1987 European Parliament election in Spain
10 June 1987 1989 →
All 60 Spanish seats in the European Parliament
Opinion polls
Registered28,450,491
Turnout19,494,098 (68.5%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Fernando Morán Manuel Fraga Eduard Punset
Party PSOE AP CDS
Alliance SOC ED NI
Leader since 10 April 1987 16 March 1987 30 April 1987
Leader's seat Spain Spain Spain
Seats won 28 17 7
Popular vote 7,522,706 4,747,283 1,976,093
Percentage 39.1% 24.6% 10.3%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Fernando Pérez Royo Carles Gasòliba Txema Montero
Party IU CiU HB
Alliance COM LDR
EPP 		NI
Leader since 25 April 1987 1 January 1986 28 April 1987
Leader's seat Spain Spain Spain
Seats won 3 3 1
Popular vote 1,011,830 853,603 360,952
Percentage 5.3% 4.4% 1.9%

The 1987 European Parliament election in Spain was held on Wednesday, 10 June 1987, to elect the MEP delegation from the country for the 2nd European Parliament. All 60 seats allocated to Spain as per the 1985 Treaty of Accession were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

Spain had acceded the European Communities on 1 January 1986 and had been represented in the European Parliament by 60 temporarily-appointed delegates until a proper election could be held. As a European-wide election was due in 1989, elected MEPs only served for the remainder of the European Parliament term.

Electoral system

60 members of the European Parliament were allocated to Spain as per the 1985 Treaty of Accession. Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age and in full enjoyment of their political rights.[1][2]

All seats were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with no electoral threshold being applied in order to be entitled to enter seat distribution. Seats were allocated to a single multi-member constituency comprising the entire national territory. The use of the D'Hondt method might result in an effective threshold depending on the district magnitude.[3]

Background

The ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) designated former Foreign Affairs Minister Fernando Morán to lead their campaign.[4] The main opposition People's Alliance party (AP), running on its own after the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Liberal Party (PL) broke away from the People's Coalition, chose Manuel Fraga—who had resigned as party leader in December 1986—to lead the party list.[5] Adolfo Suárez had considered running as main candidate for his Democratic and Social Centre party (CDS),[6] but declined after the electoral law was amended by the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party to make elected MEPs incompatible for posts in the Cortes Generales—Suárez was deputy in the Congress of Deputies, and would have been forced to renounce one of the two offices if elected.[7]

Outgoing delegation

Outgoing delegation in May 1987[8]
Groups Parties MEPs
Seats Total
Socialist Group PSOE 36 36
European Democrats AP 12 14
UM 1
PDP 1
European People's Party PDP 2 5
EAJ/PNV 2
UDC 1
Liberal and Democratic Reformist Group CDC 2 2
INDEP 1
Rainbow Group EE 1 1
Non-Inscrits INDEP 2 2

Parties and candidates

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. In order to be entitled to run, parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least 15,000 registered electors; this requirement could be lifted and replaced through the signature of at least 50 elected officials—deputies, senators, MEPs or members from the legislative assemblies of autonomous communities or from local city councils. Electors and elected officials were disallowed from signing for more than one list of candidates.[1]

Candidacy Parties and
alliances 		Leading candidate Ideology Ref.
PSOE
List
 Fernando Morán Social democracy [9]
AP
List
 Manuel Fraga Conservatism [10]
CDS
List
 Eduard Punset Centrism
Liberalism 		[7]
CiU
List
 Carles Gasòliba Catalan nationalism
Centrism
IU
List
 Fernando Pérez Royo Socialism
Communism 		[11]
UE
List
 Jon Gangoiti Peripheral nationalism [12]
HB
List
 Txema Montero Basque independence
Abertzale left
Revolutionary socialism 		[13]
IP
List
 Mario Onaindia Left-wing nationalism [12]
CEP
List
 Carlos Garaikoetxea Left-wing nationalism [14]
PDP
List
 Javier Rupérez Christian democracy
UM
List
 Antoni Rosés Liberalism
Regionalism

Opinion polls

The table below lists voting intention estimates in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a given poll. When available, seat projections are also displayed below the voting estimates in a smaller font.

Results

Overall

For results by autonomous community/constituency, see Results breakdown of the 1987 European Parliament election in Spain.
Summary of the 10 June 1987 European Parliament election results in Spain →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 7,522,706 39.06 n/a 28 n/a
People's Alliance (AP) 4,747,283 24.65 n/a 17 n/a
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 1,976,093 10.26 n/a 7 n/a
United Left (IU) 1,011,830 5.25 n/a 3 n/a
Convergence and Union (CiU) 853,603 4.43 n/a 3 n/a
Popular Unity (HB) 360,952 1.87 n/a 1 n/a
Coalition for the Europe of the Peoples (EA–ERC–PNG) 326,911 1.70 n/a 1 n/a
Left of the Peoples (IP) 261,328 1.36 n/a 0 n/a
Europeanist Union (PNV–PGN) 226,570 1.18 n/a 0 n/a
Workers' Party of Spain–Communist Unity (PTE–UC) 222,680 1.16 n/a 0 n/a
Andalusian Party (PA) 185,550 0.96 n/a 0 n/a
People's Democratic Party (PDP) 170,866 0.89 n/a 0 n/a
Valencian Union (UV) 162,128 0.84 n/a 0 n/a
National Front (FN) 122,799 0.64 n/a 0 n/a
Social Action (AS) 116,761 0.61 n/a 0 n/a
The Greens (LV) 107,625 0.56 n/a 0 n/a
Regionalist Aragonese Party (PAR) 105,865 0.55 n/a 0 n/a
Canarian Independent Groups (AIC) 96,895 0.50 n/a 0 n/a
Workers' Socialist Party (PST) 77,132 0.40 n/a 0 n/a
Confederation of the Greens (CV) 65,574 0.34 n/a 0 n/a
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) 53,116 0.28 n/a 0 n/a
United Extremadura (EU) 39,369 0.20 n/a 0 n/a
Revolutionary Workers' Party of Spain (PORE) 30,157 0.16 n/a 0 n/a
National Assembly of Medicine Students and Associates (ANEMYA) 30,143 0.16 n/a 0 n/a
Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 25,270 0.13 n/a 0 n/a
Social Democratic Coalition (CSD) 25,058 0.13 n/a 0 n/a
Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) 23,407 0.12 n/a 0 n/a
Humanist Platform (PH–FV) 22,333 0.12 n/a 0 n/a
Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) 21,482 0.11 n/a 0 n/a
Majorcan Union (UM) 19,066 0.10 n/a 0 n/a
Valencian Coalition Party (PCV) 14,749 0.08 n/a 0 n/a
Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) 14,553 0.08 n/a 0 n/a
Nationalist Party of Castile and León (PANCAL) 12,616 0.07 n/a 0 n/a
Andalusian Liberation (LA) 9,881 0.05 n/a 0 n/a
Democratic Spanish Party (PED) 9,146 0.05 n/a 0 n/a
Blank ballots 189,729 0.99 n/a
Total 19,261,226 60 n/a
Valid votes 19,261,226 98.81 n/a
Invalid votes 232,872 1.19 n/a
Votes cast / turnout 19,494,098 68.52 n/a
Abstentions 8,956,393 31.48 n/a
Registered voters 28,450,491
Sources[15][16]
Popular vote
PSOE
 
 39.06%
AP
 
 24.65%
CDS
 
 10.26%
IU
 
 5.25%
CiU
 
 4.43%
HB
 
 1.87%
EA–ERC–PNG
 
 1.70%
IP
 
 1.36%
PNV–PGN
 
 1.18%
PTE–UC
 
 1.16%
Others
 
 8.11%
Blank ballots
 
 0.99%
Seats
PSOE
 
 46.67%
AP
 
 28.33%
CDS
 
 11.67%
IU
 
 5.00%
CiU
 
 5.00%
HB
 
 1.67%
EA–ERC–PNG
 
 1.67%

Distribution by European group

Summary of political group distribution in the 2nd European Parliament (1984–1989)[17]
Groups Parties Seats Total %
Socialist Group (SOC) 28 28 46.67
European Democrats (ED) 17 17 28.33
Communist and Allies Group (COM) 1
1
1 		3 5.00
Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (LDR) 2 2 3.33
European People's Party (EPP) 1 1 1.67
Rainbow Group (RBW) 1 1 1.67
Non-Inscrits (NI) 7
1 		8 13.33
Total 60 60 100.00

Notes

References

Opinion poll sources
  1. ^ "Algunas encuestas electorales plantean un descenso exagerado del PSOE". ABC (in Spanish). 4 June 1987.
  2. ^ a b "El CDS, único partido que ha progresado durante la campaña" (PDF). Diario 16 (in Spanish). 4 June 1987.
  3. ^ "El PSOE ganará las elecciones al Parlamento Europeo pero puede perder al menos diez eurodiputados" (PDF). Diario 16 (in Spanish). 4 June 1987.
  4. ^ "PSOE y AP, en cabeza aunque pierden votos". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 4 June 1987.
  5. ^ "El PSOE pierde el control mayoritario de las grandes ciudades" (PDF). El País (in Spanish). 4 June 1987.
  6. ^ "Fernando Morán se impone con claridad a Fraga y al resto de sus adversarios" (PDF). El País (in Spanish). 4 June 1987.
  7. ^ "Un sondeo del CIS para el Gobierno da la mayoría del PSOE en Madrid y Barcelona" (PDF). El País (in Spanish). 4 June 1987.
Other
  1. ^ a b "Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General". Organic Law No. 5 of 19 June 1985 (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 March 2017. ((cite book)): |work= ignored (help)
  2. ^ "Treaty concerning the accession of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic to the European Economic Community and to the European Atomic Energy Community". Act of 15 November 1985. Retrieved 21 July 2017. ((cite book)): |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). "Effective threshold in electoral systems". Trinity College, Dublin. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  4. ^ Díez, Anabel (7 April 1987). "Fernando Morán encabezará la candidatura del PSOE para el Parlamento Europeo". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  5. ^ González Ibañez, Juan (17 March 1987). "Fraga encabezará la candidatura de Alianza Popular al Parlamento Europeo". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  6. ^ González Ibañez, Juan (27 April 1987). "Suárez mantiene la intención de ser candidato para el Parlamento Europeo". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b González Ibáñez, Juan (1 May 1987). "Suárez renuncia a ser candidato al Parlamento y pone en su lugar al ex ministro Punset". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Parlamento Europeo: Distribución de los Eurodiputados españoles en grupos parlamentarios". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  9. ^ Díez, Anabel (7 April 1987). "Fernando Morán encabezará la candidatura del PSOE para el Parlamento Europeo". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  10. ^ González Ibáñez, Juan (17 March 1987). "Fraga encabezará la candidatura de Alianza Popular al Parlamento Europeo". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  11. ^ Bayarri, Francesc (26 April 1987). "Gerardo Iglesias afirma que el Gobierno no conocía el impacto de la entrada de España en la CE". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  12. ^ a b Ruiz de Azúa, Victorino (23 April 1987). "Los partidos vascos irán a las elecciones europeas en coalición con catalanes y gallegos". El País (in Spanish). Bilbao. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  13. ^ Galán, Lola (29 April 1987). "HB presenta al histórico de ETA 'Peixoto' en sus listas al Parlamento Europeo". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  14. ^ Etxarri, Tonia (30 April 1987). "Coalición electoral". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales". Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Elecciones Europeas 10 de junio de 1987". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Parlamento Europeo: Distribución de los Eurodiputados españoles en grupos parlamentarios". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2017.

External links

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