Spanish general election, 1979

1 March 1979

All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 208 (of 218) seats in the Senate 176 seats needed for a majority in the Congress of Deputies

Registered	26,836,490 13.8%
Turnout	18,259,192 (68.0%) 10.8 pp
	First party	Second party	Third party

Leader	Adolfo Suárez	Felipe González	Santiago Carrillo
Party	UCD	PSOE	PCE
Leader since	3 May 1977	13 October 1974	3 July 1960
Leader's seat	Madrid	Madrid	Madrid
Last election	165 seats, 34.4%	124 seats, 33.8%^{[lower-alpha 1]}	20 seats, 9.3%
Seats won	168	121	23
Seat change	3	3	3
Popular vote	6,268,593	5,469,813	1,938,487
Percentage	34.8%	30.4%	10.8%
Swing	0.4 pp	3.4 pp	1.5 pp

	Fourth party	Fifth party	Sixth party

Leader	Manuel Fraga	Jordi Pujol	Blas Piñar
Party	CD	CiU	UN
Leader since	9 October 1976	17 November 1974	1979
Leader's seat	Madrid	Barcelona	Madrid
Last election	16 seats, 8.4%^{[lower-alpha 2]}	13 seats, 3.8%^{[lower-alpha 3]}	0 seats, 0.4%
Seats won	9	8	1
Seat change	7	5	1
Popular vote	1,094,438	483,353	378,964
Percentage	6.1%	2.7%	2.1%
Swing	2.3 pp	1.1 pp	1.7 pp

Most voted party by autonomous community and province.

UCD

PSOE

EAJ/PNV

Prime Minister before election

Adolfo Suárez
UCD

Elected Prime Minister

Adolfo Suárez
UCD

The 1979 Spanish general election was held on Thursday, 1 March 1979, to elect the 1st Cortes Generales of the Kingdom of Spain. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as 208 of 218 seats in the Senate.^[1]

The Union of the Democratic Centre remained the largest party, winning 168 of the 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 119 of the 218 seats in the Senate, as such they continued in minority government.

Overview

Electoral system

Congress of Deputies

The 350 members of the Congress of Deputies were elected in 50 multi-member districts using the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation. Ceuta and Melilla elected 1 member each using plurality voting. Each district was entitled to an initial minimum of 2 seats, with the remaining 248 seats being allocated among the 50 provinces in proportion to their populations. Only lists polling above 3% of the total vote in each district (which includes blank ballots—for none of the above) were entitled to enter the seat distribution.

Senate

For the Senate, each of the 47 peninsular provinces was assigned 4 seats. For insular provinces, such as Baleares and Canaries, districts are the islands themselves, with the larger — Mallorca, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife — being assigned 3 seats each, and the smaller — Menorca, Ibiza-Formentera, Fuerteventura, Gomera, Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma — 1 each. Ceuta and Melilla were assigned 2 seats each, for a total of 208 directly elected seats. In districts electing 4 seats, electors could vote for up to 3 candidates; in those with 2 or 3 seats, for up to 2 candidates; and for 1 candidate in single member constituencies. Electors would vote for individual candidates: those attaining the largest number of votes in each district would be elected for a 4-year term of office.

In addition, the legislative assemblies of the autonomous communities are entitled to appoint at least 1 senator each, as well as 1 senator for every million inhabitants, adding up a variable number of appointed seats to the directly-elected 208 senators.^[2] This appointment usually did not take place at the same time that the general election, but when the autonomous communities held their elections.

Eligibility

Dual membership of both chambers of the Cortes or of the Cortes and regional assemblies was prohibited. Active judges, magistrates, public defenders, serving military personnel, active police officers and members of constitutional and electoral tribunals were also ineligible.^[3]^[4]

Parties and coalitions of different parties which had registered with the Electoral Commission could present lists of candidates.^[4]

Opinion polls

Poll results are listed in the tables below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first, and using the date the survey's fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. If such date is unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the leading party's colour. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded. The lead column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the two parties with the highest figures. When a specific poll does not show a data figure for a party, the party's cell corresponding to that poll is shown empty.

Polling firm/Link	Last date of polling							UN	Margin of error	Sample size	Lead
Polling firm/Link	Last date of polling								Margin of error	Sample size	Lead

General Election	March 1, 1979	34.8	30.4	10.7	5.9	2.7	1.6	2.1			4.4

Sofemasa	February 21, 1979	32.9	35.0	11.0	6.3	1.8	1.7	2.3			2.1
RNC	February 6, 1979	34	36	14	13						2
Gallup	February 6, 1979	30	46	10	13						16
El Imparcial	February 5, 1979	25.6	26.1	17.5	11.6						0.5
Cambio 16	February 1, 1979	31.0	39.5	8.3	3.4						8.5
Sofemasa	January 31, 1979	32.2	35.4	9.9	3.9						3.2

General Election	June 15, 1977	34.4	29.3	9.3	8.2	2.8	1.6	0.4			5.1

Results

Congress of Deputies

Overall

← Summary of the 1 March 1979 Congress of Deputies election results →
Party		Popular vote			Seats

Party		Votes	%	±pp	Won	+/−
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	6,268,593	34.84	+0.40	168	+3
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)^{[lower-alpha 1]}	5,469,813	30.40	–3.38	121	–3
	Communist Party of Spain (PCE)	1,938,487	10.77	+1.44	23	+3

Democratic Coalition (CD)^{[lower-alpha 2]}		1,094,438	6.08	–2.33	9	–7
	Democratic Coalition (CD)^{[lower-alpha 4]}	1,060,330	5.89	–2.05	9	–6
	Basque Country Foral Union (UFV)^{[lower-alpha 5]}	34,108	0.19	–0.29	0	–1

Convergence and Union (CiU)^{[lower-alpha 3]}	483,353	2.69	–1.06	8	–5
National Union (UN)^{[lower-alpha 6]}	378,964	2.11	+1.53	1	+1
Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party (PSA–PA)	325,842	1.81	New	5	+5
Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	296,597	1.65	+0.03	7	–1
Party of Labour of Spain (PTE)^{[lower-alpha 7]}	192,798	1.07	+0.40	0	±0
Popular Unity (HB)^{[lower-alpha 8]}	172,110	0.96	+0.72	3	+3

Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)^{[lower-alpha 9]}		138,487	0.77	+0.22	±0
	Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)	127,517	0.71	+0.29	±0
	Navarrese Left Union (UNAI)	10,970	0.06	–0.07	±0

Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh)^{[lower-alpha 10]}	133,869	0.74	+0.05	0	±0
Republican Left of Catalonia–National Front (ERC–FN)	123,452	0.69	–0.10	1	±0
Basque Country Left (EE)	85,677	0.48	+0.14	1	±0
Communist Movement–Communist Left Organization (MC–OIC)	84,856	0.47	New	0	±0
Galician National-Popular Bloc (BNPG)	60,889	0.34	+0.22	0	±0
Canarian People's Union (UPC)	58,953	0.33	New	1	+1
Left Bloc for National Liberation (BEAN)	56,582	0.31	New	0	±0
Galician Unity (PG–POG–PSG)^{[lower-alpha 11]}	55,555	0.31	+0.16	0	±0
Republican Left (IR)	55,384	0.31	New	0	±0
Carlist Party (PC)	50,552	0.28	+0.23	0	±0
Communist Organization–Communist Unification (OCEBR–UCE)	47,937	0.27	New	0	±0
Workers' Communist Party (PCT)	47,896	0.27	New	0	±0
Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR)	38,042	0.21	+0.01	1	±0
Revolutionary Communist League (LCR)	36,662	0.20	–0.02	0	±0
Authentic Spanish Falange of the JONS (FE–JONS(A))	30,252	0.17	–0.08	0	±0
Navarrese People's Union (UPN)	28,248	0.16	New	1	+1
Coalition for Aragon (PSAr–PSDA)	19,220	0.11	New	0	±0

Parties with less than 0.1% of the vote		160,140	0.89	—	±0
	Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL)	16,016	0.09	New	±0
	Liberal Party (PL)	15,774	0.09	New	±0
	Valencian Regional Union (URV)	15,694	0.09	New	±0
	Nationalist Party of the Valencian Country (PNPV)	13,828	0.08	New	±0
	Spanish Ruralist Party (PRE)	10,324	0.06	New	±0
	Party of the Canarian Country (PDPCan)	10,099	0.06	New	±0
	Socialists of Mallorca and Menorca (SMiM)	10,022	0.06	New	±0
	Syndicalist Party (PSIN)	9,777	0.05	New	±0
	Union for the Freedom of Speech (ULE)	7,126	0.04	New	±0
	Catalan State (EC)	6,328	0.04	New	±0
	Cantonal Party (PCAN)	6,290	0.03	New	±0
	Independent Candidacy of the Countryside (CIC)	6,115	0.03	New	±0
	Social Christian Democracy of Catalonia (DSCC)	4,976	0.03	–0.02	±0
	Proverist Party (PPR)	4,939	0.03	±0.00	±0
	Spanish Democratic Republican Action (ARDE)	4,826	0.03	New	±0
	Communist League (LC)	3,614	0.02	New	±0
	Asturian Nationalist Council (CNA)	3,049	0.02	New	±0
	Authentic Spanish Falange (FEA)	2,736	0.02	New	±0
	Pro-Austerity Policy Political Party (PIPPA)	2,409	0.01	New	±0
	Workers' Peasant Party (POC)	2,314	0.01	New	±0
	Independent Candidates (CIME)	1,820	0.01	New	±0
	Falangist Unity–Independent Spanish Falange (UF–FI–AT)	1,188	0.01	New	±0
	Spanish Falange–Falangist Unity (FE–UF)	876	0.00	New	±0

	Blank ballots	57,267	0.32	+0.07

Total		17,990,915	100.00		350	±0

Valid votes		17,990,915	98.53	–0.04
Invalid votes		268,277	1.47	+0.04
Votes cast / turnout		18,259,192	68.04	–10.79
Abstentions		8,577,298	31.96	+10.79
Registered voters		26,836,490

Source: Ministry of the Interior
1 2 Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to the combined totals of the PSOE and PSP–US in the 1977 election. 1 2 Democratic Coalition results are compared to the combined totals of AP and DIV in the 1977 election. 1 2 Convergence and Union results are compared to the combined totals of PDC and UC–DCC in the 1977 election. ↑ Democratic Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1977 election, excluding Basque Country results. ↑ Basque Country Foral Union results are compared to the combined totals of AP in the Basque Country and DIV in the 1977 election. ↑ National Union results are compared to National Alliance July 18 totals in the 1977 election. ↑ Party of Labour of Spain results are compared to Democratic Left Front totals in the 1977 election. ↑ Herri Batasuna results are compared to the combined totals of the ESB/PSV and EAE/ANV in the 1977 election. ↑ Workers' Revolutionary Organization results are compared to the combined totals of AET and UNAI in the 1977 election. ↑ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) results are compared to Democratic Socialist Alliance totals in the 1977 election. ↑ Galician Unity results are compared to Galician Socialist Party totals in the 1977 election.

Vote share

UCD			34.84%
PSOE			30.40%
PCE			10.77%
CD			6.08%
CiU			2.69%
UN			2.11%
PSA–PA			1.81%
EAJ/PNV			1.65%
PTE			1.07%
HB			0.96%
ERC–FN			0.69%
EE			0.48%
UPC			0.33%
PAR			0.21%
UPN			0.16%
Others			5.43%
Blank ballots			0.32%

Parliamentary seats

UCD			48.00%
PSOE			34.57%
PCE			6.57%
CD			2.57%
CiU			2.29%
EAJ/PNV			2.00%
PSA–PA			1.43%
HB			0.86%
UN			0.29%
ERC–FN			0.29%
EE			0.29%
UPC			0.29%
PAR			0.29%
UPN			0.29%

District summary

Santa Cruz
de Tenerife

Las Palmas

Senate

← Summary of the 1 March 1979 Senate of Spain election results →

Party		Seats
Party		Won	+/−	Not up	Total seats
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	119	+13	—	119
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)^{[lower-alpha 1]}	70	+11	—	70
	Communist Party of Spain (PCE)	0	–1	—	0
	Democratic Coalition (CD)^{[lower-alpha 2]}	3	+1	—	3
	For the Agreement (PSUC–PTC)^{[lower-alpha 3]}	1	–3	—	1
	Convergence and Union (CiU)^{[lower-alpha 4]}	1	–1	—	1
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	8	+2	—	8
	Popular Unity (HB)	1	+1	—	1
	Basque Country Left (EE)	0	–1	—	0
	Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR)	0	–1	—	0
	Independent Electors' Group (ADEI)^{[lower-alpha 5]}	3	–1	—	3
	Minorcan Progressive Candidacy (CPMen)	1	+1	—	1
	Majorera Assembly (AM)	0	–1	—	0
	Liberal Alliance (AL)	0	–1	—	0
	Galician Democratic Candidacy (CDG)	0	–2	—	0
	Democratic Left (ID)	0	–5	—	0
	Force for Basque Socialists' Unity (ESEI)	0	–1	—	0
	Independents	1	–10	—	1

Total		208	+1	—	208

Source(s): Ministry of the Interior Historia Electoral
↑ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to the combined totals of the PSOE, PSP–US, FSC, PSC–C and ERC in the 1977 election. ↑ Democratic Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1977 election. ↑ For the Agreement results are compared to PSUC totals in the 1977 election. ↑ CiU results are compared to Democracy and Catalonia totals in the 1977 election. ↑ ADEI results are compared to Independents of Soria totals in the 1977 election.

Parliamentary seats

UCD			57.21%
PSOE			33.65%
EAJ/PNV			3.85%
CD			1.44%
ADEI			1.44%
PSUC–PTC			0.48%
CiU			0.48%
HB			0.48%
CPMen			0.48%
Independents			0.48%

References

↑ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1817 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
↑ "General Aspects of the Electoral System".
↑ "The Spanish Constitution of 1978".
1 2 "Law-Decree governing electoral procedures". Retrieved 2014-12-30.

Elections and referendums in Spain

General elections	1810 1813 1820 1822 1834 1836 (Feb) 1836 (Jul) 1836 (Oct) 1837 1839 1840 1841 1843 (Feb) 1843 (Sep) 1844 1846 1850 1853 1854 1857 1858 1863 1864 1865 1867 1869 1871 1872 (Apr) 1872 (Aug) 1873 1876 1879 1881 1884 1886 1891 1893 1896 1898 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1910 1914 1916 1918 1919 1920 1923 1931 1933 1936 1967 1971 1977 1979 1982 1986 1989 1993 1996 2000 2004 2008 2011 2015 2016 next

European elections	1987 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019

Local elections	1922 1933 1948 1951 1954 1957 1960 1963 1966 1970 1973 1976 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019

Regional elections	1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019

Referendums	1947 1966 1976 1978 1986 2005

See also: Elections and referendums in Andalusia Aragon Asturias Balearic Islands Basque Country Canary Islands Cantabria Castile and León Castile-La Mancha Catalonia Extremadura Galicia Madrid Murcia Navarre La Rioja Valencian Community

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