2016 Basque regional election

The 2016 Basque regional election was held on Sunday, 25 September 2016, to elect the 11th Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with a regional election in Galicia. Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu announced that the election would be held one month ahead of schedule, on 25 September 2016, based on the "climate of ungovernability" affecting national politics as a result of the ongoing Spanish government formation negotiations, intending to move the regional election as far away as possible from a possible new general election.^[1][2] This prompted Galician president Alberto Núñez Feijóo to hold the Galician regional election in the same date.^[3]

2016 Basque regional election

← 2012 25 September 2016 2020 →
All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament 38 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	1,783,419 0.5%
Turnout	1,070,357 (60.0%) 3.9 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Iñigo Urkullu Arnaldo Otegi[a] Pilar Zabala Party EAJ/PNV EH Bildu Elkarrekin Podemos Leader since 2 December 2007 24 May 2016 11 August 2016 Leader's seat Álava Gipuzkoa Gipuzkoa Last election 27 seats, 34.2% 21 seats, 24.7% 0 seats, 3.7%[b] Seats won 28 18 11 Seat change 1 3 11 Popular vote 398,168 225,172 157,334 Percentage 37.4% 21.1% 14.8% Swing 3.2 pp 3.6 pp 11.1 pp   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Idoia Mendia Alfonso Alonso Party PSE–EE (PSOE) PP Leader since 20 September 2014 15 October 2015 Leader's seat Biscay Álava Last election 16 seats, 18.9% 10 seats, 11.6% Seats won 9 9 Seat change 7 1 Popular vote 126,420 107,771 Percentage 11.9% 10.1% Swing 7.0 pp 1.5 pp
Vote winner strength by constituency Election result by constituency
Lehendakari before election Iñigo Urkullu EAJ/PNV Elected Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu EAJ/PNV

Urkullu's Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) emerged as the largest political force in the region with an increased plurality, but required from the support of other parties to govern. This was to be provided by the Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE), which despite scoring the worst result in its history after seeing its support almost halved—falling from 18.9% and 16 seats to 11.9% and 9 seats—would go on to form a coalition minority government with the PNV. EH Bildu was able to hold onto second place, albeit with a reduced support by going down from 21 to 17 seats, whereas the Elkarrekin Podemos alliance scored third, but below campaign expectations. The People's Party (PP) continued on its long-term decline in the Basque Country, whereas Citizens (Cs) failed to win any seat.^[4][5]

Urkullu was able to get re-elected as lehendakari with the support of both his party and the PSE–EE.^[6] The resulting coalition recovered an alliance which both the PNV and the PSE had already formed between 1987 and 1998 in the Basque government,^[7][8] and which had already been extended to city councils and the Juntas Generales following the 2015 local and foral elections.^[9]

The results of the Basque and Galician elections, both of which saw very poor PSOE's performances after being overtaken by the Podemos-led alliances and polling at record-low levels of support,^[10] prompted dissenters within the party—led by Andalusian president Susana Díaz—to call for Pedro Sánchez's resignation as PSOE secretary-general.^[11][12] Sánchez's refusal to resign and his announcement of a party congress for later in the year—amid an ongoing government formation process and with the growing risk of a third general election in a row being held in Spain—led to an attempt from his critics to force his downfall,^[13][14] triggering a severe party crisis and a breakdown of party discipline which led to Sánchez's ousting on 1 October 2016,^[15] a divided PSOE abstaining in Mariano Rajoy's investiture on 29 October and a subsequent party leadership election in 2017 which would see Sánchez returning to his post of secretary-general and taking full control over the party.^[16][17]

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.^[18] 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. Additionally, Basques abroad were required to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).^[19]

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 three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, 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.^[18][20]

Election date

The term of the Basque Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The election decree was required to be issued no later than the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV), with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication. The previous election was held on 21 October 2012, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 21 October 2016. The election decree was required to be published in the BOPV no later than 27 September 2016, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 20 November 2016.^[18][20]

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.^[21]

The Basque Parliament was officially dissolved on 2 August 2016 after the publication of the dissolution decree in the BOPV, setting the election date for 25 September.^[22]

Background

The 2012 Basque regional election had resulted in a minority government of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) replacing Patxi López's Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE) cabinet. After a harsh 2009–2012 legislature which had seen frequent clashing between both parties, the signing of an agreement in September 2013 between both the PNV and the PSE, under which the latter committed itself to support the 2014 budget in exchange for more social democrat fiscal policies, paved the way for the normalization of relations between the two parties.^[23] The agreement eventually led to the culmination of an ideological realignment within the PNV, whose economic stance had been swinging in the previous years towards social democracy in detriment of its traditional pro-liberal positions.^[24] Additionally, the PNV under Urkullu had abandoned the confrontational style of former lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe as well as his sovereigntist plan, moving towards more moderate, pragmatic and big tent positions.^[25][26]

Following the 2015 local and foral elections, the PNV and the PSE signed a deal "for institutional stability", under which both parties agreed to support each other in Basque local councils and the Juntas Generales,^[27][28] with the compromise of extending such an agreement to the Basque government after the regional election scheduled for 2016.^[9] Concurrently, the emergence of Podemos following the 2014 European Parliament election was initially seen as a threat to the PNV's dominance in the region,^[29][30][31] after opinion polls pointed to a strong performance of the party in a prospective Basque Parliament election as well as coming out in first place regionally in the 2015 and 2016 general elections.^[32][33] The various elections held in the Basque Country between 2012 and 2016 showed a continued decline for both the PSE–EE and the People's Party (PP),^[34] whereas EH Bildu suffered from a perceived poor management in the city council of San Sebastián and the Gipuzkoa foral deputation and lost much of its power in the local and foral elections held on 24 May 2015.^[35][36]

In the lead up to the election, the national PSOE was beleaguered by an internal crisis over Pedro Sánchez's leadership as a result of the party having secured its worst electoral results since the Spanish transition to democracy in the 2015 and 2016 general elections,^[37][38] with Sánchez himself having announced an early party congress, to be held at some point following the Basque and Galician elections, in which he would be running for re-election.^[39][40] The PSOE branches in both regions were widely seen as being supportive of Sánchez, prompting dissenters to frame the elections as a test on Sánchez and of the broader political mood in Spain after nine months of political impasse over the government formation process.^[41]

Parliamentary composition

The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the chamber at the time of dissolution.^[42]

Parliamentary composition in August 2016^[43]

Groups		Parties		Legislators
				Seats	Total
	Basque Nationalists Parliamentary Group		EAJ/PNV	27	27
	EH Bildu Parliamentary Group		Sortu	10	21
			EA	6
			Aralar	3
			Alternatiba	2
	Basque Socialists Parliamentary Group		PSE–EE (PSOE)	16	16
	Basque People's Parliamentary Group		PP	10	10
	Mixed Group		UPyD	1	1

Parties and candidates

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 one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.^[20][44]

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

Candidacy		Parties and alliances	Leading candidate		Ideology	Previous result		Gov.	Ref.
						Votes (%)	Seats
	EAJ/PNV	List Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)		Iñigo Urkullu	Basque nationalism Christian democracy Social democracy	34.16%	27	Y	[24] [45]
	EH Bildu	List Create (Sortu) Basque Solidarity (EA) Aralar (Aralar) Alternative (Alternatiba)		Arnaldo Otegi[a]	Basque independence Abertzale left Socialism	24.67%	21	N	[46] [47]
	PSE–EE (PSOE)	List Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE))		Idoia Mendia	Social democracy	18.89%	16	N	[48] [49]
	PP	List People's Party (PP)		Alfonso Alonso	Conservatism Christian democracy	11.59%	10	N	[50]
	Elkarrekin Podemos	List We Can (Podemos) Plural Left–United Left (EzAn–IU) Equo (Equo)		Pilar Zabala	Left-wing populism Direct democracy Democratic socialism	3.72%[b]	0	N	[51] [52]
	C's	List Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)		Nicolás de Miguel	Liberalism	New party		N	[53]

The Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) party, despite holding one seat in the Basque Parliament for two legislatures—2009 and 2012—and amid dismal opinion poll ratings, renounced to field candidates for the regional election.^[54]

On 1 March 2016, Sortu leader Arnaldo Otegi left the Logroño prison after serving his full prison sentence imposed for attempting to reorganize the banned Batasuna party. In addition to the prison sentence, Otegi had been disqualified from holding any public office until 2021.^[55] Despite this, on 24 May the EH Bildu coalition proclaimed him as its leading candidate for lehendakari, on grounds that the ruling did not specify what specific criminal charges affected his disqualification.^[46][56] The PNV and Podemos announced that they would not challenge his candidacy because they thought it should be up to the Basque citizens to decide whether Otegi deserved to be elected or not;^[57] the PSE–EE, meanwhile, said that it would not challenge him either because such a decision should be taken by justice courts.^[58] On the other hand, the PP, Citizens (C's) and UPyD announced that, following the publication of the electoral lists, they would challenge Otegi's candidacy.^[59]

On 24 August the provincial electoral commission of Gipuzkoa ruled that Otegi could not be a candidate in the lists of EH Bildu for being barred to stand for election as part of his sentence.^[47][60] The journalist Maddalen Iriarte, who was second in EH Bildu Gipuzkoa's list, went on to top the list as provided for in Article 65.2 of the Electoral Law of the Basque Country.^[61]

Party slogans

Party or alliance		Original slogan	English translation	Ref.
	EAJ/PNV	« Eraiki Euskadi. Mira el futuro »	"Build the Basque Country. Look to the future"	[62][63]
	EH Bildu	« Aquí y ahora. Un país compartido » « Hemen eta orain. Denon herria »	"Here and now. A shared country"	[62][64]
	PSE–EE (PSOE)	« Juntos » « Batera »	"Together"	[62][65]
	PP	« Alonso, la voz que nos une » « Alonso, batzen gaituen ahotsa »	"Alonso, the voice that unites us"	[62][66][67]
	Elkarrekin Podemos	« Por Euskadi. Jendearekin »	"For the Basque Country. With the people"	[62][68]
	C's	« Europeos del Sur, españoles del Norte, vascos de centro »	"Europeans from the South, Spaniards from the North, Basques of centre"	[62][69]

Opinion polls

The tables below list 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.

Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout	PNV									Lead
2016 regional election	25 Sep 2016	—	60.0	37.4 28	21.1 18	11.9 9	10.1 9	[c]	–	[c]	2.0 0	14.8 11	16.3
Gizaker/EiTB[p 1][p 2]	23–25 Sep 2016	2,400	?	36.5 27/30	20.7 16/18	11.1 8/10	9.7 7/8	[c]	–	[c]	2.2 0/1	17.9 13/15	15.8
Celeste-Tel/eldiario.es[p 3]	12–16 Sep 2016	1,200	64.1	37.3 29	20.4 15	11.9 9	8.4 7	[c]	–	[c]	2.0 0	18.3 15	16.9
Gizaker/EiTB[p 4][p 5]	14–15 Sep 2016	1,200	64.4	37.2 27/29	21.0 17	11.0 8/9	9.7 7/8	[c]	–	[c]	2.3 0/1	17.8 13/14	16.2
GAD3/ABC[p 6][p 7]	14–15 Sep 2016	801	?	38.5 28/29	19.7 15/16	10.8 8/9	9.2 8/9	[c]	–	[c]	1.4 0	17.8 14/15	18.8
Metroscopia/El País[p 8][p 9][p 10]	13–15 Sep 2016	2,100	65.8	36.3 27/29	19.2 16/17	12.1 8	8.8 6/7	[c]	–	[c]	2.0 1	17.9 14/16	17.1
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 11]	12–15 Sep 2016	1,200	?	35.1 26/28	21.1 17/18	12.5 9	9.5 7/9	[c]	–	[c]	2.1 0	16.9 13/14	14.0
NC Report/La Razón[p 12][p 13][p 14]	6–14 Sep 2016	1,000	?	36.2 27	21.0 16	11.4 9	9.1 8	[c]	–	[c]	? 0	18.8 15	15.2
Ikerfel/El Correo[p 15]	8–11 Sep 2016	2,700	65.4	36.7 28	18.9 14/15	12.9 9/10	8.8 8	[c]	–	[c]	2.2 0	19.3 15/16	17.4
Ikertalde/GPS[p 16][p 17]	1–8 Sep 2016	2,576	64.5	33.5 26	21.3 17	11.7 9	9.2 8	[c]	–	[c]	2.2 0	19.3 15	12.2
Gizaker/EiTB[p 18][p 19]	5–6 Sep 2016	1,200	63.5	36.2 27	20.7 17	10.7 8	10.3 8	[c]	–	[c]	2.7 1	18.2 14	15.5
IMOP/CIS[p 20][p 21]	27 Aug–2 Sep 2016	3,007	?	37.9 27/28	20.2 16	10.8 8	8.8 8	[c]	–	[c]	1.8 0	18.9 15/16	17.7
2016 general election	26 Jun 2016	—	64.9	24.9 (18)	13.3 (10)	14.2 (11)	12.9 (10)	[d]	0.1 (0)	[d]	3.5 (1)	29.1 (25)	4.2
Gizaker/EiTB[p 22][p 23]	8–9 Jun 2016	1,200	?	37.2 27	21.3 17	10.7 8	9.1 8	[d]	0.4 0	[d]	2.7 1	18.2 14	15.9
Ikertalde/GPS[p 24][p 25]	23 May–2 Jun 2016	2,310	67.5	31.8 24	21.0 17	12.3 9	8.7 7	[d]	0.2 0	[d]	2.2 1	20.8 17	10.8
			67.5	31.8 24	21.0 18	12.3 10	8.7 8	3.0 0	0.2 0	17.8 14	2.2 1	–	10.8
SYM Consulting[p 26]	5–20 May 2016	1,274	?	34.1 25/26	20.4 15/17	11.8 8/9	9.1 7/8	[d]	–	[d]	3.5 1	20.7 16/17	13.4
Gizaker/EiTB[p 27][p 28]	11–12 May 2016	1,200	?	35.5 27	20.2 16	11.0 9	9.2 7	[d]	0.2 0	[d]	3.0 1	19.4 15	15.3
Gizaker/EiTB[p 29][p 30]	13–14 Apr 2016	1,200	?	35.3 27	19.0 15	12.1 10	8.8 7	2.4 0	0.2 0	19.1 15	2.3 1	–	16.2
Ikertalde/GPS[p 31][p 32]	25 Jan–2 Feb 2016	2,310	70.5	31.3 24	19.1 15	12.0 9	8.8 8	2.5 0	0.2 0	20.5 18	3.3 1	–	10.8
CPS/EHU[p 33]	19–31 Jan 2016	600	67	29.3 22/23	16.3 13	12.2 9	9.4 8/9	–	–	25.2 19/21	3.6 1/3	–	4.1
Redondo & Asociados[p 34]	16 Jan 2016	?	?	30.0 22/23	19.0 13/14	12.8 10	8.3 6	3.0 0/1	–	25.0 21/22	–	–	5.0
2015 general election	20 Dec 2015	—	69.0	24.7 (18)	15.1 (12)	13.2 (10)	11.6 (10)	2.9 (1)	0.3 (0)	26.0 (21)	4.1 (3)	–	1.3
CPS/EHU[p 35]	29 May–15 Jun 2015	600	65	33.5 25/26	23.1 18/19	14.5 10/11	8.1 7/8	–	1.7 0	15.1 11/12	–	–	10.4
2015 foral elections	24 May 2015	—	63.8	33.3 (26)	22.4 (18)	13.6 (10)	9.3 (9)	2.7 (1)	0.5 (0)	13.7 (11)	2.1 (0)	–	10.9
2015 local elections	24 May 2015	—	63.8	33.1	23.4	14.6	9.4	3.1	0.1	5.5	1.6	–	9.7
CPS/EHU[p 36]	27 Oct–14 Nov 2014	600	67	30.5 22/23	19.7 13/14	12.8 10	8.1 6	3.2 0/1	2.2 0/1	25.6 21/22	–	–	4.9
2014 EP election[p 37]	25 May 2014	—	43.1	27.5 (21)	23.4 (21)	13.8 (12)	10.2 (10)	5.6 (4)	3.3 (1)	6.9 (6)	0.8 (0)	–	4.1
CPS/EHU[p 38]	30 Apr–19 May 2014	600	60	34.2 29	23.9 22	16.5 12	8.1 7	6.4 3	2.2 1	4.8 1	–	–	10.3
CPS/EHU[p 39]	24 Oct–15 Nov 2013	1,200	60	34.9 29	25.9 23	15.5 12	9.6 8	4.4 2	2.2 1	–	–	–	9.0
Ikertalde/GPS[p 40]	8–11 Oct 2013	2,289	64.0	34.7 27	24.1 21	17.7 15	10.8 10	3.1 1	2.3 1	–	–	–	10.6
CPS/EHU[p 41]	7–27 May 2013	1,200	60	34.0 28	24.0 20	18.0 14	10.0 10	4.0 2	3.0 1	–	–	–	10.0
Ikertalde/GPS[p 42]	22–27 Apr 2013	2,277	63.5	34.9 27	24.2 21	17.8 15	10.0 10	3.1 1	2.5 1	–	–	–	10.7
2012 regional election	21 Oct 2012	—	64.0	34.2 27	24.7 21	18.9 16	11.6 10	2.7 0	1.9 1	–	–	–	9.5

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	PNV									?	N	Lead
2016 regional election	25 Sep 2016	—	23.2	13.1	7.4	6.3	[c]	–	[c]	1.2	9.1	—	37.7	10.1
GAD3/ABC[p 7]	14–15 Sep 2016	801	36.0	9.5	7.8	5.7	[c]	–	[c]	0.5	10.9	–	–	25.1
Ikertalde/GPS[p 16]	1–8 Sep 2016	2,576	20.8	14.0	4.9	1.9	[c]	–	[c]	1.2	11.9	23.0	18.9	6.8
IMOP/CIS[p 20]	27 Aug–2 Sep 2016	3,007	29.8	12.7	6.2	2.4	[c]	–	[c]	0.7	13.1	24.1	7.0	16.7
2016 general election	26 Jun 2016	—	16.7	8.9	9.5	8.6	[d]	0.1	[d]	2.4	19.5	—	32.6	2.8
Ikertalde/GPS[p 24]	23 May–2 Jun 2016	2,310	20.3	15.1	5.7	2.1	[c]	0.4	[c]	0.9	12.0	25.0	15.8	5.2
			20.3	15.1	5.7	2.1	2.5	0.4	9.5	0.9	–	25.0	15.8	5.2
Ikertalde/GPS[p 31]	25 Jan–2 Feb 2016	2,310	20.9	12.3	5.2	2.3	1.7	0.3	13.6	1.6	–	23.1	16.8	7.3
CPS/EHU[p 33]	19–31 Jan 2016	600	22.3	13.5	7.7	2.3	–	–	18.7	0.7	–	32.4		3.6
2015 general election	20 Dec 2015	—	17.6	10.7	9.4	8.2	2.1	0.2	18.4	2.9	–	—	28.6	0.8
CPS/EHU[p 35]	29 May–15 Jun 2015	600	24.7	17.0	7.5	1.2	–	–	9.3	–	–	37.4		7.7
2015 foral elections	24 May 2015	—	20.9	14.1	8.6	5.9	1.7	0.3	8.6	1.3	–	—	36.2	6.8
CPS/EHU[p 36]	27 Oct–14 Nov 2014	600	19.8	12.5	4.3	1.0	1.3	0.8	19.3	–	–	–	–	0.5
2014 EP election	25 May 2014	—	12.1	10.3	6.1	4.5	2.4	1.5	3.1	0.4	–	—	55.5	1.8
CPS/EHU[p 38]	30 Apr–19 May 2014	600	20.3	14.7	8.8	0.5	4.5	0.8	3.2	–	–	–	–	5.6
CPS/EHU[p 39]	24 Oct–15 Nov 2013	1,200	22.0	16.5	6.4	1.6	2.4	0.8	–	–	–	–	–	5.5
CPS/EHU[p 41]	7–27 May 2013	1,200	21.5	15.9	7.0	1.6	3.6	0.9	–	–	–	–	–	5.2
2012 regional election	21 Oct 2012	—	22.3	16.1	12.3	7.6	1.8	1.3	–	–	–	—	34.2	6.2

Victory preferences

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

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	PNV						Other/ None	?	Lead
IMOP/CIS[p 20]	27 Aug–2 Sep 2016	3,007	36.8	13.4	6.0	2.0	0.6	15.0	6.3	19.8	21.8

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
GAD3/ABC[p 7]	14–15 Sep 2016	801	82.6	2.3	1.8	2.8	–	5.3	0.7	4.5	77.3
IMOP/CIS[p 20]	27 Aug–2 Sep 2016	3,007	74.6	1.6	0.9	1.3	0.1	7.9	0.5	13.2	66.7

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
			Urkullu PNV	Otegi EH Bildu	Iriarte EH Bildu	Larrión EH Bildu	Mendia PSE–EE	Alonso PP	De Miguel C's	Zabala EP
Gizaker/EiTB[p 4]	14–15 Sep 2016	1,200	38.5	4.2	10.4	–	1.4	0.8	0.3	5.4	–	39.0	28.1
GAD3/ABC[p 7]	14–15 Sep 2016	801	42.5	–	–	6.4	7.0	4.7	–	8.0	18.6	12.8	34.5
Gizaker/EiTB[p 18]	5–6 Sep 2016	1,200	38.0	16.9	–	–	1.6	1.0	0.1	6.1	0.1	36.2	21.1
IMOP/CIS[p 20]	27 Aug–2 Sep 2016	3,007	37.6	–	13.5	–	5.1	2.2	0.1	8.6	7.2	25.8	24.1
Gizaker/EiTB[p 27]	11–12 May 2016	1,200	35.5	17.2	–	–	2.5	–	–	2.1	0.9	41.8	18.3

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 25 September 2016 Basque Parliament election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)	398,168	37.36	+3.20	28	+1
	Basque Country Gather (EH Bildu)	225,172	21.13	–3.54	18	–3
	United We Can (Podemos, Ezker Anitza–IU, Equo)1	157,334	14.76	+11.04	11	+11
	Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE))	126,420	11.86	–7.03	9	–7
	People's Party (PP)	107,771	10.11	–1.48	9	–1
	Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)	21,477	2.02	New	0	±0
	Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA/ATTKAA)	8,589	0.81	+0.45	0	±0
	Let's Win the Basque Country: Yes We Can (Ganemos Irabazi)	6,049	0.57	New	0	±0
	Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV)	2,747	0.26	New	0	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFyV)	1,836	0.17	+0.10	0	±0
	Blank Seats (EB/AZ)	1,288	0.12	–0.90	0	±0
	Vox (Vox)	771	0.07	New	0	±0
	Basque Communists–Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (EK–PCPE)	466	0.04	±0.00	0	±0
	Welcome (Ongi Etorri)	374	0.04	+0.03	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	351	0.03	–0.07	0	±0
	Navarrese Freedom (Ln)	191	0.02	New	0	±0
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)	n/a	n/a	–1.91	0	–1
Blank ballots		6,681	0.63	–0.67
Total		1,065,685			75	±0
Valid votes		1,065,685	99.56	+0.37
Invalid votes		4,672	0.44	–0.37
Votes cast / turnout		1,070,357	60.02	–3.94
Abstentions		713,062	39.98	+3.94
Registered voters		1,783,419
Sources[42][70]
Footnotes: 1 United We Can results are compared to the combined totals of United Left–The Greens: Plural Left and Equo Greens–Basque Ecologists in the 2012 election.

Popular vote EAJ/PNV   37.36% EH Bildu   21.13% E. Podemos   14.76% PSE–EE (PSOE)   11.86% PP   10.11% C's   2.02% Others   2.13% Blank ballots   0.63%

Seats EAJ/PNV   37.33% EH Bildu   24.00% E. Podemos   14.67% PSE–EE (PSOE)   12.00% PP   12.00%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency	PNV		EH Bildu		EP		PSE–EE		PP
	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S
Álava	28.0	8	17.8	5	16.1	4	12.9	3	18.5	5
Biscay	41.8	11	17.5	5	14.8	4	11.7	3	9.7	2
Gipuzkoa	34.1	9	28.7	8	14.2	3	11.8	3	7.2	2
Total	37.6	28	21.3	18	14.9	11	11.9	9	10.2	9
Sources[42][70]

Aftermath

Investiture
Ballot →		23 November 2016		24 November 2016
Required majority →		38 out of 75		Simple
	Iñigo Urkullu (PNV) • PNV (28) • PSE–EE (9)	37 / 75	N	37 / 75	Y
	Maddalen Iriarte (EH Bildu) • EH Bildu (18)	18 / 75	N	18 / 75	N
	Blank ballots • EP (11) • PP (9)	20 / 75		20 / 75
	Absentees	0 / 75		0 / 75
Sources[6][42]

Notes

1. Sortu leader Arnaldo Otegi was proclaimed as EH Bildu's leading candidate on 24 May 2016, having left the Logroño prison on 1 March after serving a full prison sentence over attempts to reorganize the banned Batasuna party. On 24 August, the Gipuzkoa Provincial Electoral Commission disqualified Otegi due to a legal barring from holding any public office still in force until 2021. Subsequently, EH Bildu did not elect an alternative candidate to replace Otegi, though journalist Maddalen Iriarte—second in EH Bildu Gipuzkoa's list—went on to top the list as provided for in Article 65.2 of the Electoral Law of the Basque Country.
2. Results for IU–LV (2.69%, 0 seats) and Equo (1.03%, 0 seats) in the 2012 election.
3. Within Elkarrekin Podemos.
4. Within Unidos Podemos.

References

Opinion poll sources

1. "Sondeo EiTB 25S: PNV ganaría con EH Bildu segunda y Podemos tercera". EiTB (in Spanish). 25 September 2016.
2. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas), Septiembre 2016. Sondeo Gizaker (3)". Electograph (in Spanish). 25 September 2016.
3. "El PNV acaricia una victoria mayor de la esperada". eldiario.es (in Spanish). 17 September 2016.
4. "EiTB Focus: Un puñado de votos podría cambiar el Parlamento". EiTB (in Spanish). 19 September 2016.
5. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas), Septiembre 2016. Sondeo Gizaker (2)". Electograph (in Spanish). 19 September 2016.
6. "El PNV sube pero necesitará pactar con el PSE o el PP". ABC (in Spanish). 18 September 2016.
7. "Encuesta socio-electoral en País Vasco". GAD3 (in Spanish). 18 September 2016.
8. Gorospe, Pedro (18 September 2016). "El PNV ganaría las elecciones vascas pero tendrá que pactar". El País (in Spanish).
9. "Sondeo preelectoral en el País Vasco". El País (in Spanish). 17 September 2016.
10. "Elecciones en el País Vasco: victoria del PNV en un escenario de pactos". Metroscopia (in Spanish). 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
11. "Urkullu se consolida y podrá gobernar con el PSOE o el PP". El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 September 2016.
12. "El PSOE se hunde en País Vasco y queda tras En Marea en Galicia". La Razón (in Spanish). 18 September 2016.
13. "Estimación de voto en País Vasco" (PDF). La Razón (in Spanish). 18 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
14. "Estimación de voto en País Vasco (Por provincias)" (PDF). La Razón (in Spanish). 18 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
15. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas), Septiembre 2016. Sondeo Ikerfel". Electograph (in Spanish). 18 September 2016.
16. "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas (Septiembre 2016)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 14 September 2016.
17. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas), Septiembre 2016. Sondeo Ikertalde / Gob. Vasco". Electograph (in Spanish). 14 September 2016.
18. "EiTB Focus: El PNV ganaría el 25S; EH Bildu segunda y Podemos, tercera". EiTB (in Spanish). 7 September 2016.
19. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas), Septiembre 2016. Sondeo Gizaker". Electograph (in Spanish). 7 September 2016.
20. "Preelectoral del País Vasco. Elecciones autonómicas 2016 (Estudio nº 3152. Agosto-Septiembre 2016)" (PDF). CIS (in Spanish). 8 September 2016.
21. "El PP gana en Galicia y el PNV en Euskadi". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 September 2016.
22. "Unidos Podemos ganaría las generales en Euskadi en votos y escaños". EiTB (in Spanish). 16 June 2016.
23. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas y Generales), Junio 2016. Sondeo Gizaker". Electograph (in Spanish). 16 June 2016.
24. "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Generales y Autonómicas (Junio 2016)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 9 June 2016.
25. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas y Generales), Junio 2016. Sondeo Ikertalde / GPS G. Vasco". Electograph (in Spanish). 9 June 2016.
26. "BCO Euskadi. Elecciones Autonómicas y Generales del 26 de Junio". SyM Consulting (in Spanish). 29 April 2016.
27. "El PNV ganaría las elecciones vascas igualando los escaños de 2012". EiTB (in Spanish). 19 May 2016.
28. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas y Generales), Mayo 2016. Sondeo Gizaker". Electograph (in Spanish). 19 May 2016.
29. "El PNV ganaría las elecciones; Podemos y EH Bildu empatarían". EiTB (in Spanish). 21 April 2016.
30. "PAÍS VASCO (Autonómicas y Generales), Abril 2016. Sondeo Gizaker". Electograph (in Spanish). 21 April 2016.
31. "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas (Febrero 2016)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 16 February 2016.
32. "PAÍS VASCO, Febrero 2016. Sondeo Ikertalde / GPS Gobierno Vasco". Electograph (in Spanish). 16 February 2016.
33. "Euskobarómetro Enero 2016. Estimación Electoral Parlamento Vasco". EHU (in Spanish). 18 March 2016.
34. "Elecciones vascas: PNV 30% (22-23), Podemos (21-22), Bildu 19% (13-14), PSE-EE 12.8% (10), PP 8.3% (6), IU 3% (0-1)". Twitter (in Spanish). 17 January 2016.
35. "Euskobarómetro Mayo 2015. Estimación Electoral". EHU (in Spanish). 30 July 2015.
36. "Euskobarómetro Noviembre 2014. Estimaciones Electorales". EHU (in Spanish). 26 December 2014.
37. "Proyección del resultado de las europeas en los parlamentos autonómicos". El País (in Spanish). 31 May 2014.
38. "Estimaciones Electorales del Euskobarómetro de Mayo de 2014 para el Parlamento Vasco". EHU (in Spanish). 4 July 2014.
39. "Estimaciones Electorales del Euskobarómetro "Noviembre 2013" para el Parlamento Vasco". EHU (in Spanish). 27 December 2013.
40. "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas (Noviembre 2013)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 21 November 2013.
41. "Estimaciones Electorales del Euskobarómetro de Mayo de 2013 para el Parlamento Vasco". EHU (in Spanish). 27 May 2013.
42. "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas (Mayo 2013)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 27 April 2013.

Other

1. "Urkullu adelanta las elecciones vascas al 25 de septiembre". El Mundo (in Spanish). 29 July 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
2. "Urkullu convoca las elecciones vascas el 25 de septiembre". El País (in Spanish). 29 July 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
3. "Feijóo adelanta las elecciones gallegas al 25 de septiembre". El País (in Spanish). 1 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
4. "El PNV gana las elecciones vascas por mayoría simple y Urkullu tendrá que negociar para poder gobernar de nuevo" (in Spanish). RTVE. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
5. "El PNV gobernará en coalición con los socialistas". El País (in Spanish). 17 November 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
6. "Urkullu, elegido lehendakari de la undécima legislatura por mayoría simple". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 24 November 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
7. "PNV y PSE retomarán la fórmula que mantuvo el Gobierno vasco de 1987 a 1998". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 November 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
8. "Un acuerdo PNV-PSE 19 años después". ABC (in Spanish). 21 November 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
9. "PNV y PSE completan su alianza en Euskadi con una coalición en Vitoria". El País (in Spanish). 23 May 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
10. "El PP coge aire en las urnas gallegas y vascas frente a un PSOE en caída libre". 20 minutos (in Spanish). 26 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
11. "Susana Díaz quiere retrasar el congreso y exige a Pedro Sánchez que asuma "responsabilidades"". El Mundo (in Spanish). 26 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
12. "El PSOE andaluz estalla e inicia una guerra en campo abierto contra Sánchez". Público (in Spanish). 26 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
13. "Media ejecutiva estudia dimitir para forzar la salida de Pedro Sánchez". El País (in Spanish). 27 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
14. "Dimite media ejecutiva del PSOE para forzar el cese de Pedro Sánchez". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 28 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
15. "Pedro Sánchez dimite como secretario general del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). 2 October 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
16. "Rajoy, investido presidente gracias a la abstención de todos los diputados del PSOE excepto 15". El Mundo (in Spanish). 29 October 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
17. "Pedro Sánchez vuelve a ser el secretario general del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
18. Ley Orgánica 3/1979, de 18 de diciembre, de Estatuto de Autonomía para el País Vasco (Organic Law 3) (in Spanish). 18 December 1979. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
19. Reig Pellicer, Naiara (16 December 2015). "Spanish elections: Begging for the right to vote". cafebabel.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
20. Ley 5/1990, de 15 de junio, de Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco (Law 5) (in Spanish). 15 June 1990. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
21. Ley 7/1981, de 30 de junio, sobre Ley de Gobierno (Law 7) (in Spanish). 30 June 1981. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
22. "Decreto 23/2016, de 1 de agosto, del Lehendakari, por el que se disuelve el Parlamento Vasco y se convocan elecciones" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del País Vasco (in Spanish) (146). 2 August 2016. ISSN 2483-5366.
23. "PNV y PSE cierran el acuerdo que alivia la minoría del Gobierno vasco". El País (in Spanish). 9 September 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
24. "La reforma fiscal pone fin a la etapa liberal del PNV que abraza con fuerza la socialdemocracia". El Correo (in Spanish). 7 October 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
25. "La moderación de Urkullu inquieta". El País (in Spanish). 24 September 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
26. "Íñigo Urkullu, la calma que llegó tras Ibarretxe". ABC (in Spanish). 9 September 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
27. "El PNV logra el mayor poder institucional en tres décadas". El País (in Spanish). 12 June 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
28. "El PSE-EE refrenda por unanimidad el acuerdo alcanzado con el PNV" (in Spanish). EiTB. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
29. "Podemos trae en jaque a la izquierda en Euskadi". El País (in Spanish). 1 June 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
30. "Podemos desembarca en Euskadi". El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 December 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
31. "Podemos pone en peligro la supremacía del PNV". El País (in Spanish). 26 December 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
32. "Podemos gana en Euskadi, aunque el PNV se impone en escaños" (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
33. "Unidos Podemos gana en votos y escaños al PNV en Euskadi, al 100% escrutado". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 27 June 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
34. "Podemos pide sitio en la Cámara". El Mundo (in Spanish). 26 May 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
35. "Examen en las urnas a la gestión de EH Bildu". El Mundo (in Spanish). 23 May 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
36. "Gipuzkoa: Vaparalo a EH Bildu, que sufre el desgaste de su gestión". El Mundo (in Spanish). 25 May 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
37. "Pedro Sánchez ignora la guerra interna del PSOE en el cierre de la campaña gallega". eldiario.es (in Spanish). 24 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
38. "25-S: Sánchez mide (otra vez) su liderazgo antes de librar la pugna final con sus críticos". El Confidencial (in Spanish). 25 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
39. "Pedro Sánchez planea que la batalla por el liderazgo del PSOE sea antes que las terceras elecciones". eldiario.es (in Spanish). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
40. "La opción de Pedro Sánchez de adelantar la batalla por el liderazgo desconcierta al PSOE". eldiario.es (in Spanish). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
41. "Sánchez vuelve a calibrar su liderazgo en las elecciones gallegas y vascas". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 22 September 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
42. "Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco / Eusko Legebilitzarra (desde 1980)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2023.
43. "Parliamentarios y Órganos. Grupos. Composición. Históricos - X Legislatura". Basque Parliament (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2023.
44. Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General (Organic Law 5) (in Spanish). 19 June 1985. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
45. "El PNV proclama a Urkullu como el candidato de la "nación foral"". El Mundo (in Spanish). 8 May 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
46. "Otegi, proclamado por las bases candidato a lehendakari de EH Bildu". eldiario.es (in Spanish). 24 May 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
47. "La Junta Electoral inhabilita a Otegi como candidato a lehendakari para el 25-S". El Confidencial (in Spanish). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
48. "Idoia Mendia, primera mujer que dirige al socialismo vasco en 125 años de historia". eldiario.es (in Spanish). 20 September 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
49. "Idoia Mendia, proclamada candidata del PSE-EE a lehendakari". El Mundo (in Spanish). 1 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
50. "Alfonso Alonso será el candidato del PP a lehendakari". El País (in Spanish). 1 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
51. "Pilar Zabala, candidata a lehendakari de Podemos tras ganar las primarias". El País (in Spanish). 1 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
52. "La confluencia ya tiene nombre: Elkarrekin Podemos". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 12 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
53. "Nicolás de Miguel, candidato a lehendakari por Ciudadanos". Expansión (in Spanish). 11 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
54. "UPYD renuncia a presentarse a las elecciones vascas". El Confidencial (in Spanish). 22 August 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
55. "Arnaldo Otegi sale de la cárcel de Logroño tras seis años y medio preso". El País (in Spanish). 1 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
56. "Las bases de EH Bildu designan a Otegi como candidato a lehendakari". El País (in Spanish). 24 May 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
57. "La Fiscalía recalca que Otegi es "inelegible"". El País (in Spanish). 12 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
58. "El PSE-EE no impugnará la candidatura de Otegi". El Mundo (in Spanish). 11 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
59. "PP, UPyD y Ciudadanos impugnarán la lista de Otegi en defensa de las víctimas terrorismo". El Mundo (in Spanish). 9 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
60. "La Junta ratifica que Otegi no puede ser candidato y le excluye de concurrir a las elecciones vascas". Europa Press (in Spanish). 29 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
61. "La Junta Electoral decide que Otegi no puede ser candidato por estar inhabilitado". El País (in Spanish). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
62. "PNV, Elkarrekin Podemos y C's abren campaña en Vitoria, EH Bildu y PSE en Bilbao y el PP en San Sebastián". 20 minutos (in Spanish). Bilbao. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
63. ""Eraiki Euskadi. Euskadi mira al futuro" será el eslogan de EAJ-PNV para las Elecciones Vascas". www.eaj-pnv.eus (in Spanish). EAJ/PNV. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
64. "Bildu, todo con Otegi pero sin Otegi" (in Spanish). RTVE. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
65. "El PSE se presenta como la única garantía de acuerdos plurales en Euskadi". El Mundo (in Spanish). Bilbao. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
66. Albin, Danilo (16 August 2016). "El PP alienta el fantasma del "Brexit vasco" para buscar votos en Euskadi". Público (in Spanish). Bilbao. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
67. "Antonio Danborenea (PP): Aldarrikapen subiranisten "galga"". Bizkaiko Hitza (in Basque). 23 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
68. Rodríguez Viñas, Sergio (1 September 2016). "Elkarrekin Podemos acusa a Urkullu de "minusvalorar los problemas"". El Mundo (in Spanish). Bilbao. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
69. Mingorance, Andrea (10 August 2016). "Ciudadanos apela a los vascos de centro para enfrentarse al difícil reto de Euskadi". Diario Crítico (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 January 2018.
70. "Election Results Archive". euskadi.eus (in Spanish). Basque Government. Retrieved 24 September 2017.