# 1987 Navarrese regional election

The 1987 Navarrese regional election was held on Wednesday, 10 June 1987, to elect the 2nd Parliament of the Chartered Community of Navarre. All 50 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain, as well as the 1987 European Parliament election.
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), under then-incumbent President Gabriel Urralburu, won the election for a second consecutive term, albeit with a diminished share of the vote (27.7%, losing nearly 8 percentage points from 1983) and losing 5 seats. The centre-right spectrum stood divided to the election: the Navarrese People's Union (UPN) maintained its second place with 24.5% and 14 seats (gaining one); the Foral Democrat Union (UDF), an alliance between the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Liberal Party (PL), formed after the breakup of the People's Coalition, obtained 6.2% and 3 seats. The People's Alliance (AP) suffered from this division and fell to 7th place (4.2% and 2 seats).
The Democratic and Social Centre (CDS), the party of former Spanish Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez, benefitted from this division and finished fourth, gaining 4 seats. Meanwhile, the left-wing Herri Batasuna (HB) also improved its position from 1983 and scored one of the best results for the abertzale left in Navarre. Eusko Alkartasuna (EA), a split from the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) formed in 1986 from PNV dissidents, entered the Parliament with 4 seats, while the small Euskadiko Ezkerra also entered for the first time.

## Overview
### Electoral system

The Parliament of Navarre was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the Chartered Community of Navarre, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Reintegration and Enhancement of the Foral Regime of Navarre Law, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a regional president. Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in Navarre and in full enjoyment of their political rights.
The 50 members of the Parliament of Navarre were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied regionally.
The electoral law provided that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors were allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors were required to secure the signature of at least 1 percent of the electors registered in Navarre. Electors were barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called.

### Election date

The term of the Parliament of Navarre expired four years after the date of its previous election. The election decree was required to be issued no later than the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of Navarre (BON), with election day taking place between the fifty-fourth and the sixtieth day from publication. The previous election was held on 8 May 1983, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 8 May 1987. The election decree was required to be published in the BON no later than 14 April 1987, with the election taking place no later than the sixtieth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Saturday, 13 June 1987.
The Parliament of Navarre could not be dissolved before the date of expiry of parliament. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional president within a two-month period from the first ballot, the candidate from the party with the highest number of seats was to be deemed automatically elected.

## Opinion polls

The tables below list opinion polling results in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a poll.

### Voting intention estimates

The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 26 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of Navarre.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout | | | | | PNV | | UDF | | | | Lead |
| 1987 regional election | 10 Jun 1987 | — | 72.9 | 27.7 15 | 24.5 14 | – | 13.5 7 | 0.9 0 | 3.4 1 | 6.2 3 | 4.2 2 | 7.4 4 | 7.0 4 | 3.2 |
| CIES/Diario de Navarra | 27–30 May 1987 | 1,195 | 71–74 | 29.0– 31.0 16/18 | 19.0– 21.0 10/12 | – | 14.0– 16.0 7/9 | 2.0 0 | 3.0– 4.0 0/2 | 7.0– 8.0 3/5 | 4.0– 6.0 2/4 | 7.0– 9.0 4/6 | 5.0– 7.0 3/4 | 10.0 |
| Demoscopia/El País | 22–26 May 1987 | ? | 70 | 30.4 17/18 | 32.3 18/19 | – | 12.9 6/7 | – | 3.7 0/2 | – | 5.0 2 | 8.4 4/5 | 2.9 0/2 | 1.9 |
| Sofemasa/AP | 16 Apr 1987 | ? | ? | 29.6 | 5.5 | – | 16.6 | – | – | – | 20.3 | 14.8 | – | 9.3 |
| 1986 general election | 22 Jun 1986 | — | 69.8 | 35.5 (20) | | 29.6 (17) | 13.9 (8) | 1.8 (0) | 2.8 (0) | | | 9.6 (5) | – | 5.9 |
| 1983 regional election | 8 May 1983 | — | 70.9 | 35.6 20 | 23.3 13 | 14.1 8 | 10.6 6 | 6.8 3 | 2.4 0 | | | – | – | 12.3 |

### Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

#### Color key

Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | | | PNV | | UDF | | | | ? | N | Lead |
| 1987 regional election | 10 Jun 1987 | — | 20.0 | 17.6 | – | 9.7 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 5.3 | 5.1 | — | 27.0 | 2.4 |
| CIS | 2–5 Jun 1987 | 487 | 21.8 | 10.5 | – | 6.8 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 33.3 | 7.8 | 11.3 |
| CIS | 8–16 May 1987 | 1,182 | 23.8 | 9.9 | – | 6.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 37.6 | 6.8 | 13.9 |
| CIS | 19–28 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 22.0 | 9.0 | – | 6.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 40.0 | 7.0 | 13.0 |
| CIS | 25 Mar–5 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 21.0 | 7.0 | – | 6.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 40.0 | 5.0 | 14.0 |
| CIS | 21–31 Jan 1987 | 1,153 | 26.0 | 11.0 | – | 8.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 26.0 | 11.0 | 15.0 |
| 1986 general election | 22 Jun 1986 | — | 24.5 | | 20.4 | 9.6 | 1.2 | 1.9 | | | 6.6 | – | — | 29.7 | 4.1 |
| 1983 regional election | 8 May 1983 | — | 25.0 | 16.3 | 9.9 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 1.7 | | | – | – | — | 29.1 | 8.7 |

### Victory preferences

The table below lists opinion polling on the victory preferences for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

#### Color key

Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | | PNV | | UDF | | | | Other/ None | ? | Lead |
| CIS | 2–5 Jun 1987 | 487 | 24.0 | 12.3 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 6.0 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 29.3 | 11.7 |
| CIS | 8–16 May 1987 | 1,182 | 27.2 | 11.4 | 6.1 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 36.9 | 15.8 |
| CIS | 19–28 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 24.0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 40.0 | 15.0 |
| CIS | 25 Mar–5 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 24.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 40.0 | 16.0 |
| CIS | 21–31 Jan 1987 | 1,153 | 28.0 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 32.0 | 17.0 |

### Victory likelihood

The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

#### Color key

Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | | PNV | | | Other/ None | ? | Lead |
| CIS | 2–5 Jun 1987 | 487 | 53.2 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 38.2 | 49.7 |
| CIS | 8–16 May 1987 | 1,182 | 55.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 40.1 | 53.9 |
| CIS | 19–28 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 52.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | – | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 43.0 | 49.0 |
| CIS | 25 Mar–5 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 51.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 44.0 | 50.0 |
| CIS | 21–31 Jan 1987 | 1,153 | 57.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 35.0 | 54.0 |

### Preferred President

The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become president of the Foral Deputation of Navarre.

#### Color key

Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | | | | | | | | | Other/ None/ Not care | ? | Lead |
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Urralburu PSN | Viñes UPN | Alli UPN | Aldekoa HB | Arozarena EE | Del Burgo UDF | Tellechea CDS | Cabasés EA | Other/ None/ Not care | ? | Lead |
| CIS | 2–5 Jun 1987 | 487 | 26.7 | – | 8.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 19.5 | 26.1 | 18.3 |
| CIS | 8–16 May 1987 | 1,182 | 22.2 | – | 3.2 | 4.8 | 0.5 | 5.5 | 0.6 | 4.1 | 16.9 | 42.3 | 16.7 |
| CIS | 19–28 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 20.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | – | 1.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 25.0 | 35.0 | 14.0 |
| CIS | 25 Mar–5 Apr 1987 | 1,192 | 22.0 | 1.0 | – | 5.0 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 21.0 | 40.0 | 16.0 |

## Results

← Summary of the 10 June 1987 Parliament of Navarre election results → :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Socialist Party of Navarre (PSN–PSOE) | 78,453 | 27.68 | –7.95 | 15 | –5 |
| | Navarrese People's Union (UPN) | 69,419 | 24.50 | +1.16 | 14 | +1 |
| | Popular Unity (HB) | 38,138 | 13.46 | +2.91 | 7 | +1 |
| | Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 21,022 | 7.42 | New | 4 | +4 |
| | Basque Solidarity (EA) | 19,840 | 7.00 | New | 4 | +4 |
| | Foral Democratic Union (PDF–PDP, PL) (UDF) | 17,663 | 6.23 | New | 3 | +3 |
| | People's Alliance (AP)$^1$ | 11,985 | 4.23 | –9.89 | 2 | –6 |
| | Basque Country Left (EE) | 9,618 | 3.39 | +1.02 | 1 | +1 |
| | Left Assembly of Navarre (B)$^2$ | 5,880 | 2.07 | –1.07 | 0 | ±0 |
| | United Left (IU)$^3$ | 3,802 | 1.34 | +0.70 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | 2,661 | 0.94 | –5.89 | 0 | –3 |
| | Workers' Party of Spain–Communist Unity (PTE–UC) | 964 | 0.34 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 3,950 | 1.39 | +0.70 | | |
| Total | Total | 283,395 | | | 50 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 283,395 | 98.84 | +0.01 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 3,327 | 1.16 | –0.01 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 286,722 | 72.90 | +2.04 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 106,604 | 27.10 | –2.04 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 393,326 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ People's Alliance results are compared to People's Coalition totals in the 1983 election.$^2$ Left Assembly of Navarre results are compared to Neighborhood Labor totals in the 1983 election.$^3$ United Left results are compared to Communist Party of the Basque Country totals in the 1983 election. |||||||
Popular vote
PSN–PSOE
27.68%
UPN
24.50%
HB
13.46%
CDS
7.42%
EA
7.00%
UDF
6.23%
AP
4.23%
EE
3.39%
B
2.07%
IU
1.34%
Others
1.28%
Blank ballots
1.39% :
Seats
PSN–PSOE
30.00%
UPN
28.00%
HB
14.00%
CDS
8.00%
EA
8.00%
UDF
6.00%
AP
4.00%
EE
2.00% :

## Aftermath

Investiture processes to elect the President of the Government of Navarre required for an absolute majority—more than half the votes cast—to be obtained in the first ballot. If unsuccessful, a new ballot would be held 48 hours later under the same majority requirement, with successive votes requiring only of a simple majority—more affirmative than negative votes—to succeed. If such majorities were not achieved, successive candidate proposals would be processed under the same procedure. In the event of the investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a two-month period from the first ballot, the candidate from the party with the highest number of seats was deemed to be automatically elected.
As a result of the investiture process failing to provide a regional President within two months from the first ballot, Gabriel Urralburu was automatically elected on 30 September 1987 and officially sworn into office on 8 October.
Investiture Gabriel Urralburu (PSN) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 30 July 1987 | 1 August 1987 | 3 August 1987 | 5 August 1987 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 26 out of 50 N | 26 out of 50 N | Simple N | Simple N |
| | Yes • PSN (15) | 15 / 50 | 15 / 50 | 15 / 50 | 15 / 50 |
| | No • UPN (14) • HB (6) (from 5 Aug) • CDS (4) • EA (4) • UDF (3) • AP (2) • EE (1) | 28 / 50 | 28 / 50 | 34 / 50 | 34 / 50 |
| | Abstentions • HB (7) (until 3 Aug) | 7 / 50 | 7 / 50 | 0 / 50 | 0 / 50 |
| | Absentees | 0 / 50 | 0 / 50 | 0 / 50 | 0 / 50 |
| Sources ||||||
Investiture Juan Cruz Alli (UPN) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 20 August 1987 | 22 August 1987 | 24 August 1987 | 26 August 1987 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 26 out of 50 N | 26 out of 50 N | Simple N | Simple N |
| | Yes • UPN (14) • UDF (3) • AP (2) | 19 / 50 | 19 / 50 | 19 / 50 | 19 / 50 |
| | No • PSN (15) • HB (6) (5 on 22 Aug) • EA (4) • EE (1) | 26 / 50 | 25 / 50 | 26 / 50 | 26 / 50 |
| | Abstentions • CDS (4) | 4 / 50 | 4 / 50 | 4 / 50 | 4 / 50 |
| | Absentees • HB (1) (2 on 22 Aug) | 1 / 50 | 2 / 50 | 1 / 50 | 1 / 50 |
| Sources ||||||