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| Spanish general election, 2011 | |
|---|---|
| Election name | Spanish general election, 2011 |
| Country | Spain |
| Type | parliamentary |
| Previous election | Spanish general election, 2008 |
| Previous year | 2008 |
| Next election | Spanish general election, 2015 |
| Next year | 2015 |
| Seats for election | 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies |
| Majority seats | 176 |
| Election date | 20 November 2011 |
Spanish general election, 2011
The 2011 Spanish general election was held on 20 November 2011 to elect the 10th Cortes Generales, renewing the Congress of Deputies and the Senate of Spain. The contest followed a period marked by the European sovereign debt crisis, high unemployment, and widespread public protests such as the 15-M movement. The election resulted in a landslide victory for the People's Party and a heavy defeat for the incumbent Spanish Socialist Workers' Party.
The election was called against the backdrop of the European sovereign debt crisis and international interventions involving institutions like the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Spain faced rising unemployment, contraction in the Spanish housing bubble, and austerity measures introduced by the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The public reaction included the 2011 protests of the Indignados movement and demonstrations in Puerta del Sol, influencing public debate about fiscal policy and political accountability. The incumbent administration of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party sought to steer Spain through fiscal consolidation while opposition parties such as the People's Party campaigned on economic recovery and stability.
Elections to the Cortes Generales use a bicameral model with separate rules for the Congress of Deputies and the Senate of Spain. Members of the Congress of Deputies are elected under the D'Hondt method in multi-member constituencies corresponding to the provinces established by the Spanish Constitution of 1978. The electoral law grants each province a minimum number of seats, affecting proportionality and favoring larger parties such as the People's Party and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. The Senate of Spain combines directly elected senators and appointed senators from the Autonomous communities of Spain, with different voting procedures per island in regions like the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.
Major parties contesting the election included the People's Party led by Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party led by Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, and regional parties such as the Convergence and Union alliance in Catalonia, the Basque Nationalist Party in Basque Country, the Canarian Coalition in the Canary Islands, and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya in Catalonia. Other relevant formations were United Left led by Cayo Lara, the newly emergent Union, Progress and Democracy led by Rosa Díez, and regionalist groups like Coalición Canaria and Geroa Bai in Navarre. Candidates for the Congress of Deputies included high-profile figures from national leadership and regional elites, reflecting Spain's multi-party and territorially diverse political landscape.
The campaign centered on economic recovery, unemployment policy, banking sector reform following issues with Bankia, and Spain's position within the European Union. The People's Party emphasized fiscal discipline, support for businesses, and labor market reform, while the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party defended its record on social policies and sought to mitigate voter anger over austerity. The campaign featured televised debates, rallies in plazas such as Plaza de Colón in Madrid, and intense media coverage by outlets like RTVE and private broadcasters. The 15-M movement and grassroots organizations staged protests and influenced discourse on political corruption, with scandals implicating figures associated with local branches of parties including Gürtel case-linked individuals and controversies surrounding party financing.
In the months preceding the election, opinion polls from organizations tracking voting intention showed a clear trend favoring the People's Party over the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, with regional variations reflecting competition from parties like Convergence and Union in Catalonia and the Basque Nationalist Party in Basque Country. Polling firms such as Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas and private survey organizations published estimates for the Congress of Deputies seat distribution, predicting a comfortable majority for the People's Party. Polls also indicated rising support for smaller parties including United Left and Union, Progress and Democracy, and fluctuating levels of turnout influenced by mobilization from movements like 15-M.
The People's Party won an absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies, securing 186 seats and decisively defeating the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, which suffered a sharp drop to 110 seats. Turnout reflected heightened political engagement, with notable losses for the incumbent party and gains for the opposition. Regional parties retained influence in their constituencies, with Convergence and Union maintaining presence in Catalonia and the Basque Nationalist Party holding seats in Basque Country. Smaller formations such as United Left increased representation modestly, while Union, Progress and Democracy captured a smaller share than in prior cycles. The distribution of seats underscored the mechanics of the D'Hondt method and the constituency-based allocation that benefits territorially concentrated parties.
Following the election, Mariano Rajoy was positioned to form a government with the People's Party's parliamentary majority, leading to Rajoy's investiture as Prime Minister. The transition involved negotiations with regional parliaments and coordination with Spain's head of state, Juan Carlos I of Spain, who formally tasked the candidate with forming a government in accordance with the Spanish Constitution of 1978. The new administration faced immediate challenges including implementing austerity measures agreed with European Central Bank and European Commission creditors, addressing banking sector recapitalization concerns tied to institutions like Bankia, and responding to ongoing civic movements such as the Indignados movement. The 2011 results reshaped Spain's political trajectory and set the stage for subsequent electoral contests in 2015 and beyond.
Category:General elections in Spain Category:2011 elections