1988 Catalan regional election

The 1988 Catalan regional election was held on Sunday, 29 May 1988, to elect the 3rd Parliament of the autonomous community of Catalonia. All 135 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

1988 Catalan regional election

29 May 1988
All 135 seats in the Parliament of Catalonia 68 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	4,564,389 1.6%
Turnout	2,709,685 (59.4%) 5.0 pp
Leader Jordi Pujol Raimon Obiols Rafael Ribó Party CiU PSC–PSOE IC Leader since 17 November 1974 12 July 1983 23 February 1987 Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona Last election 72 seats, 46.8% 41 seats, 30.1% 6 seats, 9.2%[lower-alpha 1] Seats won 69 42 9 Seat change 3 1 3 Popular vote 1,232,514 802,828 209,211 Percentage 45.7% 29.8% 7.8% Swing 1.1 pp 0.3 pp 1.4 pp   Leader Jorge Fernández Díaz Joan Hortalà Antoni Fernández Teixidó Party AP ERC CDS Leader since 1985 1987 1988 Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona Last election 11 seats, 7.7%[lower-alpha 2] 5 seats, 4.4% Did not contest Seats won 6 6 3 Seat change 5 1 3 Popular vote 143,241 111,647 103,351 Percentage 5.3% 4.1% 3.8% Swing 2.4 pp 0.3 pp New party
Constituency results map for the Parliament of Catalonia
President before election Jordi Pujol CDC (CiU) Elected President Jordi Pujol CDC (CiU)

Overview

Electoral system

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

The 135 members of the Parliament of Catalonia were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 3 percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution. Additionally, the use of the D'Hondt method might result in an effective threshold over three percent, depending on the district magnitude.[2] Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Barcelona, Gerona, Lérida and Tarragona. Each constituency was allocated a fixed number of seats: 85 for Barcelona, 17 for Gerona, 15 for Lérida and 18 for Tarragona.[1][3]

The electoral law provided that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors were allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors were required to secure the signature of at least 1 percent of the electors registered in the constituency for which they sought election. Electors were barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called.[4][5]

Election date

The term of the Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The President of the Government was required to call an election fifteen days prior to the date of expiry of parliament, with election day taking place within sixty days after the call. The previous election was held on 29 April 1984, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 29 April 1988. The election was required to be called no later than 14 April 1988, with it taking place on the sixtieth day from the call, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Monday, 13 June 1988.[1]

After legal amendments in 1985, the President of the Government was granted the prerogative to dissolve the Parliament of Catalonia and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process and that dissolution did not occur before one year had elapsed since a previous one under this procedure. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a two-month period from the first ballot, the Parliament was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called.[3][6]

Parties and leaders

Below is a list of the main parties and coalitions which contested the election:

Parties and coalitions		Ideology	Candidate
	Convergence and Union (CiU)	Centrism, Catalan autonomism	Jordi Pujol
	Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)	Social democracy	Raimon Obiols
	People's Alliance (AP)	Conservatism, Post-Francoism	Jorge Fernández Díaz
	Initiative for Catalonia (IC)	Eco-socialism	Rafael Ribó
	Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)	Left-wing nationalism, Catalan independentism	Joan Hortalà
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	Centrism, Liberalism	Antoni Fernández Teixidó

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. 68 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of Catalonia.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout								IC	Lead
1988 regional election	29 May 1988	N/A	59.4	45.7 69	29.8 42	–	[lower-alpha 3]	4.1 6	5.3 6	3.8 3	7.8 9	15.9
PSC[p 1]	29 May 1988	?	?	? 66/68	? 42/44	–	[lower-alpha 3]	? 5/6	? 5/6	? 2/3	? 9/11	?
Antena 3[p 2]	29 May 1988	?	?	? 73	? 39	–	[lower-alpha 3]	? 5	? 6	? 2	? 10	?
Sigma Dos/COPE[p 2]	29 May 1988	10,000	?	? 73/75	? 35/37	–	[lower-alpha 3]	? 6/7	? 7/8	? 2/3	? 9/10	?
Metra Seis/Cadena SER[p 2]	29 May 1988	20,000	?	? 73/76	? 37/38	–	[lower-alpha 3]	? 7	? 5	? 0/1	? 9/11	?
Emopública/RTVE[p 2]	29 May 1988	40,000	?	? 72/75	? 38/39	–	[lower-alpha 3]	? 5/7	? 4/6	? 0/3	? 10/13	?
Opina/TV3[p 2]	29 May 1988	96,600	?	44.0 68/70	30.0 40	–	[lower-alpha 3]	5.0 6/7	5.0 5/6	4.0 3	9.0 10/11	14.0
Emopública/Diario 16[p 3][p 4][p 5]	22 May 1988	1,000	?	45.5 70/75	28.0 37/40	–	[lower-alpha 3]	3.5 2/3	7.0 8/10	3.5 2/3	9.0 8/11	17.5
Iope–Etmar/El Periódico[p 3][p 4][p 5]	22 May 1988	2,800	?	50.2 78	27.9 38	–	[lower-alpha 3]	3.4 3	5.3 6	4.2 3	6.3 7	22.3
Avui[p 4]	22 May 1988	?	?	? 76/80	? 37/38	–	[lower-alpha 3]	? 4/5	? 6/7	? 3	? 6/7	?
Sofemasa/La Vanguardia[p 6]	17–19 May 1988	1,659	?	48.0 73/76	29.0 39/41	–	[lower-alpha 3]	4.0 4/5	6.0 7/8	3.0 0/2	6.0 7/8	19.0
Demoscopia/El País[p 3][p 7][p 8]	13–17 May 1988	1,600	65	49.3 73/76	27.7 38/40	–	[lower-alpha 3]	3.1 0/3	6.1 7/9	3.6 2/3	5.4 6/7	21.6
Efe[p 9]	13 May 1988	?	?	47.7	31.0	–	[lower-alpha 3]	4.1	5.1	3.0	6.1	16.7
Demoscopia/El País[p 3][p 10][p 11]	27–30 Apr 1988	1,600	65–67	47.4 72/75	28.2 37/40	–	[lower-alpha 3]	4.2 4/6	6.4 7/9	4.2 4/6	5.8 6/7	19.2
Iope–Etmar/El Periódico[p 3][p 12]	25–28 Apr 1988	1,100	?	50.8 78	27.8 38	–	[lower-alpha 3]	3.7 3	5.6 7	5.4 6	3.8 3	23.0
Gabise/Diario de Barcelona[p 3][p 5]	24 Apr 1988	2,500	?	46.5 74	30.2 45	–	[lower-alpha 3]	4.3 2	5.2 6	2.8 1	6.6 7	16.3
Sofemasa/La Vanguardia[p 13]	6–12 Apr 1988	1,000	?	47.0 69/72	29.0 40/43	–	[lower-alpha 3]	5.0 5	6.0 7/8	4.0 3/5	5.0 6/7	18.0
CIS[p 12]	5–11 Apr 1988	2,900	?	48.0 72/73	32.2 44	–	[lower-alpha 3]	3.6 2/3	5.5 7	3.4 3	6.2 6	15.8
Gabise/Diario de Barcelona[p 3]	20 Mar 1988	2,500	?	53.3 82	29.4 42	–	[lower-alpha 3]	3.8 2	4.7 4	2.0 0	4.8 5	23.9
Metra Seis/El Independiente[p 3]	12 Mar 1988	1,800	?	44.0 68	30.0 41	–	[lower-alpha 3]	4.5 5	6.5 9	3.0 2	9.0 10	14.0
Iope–Etmar/El Periódico[p 3]	28 Feb 1988	1,000	?	46.2 71	29.8 40	–	[lower-alpha 3]	5.7 8	5.7 6	5.7 5	4.5 5	16.4
Gabise/Diario de Barcelona[p 3]	21 Feb 1988	2,425	?	45.9 69	36.6 52	–	[lower-alpha 3]	2.2 0	4.4 4	1.0 0	8.1 10	9.3
DYM/CIS[p 14]	25–30 Jan 1988	2,900	?	46.0 69	32.0 45	–	[lower-alpha 3]	? 4	4.0 6	? 4	7.0 7	14.0
CIS[p 14]	3–10 Dec 1987	2,891	?	48.0 71	32.0 45	–	[lower-alpha 3]	–	–	? 2	–	16.0
1987 EP election	10 Jun 1987	N/A	67.9	27.8 47	36.8 56	–	[lower-alpha 3]	3.7 4	11.2 16	5.6 7	5.4 5	9.0
1987 local elections	10 Jun 1987	N/A	68.5	33.0	38.0	–	[lower-alpha 3]	2.5	5.7	3.1	10.6	5.0
1986 general election	22 Jun 1986	N/A	68.9	32.0 51	41.0 59	11.4 18	[lower-alpha 4]	2.7 0	[lower-alpha 5]	4.1 4	3.9* 3	9.0
Sofemasa/La Vanguardia[p 15]	16 Nov–1 Dec 1985	980	?	43.0	33.6	3.1	4.9	–	[lower-alpha 5]	1.3	–	9.4
1984 regional election	29 Apr 1984	N/A	64.4	46.8 72	30.1 41	7.7 11	5.6 6	4.4 5	[lower-alpha 5]	–	–	16.7
(*) Results for Union of the Catalan Left.

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 29 May 1988 Parliament of Catalonia election results →

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Convergence and Union (CiU)	1,232,514	45.72	–1.08	69	–3
	Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)^1	802,828	29.78	–0.36	42	+1
	Initiative for Catalonia (IC)^2	209,211	7.76	–1.46	9	+3
	People's Alliance (AP)^3	143,241	5.31	–2.39	6	–5
	Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)	111,647	4.14	–0.27	6	+1
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	103,351	3.83	New	3	+3
	Green Alternative–Ecologist Movement of Catalonia (AV–MEC)	16,346	0.61	New	0	±0
	The Ecologist Greens (EVE)	8,730	0.32	New	0	±0
	The Greens (EV)	8,105	0.30	New	0	±0
	Ecologist Party of Catalonia–VERDE (PEC–VERDE)	5,927	0.22	–0.08	0	±0
	Andalusian Party of Catalonia (PAC)	5,815	0.22	New	0	±0
	Workers' Socialist Party (PST)	5,794	0.21	+0.02	0	±0
	Social Democratic Party of Catalonia (PSDC)	5,156	0.19	–0.05	0	±0
	Spanish Juntas (JJEE)	4,524	0.17	New	0	±0
	Communist Unification of Spain (UCE)	3,358	0.12	New	0	±0
	Revolutionary Workers' Party of Spain (PORE)	2,727	0.10	+0.01	0	±0
	Communist Workers' League (LOC)	2,228	0.08	New	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS)	2,202	0.08	New	0	±0
	Humanist Party of Catalonia (PHC)	2,195	0.08	New	0	±0
	Alliance for the Republic (AxR)^4	1,119	0.04	–0.08	0	±0
	Republican Popular Unity (UPR)^5	1,066	0.04	–0.02	0	±0
	Centrist Unity–Democratic Spanish Party (PED)	905	0.03	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		16,946	0.63	+0.13
Total		2,695,935			135	±0
Valid votes		2,695,935	99.49	+0.01
Invalid votes		13,750	0.51	–0.01
Votes cast / turnout		2,709,685	59.37	–4.99
Abstentions		1,854,704	40.63	+4.99
Registered voters		4,564,389
Sources[7][8]

Popular vote CiU   45.72% PSC–PSOE   29.78% IC   7.76% AP   5.31% ERC   4.14% CDS   3.83% Others   2.83% Blank ballots   0.63%

Seats CiU   51.11% PSC–PSOE   31.11% IC   6.67% AP   4.44% ERC   4.44% CDS   2.22%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency	CiU		PSC		IC		AP		ERC		CDS
	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S
Barcelona	43.6	39	31.4	28	8.8	8	5.2	4	3.7	3	3.8	3
Gerona	56.3	11	23.6	5	3.9	−	3.7	−	5.5	1	3.2	−
Lérida	53.8	9	23.1	4	3.6	−	6.2	1	5.9	1	4.3	−
Tarragona	47.6	10	27.0	5	5.5	1	7.1	1	5.3	1	4.0	−
Total	45.7	69	29.8	42	7.8	9	5.3	6	4.1	6	3.8	3
Sources[9][10][11][12][8]

Aftermath

Investiture Jordi Pujol (CDC)
Ballot →		22 June 1988
Required majority →		68 out of 135
	Yes • CiU (69)	69 / 135
	No • PSC (41) • IC (9) • ERC (6)	56 / 135
	Abstentions • AP (6) • CDS (3)	9 / 135
	Absentees • PSC (1)	1 / 135
Sources[8]

Notes

1. Combined data for PSUC, PCC and EEC in the 1984 election.
2. Data for AP–PDP–UL in the 1984 election.
3. Within IC.
4. Within UEC.
5. Within CP.

References

Opinion poll sources

1. "Euforia de Obiols al mantener posiciones". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 30 May 1988.
2. "TV3 atribuyó a CiU el resultado más bajo de todos los sondeos difundidos ayer tarde". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 30 May 1988.
3. "Sondejos". Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Retrieved 5 July 2017.
4. "Los candidatos, entre el escepticismo y la confianza tras la publicación de las encuestas". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 23 May 1988.
5. "Los institutos de opinión achacan a la abstención, "que afectó sobre todo a CiU",sus fallos de cálcul". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 June 1988.
6. "Jordi Pujol ampliará su mayoría absoluta". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 May 1988.
7. "Jordi Pujol consolidará su mayoría absoluta en el Parlamento catalán". El País (in Spanish). 22 May 1988.
8. "Ficha técnica". El País (in Spanish). 22 May 1988.
9. "Las encuestas coinciden en la mayoría de CiU y el ascenso del CDS". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 14 May 1988.
10. "Convergència i Unió revalida la mayoría absoluta mientras se produce un descenso de los socialistas". El País (in Spanish). 8 May 1988.
11. "Ficha técnica". El País (in Spanish). 8 May 1988.
12. "El CIS también concede la mayoría absoluta CiU". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 4 May 1988.
13. "Jordi Pujol mantendrá la mayoría absoluta". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 26 April 1988.
14. "Descenso de Pujol y auge del CDS en Cataluña, según una encuesta del CIS". El País (in Spanish). 24 February 1988.
15. "Convergència i Unió consolida su primacía política en las elecciones catalanas". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 28 December 1985.

Other

1. "Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979". Organic Law No. 4 of 18 December 1979. Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 March 2017.
2. Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). "Effective threshold in electoral systems". Trinity College, Dublin. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
3. "Parliament, President and Executive Council of the Generalitat Law of 1982". Law No. 3 of 25 March 1982. Official Journal of the Generalitat of Catalonia (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 March 2017.
4. "General Electoral System Organic Law of 1985". Organic Law No. 5 of 19 June 1985. Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
5. "Representation of the people Institutional Act". www.juntaelectoralcentral.es. Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
6. "Parliament, President and Executive Council of the Generalitat Law Reform of 1985". Law No. 8 of 24 May 1985. Official Journal of the Generalitat of Catalonia (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 March 2017.
7. "Electoral results. Parliament of Catalonia election 1988". resultats.dadeselectorals.gencat.cat (in Catalan). Government of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
8. "Eleccions al Parlament de Catalunya (1980 - 2017)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 September 2017.
9. "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1988. Barcelona". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
10. "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1988. Girona". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
11. "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1988. Lleida". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
12. "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1988. Tarragona". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.