1986 Basque regional election

The 1986 Basque regional election was held on Sunday, 30 November 1986, to elect the 3rd Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

1986 Basque regional election

← 1984 30 November 1986 1990 →
All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament 38 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	1,660,143 4.8%
Turnout	1,155,815 (69.6%) 1.1 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Txiki Benegas José Antonio Ardanza Juan Carlos Yoldi Party PSE–PSOE EAJ/PNV HB Leader since 26 February 1978 2 March 1985 1986 Leader's seat Biscay Guipúzcoa Guipúzcoa Last election 19 seats, 23.0% 32 seats, 41.8% 11 seats, 14.6% Seats won 19 17 13 Seat change 0 15 2 Popular vote 252,233 271,208 199,900 Percentage 22.0% 23.6% 17.4% Swing 1.0 pp 18.2 pp 2.8 pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Carlos Garaikoetxea Juan María Bandrés Julen Guimón Party EA EE AP–PL Leader since 4 September 1986 1985 1986 Leader's seat Guipúzcoa Guipúzcoa Biscay Last election Did not contest 6 seats, 7.9% 7 seats, 9.3%[a] Seats won 13 9 2 Seat change 13 3 5 Popular vote 181,175 124,423 55,606 Percentage 15.8% 10.8% 4.8% Swing New party 2.9 pp 4.5 pp
Vote winner strength by constituency Election result by constituency
Lehendakari before election José Antonio Ardanza EAJ/PNV Elected Lehendakari José Antonio Ardanza EAJ/PNV

The Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE) won 19 seats, the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) came second with 17 seats, People's Unity (HB) and Basque Solidarity (EA), a PNV split, each won 13 seats, and Basque Country Left won 9 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 26 February 1984, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 26 February 1988. 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, 11 April 1988.^[1][2]

The lehendakari had 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.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout	PNV							Lead
1986 regional election	30 Nov 1986	—	69.6	23.6 17	22.0 19	17.4 13	4.8 2	10.8 9	3.5 2	15.8 13	1.6
Emopública/Diario 16[p 1]	23 Nov 1986	?	?	? 18/19	? 18/19	? 12/13	? 5	? 8	? 0	? 9/10	Tie
Demoscopia/El País[p 2][p 3][p 4]	14–18 Nov 1986	1,500	65–68	25.0 20/21	24.0 19/20	? 9/10	? 2/3	? 7/8	? 1/3	? 13/14	1.0
CINDE/Basque Government[p 5]	14–18 Nov 1986	1,500	?	? 20	? 18	? 12	? 3	? 10	? 2	? 10	?
Bergareche/El Correo[p 1]	15–17 Nov 1986	2,972	?	? 16/18	? 18/20	? 13/15	? 5/7	? 8/9	? 2	? 9/10	?
CINDE/Basque Government[p 1][p 6]	9–12 Nov 1986	1,200	?	24.0 20	19.0 17	14.0 11	7.0 4	11.0 8	5.0 2	15.0 13	5.0
Demoscopia/El País[p 7][p 8][p 9]	7–11 Nov 1986	1,200	65–69	28.0 19/22	25.0 17/18	16.0 10/13	? 1/3	11.0 8/9	? 1/4	13.0 11/13	3.0
PSOE[p 10]	18 Oct 1986	?	?	? 14	? 18	? 13	? 6	? 8	? 2	? 14	?
Bergareche/El Correo[p 10][p 11]	18 Oct 1986	2,545	?	? 16	? 18/19	? 13/15	? 5	? 10/11	? 3	? 7/9	?
Iope–Etmar/Tiempo[p 10][p 12]	7 Oct 1986	?	?	16.2 13	18.9 15	17.4 13	3.6 2	11.0 8	3.3 1	27.5 23	8.6
Ikerfel/PNV[p 10][p 13]	11–19 Sep 1986	?	?	? 20	? 17/18	? 11	? 7/8	? 8	? 1	? 10	?
Gaceta del Norte[p 10][p 14][p 15]	12–17 Sep 1986	?	?	? 17	? 17	? 10	? 6	? 9	–	?[c] 16	Tie
			?	? 20	? 19	? 10	? 6	? 9	–	? 11	?
1986 general election	22 Jun 1986	—	67.6	27.8 21	26.3 23	17.7 13	10.5* 9	9.1 7	5.0 2	–	1.5
1984 regional election	26 Feb 1984	—	68.5	41.8 32	23.0 19	14.6 11	9.3* 7	7.9 6	–	–	18.8
(*) Results for People's Coalition.

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	PNV							?	N	Lead
1986 regional election	30 Nov 1986	—	16.3	15.2	12.0	3.3	7.5	2.9	10.9	—	30.4	1.1
CIS[p 16]	20 Nov 1986	1,191	19.0	13.0	12.0	1.0	10.0	2.0	10.0	28.0	5.0	6.0
CIS[p 17]	10 Nov 1986	2,077	17.0	9.0	9.0	1.0	7.0	1.0	7.0	42.0	7.0	8.0
CIS[p 18]	1 Nov 1986	2,074	17.0	8.0	9.0	1.0	8.0	1.0	8.0	40.0	7.0	8.0
CIS[p 19]	20 Oct 1986	2,055	15.0	10.0	8.0	1.0	8.0	–	7.0	44.0	6.0	5.0
CIS[p 20]	10 Oct 1986	1,996	17.0	9.0	8.0	1.0	7.0	1.0	8.0	41.0	7.0	8.0
CIS[p 21]	1 Oct 1986	1,755	16.0	9.0	8.0	1.0	9.0	–	8.0	41.0	7.0	7.0
1986 general election	22 Jun 1986	—	18.5	17.5	11.8	7.0*	6.0	3.3	–	—	32.4	1.0
1984 regional election	26 Feb 1984	—	28.5	15.6	9.9	6.3*	5.4	0.9	–	—	31.5	12.9
(*) Results for People's Coalition.

Victory preferences

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

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	PNV							Other/ None	?	Lead
CIS[p 16]	20 Nov 1986	1,191	19.0	13.0	12.0	–	9.0	1.0	8.0	1.0	37.0	6.0
CIS[p 17]	10 Nov 1986	2,077	22.0	11.0	9.0	1.0	8.0	1.0	9.0	–	39.0	11.0
CIS[p 18]	1 Nov 1986	2,074	21.0	10.0	10.0	1.0	10.0	1.0	10.0	1.0	36.0	11.0
CIS[p 19]	20 Oct 1986	2,055	20.0	13.0	9.0	1.0	9.0	–	9.0	1.0	38.0	7.0
CIS[p 20]	10 Oct 1986	1,996	22.0	10.0	8.0	1.0	8.0	1.0	10.0	–	38.0	12.0
CIS[p 21]	1 Oct 1986	1,755	22.0	10.0	8.0	1.0	10.0	1.0	10.0	2.0	36.0	12.0

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 16]	20 Nov 1986	1,191	38.0	16.0	1.0	–	2.0	–	43.0	22.0
CIS[p 17]	10 Nov 1986	2,077	36.0	15.0	1.0	–	3.0	–	45.0	21.0
CIS[p 18]	1 Nov 1986	2,074	32.0	15.0	2.0	–	4.0	–	47.0	17.0
CIS[p 19]	20 Oct 1986	2,055	32.0	17.0	2.0	–	5.0	–	44.0	15.0
CIS[p 20]	10 Oct 1986	1,996	35.0	15.0	1.0	–	4.0	1.0	44.0	20.0
CIS[p 21]	1 Oct 1986	1,755	31.0	19.0	–	1.0	5.0	2.0	42.0	12.0

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
			Ardanza EAJ/PNV	Benegas PSE–PSOE	Bandrés EE	Guimón AP	Viana CDS	Garaiko. EA
CIS[p 16]	20 Nov 1986	1,191	23.0	14.0	14.0	–	1.0	17.0	1.0	30.0	6.0
CIS[p 17]	10 Nov 1986	2,077	22.0	12.0	12.0	1.0	1.0	17.0	–	35.0	5.0
CIS[p 18]	1 Nov 1986	2,074	22.0	10.0	12.0	1.0	1.0	20.0	–	34.0	2.0
CIS[p 19]	20 Oct 1986	2,055	19.0	12.0	14.0	1.0	–	20.0	–	34.0	1.0
CIS[p 20]	10 Oct 1986	1,996	25.0	–	–	–	–	38.0	–	27.0	13.0
			19.0	9.0	13.0	1.0	–	22.0	–	36.0	3.0
CIS[p 21]	1 Oct 1986	1,755	19.0	9.0	15.0	–	–	25.0	–	32.0	6.0

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 30 November 1986 Basque Parliament election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	271,208	23.60	–18.21	17	–15
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–PSOE)	252,233	21.95	–1.01	19	±0
	Popular Unity (HB)	199,900	17.40	+2.81	13	+2
	Basque Solidarity (EA)	181,175	15.77	New	13	+13
	Basque Country Left (EE)	124,423	10.83	+2.89	9	+3
	People's Alliance–Liberal Party (AP–PL)1	55,606	4.84	–4.48	2	–5
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	40,445	3.52	New	2	+2
	United Left (IU/EB)	6,750	0.59	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Basque Country (PCE/EPK)	5,675	0.49	–0.90	0	±0
	Workers' Socialist Party (PST)	2,925	0.25	+0.05	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	1,400	0.12	New	0	±0
	Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)	1,190	0.10	New	0	±0
	Republican Popular Unity (UPR)2	1,102	0.10	±0.00	0	±0
Blank ballots[d]		5,003	0.44	–0.03
Total		1,149,035			75	±0
Valid votes		1,149,035	99.41	–0.01
Invalid votes		6,780	0.59	+0.01
Votes cast / turnout		1,155,815	69.62	+1.13
Abstentions		504,328	30.38	–1.13
Registered voters		1,660,143
Sources[5][6]
Footnotes: 1 People's Alliance–Liberal Party results are compared to People's Coalition totals in the 1984 election. 2 Republican Popular Unity results are compared to Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) totals in the 1984 election.

Popular vote EAJ/PNV   23.60% PSE–PSOE   21.95% HB   17.40% EA   15.77% EE   10.83% AP–PL   4.84% CDS   3.52% Others   1.66% Blank ballots   0.44%

Seats PSE–PSOE   25.33% EAJ/PNV   22.67% HB   17.33% EA   17.33% EE   12.00% AP–PL   2.67% CDS   2.67%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency	PNV		PSE		HB		EA		EE		AP–PL		CDS
	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S
Álava	20.1	5	24.9	7	12.8	3	14.5	4	10.9	3	6.9	1	8.0	2
Biscay	28.8	8	22.5	6	16.0	4	11.7	3	10.2	3	5.1	1	3.2	–
Guipúzcoa	16.0	4	19.9	6	21.6	6	23.1	6	11.9	3	3.6	–	2.4	–
Total	23.6	17	22.0	19	17.4	13	15.8	13	10.8	9	4.8	2	3.5	2
Sources[5][6]

Aftermath

Investiture
Ballot →		26 February 1987
Required majority →		38 out of 75
	José Antonio Ardanza (PNV) • PSE (19) • PNV (17) • CDS (2)	38 / 75	Y
	Juan Carlos Yoldi (HB)	0 / 75	N
	Blank ballots • EA (13) • EE (9) • AP (2)	24 / 75
	Absentees • HB (13)	13 / 75
Sources[5]

Notes

1. Results for AP–PDP–UL in the 1984 election.
2. Unlike other electoral legislation in Spain, valid votes under the 1983 Basque electoral law did not include blank ballots.
3. With Carlos Garaikoetxea as EA's candidate.
4. 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.