# 2000 Spanish general election

A general election was held in Spain on Sunday, 12 March 2000, to elect the members of the 7th Cortes Generales. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election, as well as 208 of 259 seats in the Senate.
The incumbent People's Party (PP) of Prime Minister José María Aznar secured an unexpected absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies, obtaining 183 out of 350 seats and increasing its margin of victory with the opposition Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) to 2.4 million votes. The PSOE did not profit from a pre-election agreement with United Left (IU) and lost 1.6 million votes and 16 seats, coupled to the 1.4 million votes and 13 seats lost by IU. Such an alliance was said to prompt tactical voting for the PP, which also benefited from economic growth, a moderate stance during its tenure and internal struggles within the opposition parties. For the first time since the Spanish transition to democracy, the PP results exceeded the combined totals for PSOE and IU. PSOE leader Joaquín Almunia announced his resignation immediately after results were known.
Regional and peripheral nationalist parties improved their results, except for Convergence and Union (CiU)—which had been in electoral decline for a decade following its support of Spanish governments—and Herri Batasuna/Euskal Herritarrok (EH), which urged to boycott the election and called for their supporters to abstain in the Basque Country and Navarre. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) benefitted from EH's absence and gained two seats, whereas both Canarian Coalition (CC) and the Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) had strong showings in their respective regions. Initiative for Catalonia (IC), which had split from IU in 1997, clinged on to parliamentary representation but suffered from the electoral competition with United and Alternative Left (EUiA), IU's newly-founded regional branch in Catalonia which failed to secure any seat. This would be the first and only general election in which both parties would contest each other.
This election featured some notable feats: this was the first absolute majority the PP obtained in a general election, with its best result in both popular vote share and seats up until then (only exceeded in 2011). In contrast, the PSOE got its worst election result in 21 years. This was also the second time a party received more than 10 million votes, the last time being in 1982, when 10.1 million voters voted for Felipe González's PSOE. Voter turnout was one of the lowest for Spanish election standards, with only 68.7% of the electorate casting a vote.

## Background

On 5 May 1996, José María Aznar from the People's Party (PP) was able to form the first centre-right government in Spain since 1982 through confidence and supply agreements with Convergence and Union (CiU), the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), and Canarian Coalition (CC), in what came to be coined as the Majestic Pact.
The general election had seen the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) being forced into opposition for the first time since 1982. In the party congress held in June 1997, Felipe González, who had been prime minister for over 13 years until 1996 and PSOE secretary general since 1974, announced his intention to leave the party's leadership. The party, divided at the time between González's supporters (renovadores, Spanish for "renovators") and those following the discipline of former deputy prime minister and PSOE vice secretary general Alfonso Guerra (guerristas), elected Joaquín Almunia, a "renovator" and former labour and public administrations minister, as new party leader. While it was suggested that González could remain as the party's candidate for prime minister in the next general election, he discarded himself out in January 1998.
A primary election to elect the prime ministerial candidate, held among PSOE members on 24 April 1998, saw Almunia, supported by González and prominent party "renovators", facing Josep Borrell, former public works minister who received the backing of the guerrista faction. Borrell defeated Almunia, but the latter remained as the party's secretary general in order to prevent an extraordinary congress, a situation prompting a 'bicephaly' which would see both Borrell and Almunia clashing for months on party direction and strategy issues, as the extent of each one's competences on the party's political leadership remained unclear. Borrell renounced as candidate in May 1999 after it was unveiled that two former aides were involved in a judicial investigation for tax fraud, leaving a vacancy that resulted in Almunia being proclaimed as candidate without opposition.
Disappointment with the election results led United Left (IU) to undergo an internal crisis, which worsened over Julio Anguita's confrontational attitude with the PSOE and a perceived lack of democracy within IU. Anguita sought to prevent an electoral alliance between United Left–Galician Left (EU–EG) and the Socialists' Party of Galicia (PSdeG–PSOE) ahead of the 1997 Galician regional election, a move which received criticism from Initiative for Catalonia (IC), IU's sister party in Catalonia, with which disagreements over the coalition's political direction had been on the rise since the 1996 general election. The Democratic Party of the New Left (PDNI), constituted as an internal current within IU which had been critical of Anguita's leadership, was expelled from the alliance's governing bodies after it broke party discipline in Congress over the issue of labour reform in June 1997. The IU crisis came to a peak in September 1997, which saw NI's expulsion from IU as a whole, the dissolution of the NI-controlled regional leaderships in Cantabria and Castilla–La Mancha and the break up of relations with EU–EG and IC. The PDNI then sought electoral alliances with the PSOE, which materialized ahead of the 1999 local, regional and European Parliament elections.
ETA continued with its terrorist activity during these years, with its most relevant action being the kidnapping and later assassination of PP Ermua councillor Miguel Ángel Blanco in July 1997. Blanco's killing had a deep social impact throughout Spain, with more than six million people across the country taking to the streets over four days to demand an end to ETA violence (an spontaneous civic response dubbed as the 'Ermua spirit') and even some of the group's supporters publicly condemned it. The signing of the Declaration of Estella between the PNV and Herri Batasuna in September 1998 led ETA to announce an "indefinite ceasefire" four days later. Aznar authorized talks between his government and ETA, but a single meeting in Zurich found the group no more willing to compromise on its core demands than it had been in the past; negotiations failed and ETA ended the truce in late 1999. In December 1999, the Civil Guard foiled a plot by ETA to bring 1,700 kg of explosives to Madrid, intended for its use in blowing up the Torre Picasso (in what was dubbed as 'the convoy of death').
The PNV withdrew its confidence and supply support from the government in 1999, with relations strained following the Estella declaration. The Aragonese Party (PAR), which had been allied with the PP since the 1996 election, broke away from the PP parliamentary group in October 1999 and joined the Mixed Group.

## 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, with each being allocated an initial minimum of two seats and the remaining 248 being distributed in proportion to their populations. 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 the following seats:
| Seats | Constituencies |
| 34 | Madrid |
| 31 | Barcelona |
| 16 | Valencia |
| 13 | Seville |
| 11 | Alicante |
| 10 | Málaga |
| 9 | A Coruña, Asturias, Biscay, Cádiz, Murcia |
| 8 | Pontevedra |
| 7 | Balearic Islands, Córdoba, Granada, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Zaragoza |
| 6 | Badajoz, Guipúzcoa, Jaén, Tarragona |
| 5 | Almería, Cáceres, Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Girona, Huelva, León, Navarre, Toledo, Valladolid |
| 4 | Álava, Albacete, Burgos, La Rioja, Lleida, Lugo, Ourense, Salamanca |
| 3 | Ávila, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Huesca, Palencia, Segovia, Soria, Teruel, Zamora |
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 did not provide for by-elections to fill vacated seats; instead, any vacancies that occurred after the proclamation of candidates and into the legislature's term were to be covered by the successive candidates in the list and, when needed, by the designated substitutes, of which the list was required to include three.

### Election date

The term of each chamber of the Cortes Generales—the Congress and the Senate—expired four years from the date of their previous election, unless they were dissolved earlier. 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 State Gazette (BOE), with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication. The previous election was held on 3 March 1996, which meant that the legislature's term would expire on 3 March 2000. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 8 February 2000, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Cortes Generales on Sunday, 2 April 2000.
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.
It was suggested that Aznar would be tempted to call a snap election after the introduction of the euro was effective at 1 January 1999. Speculation arose among PP ranks and government members that an election would be called in the spring of 1999 or in June, to coincide with the scheduled local, regional and European Parliament elections. This possibility was fueled by some remarks from the Catalan president and Convergence and Union (CiU) leader Jordi Pujol, Aznar's main parliamentary ally, that a general election would be held in 1999—a remark that he was forced to rectify later on— coinciding with a critical point in the PP–CiU relationship. In the summer of 1999, a new round of speculation emerged that Aznar was considering holding an early election throughout the autumn, but this was ended by Aznar re-assuring that it was his wish to exhaust the legislature and for the election to be held when due, in March 2000. On 23 December 1999, it was confirmed that the general election would be held in March, together with the 2000 Andalusian regional election, with the dissolution of the Cortes Generales being arranged on 17 January.
The Cortes Generales were officially dissolved on 18 January 2000 after the publication of the dissolution decree in the BOE, setting the election date for 12 March and scheduling for both chambers to reconvene on 5 April.

## Parliamentary composition

The tables below show the composition of the parliamentary groups in both chambers at the time of dissolution.
Parliamentary composition in January 2000 :
| Congress of Deputies ||||||
| Groups | Groups | Parties | Parties | Deputies | Deputies |
| Groups | Groups | Parties | Parties | Seats | Total |
| | People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress | | PP | 153 | 155 |
| | People's Parliamentary Group in the Congress | | UPN | 2 | 155 |
| | Socialist Group of the Congress | | PSOE | 122 | 141 |
| | Socialist Group of the Congress | | PSC | 19 | 141 |
| | United Left's Federal Parliamentary Group | | IU | 16 | 16 |
| | Catalan Parliamentary Group (Convergence and Union) | | CDC | 10 | 16 |
| | Catalan Parliamentary Group (Convergence and Union) | | UDC | 6 | 16 |
| | Basque Parliamentary Group (EAJ/PNV) | | EAJ/PNV | 5 | 5 |
| | Canarian Coalition's Parliamentary Group | | AIC | 2 | 4 |
| | Canarian Coalition's Parliamentary Group | | ICAN | 1 | 4 |
| | Canarian Coalition's Parliamentary Group | | CCN | 1 | 4 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | PDNI | 3 | 11 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | BNG | 2 | 11 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | IC–V | 2 | 11 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | EA | 1 | 11 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | UV | 1 | 11 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | PAR | 1 | 11 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | PI | 1 | 11 |
| | Non-Inscrits | | HB | 2 | 2 |
Parliamentary composition in January 2000 :
| Senate ||||||
| Groups | Groups | Parties | Parties | Senators | Senators |
| Groups | Groups | Parties | Parties | Seats | Total |
| | People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate | | PP | 129 | 132 |
| | People's Parliamentary Group in the Senate | | UPN | 3 | 132 |
| | Socialist Parliamentary Group | | PSOE | 90 | 100 |
| | Socialist Parliamentary Group | | PSC | 10 | 100 |
| | Convergence and Union's Catalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate | | CDC | 8 | 11 |
| | Convergence and Union's Catalan Parliamentary Group in the Senate | | UDC | 3 | 11 |
| | Basque Nationalist Senators' Parliamentary Group | | EAJ/PNV | 6 | 6 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | PAR | 3 | 10 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | IU | 2 | 10 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | AIC | 1 | 10 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | AHI | 1 | 10 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | ERC | 1 | 10 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | Pacte | 1 | 10 |
| | Mixed Parliamentary Group | | PIL | 1 | 10 |

## Parties and candidates
### Eligibility requirements

Spanish citizens of age and with the legal capacity to vote could run for election, provided that they were not sentenced to imprisonment by a final court's decision nor convicted by a judgement, even if not yet final, which imposed a penalty of forfeiture of eligibility or of specific disqualification or suspension from public office under specific offences: rebellion and terrorism when involving crimes against life, physical integrity or freedom of persons. Other general causes of ineligibility were imposed on members of the Spanish royal family; the president and members of the Constitutional Court, the General Council of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court, the Council of State, the Court of Auditors and the Economic and Social Council; the Ombudsman; the State's Attorney General; high-ranking members—undersecretaries, secretaries-general, directors-general and chiefs of staff—of Spanish government departments, the Prime Minister's Office, government delegations, the Social Security and other government agencies; heads of diplomatic missions in foreign states or international organizations; judges and public prosecutors in active service; Armed Forces and police corps personnel in active service; members of electoral commissions; the chair of RTVE; the director of the Electoral Register Office; the governor and deputy governor of the Bank of Spain; the chairs of the Official Credit Institute and other official credit institutions; and members of the Nuclear Safety Council; 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 any employee of a foreign state and to members of regional governments, as well as the impossibility of running simultaneously as candidate for 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 ten days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent 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 electoral alliances 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. |
| | PP | List People's Party (PP) Navarrese People's Union (UPN) Melillan People's Union (UPM) | | José María Aznar | Conservatism Christian democracy | 38.79% | 156 | 112 | Y | |
| | PSOE–p | List Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Democratic Party of the New Left (PDNI) | | Joaquín Almunia | Social democracy | 37.63% | 141 | 73 | N | [107] [108] |
| | IU | List United Left (IU) – Communist Party of Spain (PCE) – Socialist Action Party (PASOC) – Republican Left (IR) – Collective for the Unity of Workers–Andalusian Left Bloc (CUT–BAI) – Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR) – Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRT) United and Alternative Left (EUiA) – Living Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSUCviu) – Party of the Communists of Catalonia (PCC) – The Greens–Ecologist Confederation of Catalonia (EV–CEC) | | Francisco Frutos | Socialism Communism | 9.35% | 19 | 0 | N | [109] [110] |
| | CiU | List Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC) | | Xavier Trias | Catalan nationalism Centrism | 4.60% | 16 | 8 | N | [111] [112] |
| | EAJ/PNV | List Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | | Iñaki Anasagasti | Basque nationalism Christian democracy Conservative liberalism | 1.27% | 5 | 4 | N | |
| | CC | List Canarian Independent Groups (AIC) – Tenerife Group of Independents (ATI) – La Palma Group of Independents (API) – Gomera Group of Independents (AGI) Nationalist Canarian Initiative (ICAN) Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) Majorera Assembly (AM) | | José Carlos Mauricio | Regionalism Canarian nationalism Centrism | 0.88% | 4 | 0 | N | |
| | IC–V | List Initiative for Catalonia–Greens (IC–V) | | Joan Saura | Regionalism Eco-socialism Green politics | 1.19% | 2 | — | N | |
| | BNG | List Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) – Galician People's Union (UPG) – Socialist Collective (CS) – Galician Nationalist Party–Galicianist Party (PNG–PG) – Nationalist Left (EN) – Inzar (Inzar) – Galician Unity (UG) | | Francisco Rodríguez | Galician nationalism Left-wing nationalism Socialism | 0.88% | 2 | 0 | N | |
| | ERC | List Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) | | Joan Puigcercós | Catalan independence Left-wing nationalism Social democracy | 0.67% | 1 | — | N | |
| | EA | List Basque Solidarity (EA) | | Begoña Lasagabaster | Basque nationalism Social democracy | 0.46% | 1 | 0 | N | |
| | UV | List Valencian Union (UV) | | José María Chiquillo | Blaverism Conservatism | 0.37% | 1 | 0 | N | |
| | PA | List Andalusian Party (PA) | | José Núñez | Andalusian nationalism Social democracy | 0.54% | 0 | 0 | N | |
| | CHA | List Aragonese Union (CHA) | | José Antonio Labordeta | Aragonese nationalism Eco-socialism | 0.20% | 0 | 0 | N | |
| | PSC– ERC–ICV | List Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) | | Mercedes Aroz | Catalanism Social democracy Eco-socialism | Senate | Senate | 8 | N | [116] [117] [118] |
| | Pacte | List Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) United Left (EU) Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE) Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) The Greens of Ibiza (EV–Eiv) | | Fanny Tur | Progressivism | Senate | Senate | 1 | N | |
| | PIL | List Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) | | Dimas Martín | Insularism Canarian nationalism | Senate | Senate | 1 | N | |
| | PAR | List Aragonese Party (PAR) | | Antonio Serrano | Regionalism Centrism | New | New | New | N | |
The election was marked by the exploration of joint candidacies between the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and other parties in the left of the political spectrum. One such example was in Catalonia, where a left-wing alliance came to fruition between the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Initiative for Catalonia–Greens (IC–V) under the Catalan Agreement of Progress label, aiming to mirror the success of a similar alliance between the PSC and IC–V in the 1999 Catalan regional election. Ahead of the Senate election in Ibiza and Formentera, PSOE, United Left of the Balearic Islands (EUIB), The Greens (LV), Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE) and ERC formed the Pact for Ibiza and Formentera.
Various attempts at forming a joint left-wing candidacy for the Senate in the Valencian Community were unsuccessful, primarily due to disagreement over the label and format of such an alliance. Nationwide, an agreement was reached between the national leaderships of PSOE and United Left, under which both parties agreed to cooperate in the Senate elections for 27 constituencies: in those districts, and taking consideration of the Senate electoral system allowing up to three votes to each voter, the PSOE would field two candidates to one from IU, with the parties urging voters to cast their votes as if it were a joint list of three. The PSOE also offered IU a similar agreement for the Congress of Deputies, wherein IU would not run in 34 constituencies where it would unlikely win a seat on its own, with a later offer reducing the number to 14. These offers were both rejected.
Basque Citizens (EH), the Basque electoral coalition including Herri Batasuna, called for election boycott and urged its supporters to abstain.

## Campaign period
### Party slogans

| Party or alliance | Original slogan | English translation |
| PP | « Vamos a más » | "We are going for more" |
| PSOE–p | « Lo próximo » | "What comes" |
| IU | « Somos necesarios » | "We are necessary" |
| CiU | « La força positiva » | "The positive force" |
| BNG | « Galiza, coa capacidade de decidir » | "Galiza, with the ability to decide" |

## Results
### Congress of Deputies

← Summary of the 12 March 2000 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 | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 10,321,178 | 44.52 | +5.73 | 183 | +27 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party–Progressives (PSOE–p) | 7,918,752 | 34.16 | –3.47 | 125 | –16 |
| | United Left (IU)$^1$ | 1,263,043 | 5.45 | –3.90 | 8 | –11 |
| | Convergence and Union (CiU) | 970,421 | 4.19 | –0.41 | 15 | –1 |
| | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | 353,953 | 1.53 | +0.26 | 7 | +2 |
| | Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) | 306,268 | 1.32 | +0.44 | 3 | +1 |
| | Canarian Coalition (CC) | 248,261 | 1.07 | +0.19 | 4 | ±0 |
| | Andalusian Party (PA) | 206,255 | 0.89 | +0.35 | 1 | +1 |
| | Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) | 194,715 | 0.84 | +0.17 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Initiative for Catalonia–Greens (IC–V)$^2$ | 119,290 | 0.51 | –0.68 | 1 | –1 |
| | Basque Solidarity (EA) | 100,742 | 0.43 | –0.03 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Aragonese Union (CHA) | 75,356 | 0.33 | +0.13 | 1 | +1 |
| | Liberal Independent Group (GIL) | 72,162 | 0.31 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens (Verdes)$^3$ | 70,906 | 0.31 | +0.15 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Valencian Nationalist Bloc–The Greens–Valencians for Change (BNV–EV)$^4$ | 58,551 | 0.25 | +0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Valencian Union (UV) | 57,830 | 0.25 | –0.12 | 0 | –1 |
| | Leonese People's Union (UPL) | 41,690 | 0.18 | +0.13 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Aragonese Party (PAR) | 38,883 | 0.17 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS) | 23,576 | 0.10 | –0.08 | 0 | ±0 |
| | PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) | 23,482 | 0.10 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Eco-pacifist Greens (LVEP) | 22,220 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens of the Community of Madrid (LVCM) | 21,087 | 0.09 | +0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) | 20,618 | 0.09 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 19,683 | 0.08 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) | 18,290 | 0.08 | +0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Natural Law Party (PLN) | 17,372 | 0.07 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Phalanx (FE) | 14,431 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturian Renewal Union (URAS) | 13,360 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 12,898 | 0.06 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)$^5$ | 12,208 | 0.05 | +0.04 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV) | 11,579 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) | 10,323 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spain 2000 Platform (ES2000) | 9,562 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Democratic Party (PADE) | 9,136 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) | 8,646 | 0.04 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Majorcan Union–Independents of Menorca (UM–INME) | 8,372 | 0.04 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andalusian Left (IA) | 8,175 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000 (FEI–FE 2000) | 6,621 | 0.03 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Localist Bloc of Melilla (BLM) | 6,514 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Riojan Party (PR) | 6,155 | 0.03 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturianist Party (PAS) | 5,876 | 0.03 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) | 5,683 | 0.02 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | United Extremadura (EU) | 4,771 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of Self-employed and Professionals (AUTONOMO) | 4,218 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Candidacy–The Party of Castile and León (CI–PCL) | 4,184 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Catalan State (EC) | 3,356 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andalusian Nation (NA) | 3,262 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician Democracy (DG) | 2,958 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Action (AR) | 2,858 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of the Democratic Karma (PKD) | 2,759 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andalusia Assembly (A) | 2,727 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Independents (EL–PAPI) | 2,713 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Extremaduran Coalition (PREx–CREx) | 2,371 | 0.01 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician Coalition (CG) | 2,361 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zamoran People's Union (UPZ) | 2,347 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician People's Front (FPG) | 2,252 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Carlist Party (PC) | 2,131 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL (PREPAL) | 2,118 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Cantabrian Nationalist Council (CNC) | 2,103 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andecha Astur (AA) | 2,036 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Self-employed Spanish Party (PEDA) | 1,904 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) | 1,716 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party Association of Widows and Legal Wives (PAVIEL) | 1,690 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Left–Left Republican Party (IR–PRE) | 1,541 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Widows (PAE) | 1,462 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Salamancan Union (USI) | 1,416 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Socialists of Extremadura (SIEx) | 1,412 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Madrilenian Independent Regional Party (PRIM) | 1,363 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Caló Nationalist Party (PNCA) | 1,331 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of El Bierzo (PB) | 1,191 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturian Left Bloc (BIA) | 1,085 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Aragonese Initiative (INAR) | 1,057 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Progressives of Canaries Unity (UP–CAN) | 980 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) | 920 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Almerian Regionalist Union (URAL) | 838 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) | 788 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | European Nation State (N) | 710 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Liberal and Social Democratic Coalition (CSD–L) | 650 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Citizens' Convergence of the South-East (CCSE) | 645 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Federal Progressives (PF) | 609 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | New Region (NR) | 598 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) | 546 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Balearic People's Union (UPB) | 524 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Voice of the Andalusian People (VDPA) | 493 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Initiative (II) | 425 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) | 400 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Iberian Union (UNIB) | 388 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | New Force (FN) | 343 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Social and Autonomist Liberal Group (ALAS) | 339 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Balearic Islands Renewal Party (PRIB) | 334 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Pensionist Assembly of the Canaries (TPC) | 319 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | National Union (UN) | 314 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Cives (Cives) | 206 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Movement for Humanist Socialism (MASH) | 121 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Democratic Party of the People (PDEP) | 85 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Nationalist Aprome (Aprome) | 60 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Basque Citizens (EH)$^6$ | 0 | 0.00 | –0.72 | 0 | –2 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 366,823 | 1.58 | +0.61 | | |
| Total | Total | 23,181,290 | | | 350 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 23,181,290 | 99.32 | –0.18 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 158,200 | 0.68 | +0.18 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 23,339,490 | 68.71 | –8.67 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 10,630,150 | 31.29 | +8.67 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 33,969,640 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ United Left does not include Initiative for Catalonia results in Catalonia.$^2$ Initiative for Catalonia–Greens results are compared to Initiative for Catalonia totals in the 1996 election, only in Catalonia.$^3$ The Greens does not include results in the Valencian Community.$^4$ Valencian Nationalist Bloc–The Greens–Valencians for Change results are compared to the combined totals of Valencian People's Union–Nationalist Bloc and The Greens of the Valencian Country in the 1996 election.$^5$ Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to Republican Coalition totals in the 1996 election.$^6$ Basque Citizens results are compared to Popular Unity totals in the 1996 election. EH called for election boycott and urged its supporters to abstain. |||||||
Popular vote
PP
44.52%
PSOE–p
34.16%
IU
5.45%
CiU
4.19%
EAJ/PNV
1.53%
BNG
1.32%
CC
1.07%
PA
0.89%
ERC
0.84%
IC–V
0.51%
EA
0.43%
CHA
0.33%
Others
3.18%
Blank ballots
1.58% :
Seats
PP
52.29%
PSOE–p
35.71%
CiU
4.29%
IU
2.29%
EAJ/PNV
2.00%
CC
1.14%
BNG
0.89%
PA
0.29%
ERC
0.29%
IC–V
0.29%
EA
0.29%
CHA
0.29% :

### Senate

← Summary of the 12 March 2000 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 | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 28,097,204 | 45.35 | +6.31 | 127 | +15 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party–Progressives (PSOE–p)$^1$ | 16,323,744 | 26.35 | –5.35 | 53 | –20 |
| | United Left (IU) | 4,752,113 | 7.67 | –2.32 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Catalan Agreement of Progress (PSC–ERC–IC–V)$^2$ | 3,718,949 | 6.00 | –1.88 | 8 | ±0 |
| | Convergence and Union (CiU) | 2,809,367 | 4.53 | –0.34 | 8 | ±0 |
| | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | 1,022,057 | 1.65 | +0.31 | 6 | +2 |
| | Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) | 887,326 | 1.43 | +0.45 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andalusian Party (PA) | 577,849 | 0.93 | +0.32 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Canarian Coalition (CC) | 438,149 | 0.71 | +0.14 | 5 | +4 |
| | Basque Solidarity (EA) | 294,145 | 0.47 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Liberal Independent Group (GIL) | 215,285 | 0.35 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Aragonese Union (CHA) | 186,411 | 0.30 | +0.10 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens (Verdes)$^3$ | 181,453 | 0.29 | +0.15 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Valencian Union (UV) | 174,419 | 0.28 | –0.13 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Leonese People's Union (UPL) | 126,859 | 0.20 | +0.13 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Aragonese Party (PAR) | 123,176 | 0.20 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Valencian Nationalist Bloc–The Greens–Valencians for Change (BNV–EV)$^4$ | 83,006 | 0.13 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) | 70,979 | 0.11 | +0.07 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 67,228 | 0.11 | +0.07 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS) | 65,024 | 0.10 | –0.09 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens of the Community of Madrid (LVCM) | 55,357 | 0.09 | +0.07 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)$^5$ | 51,185 | 0.08 | +0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 50,326 | 0.08 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV) | 49,799 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Eco-pacifist Greens (LVEP) | 49,326 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) | 45,248 | 0.07 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) | 44,953 | 0.07 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturian Renewal Union (URAS) | 41,829 | 0.07 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Phalanx (FE) | 35,655 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens–Green Option (EV–OV) | 34,601 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Carlist Traditionalist Communion (CTC) | 32,066 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Progressive Pact (Pacte–PPM)$^6$ | 30,619 | 0.05 | +0.02 | 0 | –1 |
| | Majorcan Union (UM) | 26,275 | 0.04 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000 (FEI–FE 2000) | 24,964 | 0.04 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andalusian Left (IA) | 23,688 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) | 22,952 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturianist Party (PAS) | 20,005 | 0.03 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Riojan Party (PR) | 19,667 | 0.03 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | United Extremadura (EU) | 18,937 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) | 18,387 | 0.03 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Catalan State (EC) | 17,825 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Democratic Party (PADE) | 17,400 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | New Force (FN) | 15,452 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Alliance for Development and Nature (ADN) | 15,378 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Independents (EL–PAPI) | 15,340 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Bounced Public Workers (TPR) | 15,094 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Natural Law Party (PLN) | 14,211 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician Democracy (DG) | 13,693 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) | 13,528 | 0.02 | ±0.00 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Localist Bloc of Melilla (BLM) | 13,060 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Action (AR) | 12,531 | 0.02 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Candidacy–The Party of Castile and León (CI–PCL) | 12,215 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Left–Left Republican Party (IR–PRE) | 12,207 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Castilian Left (IzCa) | 11,921 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)$^7$ | 11,828 | 0.02 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andalusia Assembly (A) | 10,988 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of Self-employed and Professionals (AUTONOMO) | 10,863 | 0.02 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party Association of Widows and Legal Wives (PAVIEL) | 9,240 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andecha Astur (AA) | 8,925 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Salamanca–Zamora–León–PREPAL (PREPAL) | 8,691 | 0.01 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of the Democratic Karma (PKD) | 8,433 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zamoran People's Union (UPZ) | 7,928 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Andalusian Nation (NA) | 7,821 | 0.01 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician People's Front (FPG) | 7,748 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spain 2000 Platform (ES2000) | 7,258 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Iberian Union (UNIB) | 6,760 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Carlist Party (PC) | 6,421 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Self-employed Spanish Party (PEDA) | 5,985 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) | 5,837 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Iberian Unity (UI) | 5,767 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturian Left Bloc (BIA) | 5,550 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Salamancan Union (USI) | 5,018 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) | 4,624 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Aragonese Initiative (INAR) | 4,244 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Madrilenian Independent Regional Party (PRIM) | 4,204 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Natural Culture (CN) | 4,010 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Almerian Regionalist Union (URAL) | 3,951 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Cantabrian Nationalist Council (CNC) | 3,929 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Galician Coalition (CG) | 3,153 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of El Bierzo (PB) | 2,409 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Immigrants with the Right to Equality and Obligations (INDIO) | 2,272 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Pensionist Assembly of the Canaries (TPC) | 1,972 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Christian Positivist Party (PPCr) | 1,911 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish New Republicans (NURP) | 1,878 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Progressives of Canaries Unity (UP–CAN) | 1,847 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Federal Progressives (PF) | 1,787 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Liberal and Social Democratic Coalition (CSD–L) | 1,741 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Party of Guadalajara (PRGU) | 1,630 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | European Nation State (N) | 1,601 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | European Green Group (GVE) | 1,532 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Socialist Party of the People of Ceuta (PSPC) | 1,511 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Balearic People's Union (UPB) | 1,413 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Initiative (II) | 1,374 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of Self-employed, Retirees and Widows (PAE) | 1,087 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Voice of the Andalusian People (VDPA) | 1,007 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Social and Autonomist Liberal Group (ALAS) | 895 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Cives (Cives) | 889 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | New Region (NR) | 874 | 0.00 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Movement for Humanist Socialism (MASH) | 869 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Action (AE) | 817 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Citizens' Convergence of the South-East (CCSE) | 699 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Balearic Islands Renewal Party (PRIB) | 687 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | National Union (UN) | 491 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Nationalist Aprome (Aprome) | 154 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Clean Hands Project (PML) | 0 | 0.00 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 642,682 | 2.82 | +0.85 | | |
| Total | Total | 61,955,642 | | | 208 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 22,799,475 | 97.51 | +0.10 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 583,192 | 2.49 | –0.10 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 23,382,667 | 68.83 | –8.50 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 10,586,973 | 31.17 | +8.50 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 33,969,640 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party–Progressives results are compared to Spanish Socialist Workers' Party totals in the 1996 election, not including results in Catalonia.$^2$ Catalan Agreement of Progress results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, United Left and Republican Left of Catalonia in Catalonia in the 1996 election.$^3$ The Greens does not include results in the Valencian Community.$^4$ Valencian Nationalist Bloc–The Greens–Valencians for Change results are compared to the combined totals of Valencian People's Union–Nationalist Bloc and The Greens of the Valencian Country in the 1996 election.$^5$ Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to Republican Coalition totals in the 1996 election.$^6$ Progressive Pact results are compared to Ibiza and Formentera in the Senate totals in the 1996 election.$^7$ Republican Left of Catalonia does not include results in Catalonia. |||||||
Popular vote
PP
45.35%
PSOE–p
26.35%
IU
7.67%
ECdP
6.00%
CiU
4.53%
EAJ/PNV
1.65%
BNG
1.43%
CC
0.71%
PIL
0.02%
Others
5.25%
Blank ballots
2.82% :
Seats
PP
61.06%
PSOE–p
25.48%
ECdP
3.85%
CiU
3.85%
EAJ/PNV
2.88%
CC
2.40%
PIL
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 José María Aznar (PP) :
| Ballot → | Ballot → | 26 April 2000 |
| Required majority → | Required majority → | 176 out of 350 Y |
| | Yes • PP (183) • CiU (15) • CC (4) | 202 / 350 |
| | No • PSOE (125) • IU (8) • PNV (7) • BNG (3) • PA (1) • ERC (1) • ICV (1) • EA (1) • CHA (1) | 148 / 350 |
| | Abstentions | 0 / 350 |
| | Absentees | 0 / 350 |
| Sources |||