism]] [[Christian democracy]] | align="center"| 44.5% | {{big|'''183'''}} | align="center"| 45.4% | {{big|'''127'''}} | {{ya}} | <ref name="EP020903"/> <ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/29/cvalenciana/1075407489_850215.html |title=UV renuncia a sus siglas y Chiquillo irá en la lista del PP al Senado |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Valencia |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |date=21 February 2017 |url=https://www.melillahoy.es/noticia/84513/opinion/-juan-jose-imbroda-candidato-indiscutible-.html |title=Juan José Imbroda candidato indiscutible |language=es |newspaper=Melilla Hoy |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE) | [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]] (PSC) | [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens]] (LV) }} | [[File:José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero 2004b (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] | [[Social democracy]] | align="center"| 34.2% {{efn|name="PSOE"}} | {{big|'''125'''}} | align="center"| 26.3% | {{big|'''53'''}} | {{na}} | <ref>{{cite news |date=27 October 2002 |title=Zapatero ya es el candidato del PSOE a La Moncloa tras unas primarias sin rival |url=https://www.libertaddigital.com/espana/2002-10-27/zapatero-ya-es-el-candidato-del-psoe-a-la-moncloa-tras-unas-primarias-sin-rival-1275321657/ |language=es |newspaper=Libertad Digital |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |date=11 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/11/espana/1073775613_850215.html |title=Los Verdes concurrirán con el PSOE a las elecciones generales |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |date=27 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/27/catalunya/1075169248_850215.html |title=Ciutadans pel Canvi se lamenta de no figurar en las listas del PSC a las generales |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence and Union}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Convergence and Union|CiU]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Convergence and Union]] (CiU) {{smaller|– [[Democratic Convergence of Catalonia]] (CDC) – [[Democratic Union of Catalonia]] (UDC)}} }} | [[File:Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida 2006 (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida]] | [[Catalan nationalism]] [[Centrism]] | align="center"| 4.2% | {{big|'''15'''}} | align="center"| 4.5% | {{big|'''8'''}} | {{na}} | <ref>{{cite news |last=Garriga |first=Josep |date=30 November 2001 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2001/11/30/catalunya/1007086039_850215.html |title=Duran se afianza como cabeza de lista de CiU en las generales de 2004 |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |last=Rusiñol |first=Pere |date=25 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/25/catalunya/1074996438_850215.html |title=Los partidos arrancan la precampaña como una reválida de las autonómicas |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}"| | align="center"| '''[[United Left (Spain)|IU]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[United Left (Spain)|United Left]] (IU) {{smaller|– [[Communist Party of Spain]] (PCE) – [[Unitarian Candidacy of Workers|Collective for the Unity of Workers–Andalusian Left Bloc]] (CUT–BAI) – [[Revolutionary Workers' Party (Spain)|Revolutionary Workers' Party]] (POR) – [[Workers' Revolutionary Party–Revolutionary Left]] (PRT–IR)}} | [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and Alternative Left]] (ICV–EUiA) {{smaller|– [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens]] (ICV) – [[United and Alternative Left]] (EUiA)}} | [[Bloc for Asturias]] (BA) | [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of Aragon]] (LV) | [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens]]–[[Canarian United Left|United Left–Citizens' Alternative Initiative]] (LV–IU–AC25M) {{smaller|– 25 May Citizens' Alternative (AC25M)}} | [[Independent Socialists of Extremadura]] (SIEx) | [[Esquerra Unida–L'Entesa|United Left–The Agreement]] (Entesa) {{smaller|– [[United Left of the Valencian Country]] (EUPV) – [[Republican Left (Spain, 1977)|Republican Left]] (IR)}} }} | [[File:Gaspar Llamazares 2011 (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[Gaspar Llamazares]] | [[Socialism]] [[Communism]] | align="center"| 6.0% {{efn|name="IU+ICV"}} | {{big|'''9'''}} | align="center"| 7.7% | {{big|'''0'''}} | {{na}} | <ref>{{cite news |last=Elordi Cué |first=Carlos |date=22 December 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2003/12/22/espana/1072047607_850215.html |title=IU cierra su etapa de división y reelige a Llamazares con el 76,5% de los votos |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Basque Nationalist Party]] (EAJ/PNV) }} | [[File:Josu Erkoreka 2009 (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[Josu Erkoreka]] | [[Basque nationalism]] [[Christian democracy]] | align="center"| 1.5% {{efn|name="Congress2000Navarre"|Results in the 2000 Congress election, not including Navarre.}} | {{big|'''7'''}} | align="center"| 1.6% {{efn|name="Senate2000Navarre"|Results in the 2000 Senate election, not including Navarre.}} | {{big|'''6'''}} | {{na}} | <ref name="EP270104">{{cite news |date=27 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/27/espana/1075158016_850215.html |title=PNV y EA concurrirán por separado a los comicios de marzo |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=San Sebastián |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodríguez Aizpeolea |first1=Luis |last2=Elordi Cué |first2=Carlos |author3=Company, Enric |date=16 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/16/espana/1076886015_850215.html |title=El sustituto probable de Anasagasti |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Bilbao |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Canarian Coalition|CC]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Canarian Independent Groups]] (AIC) {{smaller|– [[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) }} | [[File:Paulino Rivero.jpg|50px]] | [[Paulino Rivero]] | [[Regionalism (politics)|Regionalism]] [[Canarian nationalism]] [[Centrism]] | align="center"| 1.1% | {{big|'''4'''}} | align="center"| 0.7% | {{big|'''5'''}} | {{na}} | |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Galician Nationalist Bloc]] (BNG) {{smaller|– [[Galician People's Union]] (UPG) – [[Socialist Collective]] (CS) – [[Galician Nationalist Party–Galicianist Party]] (PNG–PG) – [[Nationalist Left]] (EN) – [[Inzar]] (Inzar)}} }} | [[File:Francisco Rodríguez Sánchez (AELG)-1.jpg|50px]] | Francisco Rodríguez | [[Galician nationalism]] [[Left-wing nationalism]] [[Socialism]] | align="center"| 1.3% | {{big|'''3'''}} | align="center"| 1.4% | {{big|'''0'''}} | {{na}} | |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusian Party}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Andalusian Party|PA]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Andalusian Party]] (PA) }} | [[File:Portrait placeholder.svg|50px]] | José Antonio González | [[Andalusian nationalism]] [[Social democracy]] | align="center"| 0.9% | {{big|'''1'''}} | align="center"| 0.9% | {{big|'''0'''}} | {{na}} | |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left of Catalonia}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) }} | [[File:Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira 2001 (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira]] | [[Catalan independence]] [[Left-wing nationalism]] [[Social democracy]] | align="center"| 0.8% | {{big|'''1'''}} | colspan="2" {{n/a}}{{efn|The [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC–PSOE]] (7 senators), [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]] (1 senator) and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|IC–V]] (0 senators) contested the 2000 Senate election within the [[Catalan Agreement of Progress|Entesa]] alliance.}} | {{na}} | <ref name="SER280104"/> <ref>{{cite news |author=Company, Enric |date=28 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/28/espana/1075244408_850215.html |title=El líder de ERC buscará en las urnas el refrendo a sus gestiones ante ETA |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |author=Company, Enric |date=15 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/15/catalunya/1076810851_850215.html |title=Carod desvincula su futuro del resultado de ERC en las elecciones legislativas |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Eusko Alkartasuna}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Eusko Alkartasuna|EA]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] (EA) }} | [[File:Begoña Lasagabaster 2023 (cropped).jpg|50px]] | Begoña Lasagabaster | [[Basque nationalism]] [[Social democracy]] | align="center"| 0.4% {{efn|name="Congress2000Navarre"}} | {{big|'''1'''}} | align="center"| 0.4% {{efn|name="Senate2000Navarre"}} | {{big|'''0'''}} | {{na}} | <ref name="EP270104"/> <ref>{{cite news |date=15 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/15/paisvasco/1074199205_850215.html |title=Aralar ve difícil coligarse con EA para las elecciones |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Vitoria |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |date=25 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/25/paisvasco/1075063200_850215.html |title=Los partidos nacionalistas irán por separado a las elecciones generales |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Chunta Aragonesista}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Chunta Aragonesista|CHA]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Chunta Aragonesista|Aragonese Union]] (CHA) }} | [[File:José Antonio Labordeta 2009 (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[José Antonio Labordeta]] | [[Aragonese nationalism]] [[Eco-socialism]] | align="center"| 0.3% | {{big|'''1'''}} | align="center"| 0.3% | {{big|'''0'''}} | {{na}} | <ref>{{cite news |last=Otero |first=Carlos |date=22 November 2003 |url=https://www.aragondigital.es/articulo/politica/cha-reelige-labordeta-como-cabeza-lista-zaragoza-proximas-elecciones-generales/20031122193700527720.html |title=CHA reelige a Labordeta como cabeza de lista por Zaragoza para las próximas elecciones generales |language=es |newspaper=Aragón Digital |location=Zaragoza |access-date=25 November 2025}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Nafarroa Bai}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Nafarroa Bai|NaBai]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] (EA) | [[Aralar (Basque political party)|Aralar]] (Aralar) | [[Basque Nationalist Party]] (EAJ/PNV) | [[Batzarre|Assembly]] (Batzarre) }} | [[File:Uxue Barkos 2015b (cropped).jpg|50px]] | [[Uxue Barkos]] | [[Basque nationalism]] [[Social democracy]] | align="center"| 0.1% {{efn|Results for [[Eusko Alkartasuna|EA]] (0.1%, 0 deputies) and [[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]] in Navarre (0.0%, 0 deputies) in the 2000 Congress election.}} | {{big|'''0'''}} | align="center"| 0.1% {{efn|Results for [[Eusko Alkartasuna|EA]] (0.1%, 0 senators) and [[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]] in Navarre (0.0%, 0 senators) in the 2000 Senate election.}} | {{big|'''0'''}} | {{na}} | <ref>{{cite news |last=Muez |first=Mikel |date=24 December 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2003/12/24/espana/1072220411_850215.html |title=PNV, EA y Aralar irán juntos a las elecciones generales en Navarra |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Pamplona |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |last=Muez |first=Mikel |date=7 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/07/paisvasco/1073508005_850215.html |title=Una periodista encabezará la lista nacionalista navarra |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Pamplona |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |last=Gastaminza |first=Genoveva |date=25 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/25/paisvasco/1075063207_850215.html |title=En Navarra sí, en Euskadi no |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=San Sebastián |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Catalan Agreement of Progress}}"| | align="center"| '''[[Catalan Agreement of Progress|PSC–ERC– ICV–EUiA]]''' | {{Collapsible list | title = List | bullets = on | [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]] (PSC) | [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) | [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens]] (ICV) | [[United and Alternative Left]] (EUiA) }} | [[File:Portrait placeholder.svg|50px]] | Mercedes Aroz | [[Catalanism]] [[Social democracy]] [[Eco-socialism]] | colspan="2" {{n/a}} | align="center"| 6.0% | {{big|'''8'''}} | {{na}} | <ref name="EP230104">{{cite news |date=23 January 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/01/23/catalunya/1074823649_850215.html |title=Obstáculos en la Entesa |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> |}

The [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]], ERC and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens]] agreed to continue with the [[Catalan Agreement of Progress]] alliance for the Senate with the inclusion of [[United and Alternative Left]].<ref name="EP230104"/> In the Balearic Islands, [[PSM–Nationalist Agreement]], [[United Left of the Balearic Islands]], [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of the Balearic Islands]] and ERC formed the [[Progressives for the Balearic Islands]] alliance.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lorenzo |first=Ll. |date=24 December 2003 |title=El PSM propone a Nanda Ramon para encabezar la lista al Congreso |url=https://www.ultimahora.es/noticias/local/2003/12/24/687499/el-psm-propone-a-nanda-ramon-para-encabezar-la-lista-al-congreso.html |language=es |newspaper=[[Última Hora (Spain)|Última Hora]] |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref> A proposal for an all-left electoral alliance for the Senate in the Valencian Community, comprising the PSOE, [[United Left of the Valencian Country]] and the [[Valencian Nationalist Bloc]], was ultimately discarded.<ref>{{cite news |last=García del Moral |first=Juanjo |date=23 October 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2003/10/23/cvalenciana/1066936697_850215.html |title=EU propone una lista conjunta de la izquierda para el Senado |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Valencia |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 October 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2003/10/27/cvalenciana/1067285889_850215.html |title=El Bloc propone una plataforma valencianista para las elecciones |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Valencia |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vázquez |first1=Cristina |last2=García del Moral |first2=Juanjo |date=28 October 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2003/10/28/cvalenciana/1067372287_850215.html |title=Pla estudiará la oferta de EU para ir en una lista conjunta al Senado |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Valencia |access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>

==Campaign== ===Party slogans=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" |- ! style="text-align:left;" colspan="2"| Party or alliance ! Original slogan ! English translation ! {{abbr|Ref.|References}} |- | width="1" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] | « Juntos vamos a más » | "Together we go for more" | <ref>{{cite news |date=26 February 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/02/26/enespecial/1077797657.html |title=El PP mantiene el lema 'Juntos vamos a más' pese a coincidir con el eslogan de una caja andaluza |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] | « Merecemos una España mejor » | "We deserve a better Spain" | <ref>{{cite news |date=12 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2004/02/12/actualidad/1076577423_850215.html |title=El PSOE presenta su campaña para el 14-M bajo el lema 'Merecemos una España mejor' |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence and Union}}"| | [[Convergence and Union|CiU]] | « Duran per Catalunya: sentit comú » | "Duran for Catalonia: common sense" | <ref>{{cite news |date=26 February 2004 |url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/ciu-incorpora-leslogan-prou-de-fer-mal-a-catalunya-com-a-resposta-a-lafer-carod/noticia/59336/ |title=CiU incorporà l'eslògan "Prou de fer mal a Catalunya" com a resposta a l'"afer Carod" |language=es |publisher=CCMA |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/02/27/enespecial/1077841059.html |title=Duran garantiza que PP y PSOE 'sudarán' por el apoyo de CiU |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 December 2015 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20151217/carteles-electorales-convergencia-unio-elecciones-generales-4743975 |title=Los carteles de Convergència y de Unió para las elecciones generales desde 1982 |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}"| | [[United Left (Spain)|IU]] | « Con tu voto, es posible. Palabra » | "With your vote, it is possible. Promise" | <ref>{{cite web |date=8 November 2011 |url=https://ciudadanosencrisis.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/los-lemas-que-ganaron-elecciones/ |title=Los lemas que ganaron elecciones |language=es |website=ciudadanosencrisis.wordpress.com |publisher=Ciudadanos en crisis |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | [[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]] | « Tú tienes la palabra » « Tu voz es importante en Madrid » | "You have the word" "Your voice is important in Madrid" | <ref name="Slogans1">{{cite news |date=26 February 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/02/26/espana/1077799733.html |title=La campaña electoral arranca esta noche con el estreno de los líderes de los principales partidos |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}"| | [[Canarian Coalition|CC]] | « Gana Canarias, ganas tú » | "The Canaries win, you win" | <ref name="Slogans2">{{cite news |date=26 February 2004 |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2004/02/26/espana/1077756617_850215.html |title=Rajoy en Santiago y Zapatero en Madrid abren una campaña marcada por ETA |language=es |publisher=Cadena SER |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}"| | [[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]] | « Dálle un Sí a Galiza » | "Give a Yes to Galicia" | <ref name="Slogans1"/> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusian Party}}"| | [[Andalusian Party|PA]] | « Andalucía es nuestro trabajo » | "Andalusia is our job" | <ref>{{cite news |date=11 July 2003 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2003/07/11/andalucia/1057875731_850215.html |title='Andalucía es nuestro trabajo', nuevo lema electoral del PA |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left of Catalonia}}"| | [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]] | « Parlant la gent s'entén » | "People understand [each other] by talking" | <ref>{{cite news |date=5 May 2014 |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/opinion/20140504/del-forum-a-la-consulta-3265068 |title=Del Fòrum a la consulta |language=es |newspaper=El Periódico de Catalunya |access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Chunta Aragonesista}}"| | [[Chunta Aragonesista|CHA]] | « Labordeta, gente como tú » | "Labordeta, people like you" | <ref name="Slogans2"/> |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Nafarroa Bai}}"| | [[Nafarroa Bai|NaBai]] | « Orain da geroa! » « ¡Ahora es el futuro! » | "The future is now!" | <ref>{{cite web |date=17 November 2011 |url=http://www.zabaltzen.net/2011/11/orain-da-geroa/ |title=Orain da GEROA |language=es |website=zabaltzen.net |publisher=Zabaltzen |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref> |}

===Events and issues=== The issues of terrorism and the State's model (with a particular focus on the major parties' relationship with peripheral nationalisms) featured predominantly in the campaign, particularly over the crisis in the Catalan government following the Carod case and the political row in the Basque Country over the Ibarretxe Plan.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/27/espana/1077836415_850215.html |title=Los temas que el PP considera prioritarios acaparan las tertulias matinales de televisión |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> Unemployment and economic progress were also campaign themes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marcos |first1=Pilar |last2=Peregil |first2=Francisco |date=16 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/16/espana/1076886003_850215.html |title=Rajoy promete dos millones de empleos y bajar el paro al 8% en cuatro años |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> On the issue of the Iraq War, the PSOE vowed to withdraw the 1,300 Spanish troops destined for the [[Occupation of Iraq (2003–2011)|occupation of the country]], whereas the PP advocated for a continued military presence and declined to reveal whether they would double the contingent of soldiers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=13 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/13/espana/1076626806_850215.html |title=Zapatero promete la vuelta de las tropas el 1 de julio si la ONU no se hace cargo de Irak |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodríguez Aizpeolea |first1=Luis |last2=Marcos |first2=Pilar |date=14 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/14/espana/1076713203_850215.html |title=El PP promete seguir en Irak y carga contra Zapatero por plantear la retirada |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>

No [[leaders' debate]]s were held in the 2004 general election campaign due to the PP's refusal to have one,<ref>{{cite news |last=Marcos |first=Pilar |date=17 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/17/espana/1076972403_850215.html |title=El PP protege a Rajoy de los debates y de las preguntas de los periodistas |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gallego-Díaz |first=Soledad |date=26 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/26/espana/1077750003_850215.html |title=El debate más tonto de la campaña |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> particularly a face off between prime ministerial candidates Rajoy and Zapatero requested by the latter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neudecker |first1=Michael |last2=Pérez Monguió |first2=Fernando |date=17 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/17/espana/1076972411_850215.html |title=El líder del PSOE pide un debate con Rajoy como prueba de regeneración democrática |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Cádiz / Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> Instead, the PP proposed having a debate with all twelve parties with parliamentary representation in the Congress of Deputies,<ref>{{cite news |last=Elordi Cué |first=Carlos |date=20 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/20/espana/1077231620_850215.html |title=El PP acepta debates sólo si están los 12 partidos con representación parlamentaria |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=26 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/26/espana/1077750004_850215.html |title=RTVE dice al PSOE que sólo habrá debate si aceptan los 12 partidos del Congreso |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> but it was considered logistically complex.<ref>{{cite news |last=Elordi Cué |first=Carlos |date=28 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/28/espana/1077922818_850215.html |title=Todos los partidos aceptan el debate a 12 que propone el PP, aunque critican la idea |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> Previously, Rajoy had demanded an electoral debate with the leaders of the PSOE, IU and ERC.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marcos |first=Pilar |date=19 February 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/02/19/espana/1077145224_850215.html |title=Rajoy "exige" un debate con el líder del PSOE, con Llamazares y con Carod |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> ''[[Las noticias del guiñol]]'', a [[satire|satirical]] news programme on [[Canal+ Spain|Canal+]], aired on 2 March a fictional debate between Rajoy and Zapatero using latex [[puppets]].<ref>{{cite news |last=García Gómez |first=Rosario |date=2 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/02/radiotv/1078182002_850215.html |title='Los guiñoles' ofrecen un disparatado cara a cara entre Rajoy y Zapatero |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref>

===Madrid train bombings=== {{Main|2004 Madrid train bombings|Reactions to the 2004 Madrid train bombings|Controversies about the 2004 Madrid train bombings}} During the peak of Madrid [[rush hour]] on the morning of Thursday, 11 March 2004, ten explosions occurred aboard four [[Cercanías|commuter trains]] (''cercanías'') between [[Alcalá de Henares]] and [[Madrid Atocha railway station|Atocha station]], killing 193 people and injuring around 2,500, in what would become the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of Spain and the deadliest in Europe since the [[Lockerbie bombing]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/12/madrid/1079094263_850215.html |title=Los atentados siembran el caos en Madrid |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/12/espana/1079046024_850215.html |title=El atentado más sangriento en Europa desde 1988 |language=es |newspaper=El País |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>

[[File:2004 Madrid train bombings map.png|thumb|left|alt=Map showing the locations of the 2004 Madrid train bombings|Map of the bombings.]] In response to the bombings, political parties announced the suspension of their campaigns.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=11 March 2004 |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2004/03/11/espana/1078966213_850215.html |title=Los partidos suspenden la campaña electoral |language=es |publisher=[[Cadena SER]] |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> At first, politicians from all parties—including the PSOE,<ref>{{cite news |date=11 March 2004 |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2004/03/11/espana/1078966213_850215.html |title=Zapatero: "Pido a los ciudadanos como reacción a ETA una masiva participación en las urnas" |language=es |publisher=Cadena SER |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> CiU,<ref>{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=11 March 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/03/11/espana/1078996037.html |title=Duran pide a los partidos que no caigan en la tentación de instrumentalizar los atentados |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Barcelona |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> IU,<ref>{{cite news |last=Elordi Cué |first=Carlos |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/12/espana/1079046062_850215.html |title=Llamazares cree que la división de los demócratas sería "imperdonable" y rechaza el uso político de atentados |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Seville |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> PNV,<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=11 March 2004 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20040311/51262789466/ibarretxe-califica-de-monstruosidad-la-matanza-y-augura-que-eta-escribe-su-final-con-acciones-ter.html |title=Ibarretxe califica de "monstruosidad" la matanza y augura que ETA escribe su final con acciones "terribles" |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Vitoria |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> and ERC<ref>{{cite news |author=Company, Enric |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/12/espana/1079046063_850215.html |title=Carod condena la masacre e insiste en el diálogo con ETA |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Barcelona |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>—blamed ETA. The Spanish government immediately declared three days of [[national mourning]] and claimed ETA's responsibility, with Prime Minister José María Aznar personally phoning newspaper editors to uphold this version at noon on the day of the attacks while dismissing any other authorship.<ref name="WP160304">{{cite news |last=Richburg |first=Keith B. |date=16 March 2024 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64633-2004Mar16?language=printer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405141618/http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64633-2004Mar16?language=printer |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-04-05 |title=Spain Campaigned to Pin Blame on ETA |language=en |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="SER020324">{{cite news |last=Vico |first=Antonio |date=2 March 2024 |url=https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2024/03/02/jesus-ceberio-exdirector-de-el-pais-aznar-intento-enganar-a-un-pais-entero-cadena-ser/ |title=Jesús Ceberio, exdirector de El País: "Aznar intentó engañar a un país entero" |language=es |publisher=Cadena SER |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> Aznar's government also sent messages to all [[Spanish embassies]] abroad ordering that they uphold the version that ETA was responsible.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/13/espana/1079132403_850215.html |title=Palacio instruye a todos los embajadores para que confirmen la responsabilidad de ETA |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> However, ETA denied any involvement in the attacks,<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://cadenaser.com/ser/2004/03/12/actualidad/1079059882_850215.html |title=ETA niega en una llamada a Gara su responsabilidad en los atentados |language=es |publisher=Cadena SER |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-03-13/eta-denies-bombings-as-millions-march/150790 |title=ETA denies bombings as millions march |language=en |newspaper=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref> and evidence obtained by police and security forces started pointing to an [[Islamist]] authorship by the afternoon of 11 March;<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-03-12/anti-terror-protests-to-mark-mourning-in-spain/150348 |title=Anti-terror protests to mark mourning in Spain |language=en |newspaper=ABC News |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref> particularly, the discovery of a van containing a tape with [[Qur'anic]] verses and an [[al-Qaeda]] claim of responsibility being published by the ''[[Al-Quds Al-Arabi]]'' London Arabic-language newspaper.<ref>{{cite news |last2=Orovio |first2=Ignacio |last1=Goyoaga |first1=Ander |date=11 March 2024 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/03/12/spain.blasts/index.html |title=Bombs were Spanish-made explosives |language=en |publisher=CNN |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last2=Orovio |first2=Ignacio |last1=Goyoaga |first1=Ander |date=11 March 2024 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20240311/9546373/guardia-civil-escucho-eta-8-manana-11-m-ser-moros.html |title=La Guardia Civil escuchó a ETA a las 8 de la mañana del 11-M: "Han tenido que ser los moros" |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |location=Barcelona / Bilbao |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> The government insisted on the ETA's authorship claim into 12 March (despite the discovery that day of a [[detonator]] that did not match those used by ETA)<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/03/12/espana/1079113329.html |title=Acebes apunta a ETA; los terroristas niegan su participación |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> and, on the eve of the election, PP candidate Mariano Rajoy claimed in an ''El Mundo'' interview that he had "the moral conviction that it was ETA".<ref>{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/03/13/espana/1079151420.html |title=Mariano Rajoy: «Tengo la convicción moral de que fue ETA» |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> By that point, however, interior minister [[Ángel Acebes]] had publicly acknowledged that the government had not "closed off any line of investigation".<ref name="WP160304"/>

In the days previous to the election, millions of Spaniards took to the streets in massive demonstrations across the country to condemn terrorism and express solidarity for the victims,<ref>{{cite news |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2004/03/12/album/1079083019_910215.html |title=Concentraciones contra los atentados de Madrid |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> but also to demand answers about the attacks—with cabinet members at the Madrid demonstration on 12 March being met with booing and shouts of "Who did it?"—amid growing concerns that the government was deliberately concealing evidence from the public to seek political advantage in the election.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencies |date=12 March 2004 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/12/spain |title=Millions protest Madrid attacks |language=en |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ordaz |first=Pablo |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/13/espana/1079132424_850215.html |title="¿Quién ha sido?" |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=10 March 2024 |url=https://efe.com/espana/2024-03-10/11m-reconstruccion-dias-que-sobrecogieron-a-espana/ |title=11M-14M, año 2004: reconstrucción de cuatro días que sobrecogieron a España |language=es |publisher=EFE |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Atentado 11M.jpg|thumb|alt=Remains of a commuter train being dismantled by a crane|Remains of a commuter train after the [[2004 Madrid train bombings|bombings]].]] During the day of [[election silence]] on 13 March, spontaneous [[Text messaging|cell phone messages]] ending in the catchphrase {{lang|es|pásalo}} (Spanish for "pass it on") invoked thousands to unofficial demonstrations in front of the ruling PP's headquarters in major cities throughout the country,<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-03-14/spanish-protest-against-government-manipulation/151030 |title=Spanish protest against Government 'manipulation' |language=en |publisher=ABC News |access-date=22 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gil |first=Andrés |date=9 March 2024 |url=https://www.eldiario.es/politica/20-anos-pasalo-dia-sms-creo-marea-ciudadana-mentiras-gobierno-aznar_1_10979767.html |title=20 años del "¡Pásalo!": el día en que un SMS creó una marea ciudadana contra las mentiras del Gobierno de Aznar |language=es |newspaper=elDiario.es |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> blaming the attacks on Aznar's decision to engage in the Iraq War (with shouts of "your war, our dead" and "murderers").<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2004/03/13/actualidad/1079169429_850215.html |title=Miles de personas se concentran frente a las sedes del PP en toda España |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> On the evening of that day, the Spanish government announced the arrest of three Moroccans and two Indians,<ref name="WP160304"/> concurrently with the discovery of a videotape from a purported al-Qaeda official claiming responsibility for the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agencias |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/03/13/espana/1079203531.html |title=Al Qaeda reivindica los atentados en un vídeo hallado en Madrid |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sciolino |first1=Elaine |last2=Alvarez |first2=Lizette |date=14 March 2004 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/world/video-claims-al-qaeda-set-blasts-spain-officials-arrest-3-moroccans-2-indians.html |title=Video Claims Al Qaeda Set Blasts in Spain; Officials Arrest 3 Moroccans and 2 Indians |language=en |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=19 March 2026}}</ref> This stirred further anti-government unrest throughout the country demanding to "being told the truth",<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2004/03/12/album/1079083019_910215.html |title=Anti-government protests spring up across Spain |language=en |publisher=Reuters |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=14 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/14/espana/1079218807_850215.html |title=Miles de personas exigen en las calles españolas que se les diga la verdad antes de votar |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> which prompted Rajoy to issue a statement denouncing that the "illegal" protests constituted "undemocratic acts of pressure on tomorrow's election", and accusing the opposition PSOE of staging them.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Valerio |first1=María |last2=Bécares |first2=Roberto |last3=Fernández |first3=Helena |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/03/13/espana/1079200520.html |title=Miles de personas protestan en toda España contra el PP |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> PSOE's [[campaign manager]], [[Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba]], replied in a press briefing rejecting Rajoy's accusations and condemning the government's handling of the crisis, revealing that party leaders had been aware for many hours that the main line of police investigation into the attacks was now pointing to Islamism—information which the government withheld from its public statements—and that they were never going to "use terrorism for political purposes", while uttering that "the Spanish people deserve a government that doesn't lie to them, that always tells them the truth".<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2004 |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-rubalcaba-espanoles-merecen-gobierno-no-mienta-200403130300-962435761225_noticia.html |title=Rubalcaba: «Los españoles se merecen un Gobierno que no les mienta» |language=es |newspaper=ABC |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref> By the end of the night, the entire opposition was accusing the PP government of manipulating and concealing information on the bombings.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rodríguez Aizpeolea |first=Luis |date=14 March 2004 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/03/14/espana/1079218841_850215.html |title=Toda la oposición acusa al Gobierno de manipular y ocultar información |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025}}</ref>

In the ensuing years, several sources would claim that the prospective electoral influence of the bombings was discussed in an emergency government meeting held on 11 March, which focused on the massacre's authorship: if ETA was proven to be responsible, it would favour the PP's hardline campaign on terrorism in a [[rally 'round the flag effect]], but if an Islamist group appeared to have caused the blasts, people would link them to the Spanish intervention in the Iraq War and blame the PP for earning Spain enemies. Along these lines, a statement allegedly made in the meeting—and attributed by some accounts to Aznar's chief advisor, Pedro Arriola—claimed that "if it was ETA, we'll win [by a [[Landslide victory|landslide]]]; if it was the Islamists, the PSOE shall win".{{efn|The exact wording of the sentence varies depending on the source; a more informal variation states: "if it was ETA, we sweep the map; if it was the Islamists, we go home."<ref name="EP030220">{{cite news |last=Junquera |first=Natalia |date=3 February 2020 |url=https://elpais.com/politica/2020/02/01/actualidad/1580560650_656905.html |title=Margallo: "Casado no ganó las primarias. Habríamos votado a cualquiera que no fuera Soraya" |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025 |quote="El 11-M. "Si ha sido ETA, nos salimos del mapa". "Cuando al rato entraron Pedro Arriola y Paco Villar, les pregunté: 'Pero, ¿sabemos quién ha sido?'. "Todavía no" —me respondieron—. Si ha sido ETA nos salimos del mapa, pero si han sido los yihadistas, nos vamos a casa". "Preocupante diagnóstico, y certero"."}}</ref>}}<ref name="EP030220"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=8 November 2007 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/2007/11/08/espana/1194476403_850215.html |title=El PSOE contrasta en un vídeo el bulo del PP con la sentencia del 11-M |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=22 March 2025 |quote="El vídeo incorpora las impresiones del sociólogo Pedro Arriola, asesor de Aznar, horas después del atentado, recogidas en el libro del periodista de El Mundo Casimiro García Abadillo. "Si ha sido ETA, barremos; si han sido los islamistas, gana el PSOE", opinó el experto."}}</ref>

==Opinion polls== {{Main|Opinion polling for the 2004 Spanish general election}} {{wide image|OpinionPollingSpainGeneralElection2004.svg|750px|[[Local regression]] trend line of poll results from 12 March 2000 to 14 March 2004, with each line corresponding to a political party.}}

==Voter turnout== The table below shows registered [[voter turnout]] during the election. Figures for election day do not include [[Non-resident citizen voting|non-resident citizens]], while final figures do.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;" |- ! rowspan="3"| Region ! colspan="9"| Time (Election day) ! colspan="3" rowspan="2"| Final |- ! colspan="3"| 14:00 ! colspan="3"| 18:00 ! colspan="3"| 20:00 |- ! 2000 ! 2004 ! +/– ! 2000 ! 2004 ! +/– ! 2000 ! 2004 ! +/– ! 2000 ! 2004 ! +/– |- | align="left"| [[Andalusia]] | 36.72% | '''40.99%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.27 | 56.12% | '''63.16%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +7.04 | 69.77% | '''75.96%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.19 | 68.77% | '''74.77%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.00 |- | align="left"| [[Aragon]] | 38.45% | '''42.56%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.11 | 56.90% | '''62.78%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.88 | 72.25% | '''78.01%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.76 | 71.39% | '''77.04%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.65 |- | align="left"| [[Asturias]] | 34.39% | '''38.50%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.11 | 55.25% | '''60.41%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.16 | 69.36% | '''74.40%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.04 | 66.99% | '''71.73%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.74 |- | align="left"| [[Balearic Islands]] | 34.96% | '''40.86%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.90 | 49.86% | '''58.28%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +8.42 | 61.91% | '''69.45%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +7.54 | 61.43% | '''68.84%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +7.41 |- | align="left"| [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] | 35.42% | '''42.17%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.75 | 50.98% | '''61.99%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +11.01 | 64.51% | '''75.94%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +11.43 | 63.84% | '''74.97%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +11.13 |- | align="left"| [[Canary Islands]] | 26.00% | '''30.29%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.29 | 42.45% | '''50.44%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +7.99 | 61.63% | '''67.69%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.06 | 60.67% | '''66.70%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.03 |- | align="left"| [[Cantabria]] | 35.24% | '''43.67%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +8.43 | 58.14% | '''66.27%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +8.13 | 73.34% | '''79.20%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.86 | 71.81% | '''77.23%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.42 |- | align="left"| [[Castile and León]] | 38.95% | '''42.06%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.11 | 59.97% | '''65.43%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.46 | 74.37% | '''80.00%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.63 | 72.57% | '''77.81%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.24 |- | align="left"| [[Castilla–La Mancha]] | 40.10% | '''42.99%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +2.89 | 61.86% | '''66.41%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.55 | 77.03% | '''80.65%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.62 | 76.31% | '''79.90%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.59 |- | align="left"| [[Catalonia]] | 34.11% | '''42.21%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +8.10 | 49.71% | '''62.32%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +12.61 | 64.70% | '''76.96%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +12.26 | 64.01% | '''75.96%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +11.95 |- | align="left"| [[Extremadura]] | 43.40% | '''45.45%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +2.05 | 62.54% | '''66.68%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.14 | 76.67% | '''80.87%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.20 | 75.42% | '''79.26%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.84 |- | align="left"| [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] | 31.86% | '''34.68%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +2.82 | 55.61% | '''61.48%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.87 | 69.49% | '''76.09%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.60 | 65.02% | '''70.97%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.95 |- | align="left"| [[La Rioja (Spain)|La Rioja]] | 42.65% | '''46.75%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.10 | 60.08% | '''66.24%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.16 | 75.44% | '''80.77%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.33 | 74.21% | '''79.46%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.25 |- | align="left"| [[Community of Madrid|Madrid]] | 37.12% | '''38.84%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +1.72 | 57.63% | '''63.78%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.15 | 73.43% | '''80.74%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +7.31 | 72.08% | '''78.93%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.85 |- | align="left"| [[Region of Murcia|Murcia]] | 40.40% | '''44.00%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.60 | 60.96% | '''66.36%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.40 | 74.49% | '''78.05%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.56 | 73.54% | '''77.06%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.52 |- | align="left"| [[Navarre]] | 35.76% | '''41.24%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.48 | 52.74% | '''62.83%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +10.09 | 67.16% | '''77.59%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +10.43 | 66.07% | '''76.22%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +10.15 |- | align="left"| [[Valencian Community]] | 41.70% | '''46.49%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +4.79 | 59.95% | '''66.46%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +6.51 | 73.39% | '''78.82%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.43 | 72.70% | '''77.71%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.01 |- | align="left"| [[Ceuta]] | 28.48% | '''34.39%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +5.91 | 42.62% | '''51.47%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +8.85 | 56.20% | '''65.13%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +8.93 | 55.15% | '''63.45%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +8.30 |- | align="left"| [[Melilla]] | 27.01% | '''29.56%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +2.55 | 42.34% | '''45.98%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +3.64 | 55.93% | '''58.56%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +2.63 | 54.00% | '''55.84%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| +1.84 |- style="background:#CDCDCD;" | align="left"| '''Total''' | '''36.50%''' | '''41.02%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| '''+4.52''' | '''55.45%''' | '''63.02%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| '''+7.57''' | '''70.00%''' | '''77.26%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| '''+7.26''' | '''68.71%''' | '''75.66%''' | style="background:#DDFFDD; color:green;"| '''+6.95''' |- | colspan="13" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"| |- | align="left" colspan="13"| Sources<ref name="InfoE">{{cite web |url=https://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ |title=Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales |language=es |publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (Spain)|Ministry of the Interior]] |access-date=15 April 2022}}</ref> |}

==Results== ===Congress of Deputies=== {{For|results by autonomous community/constituency|Results breakdown of the 2004 Spanish general election (Congress)}} {{For|elected deputies|8th Congress of Deputies}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" |+ [[2000 Spanish general election#Congress of Deputies|←]] Summary of the 14 March 2004 [[Congress of Deputies]] election results [[2008 Spanish general election#Congress of Deputies|→]] |- | colspan="7"| [[File:SpainCongressDiagram2004.svg|center|400px]] |- ! style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2" colspan="2" width="525"| Parties and alliances ! colspan="3"| Popular vote ! colspan="2"| Seats |- ! width="75"| Votes ! width="45"| % ! width="45"| ±[[Percentage point|pp]] ! width="35"| Total ! width="35"| +/− |- | width="1" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE)1 | 11,026,163 || 42.59 || style="color:green;"| +8.42 | '''164''' || style="color:green;"| +39 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP) | 9,763,144 || 37.71 || style="color:red;"| −6.81 | '''148''' || style="color:red;"| −35 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[United Left (Spain)|United Left]] (IU)2 | 1,284,081 || 4.96 || style="color:red;"| −0.93 | '''5''' || style="color:red;"| −4 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence and Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Convergence and Union]] (CiU) | 835,471 || 3.23 || style="color:red;"| −0.96 | '''10''' || style="color:red;"| −5 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left of Catalonia}}"| | align="left"| [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) | 652,196 || 2.52 || style="color:green;"| +1.68 | '''8''' || style="color:green;"| +7 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Basque Nationalist Party]] (EAJ/PNV)3 | 420,980 || 1.63 || style="color:green;"| +0.13 | '''7''' || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}"| | align="left"| [[Canarian Coalition]] (CC) | 235,221 || 0.91 || style="color:red;"| −0.16 | '''3''' || style="color:red;"| −1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}"| | align="left"| [[Galician Nationalist Bloc]] (BNG) | 208,688 || 0.81 || style="color:red;"| −0.51 | '''2''' || style="color:red;"| −1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusian Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Andalusian Party]] (PA) | 181,868 || 0.70 || style="color:red;"| −0.19 | 0 || style="color:red;"| −1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Chunta Aragonesista}}"| | align="left"| [[Chunta Aragonesista|Aragonese Union]] (CHA) | 94,252 || 0.36 || style="color:green;"| +0.03 | '''1''' || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Eusko Alkartasuna}}"| | align="left"| [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] (EA)3 | 80,905 || 0.31 || style="color:red;"| −0.06 | '''1''' || ±0 |- style="line-height:22px;" | rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Eco-pacifist Greens}}"| | align="left"| [[The Eco-pacifist Greens]] (LVEP) | 68,027 || 0.26 || style="color:green;"| +0.16 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; border-top-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[The Eco-pacifist Greens]] (LVEP) | 37,499 || 0.14 || style="color:green;"| +0.04 | 0 || ±0 |- style="line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative]] (EV–AE) | 30,528 || 0.12 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Nafarroa Bai}}"| | align="left"| [[Nafarroa Bai|Navarre Yes]] (NaBai)4 | 61,045 || 0.24 || style="color:green;"| +0.15 | '''1''' || style="color:green;"| +1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Valencian Nationalist Bloc}}"| | align="left"| [[Valencian Nationalist Bloc]]–[[Green Left–Initiative for the Valencian Country|Green Left]] (Bloc–EV) | 40,759 || 0.16 || style="color:red;"| −0.09 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Progressives for the Balearic Islands}}"| | align="left"| [[Progressives for the Balearic Islands]] ([[PSM–Nationalist Agreement|PSM–EN]], [[United Left of the Balearic Islands|EU]], [[Confederation of the Greens|EV]], [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ER]])5 | 40,289 || 0.16 || style="color:red;"| −0.06 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Citizens for Blank Votes}}"| | align="left"| [[Citizens for Blank Votes]] (CenB) | 40,208 || 0.16 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Aralar (Basque political party)}}"| | align="left"| [[Aralar (Basque political party)|Aralar]]–[[Zutik|Stand up]] (Aralar–Zutik) | 38,560 || 0.15 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Aragonese Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Aragonese Party]] (PAR) | 36,540 || 0.14 || style="color:red;"| −0.03 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|Democratic and Social Centre]] (CDS) | 34,101 || 0.13 || style="color:green;"| +0.03 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialist Party of Andalusia (2001)}}"| | align="left"| [[Socialist Party of Andalusia (2001)|Socialist Party of Andalusia]] (PSA) | 24,127 || 0.09 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Humanist Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[Humanist Party (Spain)|Humanist Party]] (PH) | 21,758 || 0.08 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Greens of the Community of Madrid}}"| | align="left"| [[The Greens of the Community of Madrid]] (LVCM) | 19,600 || 0.08 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left (Spain, 1977)}}"| | align="left"| [[Republican Left (Spain, 1977)|Republican Left]] (IR) | 16,993 || 0.07 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Cannabis Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[Cannabis Party (Spain)|Cannabis Party for Legalisation and Normalisation]] (PCLyN) | 16,918 || 0.07 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Family and Life Party}}"| | align="left"| Family and Life Party (PFyV) | 16,699 || 0.06 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- style="line-height:22px;" | rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Confederation of the Greens}}"| | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens]] (Verdes) | 15,220 || 0.06 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; border-top-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of the Region of Murcia]] (LVRM) | 7,074 || 0.03 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of Asturias]] (Verdes) | 5,013 || 0.02 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- style="line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of Extremadura]] (LV) | 3,133 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Democracy (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[National Democracy (Spain)|National Democracy]] (DN) | 15,180 || 0.06 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Leonese People's Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Leonese People's Union]] (UPL) | 14,160 || 0.05 || style="color:red;"| −0.13 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain}}"| | align="left"| [[Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain]] (PCPE) | 12,979 || 0.05 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Greens–Green Group}}"| | align="left"| [[The Greens–Green Group]] (LV–GV) | 12,749 || 0.05 || style="color:red;"| −0.04 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Falange Española de las JONS (1976)}}"| | align="left"| [[Falange Española de las JONS (1976)|Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO]] (FE de las JONS)6 | 12,266 || 0.05 || style="color:green;"| +0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Majorcan Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Majorcan Union]] (UM) | 10,558 || 0.04 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|La Falange (1999)}}"| | align="left"| [[La Falange (1999)|The Phalanx]] (FE) | 10,311 || 0.04 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Commoners' Land}}"| | align="left"| [[Commoners' Land|Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party]] (TC–PNC) | 8,866 || 0.03 || style="color:red;"| −0.05 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party]] (POSI) | 8,003 || 0.03 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Social Movement}}"| | align="left"| [[Republican Social Movement]] (MSR) | 6,768 || 0.03 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Democratic Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Spanish Democratic Party]] (PADE) | 5,677 || 0.02 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence of Democrats of Navarre}}"| | align="left"| [[Convergence of Democrats of Navarre]] (CDN) | 5,573 || 0.02 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Falange Auténtica}}"| | align="left"| [[Falange Auténtica|Authentic Phalanx]] (FA) | 4,589 || 0.02 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Partíu Asturianista}}"| | align="left"| [[Partíu Asturianista|Asturianist Party]] (PAS) | 4,292 || 0.02 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spain 2000}}"| | align="left"| [[España 2000|Spain 2000]] (E–2000) | 4,231 || 0.02 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Nationalist Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Canarian Nationalist Party]] (PNC) | 4,092 || 0.02 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Extremadura}}"| | align="left"| [[United Extremadura]] (EU) | 3,916 || 0.02 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of Self-employed and Professionals}}"| | align="left"| Party of Self-employed and Professionals (AUTONOMO) | 3,124 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Initiative for the Development of Soria}}"| | align="left"| [[Initiative for the Development of Soria]] (IDES) | 2,934 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusia Assembly}}"| | align="left"| Andalusia Assembly (A) | 2,930 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Popular Alternative}}"| | align="left"| [[Canarian Popular Alternative]] (APCa) | 2,715 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|European Green Group (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| European Green Group (GVE) | 2,662 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent Candidacy (Castile and León)}}"| | align="left"| Independent Candidacy–The Party of Castile and León (CI–PCL) | 2,421 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Blank Seats}}"| | align="left"| [[None of the above#Blank seats (escaños en blanco)|Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats]] (Ei–ADD) | 2,332 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of the Democratic Karma}}"| | align="left"| [[Party of the Democratic Karma]] (PKD) | 2,300 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician People's Front}}"| | align="left"| [[Galician People's Front]] (FPG) | 2,257 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Coalition}}"| | align="left"| [[Galician Coalition]] (CG) | 2,235 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Alliance for Development and Nature}}"| | align="left"| Alliance for Development and Nature (ADN) | 2,215 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of Precarious Workers}}"| | align="left"| Party of Precarious Workers (PTPRE) | 2,115 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Kingdom of Valencia Identity}}"| | align="left"| Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV) | 2,111 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Widows}}"| | align="left"| Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Widows (PAE) | 2,082 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andecha Astur}}"| | align="left"| [[Andecha Astur]] (AA) | 1,970 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Union of the Salamancan People}}"| | align="left"| [[Union of the Salamancan People]] (UPSa) | 1,871 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Greens–Green Alternative}}"| | align="left"| [[The Greens–Green Alternative]] (EV–AV) | 1,836 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.04 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Carlist Party (1970)}}"| | align="left"| [[Carlist Party (1970)|Carlist Party]] (PC) | 1,813 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Romantic Mutual Support Party}}"| | align="left"| Romantic Mutual Support Party (PMAR) | 1,561 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Cantabrian Nationalist Council}}"| | align="left"| [[Cantabrian Nationalist Council]] (CNC) | 1,431 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country}}"| | align="left"| [[Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country|Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL]] (PREPAL) | 1,322 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Another Democracy is Possible}}"| | align="left"| [[Another Democracy is Possible]] (ODeP) | 1,302 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent Social Group}}"| | align="left"| Independent Social Group (ASI) | 1,237 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent Social Democratic Party of the Valencian Community}}"| | align="left"| Independent Social Democratic Party of the Valencian Community (PSICV) | 1,096 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| Republican Party (PRF) | 1,051 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Alternative for Gran Canaria}}"| | align="left"| Alternative for Gran Canaria (AxGC) | 957 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Alliance (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[National Alliance (Spain)|Alliance for National Unity]] (AUN) | 923 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Left Assembly–Initiative for Andalusia}}"| | align="left"| Left Assembly–Initiative for Andalusia (A–IZ) | 901 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Christian Positivist Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) | 892 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Asturian Left}}"| | align="left"| [[Asturian Left]] (IAS) | 854 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta}}"| | align="left"| [[Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta]] (PSPC) | 807 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Liberal Centrist Union (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| Liberal Centrist Union (UCL) | 798 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Caló Nationalist Party}}"| | align="left"| Caló Nationalist Party (PNCA) | 757 || 0.00 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Zamora}}"| | align="left"| United Zamora (ZU) | 754 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Union of Centrists of Menorca}}"| | align="left"| Union of Centrists of Menorca (UCM) | 751 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Internationalist Struggle}}"| | align="left"| Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) | 668 || 0.00 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Spanish Democratic Front (FDE) | 619 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Castilian Unity}}"| | align="left"| [[Castilian Unity]] (UdCa) | 601 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusian Social Democratic Party}}"| | align="left"| Andalusian Social Democratic Party (PSDA) | 583 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Nationalist Maga Alternative}}"| | align="left"| Nationalist Maga Alternative (AMAGA) | 468 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Balearic People's Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Balearic People's Union]] (UPB) | 411 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|European Nation State}}"| | align="left"| [[European Nation State]] (N) | 410 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Workers for Democracy Coalition}}"| | align="left"| Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD) | 407 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Workers' Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[National Workers' Party (Spain)|National Workers' Party]] (PNT) | 379 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Party of The People (LG) | 378 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Regionalist Party of Guadalajara}}"| | align="left"| [[Regionalist Party of Guadalajara]] (PRGU) | 330 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| National Union (UN) | 318 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Citizens' Convergence of the South-East}}"| | align="left"| [[Citizens' Convergence of the South-East]] (CCSE) | 308 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Democratic Party of Spain}}"| | align="left"| [[National Democratic Party of Spain]] (PDNE) | 232 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Spanish Absolute Honesty Political Group (GPHAE) | 52 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Blank ballots | 407,795 || 1.58 || ±0.00 | bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2"| |- | colspan="7" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"| |- style="font-weight:bold;" | align="left" colspan="2"| Total | 25,891,299 || bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2"| | 350 || ±0 |- | colspan="7" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"| |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Valid votes | 25,891,299 || 98.99 || style="color:red;"| −0.33 | bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2" rowspan="5"| |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Invalid votes | 264,137 || 1.01 || style="color:green;"| +0.33 |- style="font-weight:bold;" | align="left" colspan="2"| Votes cast / turnout | 26,155,436 || 75.66 || style="color:green;"| +6.95 |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Abstentions | 8,416,395 || 24.34 || style="color:red;"| −6.95 |- style="font-weight:bold;" | align="left" colspan="2"| Registered voters | 34,571,831 || bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2"| |- | colspan="7" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"| |- | align="left" colspan="7"| Sources<ref name="InfoE"/><ref name="HE">{{cite web |last=Lozano |first=Carles |url=https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2004.html |title=Elecciones Generales 14 de marzo de 2004 |language=es |website=Historia Electoral.com |access-date=25 August 2025}}</ref><ref name="Results">{{cite journal |date=5 May 2004 |title=Acuerdos de 25 de marzo y de 22 de abril de 2004, de la Junta Electoral Central, por los que se ordena la publicación del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones al Congreso de los Diputados y al Senado convocadas por Real Decreto 100/2004, de 19 de enero, y celebradas el 14 de marzo de 2004, conforme a las actas de escrutinio general y de proclamación de electos remitidas por las distintas Juntas Electorales Provinciales y por las Juntas Electorales de Ceuta y de Melilla |url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2004/05/05/pdfs/A17586-17618.pdf |language=es |journal=[[Official State Gazette]] |issue=109 |issn=0212-033X |pages=17586–17618 |access-date=19 October 2025}}</ref> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:left; max-width:790px;"| {{hidden|ta1=left|title=Footnotes:|content={{ubl |1 [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party–[[Democratic Party of the New Left|Progressives]] and [[Extremaduran Coalition]] in the 2000 election. |2 [[United Left (Spain)|United Left]] results are compared to the combined totals of United Left, [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|Initiative for Catalonia–Greens]] and [[Independent Socialists of Extremadura]] in the 2000 election. It does not include results in the Balearic Islands. |3 [[Basque Nationalist Party]] and [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] do not include results in Navarre. |4 [[Nafarroa Bai|Navarre Yes]] results are compared to the combined totals of [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] and [[Basque Nationalist Party]] in Navarre in the 2000 election. |5 [[Progressives for the Balearic Islands]] results are compared to the combined totals of [[PSM–Nationalist Agreement|Socialist Party of Majorca–Nationalist Agreement]], [[United Left (Spain)|United Left of the Balearic Islands]], [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of the Balearic Islands]] and [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] in the 2000 election, only in the Balearic Islands. |6 [[Falange Española de las JONS (1976)|Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO]] results are compared to [[Falange Española Independiente|Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000]] totals in the 2000 election.}}}} |}

{{bar box |title=Popular vote |titlebar=#ddd |width=550px |barwidth=500px |bars= {{bar percent|[[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]|{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}|42.59}} {{bar percent|[[People's Party (Spain)|PP]]|{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}|37.71}} {{bar percent|[[United Left (Spain)|IU]]|{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}|4.96}} {{bar percent|[[Convergence and Union|CiU]]|{{party color|Convergence and Union}}|3.23}} {{bar percent|[[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]]|{{party color|Republican Left of Catalonia}}|2.52}} {{bar percent|[[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]]|{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}|1.63}} {{bar percent|[[Canarian Coalition|CC]]|{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}|0.91}} {{bar percent|[[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]]|{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}|0.81}} {{bar percent|[[Chunta Aragonesista|CHA]]|{{party color|Chunta Aragonesista}}|0.36}} {{bar percent|[[Eusko Alkartasuna|EA]]|{{party color|Eusko Alkartasuna}}|0.31}} {{bar percent|[[Nafarroa Bai|NaBai]]|{{party color|Nafarroa Bai}}|0.24}} {{bar percent|Others|#777777|3.17}} {{bar percent|Blank ballots|#DDDDDD|1.58}} }} {{bar box |title=Seats |titlebar=#ddd |width=550px |barwidth=500px |bars= {{bar percent|[[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]|{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}|46.86}} {{bar percent|[[People's Party (Spain)|PP]]|{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}|42.29}} {{bar percent|[[Convergence and Union|CiU]]|{{party color|Convergence and Union}}|2.86}} {{bar percent|[[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]]|{{party color|Republican Left of Catalonia}}|2.29}} {{bar percent|[[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]]|{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}|2.00}} {{bar percent|[[United Left (Spain)|IU]]|{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}|1.43}} {{bar percent|[[Canarian Coalition|CC]]|{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}|0.89}} {{bar percent|[[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]]|{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}|0.57}} {{bar percent|[[Chunta Aragonesista|CHA]]|{{party color|Chunta Aragonesista}}|0.29}} {{bar percent|[[Eusko Alkartasuna|EA]]|{{party color|Eusko Alkartasuna}}|0.29}} {{bar percent|[[Nafarroa Bai|NaBai]]|{{party color|Nafarroa Bai}}|0.29}} }}

===Senate=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" |+ [[2000 Spanish general election#Senate|←]] Summary of the 14 March 2004 [[Senate of Spain]] election results [[2008 Spanish general election#Senate|→]] |- | colspan="7"| [[File:SpainSenateDiagram2004.svg|center|375px]] |- ! style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2" colspan="2" width="525"| Parties and alliances ! colspan="3"| Popular vote ! colspan="2"| Seats |- ! width="75"| Votes ! width="45"| % ! width="45"| ±[[Percentage point|pp]] ! width="35"| Total ! width="35"| +/− |- | width="1" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] (PP) | 26,639,965 || 37.92 || style="color:red;"| −7.43 | '''102''' || style="color:red;"| −25 |- style="line-height:22px;" | rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE) | 25,666,070 || 36.53 || style="color:green;"| +10.13 | '''81''' || style="color:green;"| +28 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; border-top-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE)1 | 25,664,516 || 36.53 || style="color:green;"| +10.13 | 81 || style="color:green;"| +28 |- style="line-height:16px;" | align="left"| For our Land ([[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]–[[Canarian Nationalist Party|PNC]]) | 1,554 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Catalan Agreement of Progress}}"| | align="left"| [[Catalan Agreement of Progress]] ([[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]]–[[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]]–[[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|ICV]]–[[United and Alternative Left|EUiA]]) | 6,087,158 || 8.66 || style="color:green;"| +2.66 | '''12''' || style="color:green;"| +4 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[United Left (Spain)|United Left]] (IU) | 2,857,366 || 4.07 || style="color:red;"| −3.60 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence and Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Convergence and Union]] (CiU) | 2,670,375 || 3.80 || style="color:red;"| −0.73 | '''4''' || style="color:red;"| −4 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Basque Nationalist Party]] (EAJ/PNV)2 | 1,219,623 || 1.74 || style="color:green;"| +0.12 | '''6''' || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}"| | align="left"| [[Galician Nationalist Bloc]] (BNG) | 750,251 || 1.07 || style="color:red;"| −0.36 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusian Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Andalusian Party]] (PA) | 487,558 || 0.69 || style="color:red;"| −0.24 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}"| | align="left"| [[Canarian Coalition]] (CC) | 409,246 || 0.58 || style="color:red;"| −0.13 | '''3''' || style="color:red;"| −2 |- style="line-height:22px;" | rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Eco-pacifist Greens}}"| | align="left"| [[The Eco-pacifist Greens]] (LVEP) | 267,017 || 0.38 || style="color:green;"| +0.30 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; border-top-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[The Greens–The Ecologist Alternative]] (EV–AE) | 200,487 || 0.28 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- style="line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[The Eco-pacifist Greens]] (LVEP) | 66,530 || 0.09 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Eusko Alkartasuna}}"| | align="left"| [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] (EA)2 | 227,665 || 0.32 || style="color:red;"| −0.09 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Chunta Aragonesista}}"| | align="left"| [[Chunta Aragonesista|Aragonese Union]] (CHA) | 227,065 || 0.32 || style="color:green;"| +0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Nafarroa Bai}}"| | align="left"| [[Nafarroa Bai|Navarre Yes]] (NaBai)3 | 176,179 || 0.25 || style="color:green;"| +0.21 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Valencian Nationalist Bloc}}"| | align="left"| [[Valencian Nationalist Bloc]]–[[Green Left–Initiative for the Valencian Country|Green Left]] (Bloc–EV) | 135,872 || 0.19 || style="color:green;"| +0.06 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Aragonese Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Aragonese Party]] (PAR) | 124,777 || 0.18 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|Democratic and Social Centre]] (CDS) | 92,564 || 0.13 || style="color:green;"| +0.03 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Aralar (Basque political party)}}"| | align="left"| [[Aralar (Basque political party)|Aralar]]–[[Zutik|Stand up]] (Aralar–Zutik) | 92,118 || 0.13 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Humanist Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[Humanist Party (Spain)|Humanist Party]] (PH) | 85,877 || 0.12 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Progressives for the Balearic Islands}}"| | align="left"| [[Progressives for the Balearic Islands]] ([[PSM–Nationalist Agreement|PSM–EN]], [[United Left of the Balearic Islands|EU]], [[Confederation of the Greens|EV]], [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ER]])4 | 74,842 || 0.11 || style="color:red;"| −0.11 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialist Party of Andalusia (2001)}}"| | align="left"| [[Socialist Party of Andalusia (2001)|Socialist Party of Andalusia]] (PSA) | 73,843 || 0.11 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Join Action}}"| | align="left"| Join Action (AY) | 67,356 || 0.10 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Burdened and Angry Citizens (CAyC) | 66,213 || 0.09 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals}}"| | align="left"| [[Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals|Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals]] (PACMA) | 64,987 || 0.09 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Cannabis Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[Cannabis Party (Spain)|Cannabis Party for Legalisation and Normalisation]] (PCLyN) | 57,312 || 0.08 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- style="line-height:22px;" | rowspan="6" style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Confederation of the Greens}}"| | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens]] (Verdes) | 56,672 || 0.08 || style="color:red;"| −0.05 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; border-top-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of the Region of Murcia]] (LVRM) | 24,257 || 0.03 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of Asturias]] (Verdes) | 17,899 || 0.03 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of Extremadura]] (LV) | 10,948 || 0.02 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- style="border-bottom-style:hidden; line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens]]–Left Forum (LV–FI) | 2,847 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- style="line-height:16px;" | align="left"| [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of the Canaries]] (Verdes) | 721 || 0.00 || style="color:red;"| −0.03 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party]] (POSI) | 56,300 || 0.08 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Leonese People's Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Leonese People's Union]] (UPL) | 55,587 || 0.08 || style="color:red;"| −0.12 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain}}"| | align="left"| [[Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain]] (PCPE) | 49,495 || 0.07 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Falange Española de las JONS (1976)}}"| | align="left"| [[Falange Española de las JONS (1976)|Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO]] (FE de las JONS)5 | 45,127 || 0.06 || style="color:green;"| +0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Commoners' Land}}"| | align="left"| [[Commoners' Land|Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party]] (TC–PNC) | 41,992 || 0.06 || style="color:red;"| −0.05 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Family and Life Party}}"| | align="left"| Family and Life Party (PFyV) | 35,476 || 0.05 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Citizens for Blank Votes}}"| | align="left"| [[Citizens for Blank Votes]] (CenB) | 35,385 || 0.05 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Another Democracy is Possible}}"| | align="left"| [[Another Democracy is Possible]] (ODeP) | 30,557 || 0.04 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Greens of the Community of Madrid}}"| | align="left"| [[The Greens of the Community of Madrid]] (LVCM) | 28,788 || 0.04 || style="color:red;"| −0.05 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left (Spain, 1977)}}"| | align="left"| [[Republican Left (Spain, 1977)|Republican Left]]–[[Socialist Action Party (Spain)|Socialist Action Party]] (IR–PASOC) | 27,973 || 0.04 || style="color:green;"| +0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Majorcan Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Majorcan Union]] (UM) | 27,050 || 0.04 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Carlist Traditionalist Communion}}"| | align="left"| [[Carlist Traditionalist Communion]] (CTC) | 23,852 || 0.03 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Democracy (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[National Democracy (Spain)|National Democracy]] (DN) | 23,544 || 0.03 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Left of the Valencian Country}}"| | align="left"| [[Republican Left of the Valencian Country]] (ERPV) | 22,688 || 0.03 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Greens–Green Group}}"| | align="left"| [[The Greens–Green Group]] (LV–GV) | 22,656 || 0.03 || style="color:red;"| −0.04 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Falange Auténtica}}"| | align="left"| [[Falange Auténtica|Authentic Phalanx]] (FA) | 19,413 || 0.03 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Extremadura}}"| | align="left"| [[United Extremadura]] (EU) | 18,040 || 0.03 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Convergence of Democrats of Navarre}}"| | align="left"| [[Convergence of Democrats of Navarre]] (CDN) | 16,946 || 0.02 || style="color:red;"| −0.02 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spanish Democratic Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Spanish Democratic Party]] (PADE) | 15,655 || 0.02 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Partíu Asturianista}}"| | align="left"| [[Partíu Asturianista|Asturianist Party]] (PAS) | 14,345 || 0.02 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Internationalist Struggle}}"| | align="left"| Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) | 13,312 || 0.02 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Spain 2000}}"| | align="left"| [[España 2000|Spain 2000]] (E–2000) | 13,150 || 0.02 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician People's Front}}"| | align="left"| [[Galician People's Front]] (FPG) | 13,149 || 0.02 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Lanzarote Independents Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Lanzarote Independents Party]] (PIL) | 11,457 || 0.02 || ±0.00 | 0 || style="color:red;"| −1 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Initiative for the Development of Soria}}"| | align="left"| [[Initiative for the Development of Soria]] (IDES) | 10,884 || 0.02 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of Self-employed and Professionals}}"| | align="left"| Party of Self-employed and Professionals (AUTONOMO) | 10,647 || 0.02 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Carlist Party (1970)}}"| | align="left"| [[Carlist Party (1970)|Carlist Party]] (PC) | 10,487 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country}}"| | align="left"| [[Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country|Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL]] (PREPAL) | 10,434 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Blank Seats}}"| | align="left"| [[None of the above#Blank seats (escaños en blanco)|Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats]] (Ei–ADD) | 9,040 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Widows}}"| | align="left"| Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Widows (PAE) | 8,673 || 0.01 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andalusia Assembly}}"| | align="left"| Andalusia Assembly (A) | 8,355 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Nationalist Party}}"| | align="left"| [[Canarian Nationalist Party]] (PNC) | 8,047 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Alliance for Development and Nature}}"| | align="left"| Alliance for Development and Nature (ADN) | 7,807 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Andecha Astur}}"| | align="left"| [[Andecha Astur]] (AA) | 7,665 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|La Falange (1999)}}"| | align="left"| [[La Falange (1999)|The Phalanx]] (FE) | 7,603 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.05 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Party of The People (LG) | 7,507 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|The Greens–Green Alternative}}"| | align="left"| [[The Greens–Green Alternative]] (EV–AV) | 7,382 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.07 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent Candidacy (Castile and León)}}"| | align="left"| Independent Candidacy–The Party of Castile and León (CI–PCL) | 7,362 || 0.01 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Union of the Salamancan People}}"| | align="left"| [[Union of the Salamancan People]] (UPSa) | 6,495 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of Precarious Workers}}"| | align="left"| Party of Precarious Workers (PTPRE) | 6,171 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|European Nation State}}"| | align="left"| [[European Nation State]] (N) | 5,982 || 0.01 || style="color:green;"| +0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Cantabrian Nationalist Council}}"| | align="left"| [[Cantabrian Nationalist Council]] (CNC) | 5,526 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|25 May Citizens' Alternative}}"| | align="left"| 25 May Citizens' Alternative (AC25M) | 5,360 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of the Democratic Karma}}"| | align="left"| [[Party of the Democratic Karma]] (PKD) | 5,099 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent Social Democratic Party of the Valencian Community}}"| | align="left"| Independent Social Democratic Party of the Valencian Community (PSICV) | 5,078 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Canarian Popular Alternative}}"| | align="left"| [[Canarian Popular Alternative]] (APCa) | 4,853 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Asturian Left}}"| | align="left"| [[Asturian Left]] (IAS) | 4,474 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialist Party of Menorca}}"| | align="left"| [[Socialist Party of Menorca]]–[[PSM–Nationalist Agreement|Nationalist Agreement]] (PSM–EN) | 4,242 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Republican Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| Republican Party (PRF) | 4,206 || 0.01 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Galician Coalition}}"| | align="left"| [[Galician Coalition]] (CG) | 4,173 || 0.01 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Caló Nationalist Party}}"| | align="left"| Caló Nationalist Party (PNCA) | 3,356 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Kingdom of Valencia Identity}}"| | align="left"| Kingdom of Valencia Identity (IRV) | 3,342 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Romantic Mutual Support Party}}"| | align="left"| Romantic Mutual Support Party (PMAR) | 3,277 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Clean Hands Project (PML) | 3,179 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Left Assembly–Initiative for Andalusia}}"| | align="left"| Left Assembly–Initiative for Andalusia (A–IZ) | 3,052 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|United Zamora}}"| | align="left"| United Zamora (ZU) | 2,992 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party Association of Widows and Legal Wives}}"| | align="left"| Party Association of Widows and Legal Wives (PAVIEL) | 2,950 || 0.00 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Pacte Progressista}}"| | align="left"| [[Pacte Progressista|Progressives for Ibiza and Formentera]] ([[United Left of the Balearic Islands|EU]]–[[Entesa Nacionalista i Ecologista|ENE]]–[[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]]) | 2,876 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent Social Group}}"| | align="left"| Independent Social Group (ASI) | 2,620 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Castilian Unity}}"| | align="left"| [[Castilian Unity]] (UdCa) | 2,463 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Alliance (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[National Alliance (Spain)|Alliance for National Unity]] (AUN) | 2,338 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Liberal Centrist Union (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| Liberal Centrist Union (UCL) | 2,155 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| New Force (FN) | 2,096 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta}}"| | align="left"| [[Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta]] (PSPC) | 1,904 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Natural Culture}}"| | align="left"| Natural Culture (CN) | 1,767 || 0.00 || style="color:red;"| −0.01 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| The Republic (La República) | 1,686 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Alternative for Gran Canaria}}"| | align="left"| Alternative for Gran Canaria (AxGC) | 1,672 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Party of El Bierzo}}"| | align="left"| Party of El Bierzo (PB) | 1,640 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Immigrants with the Right to Equality and Obligations (INDIO) | 1,587 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Christian Positivist Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) | 1,297 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Regionalist Party of Guadalajara}}"| | align="left"| [[Regionalist Party of Guadalajara]] (PRGU) | 1,142 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Workers for Democracy Coalition}}"| | align="left"| Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD) | 1,074 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Union of Centrists of Menorca}}"| | align="left"| Union of Centrists of Menorca (UCM) | 802 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|European Green Group (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| European Green Group (GVE) | 795 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Initiative for La Palma (INPA) | 722 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|National Workers' Party (Spain)}}"| | align="left"| [[National Workers' Party (Spain)|National Workers' Party]] (PNT) | 508 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| National Union (UN) | 505 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Citizens' Convergence of the South-East}}"| | align="left"| [[Citizens' Convergence of the South-East]] (CCSE) | 366 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| New Spanish Republicans (NRUP) | 220 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Cives}}"| | align="left"| Cives (Cives) | 199 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Balearic People's Union}}"| | align="left"| [[Balearic People's Union]] (UPB) | 98 || 0.00 || ±0.00 | 0 || ±0 |- | style="color:inherit;background:white"| | align="left"| Digital Citizens from Castelnou (CDC) | 79 || 0.00 || ''New'' | 0 || ±0 |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Blank ballots{{efn|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.}} | 679,816 || 2.67 || style="color:red;"| −0.15 | bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2"| |- | colspan="7" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"| |- style="font-weight:bold;" | align="left" colspan="2"| Total | 70,258,035 || bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2"| | 208 || ±0 |- | colspan="7" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"| |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Valid votes | 25,426,107 || 97.09 || style="color:red;"| −0.42 | bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2" rowspan="5"| |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Invalid votes | 761,055 || 2.91 || style="color:green;"| +0.42 |- style="font-weight:bold;" | align="left" colspan="2"| Votes cast / turnout | 26,187,162 || 75.75 || style="color:green;"| +6.92 |- | align="left" colspan="2"| Abstentions | 8,384,669 || 24.25 || style="color:red;"| −6.92 |- style="font-weight:bold;" | align="left" colspan="2"| Registered voters | 34,571,831 || bgcolor="#E9E9E9" colspan="2"| |- | colspan="7" bgcolor="#E9E9E9"| |- | align="left" colspan="7"| Sources<ref name="HESenate"/><ref name="InfoE"/><ref name="HE"/><ref name="Results"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Lozano |first=Carles |url=https://www.historiaelectoral.com/e2004comp.html#s |title=Elecciones al Senado 2004 |language=es |website=Historia Electoral.com |access-date=25 August 2025}}</ref> |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:left; max-width:790px;"| {{hidden|ta1=left|title=Footnotes:|content={{ubl | 1 [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and [[Pacte Progressista|Progressive Pact]] in the 2000 election. | 2 [[Basque Nationalist Party]] and [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] do not include results in Navarre. | 3 [[Nafarroa Bai|Navarre Yes]] results are compared to the combined totals of [[Eusko Alkartasuna|Basque Solidarity]] and [[Basque Nationalist Party]] in Navarre in the 2000 election. | 4 [[Progressives for the Balearic Islands]] results are compared to the combined totals of [[PSM–Nationalist Agreement|Socialist Party of Majorca–Nationalist Agreement]], [[United Left (Spain)|United Left of the Balearic Islands]], [[Confederation of the Greens|The Greens of the Balearic Islands]] and [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] in the 2000 election, only in the Balearic Islands. | 5 [[Falange Española de las JONS (1976)|Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO]] results are compared to [[Falange Española Independiente|Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000]] totals in the 2000 election.}}}} |}

{{bar box |title=Popular vote |titlebar=#ddd |width=550px |barwidth=500px |bars= {{bar percent|[[People's Party (Spain)|PP]]|{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}|37.92}} {{bar percent|[[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]|{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}|36.53}} {{bar percent|[[Catalan Agreement of Progress|ECdP]]|{{party color|Catalan Agreement of Progress}}|8.66}} {{bar percent|[[United Left (Spain)|IU]]|{{party color|United Left (Spain)}}|4.07}} {{bar percent|[[Convergence and Union|CiU]]|{{party color|Convergence and Union}}|3.80}} {{bar percent|[[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]]|{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}|1.74}} {{bar percent|[[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]]|{{party color|Galician Nationalist Bloc}}|1.07}} {{bar percent|[[Canarian Coalition|CC]]|{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}|0.58}} {{bar percent|Others|#777777|4.67}} {{bar percent|''Blank ballots''|#DDDDDD|2.67}} }} {{bar box |title=Seats |titlebar=#ddd |width=550px |barwidth=500px |bars= {{bar percent|[[People's Party (Spain)|PP]]|{{party color|People's Party (Spain)}}|49.04}} {{bar percent|[[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]|{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}|38.94}} {{bar percent|[[Catalan Agreement of Progress|ECdP]]|{{party color|Catalan Agreement of Progress}}|5.77}} {{bar percent|[[Basque Nationalist Party|EAJ/PNV]]|{{party color|Basque Nationalist Party}}|2.88}} {{bar percent|[[Convergence and Union|CiU]]|{{party color|Convergence and Union}}|1.92}} {{bar percent|[[Canarian Coalition|CC]]|{{party color|Canarian Coalition}}|1.44}} }}

===Maps=== <gallery mode="packed" heights="250"> File:2004 Spanish general election map.svg|Election results by constituency (Congress). File:2004 Spanish election - Results.svg|Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress). File:2004 Spanish election - AC results.svg|Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress). </gallery>

==Aftermath== ===Government formation=== {{See|First government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- | colspan="3"| '''Investiture''' [[Congress of Deputies]] {{small|Nomination of [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] ([[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]])}} |- ! colspan="2" width="150px"| Ballot → ! 16 April 2004 |- ! colspan="2"| Required majority → | 176 out of 350 {{tick|15}} |- ! style="width:1px; color:inherit;background:green;"| | style="text-align:left;"| {{Collapsible list | title = Yes | • [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]] (164) | • [[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]] (8) | • [[United Left (Spain)|IU]]–[[Initiative for Catalonia Greens|ICV]] (5) | • [[Canarian Coalition|CC]] (3) | • [[Galician Nationalist Bloc|BNG]] (2) | • [[Chunta Aragonesista|CHA]] (1) }} | {{Composition bar|183|350|green|width=125px}} |- ! style="color:inherit;background:red;"| | style="text-align:left;"| {{Collapsible list | title = No | • [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] (148) }} | {{Composition bar|148|350|red|width=125px}} |- ! style="color:inherit;background:gray;"| | style="text-align:left;"| {{Collapsible list | title = Abstentions | • [[Convergence and Union|CiU]] (10) | • [[Basque Nationalist Party|PNV]] (7) | • [[Eusko Alkartasuna|EA]] (1) | • [[Nafarroa Bai|NaBai]] (1) }} | {{Composition bar|19|350|gray|width=125px}} |- ! style="color:inherit;background:black;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Absentees | {{Composition bar|0|350|black|width=125px}} |- | style="text-align:left;" colspan="3"| Sources<ref name="ABC160404"/><ref name="HECongressVotes">{{cite web |last=Lozano |first=Carles |url=https://www.historiaelectoral.com/congresovota.html |title=Congreso de los Diputados: Votaciones más importantes |language=es |website=Historia Electoral.com |access-date=25 August 2025}}</ref> |}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== '''Legislation''' {{refbegin}} *{{cite act |italics=y |title=Constitución Española |type=Constitution |date=27 December 1978 |orig-date=version as of 28 August 1992 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-1978-31229 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19920828 |access-date=27 December 2016 |ref={{harvid|Constitution|1978}}}} *{{cite act |italics=y |title=Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General |type=Organic Law |number=5/1985 |date=19 June 1985 |orig-date=version as of 29 November 2003 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-1985-11672 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=20031129 |access-date=28 December 2016 |ref={{harvid|LOREG|1985}}}} *{{cite act |italics=y |title=Real Decreto 100/2004, de 19 de enero, de disolución del Congreso de los Diputados y del Senado y de convocatoria de elecciones |type=Royal Decree |number=100/2004 |date=19 January 2004 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-2004-1063 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2004-1063 |access-date=1 April 2026 |ref={{harvid|Royal Decree 100/2004|2004}}}} {{refend}}

'''Other''' {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |last1=Carreras de Odriozola |first1=Albert |last2=Tafunell Sambola |first2=Xavier |year=2005 |orig-year=1989 |title=Estadísticas históricas de España, siglos XIX-XX |url=http://www.fbbva.es/TLFU/dat/autores.pdf |language=es |volume=1 |location=Bilbao |publisher=Fundación BBVA |pages=1072–1097 |edition=II |isbn=84-96515-00-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010950/http://www.fbbva.es/TLFU/dat/autores.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |df=dmy-all}} *{{cite journal |last=Chari |first=Raj |date=November 2004 |title=The 2004 Spanish Election: Terrorism as a Catalyst for Change? |journal=[[West European Politics]] |volume=27 |issue=5 |pages=954–963 |doi=10.1080/0140238042000283247 |s2cid=154342689}} *{{cite report |last=Whitfield |first=Teresa |date=December 2015 |title=Special Report 384. The Basque Conflict and ETA. The Difficulties of an Ending |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/195389/SR384-The-Basque-Conflict-and-ETA-The-Difficulties-of-An-Ending.pdf |language=en |publisher=[[United States Institute of Peace]] |access-date=19 March 2025}} *{{cite book |last=Sangrador-Vegas |first=Begoña |year=2020 |title=The Nation in Its Labyrinth: An Introduction to Contemporary Spain since 1898 |chapter=People's Party (1996-2004): Economic Boom, Immigration and 11-M |url=https://pressbooks.pub/spainthenationinitslabyrinth/chapter/chapter-7-peoples-party-1996-2004-economic-boom-immigratuin-and-11-m/ |language=es |publisher=[[Pressbooks]] |location=Madrid |access-date=18 March 2026}} {{refend}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:General election in Spain, 2004}} [[Category:2004 elections in Spain]] [[Category:General elections in Spain|2004]] [[Category:March 2004 in Spain]]