1984 Basque regional election

A regional election was held in the Basque Country on Sunday, 26 February 1984, to elect the 2nd Parliament of the autonomous community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

1984 Basque regional election

← 1980 26 February 1984 1986 →
All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament 38 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	1,584,540 1.9%
Turnout	1,085,304 (68.5%) 8.7 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Carlos Garaikoetxea Txiki Benegas — Party EAJ/PNV PSE–PSOE HB Leader since April 1977 26 February 1978 — Leader's seat Guipúzcoa Biscay — Last election 25 seats, 38.0% 9 seats, 14.2% 11 seats, 16.5% Seats won 32 19 11 Seat change 7 10 0 Popular vote 451,178 247,786 157,389 Percentage 41.8% 23.0% 14.6% Swing 3.8 pp 8.8 pp 1.9 pp   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Jaime Mayor Oreja Mario Onaindia Party AP–PDP–UL EE Leader since 1984 1982 Leader's seat Guipúzcoa Álava Last election 2 seats, 4.8%[a] 6 seats, 9.8% Seats won 7 6 Seat change 5 0 Popular vote 100,581 85,671 Percentage 9.3% 7.9% Swing 4.5 pp 1.9 pp
Vote winner strength by constituency
Lehendakari before election Carlos Garaikoetxea EAJ/PNV Elected Lehendakari Carlos Garaikoetxea EAJ/PNV

The Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) won 32 seats, the Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE) came second with 19 seats, People's Unity (HB) came third with 11 seats, the People's Coalition (AP–PDP–UL) won 7 seats, and Basque Country Left (EE) won 6 seats.

Overview

Electoral system

The Basque Parliament was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of the Basque Country, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Basque Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a lehendakari.^[1] Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Basque Country and in full enjoyment of their political rights.

The 75 members of the Basque Parliament were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes^[b] being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Guipúzcoa, with each being allocated a fixed number of 25 seats in order to provide for an equal parliamentary representation of the three provinces, as required under the regional statute of autonomy.^[1][2]

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, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least 500 electors in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.^[2][3]

Election date

The term of the Basque Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. An election was required to take place within from thirty-six and forty-five days from the date of expiry of parliament. The previous election was held on 9 March 1980, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 9 March 1984. The election was required to be held no later than the forty-fifth day from dissolution, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Monday, 23 April 1984.^[1][2]

After legal amendments in 1981, the lehendakari was granted the prerogative to dissolve the Basque Parliament at any given time and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a lehendakari within a sixty-day period from the Parliament re-assembly, the Parliament was to be dissolved and a fresh election called.^[4]

Opinion polls

The tables below lists opinion polling results 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 poll.

Voting intention estimates

The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 38 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament (31 until 11 December 1983).

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout	PNV								Lead
1984 regional election	26 Feb 1984	—	68.5	41.8 32	14.6 11	23.0 19	7.9 6	–	9.3 7	1.4 0	–	18.8
ECO/CIS[c][p 1]	20 Feb 1984	1,506	?	46.0	16.0	18.0	13.0	–	4.0	1.0	–	28.0
Emopública/El País[c][p 2][p 3][p 4]	13–16 Feb 1984	1,200	?	46.0 39/44	13.6 8/12	16.6 12/16	10.3 7/10	–	1.8 1/2	–	–	29.4
AP[c][p 5]	30 Jan 1984	?	?	41.5	16.7	17.6	9.4	–	8.3	–	–	23.9
PSE–PSOE[p 6]	21 Jan 1984	?	?	? 33	? 9	? 19	? 8	–	? 6	–	–	?
Basque Government[p 6]	21 Jan 1984	?	?	? 36	? 8	? 17	? 9	–	? 4	–	–	?
Gabinete Azterka/EE[p 6][p 7]	3–10 Nov 1983	600	65	35.0 28	13.0 10	23.0 18	10.0 7	–	12.0 10	–	–	12.0
1983 foral elections	8 May 1983	—	64.6	39.6 26	14.2 8	26.3 17	7.9 4	–	8.8 5	2.0 0	0.3 0	13.3
1983 local elections	8 May 1983	—	64.7	39.2	13.6	25.7	7.3	–	7.8	2.1	0.5	13.5
1982 general election	28 Oct 1982	—	79.3	31.7 19	14.7 9	29.2 21	7.7 4	[d]	11.6* 7	1.8 0	1.8 0	2.5
ICSA–Gallup/Tribuna Vasca[p 8]	25 Aug 1982	?	?	36.5 24	13.3 8	20.3 13	13.7 9	5.2 4	2.4** 1	2.8 1	–	16.2
1980 regional election	9 Mar 1980	—	59.8	38.0 25	16.5 11	14.2 9	9.8 6	8.5 6	4.8** 2	4.0 1	–	21.5
(*) Results for AP–PDP–PDL–UCD. (**) Results for People's Alliance.

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	PNV								?	N	Lead
1984 regional election	26 Feb 1984	—	28.5	9.9	15.6	5.4	–	6.3	0.9	–	—	31.5	12.9
ECO/CIS[p 1]	20 Feb 1984	1,506	33.0	13.0	12.0	8.0	–	3.0	1.0	–	17.0	12.0	20.0
Emopública/El País[p 2]	13–16 Feb 1984	1,200	32.3	9.5	11.6	7.2	–	1.3	–	–	21.3	8.6	20.7
CIS[p 9]	10 Feb 1984	2,900	24.4	9.3	13.5	6.2	–	3.1	1.4	–	31.5	10.1	10.9
Alef/CIS[p 10]	1 Feb 1984	1,999	37.0	8.0	11.0	8.0	–	1.0	1.0	–	26.0	9.0	26.0
AP[p 5]	30 Jan 1984	?	32.4	13.0	13.7	7.3	–	6.5	–	–	22.0		18.7
ECO/CIS[p 11]	25–27 Jan 1984	1,515	32.0	9.0	11.0	8.0	–	1.0	1.0	–	23.0	14.0	21.0
CIS[p 12]	1 Nov 1983	1,500	28.0	9.0	13.0	6.0	–	4.0	1.0	–	26.0	13.0	15.0
Aryo/CIS[p 13]	1 Sep 1983	3,000	28.0	8.0	17.0	6.0	–	3.0	2.0	–	26.0	10.0	11.0
1983 foral elections	8 May 1983	—	25.2	9.1	16.8	5.0	–	5.6	1.3	0.2	—	35.4	8.4
1983 local elections	8 May 1983	—	25.0	8.7	16.4	4.7	–	5.0	1.3	0.3	—	35.3	8.6
1982 general election	28 Oct 1982	—	24.7	11.4	22.7	6.0	[d]	9.0*	1.4	1.4	—	20.7	2.0
1980 regional election	9 Mar 1980	—	22.5	9.8	8.4	5.8	5.0	2.8	2.4	–	—	40.2	12.7
(*) Results for AP–PDP–PDL–UCD. (**) Results for People's Alliance.

Victory likelihood

The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	PNV						Other/ None	?	Lead
CIS[p 9]	10 Feb 1984	2,900	56.8	2.5	12.1	0.9	1.2	0.3	0.0	26.2	44.7
Alef/CIS[p 10]	1 Feb 1984	1,999	82.0	–	6.0	–	–	–	1.0	10.0	76.0
ECO/CIS[p 12]	1 Nov 1983	1,500	60.0	–	14.0	–	–	–	5.0	21.0	46.0
Aryo/CIS[p 13]	1 Sep 1983	3,000	74.0	–	13.0	–	–	–	2.0	12.0	61.0

Preferred Lehendakari

The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become Lehendakari.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size						Other/ None/ Not care	?	Lead
			Garaiko. EAJ/PNV	Brouard HB	Benegas PSE–PSOE	Onaindia EE	M. Oreja CP
ECO/CIS[p 1]	20 Feb 1984	1,506	41.0	9.0	13.0	9.0	2.0	17.0	9.0	28.0
CIS[p 9]	10 Feb 1984	2,900	39.5	–	20.7	–	–	–	39.9	18.8
Alef/CIS[p 10]	1 Feb 1984	1,999	65.0	–	16.0	–	–	–	18.0	49.0
ECO/CIS[p 11]	25–27 Jan 1984	1,515	55.0	–	14.0	–	–	18.0	13.0	41.0
CIS[p 12]	1 Nov 1983	1,500	41.0	–	19.0	–	–	–	40.0	22.0
Aryo/CIS[p 13]	1 Sep 1983	3,000	48.0	–	19.0	–	–	–	35.0	29.0

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 26 February 1984 Basque Parliament election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	451,178	41.81	+3.86	32	+7
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	247,786	22.96	+8.80	19	+10
	Popular Unity (HB)	157,389	14.59	−1.89	11	±0
	People's Coalition (AP–PDP–UL)1	100,581	9.32	+4.56	7	+5
	Basque Country Left (EE)	85,671	7.94	−1.84	6	±0
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	14,985	1.39	−2.62	0	−1
	Neighborhood Labor (Auzolan)2	10,714	0.99	−0.76	0	±0
	Left Socialist Candidacy (CSI)	2,507	0.23	New	0	±0
	Workers' Socialist Party (PST)	2,173	0.20	−0.03	0	±0
	Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) (PCE (m–l))	1,044	0.10	New	0	±0
	Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD)	n/a	n/a	−8.49	0	−6
Blank ballots[e]		5,029	0.47	+0.08
Total		1,079,057			75	+15
Valid votes		1,079,057	99.42	+0.41
Invalid votes		6,247	0.58	−0.41
Votes cast / turnout		1,085,304	68.49	+8.73
Abstentions		499,236	31.51	−8.73
Registered voters		1,584,540
Sources[5][6]
Footnotes: 1 People's Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1980 election. 2 Auzolan results are compared to the combined totals of Communist Movement of the Basque Country and Revolutionary Communist League in the 1980 election.

Popular vote EAJ/PNV   41.81% PSE–PSOE   22.96% HB   14.59% AP–PDP–UL   9.32% EE   7.94% PCE/EPK   1.39% Others   1.52% Blank ballots   0.47%

Seats EAJ/PNV   42.67% PSE–PSOE   25.33% HB   14.67% AP–PDP–UL   9.33% EE   8.00%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency	PNV		PSE		HB		CP		EE
	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S
Álava	35.5	9	25.1	7	10.8	3	16.2	4	7.7	2
Biscay	43.8	12	23.1	6	12.9	3	9.4	2	7.4	2
Guipúzcoa	40.8	11	22.1	6	18.7	5	6.8	1	8.9	2
Total	41.8	32	23.0	19	14.6	11	9.3	7	7.9	6
Sources[5][6]

Aftermath

Investiture
Ballot →		11 April 1984		12 April 1984
Required majority →		38 out of 75		Simple
	Carlos Garaikoetxea (PNV) • PNV (32)	32 / 75	N	32 / 75	Y
	Blank ballots • PSE (19) • AP–PDP–UL (7) • EE (6)	32 / 75		32 / 75
	Absentees • HB (11)	11 / 75		11 / 75
Sources[5]

Notes

1. Results for AP in the 1980 election.
2. Unlike other electoral legislation in Spain, valid votes under the 1983 Basque electoral law did not include blank ballots.
3. Undecided and/or abstentionists excluded.
4. Within AP–PDP–PDL–UCD.
5. The 1983 electoral law provided that blank ballots would not count as valid votes for the application of the 5 percent threshold in each district. However, this rule was not determinant in excluding any party from seat distribution during its time of application (the 1984 and 1986 elections). As a result, and for comparison purposes, blank ballots are shown here included within valid votes.