35th Federal Congress of the PSOE

The 35th Federal Congress of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party was held in Madrid from 21 to 23 July 2000 to renovate the governing bodies of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and establish the party's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term. It was held after the party's defeat in the 2000 general election and the subsequent resignation of then secretary-general Joaquín Almunia.

35th Federal Congress of the PSOE

← 1997 21−23 July 2000 2004 →
998 delegates in the federal congress Plurality of delegates needed to win
Turnout	995 (99.7%) (secretary) 964 (96.6%) (executive)
Candidate José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero José Bono Matilde Fernández Delegate vote 414 (41.6%) 405 (40.7%) 109 (11.0%) Executive 865 (90.2%) Withdrew Withdrew   Candidate Rosa Díez Blank ballots Delegate vote 65 (6.5%) 2 (0.2%) Executive Withdrew 94 (9.8%)
Secretary before election Caretaker committee headed by Manuel Chaves Elected Secretary José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

Under a plurality voting system, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero unexpectedly won the party leadership with 41.6% of the delegate vote (414 votes), to president of Castilla–La Mancha and initial favourite José Bono's 40.7% (405 votes). Former social affairs minister Matilde Fernández secured 11.0% (109 votes), whereas the leader of the PSOE group in the European Parliament, Rosa Díez, obtained 6.5% (65 votes).^[1][2] Zapatero would subsequently win the 2004 Spanish general election and become prime minister of Spain in April 2004, a post he would held until 2011.

Timetable

The key dates are listed below (all times are CET):^[3][4]

• 22 March: Official announcement of the congress.
• 13–15 June: Election of congress delegates.
• 21–23 July: Federal congress.

Candidates

Candidate		Age	Notable positions	Announced	Eliminated	Ref.
Elected
Candidate elected as secretary-general.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero		39	Deputy in the Cortes Generales for León (since 1986)	25 June 2000	Y Elected	[5]
Proclaimed
Candidates who met the endorsement requirement and were officially proclaimed to contest the party congress.
José Bono		49	President of the Junta of Communities of Castilla–La Mancha (since 1983) Deputy in the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha for Albacete and Toledo (since 1983) President of the PSCM–PSOE (1990–1997) Secretary-General of the PSCM–PSOE (1988–1990) Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Albacete and Toledo (1979–1983) Fourth Secretary of the Congress of Deputies (1979–1982)	17 June 2000	22 July 2000	[4] [6]
Matilde Fernández		50	City Councillor of Madrid (since 1999) President of the PSC–PSOE (since 1997) Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Cantabria (1989–2000) Secretary of Women of the PSOE (1984–1997) Minister of Social Affairs of Spain (1988–1993)	27 May 2000	22 July 2000	[7] [8]
Rosa Díez		47	President of the PSOE Delegation in the European Parliament (since 1999) Member of the European Parliament for Spain (since 1999) Deputy in the Basque Parliament for Álava and Biscay (1987–1999) Minister of Trade, Consumer Affairs and Tourism of the Basque Country (1991–1998) City Councillor of Güeñes (1987–1991) Vice President of the General Councils of Biscay for Valmaseda (1983–1987) Deputy in the General Councils of Biscay for Valmaseda and Encartaciones (1979–1987)	4 May 2000	22 July 2000	[9] [10]

Declined

The individuals in this section were the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy, but publicly denied or recanted interest in running:

• 
  Cristina Alberdi
• 
  Joaquín Almunia
• 
  Josep Borrell
• 
  Felipe González

• Cristina Alberdi (age 54) — President of the FSM–PSOE (since 1997); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Málaga and Madrid (since 1996); Minister of Social Affairs of Spain (1993–1996).^[11]
• Joaquín Almunia (age 51) — Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Madrid (since 1979); Leader of the Opposition of Spain (1997–1998 and 1999–2000); Secretary-General of the PSOE (1997–2000); Spokesperson of the PSOE Group in the Congress of Deputies (1994–1997); Minister of Public Administrations (1986–1991); Minister of Labour and Social Security (1982–1986).^[12]
• Josep Borrell (age 52) — Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Barcelona (since 1986); Leader of the Opposition of Spain (1998–1999); Spokesperson of the PSOE Group in the Congress of Deputies (1998–1999); Minister of Public Works, Transport and Environment of Spain (1993–1996); Minister of Public Works and Urbanism of Spain (1991–1993); Secretary of State of Finance of Spain (1984–1991); Secretary-General of Budget and Public Expenditure of Spain (1982–1984); City Councillor of Majadahonda (1979–1983).^[13]
• Felipe González (age 58) — Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Madrid and Seville (since 1977); Secretary-General of the PSOE (1974–1979 and 1979–1997); Prime Minister of Spain (1982–1996); President pro tempore of the Council of the European Union (1989 and 1995); Spokesperson of the PSOE Group in the Congress of Deputies (1977–1979).^[14]

Endorsements

Candidates seeking to run were required to collect the endorsements of at least 10% of congress delegates.^[15][16]

Summary of candidate endorsement results

Candidate		Delegates
		Count	% T	% V
	José Bono	350	35.07	47.43
	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	184	18.44	24.93
	Rosa Díez	103	10.32	13.96
	Matilde Fernández	101	10.12	13.69
Total		738
Valid endorsements		738	73.95
Not endorsing		260	26.05
Total members		998
Sources[17]

Endorsements by delegates Bono   47.43% Zapatero   24.93% Díez   13.96% Fernández   13.69%

Results

Summary of the 22–23 July 2000 congress results

Candidate		Secretary		Executive
		Votes	%	Votes	%
	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	414	41.61	865	90.20
	José Bono	405	40.70	Withdrew
	Matilde Fernández	109	10.95	Withdrew
	Rosa Díez	65	6.53	Withdrew
Blank ballots		2	0.20	94	9.80
Total		995		959
Valid votes		995	100.00	959	99.48
Invalid votes		0	0.00	5	0.52
Votes cast / turnout		995	99.70	964	96.59
Abstentions		3	0.30	34	3.41
Total delegates		998		998
Sources[2][18][19]

Vote by delegates (Secretary-General) Zapatero   41.61% Bono   40.70% Fernández   10.95% Díez   6.53% Blank ballots   0.20%

Vote by delegates (Executive) Zapatero   90.20% Blank ballots   9.80%

References

1. "Comienza el cambio tranquilo". PSOE (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 February 2012.
2. "Partido Socialista Obrero Español. Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya, P.Socialista de Euskadi E.E., Partido Socialista Popular, PSOE histórico". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
3. "Los socialistas deben elegir hoy entre un congreso ordinario o extraordinario". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 22 March 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
4. "Bono confirmará en los próximos días su candidatura para liderar el PSOE". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 7 June 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
5. Elordi Cué, Carlos (26 June 2000). "Zapatero se presenta y rechaza la idea de una refundación del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). León. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
6. "Bono hace oficial su candidatura a liderar el PSOE desde la independencia". Última Hora (in Spanish). Toledo. EFE. 18 June 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
7. "Los guerristas lanzan a Matilde Fernández al liderazgo del PSOE". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Madrid. EFE. 23 May 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
8. Á. Regatero, José (28 May 2000). "El ala izquierda del PSOE crea un frente contra el sector oficialista de José Bono". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
9. "Rosa Díez presenta hoy su candidatura a la Secretaría General del PSOE". Última Hora (in Spanish). OTR Press. 4 May 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
10. "Rosa Díez presenta su candidatura para liderar el PSOE, sola y sin "padrinos"". Última Hora (in Spanish). OTR Press. 4 May 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
11. "Alberdi da marcha atrás y anuncia que no aspirará a liderar el PSOE". El Mundo (in Spanish). Madrid. Agencias. 13 May 2000. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
12. Díez, Anabel (13 March 2000). "Joaquín Almunia asume la derrota y dimite". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
13. Díez, Anabel (15 May 1999). "Borrell renuncia como candidato por el escándalo de sus ex colaboradores". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
14. Díez, Anabel (21 July 2000). "Felipe González comunica a su entorno que no aceptará la presidencia del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
15. López Alba, Gonzalo (26 November 2011). "El PSOE repetirá el modelo de congreso que aupó a Zapatero". Público (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 March 2022.
16. Pascual Bueno, Ernesto M. (2016). Selección de Líderes y Candidatos a la Presidencia del Gobierno (1976-2016). "El jardín secreto del PSOE" (PDF) (PhD) (in Spanish). Barcelona: Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. p. 126. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
17. "Qué dice la historia del PSOE: el triunfo en los avales anticipa la victoria en las urnas". El Confidencial (in Spanish). 3 May 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
18. Díez, Anabel (23 July 2000). "Zapatero gana a Bono por sólo 9 votos". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
19. Díez, Anabel (24 July 2000). "Zapatero recupera la unidad del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 24 March 2022.