# 1979 Spanish general election

A general election was held in Spain on Thursday, 1 March 1979, to elect the members of the 1st Cortes Generales. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as all 208 seats in the Senate. This was the first election held under the Spanish Constitution of 1978, which had been approved in a referendum on 6 December and which had lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, resulting in an increase of the electoral roll by three million people.
The Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) remained the largest party, winning 168 of the 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies and 119 of the 208 seats in the Senate. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), which had merged with the People's Socialist Party (PSP) and was widely expected to make large gains—with some opinion polls predicting a narrow win—fell short of expectations and lost ground when compared to the combined totals for the PSOE–PSP alliance in the 1977 election. The Communist Party of Spain (PCE) obtained the best result in its history, whereas Manuel Fraga's Democratic Coalition (CD)—an electoral bloc formed by the People's Alliance (AP), the Liberal Citizens Action (ACL) and the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP)—lost nearly half of its seats. The election would also see the best showing of the far-right in Spain until the April 2019 election, as Blas Piñar-led National Union (UN) would secure one seat with 2.1% of the vote share.
As a result of the election, Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez went on to form a minority government, depending on support from the CD and other minor parties such as the Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party (PSA–PA), the Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR) and the Navarrese People's Union (UPN).

## Overview
### Electoral system

The Spanish Cortes Generales were envisaged as an imperfect bicameral system. The Congress of Deputies had greater legislative power than the Senate, having the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a prime minister and to override Senate vetoes by an absolute majority of votes. Nonetheless, the Senate possessed a few exclusive (yet limited in number) functions—such as its role in constitutional amendment—which were not subject to the Congress' override. Voting for the Cortes Generales was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age and in full enjoyment of their political rights.
For the Congress of Deputies, 348 seats were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Spain. Each constituency was entitled to an initial minimum of two seats, with the remaining 248 fixed among the constituencies in proportion to their populations, at a rate of approximately one seat per each 144,500 inhabitants or fraction greater than 70,000. Ceuta and Melilla were allocated the two remaining seats, which were elected using plurality voting. The use of the electoral method resulted in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies.
As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Congress multi-member constituency was entitled to the following seats:
| Seats | Constituencies |
| 33 | Barcelona |
| 32 | Madrid |
| 15 | Valencia |
| 12 | Seville |
| 10 | Biscay, Oviedo |
| 9 | Alicante, La Coruña |
| 8 | Cádiz, Málaga, Murcia, Pontevedra, Zaragoza |
| 7 | Badajoz, Córdoba, Granada, Guipúzcoa, Jaén, Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| 6 | Balearics, Las Palmas, León |
| 5 | Almería, Cáceres, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Gerona, Huelva, Lugo, Navarre, Orense, Santander, Tarragona, Toledo, Valladolid |
| 4 | Álava, Albacete, Burgos, Cuenca, Lérida, Logroño, Salamanca, Zamora |
| 3 | Ávila, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Teruel |
For the Senate, 208 seats were elected using an open list partial block voting system, with electors voting for individual candidates instead of parties. In constituencies electing four seats, electors could vote for up to three candidates; in those with two or three seats, for up to two candidates; and for one candidate in single-member districts. Each of the 47 peninsular provinces was allocated four seats, whereas for insular provinces, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, districts were the islands themselves, with the larger—Majorca, Gran Canaria and Tenerife—being allocated three seats each, and the smaller—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 senator per each million inhabitants.
The law provided for by-elections to fill Congress seats only when the results in a particular constituency were annulled by a final court's decision deriving from the election's legal challenge procedures; additionally for the Senate, by-elections were required to fill any seat vacated up to two years into the legislature's term.

### Election date

The term of the Cortes elected in the 1977 election was not to be continued beyond 15 June 1981 in the event they were not dissolved earlier. An election was required to be held within from 30 to 60 days after the date of expiry of the Cortes Generales, setting the latest possible election date for the Cortes Generales on Friday, 14 August 1981.
The prime minister had the prerogative to propose the 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 had elapsed since the previous one. 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. Barred this exception, there was no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections to the Congress and the Senate. Still, as of 2025 there has been no precedent of separate elections taking place under the 1978 Constitution.
The Spanish Cortes were officially dissolved on 1 January 1979 after the publication of the dissolution decree in the Official State Gazette (BOE), setting the election date for 1 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 23 March (for the Congress) and 27 March (for the Senate).

## Parties and candidates
### Eligibility requirements

Spanish citizens of age and with the legal capacity to vote could run for election. Causes of ineligibility were imposed on the president and members of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Council of State and the Court of Auditors; the Ombudsman; high-ranking members—undersecretaries, secretaries-general, directors-general and chiefs of staff—of the General State Administration, government delegations, the Social Security and other government agencies; judges and public prosecutors in active service; Armed Forces and police corps personnel in active service; members of electoral commissions; and the chairs of national trade unions; as well as a number of territorial-level officers in the aforementioned government bodies and institutions being barred from running, during their tenure of office, in constituencies within the whole or part of their respective area of jurisdiction. Disqualification provisions for the Cortes Generales extended to the impossibility of being simultaneously a member of both the Congress and Senate.
The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within fifteen days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one permille—and, in any case, 500 signatures—of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.

### Main competing lists

Below is a list of the main parties and coalitions which contested the election:
| Candidacy | Candidacy | Parties and alliances | Leading candidate | Leading candidate | Ideology | Previous result | Previous result | Previous result | Gov. | Ref. |
| Candidacy | Candidacy | Parties and alliances | Leading candidate | Leading candidate | Ideology | Votes (%) | Con. | Sen. | Gov. | Ref. |
| | UCD | List Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) | | Adolfo Suárez | Centrism | 34.44% | 165 | 106 | Y | |
| | PSOE | List Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) | | Felipe González | Social democracy Democratic socialism Marxism | 33.78% | 124 | 53 | N | |
| | PCE | List Communist Party of Spain (PCE) Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC) | | Santiago Carrillo | Eurocommunism | 9.33% | 20 | 1 | N | |
| | CD | List People's Alliance (AP) Liberal Citizens Action (ACL) Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Foral Union of the Basque Country (UFPV) – People's Alliance (AP) – Basque Independent Democrats (DIV) | | Manuel Fraga | Conservatism | 8.41% | 16 | 2 | N | |
| | CiU | List Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC) | | Jordi Pujol | Catalan nationalism Centrism | 3.75% | 13 | 2 | N | |
| | EAJ/PNV | List Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | | Xabier Arzalluz | Basque nationalism Christian democracy Conservative liberalism | 1.62% | 8 | 6 | N | |
| | ERC–FNC | List Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) National Front of Catalonia (FNC) Social Democratic Party of Catalonia (PSDC) | | Heribert Barrera | Catalan nationalism Left-wing nationalism Social democracy | 0.79% | 1 | — | N | |
| | EE | List Basque Country Left–Left for Socialism (EE) | | Juan María Bandrés | Basque nationalism Socialism | 0.34% | 1 | 0 | N | |
| | PAR | List Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR) | | Hipólito Gómez de las Roces | Regionalism Conservatism | 0.20% | 1 | 0 | N | |
| | UN | List New Force (FN) Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) José Antonio Circles (CJA) National Confederation of Veterans (CNE) Traditionalist Youth Group (AJT) | | Blas Piñar | Ultranationalism National catholicism Francoism | 0.57% | 0 | 0 | N | |
| | HB | List Basque Socialist Party (ESB/PSV) Revolutionary Patriotic Workers' Party (LAIA) People's Socialist Revolutionary Party (HASI) Basque Nationalist Action (EAE/ANV) Patriotic Socialist Committees (ASK) | | Francisco Letamendia | Basque independence Abertzale left Revolutionary socialism | 0.24% | 0 | 0 | N | |
| | PSC–ERC | List Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) | | Josep Andreu | Catalanism Social democracy | Senate | Senate | 8 | N | |
| | PSUC–PTC | List Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUC) Party of Labour of Catalonia (PTC) | | Josep Benet | Communism Marxism-Leninism Republicanism | Senate | Senate | 4 | N | |
| | PSA–PA | List Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party (PSA–PA) | | Alejandro Rojas-Marcos | Andalusian nationalism Social democracy | New | New | New | N | |
| | UPC | List United Canarian People (PCU) – Communist Party of the Canary Islands (provisional) (PCC(p)) – Communist Cells (CC) Party of Communist Unification in the Canaries (PUCC) Socialist Party of the Canary Islands (PSC) | | Fernando Sagaseta | Canarian nationalism Socialism | New | New | New | N | |
| | UPN | List Navarrese People's Union (UPN) | | Jesús Aizpún | Navarrese regionalism Conservatism Christian democracy | New | New | New | N | |

## Results
### Congress of Deputies

← Summary of the 1 March 1979 Congress of Deputies 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 | +/− |
| | Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) | 6,268,593 | 34.84 | +0.40 | 168 | +3 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)$^1$ | 5,469,813 | 30.40 | –3.44 | 121 | –3 |
| | Communist Party of Spain (PCE) | 1,938,487 | 10.77 | +1.44 | 23 | +3 |
| | Democratic Coalition (CD) | 1,094,438 | 6.08 | –2.33 | 9 | –7 |
| | Democratic Coalition (CD)$^2$ | 1,060,330 | 5.89 | –2.05 | 9 | –6 |
| | Foral Union of the Basque Country (UFPV)$^3$ | 34,108 | 0.19 | –0.29 | 0 | –1 |
| | Convergence and Union (CiU)$^4$ | 483,353 | 2.69 | –1.06 | 8 | –5 |
| | National Union (UN)$^5$ | 378,964 | 2.11 | +1.54 | 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)$^6$ | 192,798 | 1.07 | +0.40 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Popular Unity (HB)$^7$ | 172,110 | 0.96 | +0.72 | 3 | +3 |
| | Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT) | 138,487 | 0.77 | +0.22 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)$^8$ | 127,517 | 0.71 | +0.29 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Navarrese Left Union (UNAI) | 10,970 | 0.06 | –0.07 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh)$^9$ | 133,869 | 0.74 | +0.05 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Left of Catalonia–National Front of Catalonia (ERC–FNC)$^{10}$ | 123,452 | 0.69 | –0.10 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Basque Country Left (EE) | 85,677 | 0.48 | +0.14 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (MC–OIC) | 84,856 | 0.47 | +0.28 | 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)$^{11}$ | 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)$^{12}$ | 38,042 | 0.21 | +0.01 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Revolutionary Communist League (LCR)$^{13}$ | 36,662 | 0.20 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (Authentic) (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 |
| | Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL) | 16,016 | 0.09 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Liberal Party (PL) | 15,774 | 0.09 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Valencian Regional Union (URV) | 15,694 | 0.09 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Nationalist Party of the Valencian Country (PNPV) | 13,828 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Ruralist Party (PRE) | 10,324 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of the Canarian Country (PPC) | 10,099 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Socialists of Majorca and Menorca (SMiM) | 10,022 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Syndicalist Party (PSIN) | 9,777 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union for the Freedom of Speech (ULE) | 7,126 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Catalan State (EC) | 6,328 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Cantonal Party (PCAN) | 6,290 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Candidacy of the Countryside (CIC) | 6,115 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Social Christian Democracy of Catalonia (DSCC) | 4,976 | 0.03 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Proverist Party (PPr) | 4,939 | 0.03 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Democratic Republican Action (ARDE) | 4,826 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist League (LC) | 3,614 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturian Nationalist Council (CNA) | 3,049 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA) | 2,736 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Pro-Austerity Policy Political Party (PIPPA) | 2,409 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers and Peasants Party (POC) | 2,314 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Candidates of Melilla (CIME) | 1,820 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Falangist Unity–Independent Spanish Phalanx (UF–FI–AT) | 1,188 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx–Falangist Unity (FE–UF) | 876 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Centre Independent Candidacy (CIC) | n/a | n/a | –0.16 | 0 | –1 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 57,267 | 0.32 | +0.07 | | |
| Total | Total | 17,990,915 | | | 350 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 17,990,915 | 98.53 | –0.04 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 268,277 | 1.47 | +0.04 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 18,259,192 | 68.04 | –10.79 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 8,577,298 | 31.96 | +10.79 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 26,836,490 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and People's Socialist Party–Socialist Unity in the 1977 election.$^2$ Democratic Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1977 election, not including results in the Basque Country.$^3$ Foral Union of the Basque Country results are compared to the combined totals of People's Alliance in the Basque Country and Basque Independent Democrats in the 1977 election.$^4$ Convergence and Union results are compared to the combined totals of Democratic Pact for Catalonia and Union of the Centre and Christian Democracy of Catalonia in the 1977 election.$^5$ National Union results are compared to the combined totals of National Alliance July 18 and José Antonio Circles in the 1977 election.$^6$ Party of Labour of Spain results are compared to Democratic Left Front totals in the 1977 election.$^7$ Popular Unity results are compared to the combined totals of the Basque Socialist Party and Basque Nationalist Action in the 1977 election.$^8$ Workers' Revolutionary Organization results are compared to Workers' Electoral Group totals in the 1977 election.$^9$ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) results are compared to Democratic Socialist Alliance totals in the 1977 election.$^{10}$ Republican Left of Catalonia–National Front of Catalonia results are compared to Left of Catalonia–Democratic Electoral Front totals in the 1977 election.$^{11}$ Galician Unity results are compared to Galician Socialist Party totals in the 1977 election.$^{12}$ Regionalist Aragonese Party results are compared to Centre Independent Aragonese Candidacy totals in the 1977 election.$^{13}$ Revolutionary Communist League results are compared to Front for Workers' Unity totals in the 1977 election. |||||||
Popular vote
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–FNC
0.69%
EE
0.48%
UPC
0.33%
PAR
0.21%
UPN
0.16%
Others
5.43%
Blank ballots
0.32% :
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–FNC
0.29%
EE
0.29%
UPC
0.29%
PAR
0.29%
UPN
0.29% :

### Senate

← Summary of the 1 March 1979 Senate of Spain 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 | +/− |
| | Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) | 16,691,333 | 33.23 | +3.35 | 119 | +13 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)$^1$ | 12,762,128 | 25.41 | –4.28 | 60 | –1 |
| | Communist Party of Spain (PCE) | 4,407,905 | 8.78 | +6.82 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Democratic Coalition (CD) | 2,897,073 | 5.77 | –3.45 | 3 | +1 |
| | Democratic Coalition (CD)$^2$ | 2,851,366 | 5.68 | –3.02 | 3 | +1 |
| | Foral Union of the Basque Country (UFPV)$^3$ | 45,707 | 0.09 | –0.43 | 0 | ±0 |
| | New Agreement (PSC–ERC)$^4$ | 2,708,504 | 5.39 | n/a | 10 | +2 |
| | For the Agreement (PSUC–PTC)$^4$ | 1,832,941 | 3.65 | n/a | 1 | –3 |
| | Convergence and Union (CiU)$^5$ | 1,387,176 | 2.76 | +0.21 | 1 | –1 |
| | National Union (UN)$^6$ | 1,089,883 | 2.17 | +1.10 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party (PSA–PA) | 1,026,345 | 2.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)$^7$ | 843,452 | 1.68 | –1.63 | 8 | –2 |
| | Popular Unity (HB)$^8$ | 465,852 | 0.93 | +0.74 | 1 | +1 |
| | Party of Labour of Spain (PTE)$^9$ | 412,782 | 0.82 | +0.57 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT) | 290,967 | 0.58 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)$^{10}$ | 276,457 | 0.55 | +0.13 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Navarrese Left Union (UNAI) | 14,510 | 0.03 | –0.17 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (MC–OIC) | 257,830 | 0.51 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Basque Country Left (EE) | 209,107 | 0.42 | +0.18 | 0 | –1 |
| | Republican Left (IR) | 205,512 | 0.41 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician National-Popular Bloc (BNPG) | 196,920 | 0.39 | +0.07 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh)$^{11}$ | 179,519 | 0.36 | –0.82 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician Unity (PG–POG–PSG) | 177,549 | 0.35 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Navarrese Unity (UNA) | 137,275 | 0.27 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx–Falangist Unity (FE–UF) | 130,616 | 0.26 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR)$^{12}$ | 117,150 | 0.23 | –0.37 | 0 | –1 |
| | Valencian Regional Union (URV) | 116,386 | 0.23 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Canarian People's Union (UPC) | 115,878 | 0.23 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Liberal Party (PL) | 110,347 | 0.22 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Revolutionary Communist League (LCR) | 109,118 | 0.22 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | 90,065 | 0.18 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Navarrese People's Union (UPN) | 84,289 | 0.17 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Carlist Party (PC) | 84,028 | 0.17 | +0.10 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Democratic Republican Action (ARDE) | 73,308 | 0.15 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (Authentic) (FE–JONS(A)) | 70,659 | 0.14 | +0.14 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Group of Independent Electors (ADEI)$^{13}$ | 63,257 | 0.13 | –0.02 | 3 | –1 |
| | Left Bloc for National Liberation (BEAN) | 54,055 | 0.11 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Authentic Spanish Phalanx (FEA) | 49,190 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Coalition for Aragon (PSAr–PSDA) | 48,031 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Organization–Communist Unification (OCEBR–UCE) | 41,656 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Ruralist Party (PRE) | 40,086 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union for the Freedom of Speech (ULE) | 38,968 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Pro-Austerity Policy Political Party (PIPPA) | 36,280 | 0.07 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent (INDEP) | 32,055 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Social Christian Democracy of Catalonia (DSCC) | 29,367 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician Democratic Candidacy (CDG) | 26,426 | 0.05 | –1.11 | 0 | –3 |
| | Party of the Canarian Country (PPC) | 25,960 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent (INDEP) | 21,891 | 0.04 | New | 1 | +1 |
| | Socialist Party of Majorca (PSM) | 19,753 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Communist Party (PCT) | 17,888 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Salamancan Regionalist Candidacy (CRS) | 17,019 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent (INDEP) | 14,758 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Menorcan Progressive Candidacy (PSM–PSOE–PCIB–PTI) | 11,745 | 0.02 | New | 1 | +1 |
| | Independent Candidacy of the Countryside (CIC) | 10,333 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL) | 8,795 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturian Nationalist Council (CNA) | 8,309 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Entirely Anti-Partisan (EA) | 7,931 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Progressive Candidacy (CPI) | 7,763 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent (INDEP) | 7,266 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | New National Left (NIN) | 7,053 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Catalan State (EC) | 6,998 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Riojan Autonomy (AR) | 6,835 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent (INDEP) | 5,263 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zamorans for Zamora–Independent Candidacy (ZZ) | 5,125 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | National Front of Catalonia (FNC) | 4,566 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Majorera Assembly (AM) | 4,458 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | –1 |
| | Spanish Communist Workers' Party (PCOE) | 3,431 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent (INDEP) | 3,416 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) | 3,141 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent (INDEP) | 1,698 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Proverist Party (PPr) | 242 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Xirinacs Electoral Group (AE Xirinacs) | n/a | n/a | –1.06 | 0 | –1 |
| | Aragonese Candidacy of Democratic Unity (CAUD) | n/a | n/a | –1.04 | 0 | –3 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 259,613 | 1.48 | | | |
| Total | Total | 50,232,518 | | | 208 | +1 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 17,588,988 | 97.20 | | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 507,434 | 2.80 | | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 18,096,422 | 67.43 | | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 8,740,068 | 32.57 | | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 23,583,762 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, Democratic Senate, People's Socialist Party–Socialist Unity and Independent Progressives and Socialists in the 1977 election.$^2$ Democratic Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1977 election, not including results in the Basque Country.$^3$ Foral Union of the Basque Country results are compared to the combined totals of People's Alliance in the Basque Country and Basque Independent Democrats in the 1977 election.$^4$ Within the Agreement of the Catalans alliance in the 1977 election.$^5$ Convergence and Union results are compared to Democracy and Catalonia totals in the 1977 election.$^6$ National Union results are compared to the combined totals of National Alliance July 18 and José Antonio Circles in the 1977 election.$^7$ Basque Nationalist Party results are compared to Autonomous Front totals in the 1977 election.$^8$ Popular Unity results are compared to the combined totals of the Basque Socialist Party and Basque Nationalist Action in the 1977 election.$^9$ Party of Labour of Spain results are compared to Democratic Left Front totals in the 1977 election.$^{10}$ Workers' Revolutionary Organization results are compared to Workers' Electoral Group totals in the 1977 election.$^{11}$ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) results are compared to Democratic Socialist Alliance totals in the 1977 election.$^{12}$ Regionalist Aragonese Party results are compared to Centre Independent Aragonese Candidacy totals in the 1977 election.$^{13}$ Group of Independent Electors results are compared to Independents of Soria totals in the 1977 election. |||||||
Popular vote
UCD
33.23%
PSOE
25.41%
PCE
8.78%
CD
5.77%
PSC–ERC
5.39%
PSUC–PTC
3.65%
CiU
2.76%
UN
2.17%
PSA–PA
2.04%
EAJ/PNV
1.68%
HB
0.93%
ADEI
0.13%
INDEP
0.04%
CPMen
0.02%
Others
8.07%
Blank ballots
1.48% :
Seats
UCD
57.21%
PSOE
28.85%
PSC–ERC
4.81%
EAJ/PNV
3.85%
CD
1.44%
ADEI
1.44%
PSUC–PTC
0.48%
CiU
0.48%
HB
0.48%
CPMen
0.48%
INDEP
0.48% :

### Maps

* Election results by constituency (Congress).
* Vote winner strength by constituency (Congress).
* Vote winner strength by autonomous community (Congress).

## Aftermath
### Government formation

Investiture Adolfo Suárez (UCD) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 30 March 1979 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 176 out of 350 Y |
| | Yes • UCD (168) • CD (8) • PSA–PA (5) • PAR (1) • UPN (1) | 183 / 350 |
| | No • PSOE (94) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (16) • PNV (6) • PSE (6) • UN (1) • ERC (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1) | 149 / 350 |
| | Abstentions • CiU (8) | 8 / 350 |
| | Absentees • PSOE (4) • HB (3) • PSC (1) • CD (1) • PNV (1) | 10 / 350 |
| Sources |||

### 1980 motion of no confidence

Motion of no confidence Felipe González (PSOE) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 30 May 1980 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 176 out of 350 N |
| | Yes • PSOE (97) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (17) • PSE (6) • PSA–PA (5) • ERC (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1) • Independent (1) | 152 / 350 |
| | No • UCD (166) | 166 / 350 |
| | Abstentions • CD (9) • CiU (7) • Independents (2) • FN (1) • PAR (1) • UPN (1) | 21 / 350 |
| | Absentees • PNV (7) • HB (3) • CiU (1) | 11 / 350 |
| Sources |||

### 1980 motion of confidence

Motion of confidence Adolfo Suárez (UCD) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 18 September 1980 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | Simple Y |
| | Yes • UCD (165) • CiU (8) • PSA–PA (5) • Independents (2) | 180 / 350 |
| | No • PSOE (97) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (16) • CD (9) • PNV (7) • PSE (6) • FN (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1) • PAR (1) • UPN (1) • Independent (1) | 164 / 350 |
| | Abstentions • ERC (1) • Independent (1) | 2 / 350 |
| | Absentees • HB (3) • PSC (1) | 4 / 350 |
| Sources |||

### 1981 investiture

Investiture Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo (UCD) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 21 February 1981 | 23 February 1981 | 25 February 1981 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 176 out of 350 N | Simple | Simple Y |
| | Yes • UCD (165) • CD (9) (3 on 21 Feb) • CiU (9) (on 25 Feb) • PAR (1) (on 25 Feb) • UPN (1) • UA (1) (on 25 Feb) | 169 / 350 | Cancelled (as a result of the 23-F coup d'etat attempt) | 186 / 350 |
| | No • PSOE (95) • PCE–PSUC (23) • PSC (16) • PNV (7) • PSE (6) • PSA–PA (4) • Independents (3) • FN (1) • ERC (1) • EE (1) • UPC (1) | 158 / 350 | Cancelled (as a result of the 23-F coup d'etat attempt) | 158 / 350 |
| | Abstentions • CiU (9) (on 21 Feb) • CD (6) (on 21 Feb) • PAR (1) (on 21 Feb) • UA (1) (on 21 Feb) | 17 / 350 | Cancelled (as a result of the 23-F coup d'etat attempt) | 0 / 350 |
| | Absentees • HB (3) • PSOE (2) (1 on 21 Feb) • PSC (1) • PSA–PA (1) (on 21 Feb) | 6 / 350 | Cancelled (as a result of the 23-F coup d'etat attempt) | 6 / 350 |
| Sources |||||