Since Spain joined the European Union in 1985, the country has participated in these elections nine times. The PSOE (socialists) and PP (conservatives) each won four times, sometimes by very small margins. In 2019, the SWP won 20 seats. The rise of new parties such as Podemos, Ciudadanos and Vox has changed the political landscape. Regional parties and independence movements also had their say.
The Socialists PSOE won their last victory victory And in the 2019 European elections, when Josep Borrell won 20 seats and 33% of the vote as candidate. Remarkably, Borrell also topped the Socialist Workers’ Party list during the Socialists’ previous victory in 2004, winning 43.5% of the vote and 25 seats. It is clear that Borrell played an important role in the success of the Socialists in these elections.
To see another victory for the PSOE, we have to go back to 1989, where former Foreign Minister Fernando Moran was the candidate. That year the Socialists won, taking 27 seats and about 40% of the vote. The Socialist Workers’ Party also won the first European elections held in Spain in 1987, after the country joined the European Union. At that time, Fernando Moran’s candidacy received 28 seats and 39% of the votes.
The last time the Popular Party won these European elections was in 2014 with the nomination of Miguel Arias Cañete. At this time, several parties emerged, and the “popular” parties won 16 seats and 26% of the votes, even though they were two deputies ahead of the Socialists, who won 14 seats that year.
The People’s Party also won the previous elections in 2009. Its candidate, Jaime Mayor Urrega, won 24 seats and 42.12% of the vote. On this occasion, the Socialist Workers’ Party also came very close and received 23 delegates.
In 1999, the People’s Party candidate led by Loyola de Palacio also won the elections with 27 deputies and about 40% of the vote. The largest “popular” victory was in 1994, with the nomination led by Abel Matutes, when the People’s Party won 28 seats and 40.12% of the vote.
In addition to the two main parties, Izquierda Unida was always present in the European elections, except in 2004 when they did not participate. In 1987, the party led by lawyer Fernando Pérez Royo won three seats and 5.25% of the vote. Two years later, in 1989, they improved their results by winning 4 seats and 6.06% of the vote.
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