Results breakdown of the 2016 Spanish general election (Congress)

The 2016 Spanish general election, held on June 26, 2016, was a repeat election called after the inconclusive results of the December 20, 2015 election failed to produce a government. This breakdown specifically focuses on the results for the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Cortes Generales (Spanish Parliament).

Overall Results:

The election saw the People's Party (Partido Popular, PP) win the most seats, but still fall short of a majority. The Socialist Workers' Party (Partido Socialista Obrero Español, PSOE) remained the second largest party, but experienced further losses compared to the 2015 election. Podemos and its alliances (En Comú Podem, En Marea, A la Valenciana), although running separately in different regions, remained the third largest political force. Ciudadanos (Citizens) also gained seats but failed to make the significant breakthrough many had predicted.

Key Parties and Seat Distribution:

• People's Party (PP): Won 137 seats. This was an increase of 14 seats compared to the December 2015 election.
• Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE): Won 85 seats. This was a decrease of 5 seats compared to the December 2015 election, continuing a trend of decline for the party.
• Podemos and Alliances (En Comú Podem, En Marea, A la Valenciana): Won a combined total of 71 seats. This was largely the same number of seats won collectively by Podemos and its alliances in 2015, despite expectations of gains.
• Ciudadanos (C's): Won 32 seats. This was an increase of 8 seats compared to the December 2015 election, but fell short of expectations.

Regional Variations:

The election results varied significantly across different regions of Spain. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, nationalist and regionalist parties continued to play a significant role. The Podemos alliances generally performed strongly in regions such as Catalonia, Valencia, and Galicia. The PP traditionally performed well in regions like Castile and León and Murcia.

Factors Influencing the Results:

Several factors influenced the outcome of the election:

• Economic Recovery: A moderate economic recovery was underway, which benefited the incumbent PP.
• Corruption Scandals: The PP continued to be dogged by corruption scandals, which limited its potential for gains.
• Political Stalemate: The inability of the parties to form a government after the 2015 election frustrated voters.
• Rise of Podemos and Ciudadanos: The emergence of these two new parties had disrupted the traditional two-party system, leading to increased political fragmentation.
• Brexit: The UK's vote to leave the European Union, which occurred shortly before the Spanish election, may have influenced voter behavior, potentially boosting support for more established parties perceived as offering stability.

Aftermath:

Following the election, Mariano Rajoy of the PP was eventually able to form a minority government after months of negotiations and a second investiture vote. The PSOE abstained in the vote, allowing Rajoy to be confirmed as Prime Minister.