Spanish general election

The Spanish general election is the national election in which voters choose members of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, the two chambers of Spain’s Cortes Generales.

The Spanish general election is the national election in which voters choose members of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, the two chambers of Spain's Cortes Generales. It is normally held every four years, though early or repeat elections can be called. Since Spain's 1978 constitution, general elections have been held under a proportional representation system for the Congress of Deputies.

Electoral system

Spanish general elections elect the two chambers of the Cortes Generales. The Congress of Deputies is chosen by proportional representation, with the current chamber size set at 350 members. The upper house, the Senate, has 265 seats and uses a different voting system.

Timing and call of elections

General elections are usually held every four years, but the prime minister may call an early election. Spain has also held repeat elections when no stable government could be formed.

Recent elections

The 2023 general election was won by the People's Party in seat total but produced no majority for any bloc. The Socialist Workers' Party remained second, while Vox and Sumar were the next largest parties. The election was called early after poor governing-party results in regional and municipal elections, and the outcome left coalition-building necessary.

Political significance

These elections determine the balance of power in Spain's parliament and are central to forming governments. Because Spain uses a parliamentary system, governing usually depends on coalition or confidence-and-supply arrangements. General elections in Spain choose the national legislature, not the head of government directly.