| Francisco Javier Rojo García ( M) |
| Manuel Cavero ( M) |
- 208 directly elected
- 56 indirectly elected by the 17 Autonomous Communities
Palacio del Senado
Plaza de la Marina Española, 8
MADRID 28071
Tel.: (34 91) 542 96 14, 538 10 00
Fax: (34 91) 538 10 03
E-mail: sgral@senado.es
| http://www.senado.es |
- indirectly elected Senators: each of the 17 Autonomous Communities return one Senator, plus one more for each 1,000,000 inhabitants, chosen by the legislative assembly of each Community.
- directly elected Senators: simple majority vote. Lists compiled at provincial level.
- indirectly elected Senators: elected by the legislative assemblies of the Autonomous Communities, according to their own rules of procedure, on proportional basis.
Vacancies are filled by substitutes elected at the same time as titular members.
Voting is not compulsory.
- Spanish citizenship
- full possession of political rights
- age: 18 years
- Spanish citizenship
- membership of the armed forces
- membership of an electoral committee (junta)
candidatures submitted by duly registered political associations and federations, coalitions of the same, or by at least 0.1% (and no fewer than 500) of the constituency's registered electorate
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
The previous elections had been held on 14 March 2004, three days after the bombings of commuter trains and train stations which killed nearly 200 people and wounded more than 1,400. The then Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of the People's Party (PP) initially blamed ETA (the Basque separatist group) for the attack. However, al Qaeda later claimed responsibility for the attack, linking the bombing to Mr. Aznar's policy towards Iraq. The incident reportedly boosted support for Mr. Zapatero's Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). It became the largest party in the Congress of Deputies, taking 168 seats, 16 more than the PP led by Mr. Mariano Rajoy. The PP remained the largest party in the Senate winning 126 seats, while the PSOE took 96. Other seats went to small parties.
Mr. Zapatero was sworn in as Prime Minister in April 2004. He ordered the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq, who subsequently left Iraq on 28 April. Mr. Zapatero implemented numerous reforms. They included a gender equality law, the legalization of gay marriage, an amnesty for illegal immigrants in the country, as well as a historical memory law passed by the Parliament in October 2007. This stipulates that trials held under the Francisco Franco regime, - which cost an estimated 500,000 lives between 1939 and 1975 -, would be ruled illegitimate and the victims of the regime recognized. The PP argued the law unnecessarily stirred up the past. Human rights groups criticised the law for falling short of providing justice and called for measures to annul the trials in order to clear the victims' names.
As a result of the gender equality law, all parties had a 50-50 gender balance for the candidates contesting the 2008 elections. Once again, there was a duel between the PSOE and the PP. Due to the stagnating economy and a 12-year high inflation rate, Mr. Rajoy (PP) accused the socialist government of not taking enough measures to boost the economy. Prime Minister Zapatero rebutted that his government was willing to use a budget surplus to revive the economy. Both PSOE and the PP promised tax cuts.
The PP also called for a "contract" for immigrants. It argued that immigrants should respect Spanish customs and values and should be expelled if they failed to find work within a year of their arrival. The proposal was reportedly aimed at African immigrants. Prime Minister Zapatero argued that the immigration issue must be treated comprehensively, through political and economic cooperation with African countries.
Two days before the polls, a former town councillor, Mr. Isaias Carrasco of the PSOE was shot dead in the Basque region. Police blamed ETA for the shooting, and the election campaign was briefly halted.
Voters cast separate ballots for each chamber. Turnout was recorded at 75.32 per cent for the Congress of Deputies, and 76.03 per cent for the Senate among nearly 39 million registered voters.
The PSOE remained the largest party in the Congress of Deputies with 169 seats, followed by the PP with 153. The PP took 101 seats of the 208 directly elected seats in the Senate, 12 more than the PSOE. In all, 127 women were elected to the Congress of Deputies, while 67 were elected to the Senate.
On 1 April, both chambers held their first sitting. Mr. José Bono Martínez (PSOE) was elected Speaker of the Congress of Deputies. Mr. Francisco Javier Rojo García (PSOE) was re-elected as Senate President.
On 11 April, Mr. Zapatero won the confidence of the Congress of Deputies, with 169 votes at the second round of voting. On the following day, he appointed a 17-member cabinet, including nine women.
| Round no 1 (9 March 2008): Election results | ||||
| Number of registered electors | 33'872'901 | |||
| Voters | 25'752'839 (76.03%) | |||
| Blank or invalid ballot papers | 1'109'398 | |||
| Valid votes | 24'643'441 | |||
| Round no 1: Distribution of votes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Candidates | Votes | % of votes | |||||||||||||||||||||
| People's Party (PP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSC-ERC-ICV-EUiA Coalition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convergence and Union (CiU) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Round no 1: Distribution of seats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Group | Total of seats | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| People's Party (PP) | 101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 89 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSC-ERC-ICV-EUiA Coalition | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convergence and Union (CiU) | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The PRC-ERC-ICV-EUiA stands for Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) - Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) - Initiative for Catalonia-Greens (ICV) - United and Alternative Left (EUiA). The number of indirectly elected seats in the Senate has increased from 51 to 56. As at 15 July 2008, there was one vacant seat, which will be filled by the Parliament of Andalucia. Sixty-seven women were directly elected, 12 others were indirectly elected.
Sources:
- http://www.generales2008.mir.es/ini99v.htm
- http://www.senado.es/
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate
- before validation of mandates and swearing-in
- absolute majority required in the first round, in the second round only the 2 candidates with the most votes are left, and election is by a majority of votes cast
- the secretaries of the Seniority Board assisted by the parliamentary advisors supervise the voting
- a secretary announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
- ranks after the President of the Congress of Deputies in the order of precedence
- represents the Senate with the authorities
- represents the Senate in international bodies
- presides ex officio over the Board, the Conferences of Spokesmen and the Standing Deputation
- may, if he or she so wishes, preside over any committee
- in the absence of the President, one of the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions
- consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents and 4 secretaries
- members serve a four-year term
- meets weekly at the President's initiative
- constitutes a true collegial presidency
- official residence
- official car
- additional staff
- secretariat
- bodyguards
- establishes and modifies the agenda, together with the Board
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
The Board:
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum only at the request of a parliamentary group or 10 Senators
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
- establishes the budget of the Senate under the guidance of the President
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff, in agreement with the President
- appoints the Clerk, on a proposal by the President
- organizes the services of the Senate
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- may intervene in the parliamentary oversight procedure, but has never done so
· Procedure: the Senator must submit his resignation to the Board of the Senate.
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Board of the Senate
(b) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter:
- Loss of the general conditions for eligibility (SO 18 (d) of the Standing Orders of the Senate, Art. 70 of the Constitution, S. 6, 7, and 154 of the Representation of the Spanish People Organic Act; see also Causes of ineligibility)
(c) Loss of mandate by judicial decision:
- annulment of the election or the proclamation as a Senator through a final court judgement (SO 18 (a) of the Standing Orders of the Senate; see also Validation of mandates)
- final court judgement involving an absolute or a special incapacity to exercise a public function (SO 18 (b) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
(d) Loss of mandate for incompatibilities (Art. 70 of the Constitution, SO 15 to 17 of the Standing Orders of the Senate, Supplementary Norm to SO 16 (1) and 17 (3) of the Standing Orders of the Senate of 17.03.1992, S. 6, 7, and 154 to 160 of the Representation of the Spanish People Organic Act). See also Obligation to declare personal assets)
(e) Death (SO 18 (c) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
1. The President
2. The other members of the Board
3. The Spokesmen of the Parliamentary Groups
4. The Presidents of committees
· Basic salary (see Art. 71 (4) of the Constitution): Pesetas 403,342/month (US $ 2,680/month)
+ Additional allowance (for living costs in Madrid): US $ 1,500/month
· Exemption from tax for the additional allowance. The basic salary is not exempt from tax.
· Pension scheme (SO 24 (2) (3) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat for Members of the Board and Chairmen of committees
(b) Assistants for Members of the Board
(c) Official housing and security guards for the President
(d) Official cars for Members of the Board and Spokesmen of Parliamentary Groups
(e) Postal and telephone services
(f) Travel and transport (see SO 24 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Senate): free public transport and payment of travel costs
(g) Others: documentation services, bibliographies, travel agency, bank, restaurant
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament (see also Art. 67 (3) of the Constitution).
· Derogations: offence or insult (SO 101 of the Standing Orders of the Senate; see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate (SO 21 of the Standing Orders of the Senate).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest, from being held in preventive custody, and from the opening of judicial proceedings against them. It does not protect them from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: Senators may be detained in case of flagrante delicto. In this case, the Presidency of the Senate has to be informed immediately (SO 22 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Senate).
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election (SO 22 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Senate).
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 71 (2) of the Constitution, SO 22 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Senate):
- Competent authority: the Senate
- Procedure (Art. 71 (3) of the Constitution, SO 22 (2) to (5) of the Standing Orders of the Senate). In this case, Senators are heard (however, they are not heard on the issue of temporary suspension from the status of Senator). They do not have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
· Handbooks of parliamentary procedure:
- Practical Guide for Senators
- Standing Orders of the Senate
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (SO 23 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Body competent to judge such cases/to apply the penalties: the Senate, on the proposal of the Presidency
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Warning for irrelevance (SO 103 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Call to order (SO 101 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Order to leave the sitting (SO 101 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension from exercising parliamentary functions (SO 101 (3) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Deprivation of allowance due to absence (SO 23 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (SO 101 of the Standing Orders of the Senate): call to order; order to leave the sitting; suspension from exercising parliamentary functions
- Prohibition to carry, display or use weapons/assault of another Senator or of a member of Government (SO 102 of the Standing Orders of the Senate): suspension from exercising parliamentary functions; loss of indemnities
- Definitive prosecution of a Senator (SO 22 (6) of the Standing Orders of the Senate): temporary suspension, eventually with deprivation of indemnities
· Competent body to judge such cases/to apply penalties (see also SO 37 (10) of the Standing Orders of the Senate):
- Warning for irrelevance, call to order, suspension from exercising parliamentary functions, offence or insult: the President
- Order to leave the sitting, offence or insult: the President; the Senate
- Deprivation of allowance due to absence: the Senate, on the proposal of the Presidency
- Prohibition to carry, display or use weapons/assault of another Senator or of a member of Government: the Board, the Senate
- Definitive prosecution of a Senator: the Senate
· Procedure:
- Warning for irrelevance (SO 103 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Call to order/offence or insult (SO 101 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Order to leave the sitting/offence or insult (SO 101 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Suspension from exercising parliamentary functions/offence or insult (SO 101 (3) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Deprivation of allowance due to absence (SO 23 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Prohibition to carry, display or use weapons/assault of another Senator or of a member of Government (SO 102 of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
- Definitive prosecution of a Senator (SO 22 (6) of the Standing Orders of the Senate)
· Penalties foreseen for violation of these provisions: loss of mandate
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Loss of the mandate by law or by decision of the Senator concerned
· Procedure: see Loss of mandate for incompatibilities
Also available:
Archive of past election results for this chamber
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