I'll update as the count progresses.

This is an excellent source to track the results:
http://www.elpais.es/comunes/2004/elecciones2004/index.html

At 18,33% of the vote count, these are the numbers of seats won - out of 350 total:

PP - 136
PSOE - 163
CIU - 11
IU - 4
EAJ-PNV - 8
CC - 0
BNG - 1
ERC - 8

To form a stable government, it must unite at least 176 seats.

What is clear so far is that PP has lost its former majority; also clear is that (while it looks like PSOE is winning) a coalition with IU and ERC won't be enough, and probably BNG will be needed too. We'll see; that "big left" coalition doesn't seem likely. It's more likely that one or more of those parties will "acquiesce" and give "passive" support: vote to support the creation of government, but refuse to form part of it. It'll be a rocky ride over the next 4 years in that case.

That is quite a loud message that Spain has sent

Thanks for the analysis.

You go, Spain!

Wow indeed.

Other source:
http://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2004/03/espana/14m/resultados/congreso/globales/

Edited to add: with these results, "only" PSOE/IU and ERC would be necessary, and that seems more likely.

Overthe past weeks, PSOE, IU and ERC have been in touch to discuss such a coalition. (ERC was the heart of a big row a few weeks ago, when news broke that its leader Carod Rovira had "agreed" in negotiations with ETA that they wouldn't strike in Catalonia... He had to pull out of local government as a result, but now may carry a much bigger "stick" with his party's seats.)

But, it's still early to tell.

it was not a reply to this message

I can't believe I screwed up again... hehe

as opposed to our idiotic winner take all system

And especially the explanation. :-)

http://www.wgoeshome.com

compared to 51% in our last presidential election. Shame on us.

So it really is up quite dramatically.

Let's do it .... Come on people Rock The Vote :headbang:

Voter turnout: 77,17%

The 6 by CC are significant, as it indicates that the conservative PP lost votes in a relative stronghold (Canary Islands) which went to also conservative, but "regionalist" CC instead.

Interesting...

I mean are there large cities still to come, or is the countryside behind etc ...

Precincts are calling / dialling in results directly, which then are certified a few days later (in official recounts)

So, results come in from all around the country, it's not "centralized" in / via larger regions.

Can anybody give a quick summary of what all those different parties stand for or where they are in the political spectrum?

is that PSOE are the socialists and PP are the "conservatives." Someone also spotted a cannabis party.

PSOE, IU and ERC are the three to watch who will work together. Left leaning. If their vote is above 176 then the ruling of the nation should be smoother because they would have the majority.

PSOE = Spanish Socialist Workers Party; social democrats - comparable to SDP in Germany, or Socialists in France
PP = Popular Party; conservative (Aznar's party)
CiU = Convergència i Unió; conservative, regionalist Catalan party, used to be in power in Catalonia since beginning of Democracy (1978)
EAJ-PNV = Nationalist Basque Party; conservative, regionalist / nationalist, pro greater autonomy and not averse to secession, but willing to stick within constitutional framework with concessions
BNG = Galician Nationalist Bloc; progressive, regionalist, have a relative important chunk of votes, but the "governor" of Galicia (founder of the PP) has an iron grip of majority votes there
ERC = Leftist Catalan Republicans; nationalist, very progressive, pro greater independence of Catalonia, pursues a federal model of Spain, with semi-independece for Catalonia.
CC = Canary Coalition; conservative, regionalist - not a "big" player, but have provided pivotal support in parliament on a few occasions, traditional partner of PP
IU = United Left; platform party created by (mostly) the former Communists, together with a few other small leftist / "green" parties; hasn't been in government yet (sonce Democracy) but is getting very close now. Used to be very acrimonious towards PSOE; with 2 legislatures of PP government, atmosphere for a "productive" coalition seems cleared, sorta like happened in Germany.

soooo that means if PSOE would be willing to adopt a 'regionalist' agenda and team up with left / progressives ... ?

damn no the 'governor' would block that
mmmmmmm

He's toast anyway.

But PSOE has no problem with adapting / modifying (amending) the Constitution, and even the federal state model is negotiable. What isn't negotiable is secession; also, negotiation with ETA while violence goes on is a no-no.

Otherwise, PSOE would be happy to take Spain back to the future again, with the help of its (probable) coalition partners, IU and possibly ERC too.

the votes of the BNG would come in handy, but I see PSOE + ERC + IU could do the trick

:bounce:

There's an ugly history at a regional level, BNG denying its support to (finally!) oust Manuel Fraga - that's the name of the "governon" (his title is formally President of the Xunta, but...)

just became "Old Europe" again!

and I truly believe a united Europe is needed now more than ever.

Has any hanky-panky like vote totals going backwards shown up? (Looong story, but the Reader's Digest version is that many believe that the vote tabulating software here in the US can and has been rigged)

But you can bet that the vote recount / certification process (in which representatives are involved of all participaiting parties in each district) will go over things with a tooth comb.

That's why in other countries (i.e., in Spain) you won't see stuff like happened in Florida (dangling, dimpled, pregnant chads etc.) as the "intent" and hence the count (or not) are agreed upon on the spot.

But since "Florida" has been in the news quite a lot in Europe -- as is the Diebold / BBV issue -- there's no hurry to implement a totally electronic system; certainly not one without a "solid trail."

from the precincts make it to the official combined tallies unmolested. See:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0307/S00065.htm

PSOE, IU and ERC now have 178, right?

Olé!

how their government snubbed them and their opinion on Iraq, going ahead as they saw fit.

Can you tell me what CiU is?

They're conservative, regionalist (I distinguish between "regionalist" and "nationalist" to express a difference in degrees of willingness to support a "separatist agenda")

Mean that 77% of people who registered to vote actually voted?

n/t

There may be some exceptions and I'm not certain of the details in Spain, but as general rule here in Europe one don't have to register to vote, the governement does the registration (all eligible voters are registered) and sends voters info on where and when to vote, and on the day we just go to the polls with accepted proof of identity.

We can do it this way because of the centralized socialist totalitarian system we have! ;)

You have to be registered to vote in Spain - whether in general elections as today, or in municipal elections where (as in other EU countries) registered foreigners are allowed to vote too.

But even in those EU countries where there is no formal requirement to register specifically to vote, the "eligible voter" database is connected to the (municipal) population registration database: if you aren't registered at your "real" address, you won't receive your voter registration / ID card which you need to vote.

So, whether there is a formal "voter" registration census, or the data are part of the "general" population census (maintained at citylevel, typically with a combined obligation to register your "real" address) there is "a" registration where you need to "exist" if you want to receive the equivalent of your ballot.

Welcome to Europe...

See what I mean about the late trend?

Party - Seats - Votes - %
PSOE 164 9392424 43.01 %
PP 148 8181656 37.47 %
CiU 10 722254 3.31 %
ERC 8 570821 2.61 %
EAJ-PNV 7 377710 1.73 %
IU 5 1104794 5.06 %

IU with 5 % 5 seats, CiU with 3.3 % 10 seats ?
I gues seats are won or lost in regions ?

figures from the elmundo site

on this nice site, includes also description of parties near the bottom.

Im gonna look further for the origin of this rule, 'cause D'Hondt is a belgian/dutch name. Thanks for making me curious :-)

But that D'Hondt rule is a major piece of headache, to explain... I'm glad you found a good resource for it! :)

it would seem Viktor D'Hondt was a belgian mathematician who invented this system back in 1882.

Hurray for Viktor, PSOE is the victor !!

?

PSOE, IU and probably ERC

The other regions were pretty much even or with a slight advantage to one of the parties.

In Andalucia the PSOE got 800.000 more votes translated to 15 more seats.

In Cataluna the PSOE got 850.000 more votes with Aznar's party coming in 4th place there. The net gain was also 15 seats.

They regained absolute majority there - Andalusians clearly sent the message: no more fidgety, shaky coalitions, and do your job on your own.

I'm giddy - Manuel Cháves ("governor" of Andalusia) is a great guy.

I think it's getting close to calling it a win for PSOE - and predict a PSOE-lead government!

WOO-HOO!

now please export all of Spains Wisdom to the US !



and let's not forget the victims of 311, whose innocent blood is on Aznars and the PP's hands, but whose legacy should be a government that CARES for all people.

and thanks for getting me 'up to speed' on spanish elections as easily as possible.

he looks terrible!!!

It looks like a landslide.:)

PSOE + ERC + IU is 176 / 350

a bit close but hey... compare to earlier polls who showed PP leading PSOE with 5 % !

I saw articles recently saying the right-wing were going to walk this election. Phewwww

Just look at that:
http://especiales.prisacom.com/2004/elecciones2004/resultados/senado.html

PP is getting hammered!

Aznar, his successor Rajoy and pretty much everyone in PP must be very happy with their backing of Mr Bush now...

Ah - the joys of political Schadenfreude are so sweet!

Thank you Aznar, now fuck off.

I am sitting here typing with a great big ole grin on my face doing a Snoopy happy dance inside.

Thanks!!! :)

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

They're so smart. They actually vote in their own interest. What a novel idea. I can't believe Fox is the only channel carrying this. what happened to CNN. Showing some stupid (It's illegal to play bingo drunk in Kern county CA) story. News lite. Has to GO.

It holds!

La-la-la-la-laaa... Aznar, Aznar, adiós, ¡que se va!

hey we ought to try that in the US in late October, early November?

Spaniards were 90% against going into Iraq and exposing themselves to danger for no apparent reason. Here, the media has allowed the "Iraq was a battle in the war on terror" lie to permeate the electorate. As perverse as it is, the electorate would see an attack as proof that the Iraq invasion was necessary.

Stupid? Yes, but that's the way it is.

are unhappy and not really motivated to vote right now. If we had an attack, they will be beating down the poll doors to get a chance to touch Diebold.

A friend had voted in the election and she showed us a replica of the ballot. One of the parties actually used the trademark of a ballot being flushed down a toilet.

but 3 other parties with much less votes each get more than 5.

PSOE 164 PP 148 CiU 10 ERC 8 EAJ-PNV 7 IU 5 CC 3 BNG 2

PSOE, IU and ERC add to 177 - so the left rules with no problem!

Let's hope they don't get encouraged to bomb more pre-votes to get their agenda (oust Bush) fulfilled.

He helped their recruiting efforts. Like poking the hornets nest with a stick. The folks in power now, won't poke them with a stick *and* they'll work to end terrorism.

If you don't mind, I'll posit instead that Bush's electoral defeat is a faster and more lasting path to greater security - in the US and abroad.

He deliberately squandered the immediate offers to cooperate internationally to go after "stateless" terrorists; instead, he reflexively made a priority of invading and conquering a state with no clear involvement in Al Q'aida terrorism - with the bitter side effect of now having Al Q'aida presence where before there wasn't.

Bush is notwithstanding his misguided militaristic and surveillance fetish a threat to national and international security; his electoral defeat is in the national and international interest.

Time to seriously focus on Al Q'aida again: I look forward to seeing Zapatero in the Moncloa palace cooperate with Kerry in the White House.

I am so happy with the results!
Their street demonstrations Saturday really showed true democracy in action.
Peaceful protests but it scared the daylights out of BushBoy's Spanish Poodle and his gang of thieves.

:toast:

Guess not every country is mostly sheeple.