Spanish general election, 2023

Spanish general election, 2023
Election name	Spanish general election, 2023
Country	Spain
Type	Parliamentary
Election date	23 July 2023
Seats for election	350 Congress of Deputies
Turnout	70.4%

Spanish general election, 2023 was held on 23 July 2023 to elect the 15th Cortes Generales, choosing 350 members of the Congress of Deputies and 208 of 266 elective members of the Senate. The election produced a fragmented result that required negotiations among national and regional actors, provoking debates in the Moncloa Palace, among leadership figures in Madrid, and in parliaments of autonomous communities such as Catalonia and Basque Country. International reactions came from institutions including the European Commission, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and states such as France and United Kingdom.

Background

The vote followed the 2019 general elections and the minority administration led by Pedro Sánchez of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), whose tenure included crises involving the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022), and tensions over autonomy in Catalonia after the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. The parliamentary arithmetic had depended on support from parties such as Sumar, ERC, Junts, and EH Bildu, while opposition consolidated around the People's Party (PP) under Alberto Núñez Feijóo and the right-wing coalition Vox. Economic debates referenced measures from the European Central Bank policies and the Stability and Growth Pact, affecting discussions in the Cortes Generales and interpretations by think tanks like the Elcano Royal Institute.

Electoral system

Elections were conducted under the Spanish electoral framework established by the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and the LOREG. The 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies are allocated by closed-list proportional representation using the D'Hondt method across 52 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the provinces, with exceptions for autonomous cities Ceuta and Melilla. The Senate uses a mixed system combining direct election by majoritarian block voting in provinces and appointment by regional legislatures of autonomous communities such as Galicia and Valencia. Electoral thresholds and district magnitudes have historically advantaged parties with geographically concentrated support like ERC and PNV versus nationwide lists like Podemos.

Parties and candidates

Major contenders included the People's Party, led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo; the governing PSOE, led by Pedro Sánchez; the left-wing platform Sumar under Yolanda Díaz; and the right-wing party Vox with leader Santiago Abascal. Regional parties fielding influential lists included ERC, Junts, PNV, Bildu, Coalición Canaria, and Más País. Coalitions and candidacies involved figures from civil society and institutions, attracting endorsements from personalities associated with Universidad Complutense de Madrid, unions like the Comisiones Obreras, and business groups such as CEOE.

Campaign

The campaign period featured televised debates on networks such as Televisión Española, Antena 3, and La Sexta, with confrontations between Feijóo, Sánchez, Díaz, and Abascal. Major campaign themes included energy policy framed by disputes over Repsol and Iberdrola regulation, immigration after incidents in the Canary Islands, inflation tied to Eurostat indices, and territorial policy related to negotiations with Catalan parties. Events such as rallies in Puerta del Sol and demonstrations in Barcelona and Bilbao drew activists from UGT and youth movements. International issues featured visits by envoys from the European People's Party and commentary from figures connected to the Council of Europe.

Opinion polling

Polling organizations including CIS, Metroscopia, GAD3, Sigma Dos, and NC Report released rolling estimates showing shifts in projections for PSOE, PP, Sumar, and Vox. Polls considered regional decompositions in Catalonia, Basque Country, Valencian Community, and Andalusia, with seat projections modeled under the D'Hondt method and using constituency-level turnout assumptions. Polling volatility increased after campaign events and debates featuring representatives from European Commission leadership and statements referencing the International Monetary Fund.

Results

The election returned a plurality for the PP in the Congress of Deputies but without an absolute majority, while the PSOE and Sumar won significant but insufficient blocs, and Vox increased its presence, altering the balance for investiture. Regional parties such as ERC, PNV, Junts, and EH Bildu retained pivotal seats that shaped coalition arithmetic. The Governor of the Bank of Spain and market reactions reported by outlets like El País and ABC noted currency and bond movements. Final tallies were certified by the Junta Electoral Central.

Aftermath and government formation

Post-election negotiations involved meetings at the Moncloa Palace, consultations with the King Felipe VI at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, and bargaining among negotiating teams including representatives from European People’s Party affiliates and regional executives from Navarre and Canary Islands. Prospective coalitions faced hurdles over policy portfolios and commitments to international obligations like NATO participation and European Green Deal targets. The investiture process in the Congress of Deputies required multiple ballots and cross-party agreements, and the eventual government formation depended on confidence votes, interparty pacts, and regional concessions involving figures from Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Category:General elections in Spain Category:2023 elections