2019 European Parliament election in Spain

Author Details
Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2019
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Summary:

Reports, analyses and information on the electoral campaign and the aftermath of the European Parliament election held in Spain on 26 May 2019.

Further information:

The European Parliament election was held in Spain just over a month after general elections in the country, which produced complex results and re-shaped trends in national politics. It also had an impact on the electoral campaign leading up to the subsequent election.

Spain's Supreme Court and three other courts based in Madrid ruled in early May 2019 that former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and two other leading members of Catalonia's pro-independence movement - all of them living abroad - would be able to stand as candidates in the forthcoming election. The decision goes against an initial ruling by the Central Electoral Commission, which had prevented the three politicians from running in the election on the basis that - having fled Spain to avoid imprisonment over charges relating to misuse of public funds and/or rebellion - they were technically living abroad and thus not properly registered as Spaniards residing in another country.

The Socialist Party - led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez - scored 32,8%, ahead of the centre-right People's Party's 20,1%. The far-right VOX Party finished in fifth place with 6,2% of the vote. Mr Puigdemont was elected to the European Parliament, as did his former deputy Oriol Junqueras.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Poll of Polls: EP 2019 in Spain https://pollofpolls.eu/ES/65/ep2019-in-spain
Wikipedia: 2019 European Parliament election in Spain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_European_Parliament_election_in_Spain
EurActiv, 01/03/2019: EU country briefing: Spain https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/eu-country-briefing-spain/
ECFR: Commentary, 05/04/2019: The unwavering European: Spain and its place in Europe https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_unwavering_european_spain_and_its_place_in_europe
EurActiv, 15/05/2019: #EU2019 – Spain aims for EU comeback after the elections https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/spain-aims-for-an-eu-comeback-after-the-elections/
Elcano Royal Institute, 21/05/2019: Spain’s influence in the European Parliament: an historical survey and predictions for the new political cycle http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/ari56-2019-toygur-carnicero-spains-influence-in-european-parliament-historical-survey-and-predictions-for-new-political-cycle

News
El País, 11/03/2019: Ex-Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont to run in European parliament election https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/03/11/inenglish/1552292484_826574.html
Politico, 29/04/2019: Spanish electoral body blocks Puigdemont from running in EU election https://www.politico.eu/article/spanish-electoral-body-blocks-former-catalan-president-carles-puigdemont-from-running-in-eu-election/
Politico, 04/05/2019: Spain’s Supreme Court to rule if exiled Catalans can fight EU election https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-supreme-court-rule-on-exiled-catalans-eu-election/
Deutsche Welle, 05/05/2019: Carles Puigdemont cleared to run in EU election https://p.dw.com/p/3HyAi
BBC News, 06/05/2019: Catalan ex-leader Puigdemont can run in EU elections - court https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48178508
EurActiv, 06/05/2019: Spain’s top court says Catalonia’s Puigdemont can run for EU elections https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/spains-top-court-says-catalonias-puigdemont-can-run-for-eu-elections/
El País, 06/05/2019: Spanish courts say Carles Puigdemont can run in EU elections https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/05/06/inenglish/1557157688_226079.html
El País, 10/05/2019: Acting PM uses election success to strengthen Spain’s position in the EU https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/05/10/inenglish/1557477849_115725.html
The Local (Spain), 26/05/2019: Spain's Socialists win big in EU vote https://www.thelocal.es/20190526/exit-polls-socialists-score-resounding-win-in-eu-vote
EurActiv, 27/05/2019: Spain’s Socialists win EU ballot, local vote fragmented https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/spains-socialists-win-eu-ballot-local-vote-fragmented/
El País, 27/05/2019: Socialist Party wins the European elections in Spain https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/05/27/inenglish/1558941321_189987.html
Reuters, 27/05/2019: Spain is back: Sanchez's Socialists return to EU top tab https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-election-spain/spain-is-back-sanchezs-socialists-return-to-eu-top-table-iduskcn1sx1ea

Official
Spanish Central Electoral Commission: Parlamento Europeo 26 de mayo de 2019 [in Spanish] http://www.juntaelectoralcentral.es/cs/jec/eleccionesEnCurso/Europeas_mayo2019?p=1379061494823
European Elections.eu: How to Vote in Spain https://www.european-elections.eu/how-to-vote/spain
Election Results.eu: National Results Spain https://election-results.eu/national-results/spain/2019-2024/

ESO Records
Political campaign ahead of 2019 European Parliament elections https://www.europeansources.info/record/political-campaign-ahead-of-2019-european-parliament-elections/
European Parliament elections, 23-26 May 2019 https://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-elections-23-26-may-2019/

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