Results breakdown of the 2004 Spanish general election (Congress)

The 2004 Spanish general election was held on 14 March 2004, to elect the 8th Cortes Generales. All 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies were up for election. This entry provides a breakdown of the results by party and other relevant details.

Overall Results Summary:

The election resulted in a victory for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) led by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. While the People's Party (PP), led by Mariano Rajoy, obtained more votes than in the previous election, they failed to secure a majority, leading to the end of their eight years in government. The election was held three days after the Madrid train bombings, which significantly impacted the political climate.

Detailed Party Breakdown:

• Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE): Won the election with 164 seats, an increase of 39 seats compared to the 2000 election. This marked a return to power for the PSOE after eight years in opposition.
• People's Party (PP): Secured 148 seats, a loss of 35 seats compared to the 2000 election. Despite winning the most votes overall, they were unable to form a government.
• Convergence and Union (CiU): A Catalan nationalist coalition, won 10 seats, retaining their position as a significant regional force.
• Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC): A Catalan separatist party, significantly increased their representation, winning 8 seats, up from 1 in 2000. This growth reflected increasing Catalan nationalist sentiment.
• United Left (IU): A left-wing coalition, suffered significant losses, securing only 5 seats, a decrease of 3 seats from the 2000 election.
• Basque Nationalist Party (PNV): A Basque nationalist party, won 7 seats, maintaining their influence in the Basque Country.
• Canarian Coalition (CC): A Canarian regionalist party, secured 3 seats, representing the interests of the Canary Islands.
• Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG): A Galician nationalist party, won 2 seats, holding onto their representation.
• Other Parties: A number of smaller regional and national parties also won seats, contributing to the fragmented nature of the parliament. These included:
  • Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds (ICV) - 1 seat
  • Chunta Aragonesista (CHA) - 1 seat
  • Eusko Alkartasuna (EA) - 1 seat

Key Factors and Analysis:

• Madrid Train Bombings: The terrorist attacks three days before the election are widely believed to have influenced the outcome. Public sentiment shifted, with many blaming the PP government's handling of the situation and their initial claims regarding the perpetrators.
• Iraq War: The PP government's support for the Iraq War was unpopular with a significant portion of the Spanish population. This opposition played a role in the PSOE's electoral success.
• Economic Issues: Concerns about rising housing prices and unemployment also contributed to the electorate's desire for change.
• Coalition Building: The PSOE, lacking an absolute majority, formed a minority government supported by a coalition of parties, including ERC, IU, and other regional nationalist parties.

Source:

Ministerio del Interior (Spanish Ministry of the Interior) - Official Election Results (Note: A specific URL would be added if this were a live wiki).