Spanish politics and recent history

It is for anyone thinking about moving to Spain, planning a move or already living there. You do not need any background. Politics and history explain a lot of what people say, and what they avoid saying, so a little context goes a long way.

Start with "Spain's main political parties and coalitions explained". It gives you the party landscape and the names you will hear most often. After that, read the pages on territorial tensions and on the Civil War and Franco years, because these are the subjects where a careless remark is most likely to land badly. The pages on the monarchy, the media and attitudes to corruption and bureaucracy follow when you want more depth.

Key rules

• Investiture vote: A prime minister candidate needs 176 of 350 votes on the first vote, or more yes than no votes in a second vote 48 hours later; if nobody is invested within two months of the first vote, new elections are called.
• Next election: The latest date for the next general election is August 2027, though the prime minister can call one earlier.
• Majority: No party wins a majority alone, so every government depends on coalition partners or deals with smaller parties.
• Core issue: The dispute is about who decides, Madrid or the regions, and it mixes identity, language, money and history.
• Puigdemont: The amnesty covers many people, but Puigdemont's own case is still unresolved in the courts.
• Franco's death: Franco died on 20 November 1975, and the 1978 Constitution was approved by referendum on 6 December 1978.

Documents you may need

• Passport — How Spaniards view corruption, the state and bureaucracy
• NIE, your foreigner identification number: bring the original and a photocopy — How Spaniards view corruption, the state and bureaucracy
• Empadronamiento — How Spaniards view corruption, the state and bureaucracy

Spanish politics and recent history: questions that cross several articles

Who governs Spain and does the government have a majority?

Pedro Sánchez of the PSOE is prime minister, leading a PSOE-Sumar coalition formed in November 2023, and it has no stable majority. It relies on issue-by-issue support from parties such as ERC, EH Bildu, PNV and others, while Junts broke with it in late 2025. Read "Spain's main political parties and coalitions explained" for the parties, and "Catalonia, the Basque Country and other territorial tensions" for why regional parties matter.

When is the next Spanish general election?

The latest date for the next general election is August 2027, though the prime minister can call one earlier. The opposition often demands an early vote, but Sánchez has said he will serve to the end of the term. "Spain's main political parties and coalitions explained" shows how the seats are split.

Does the 2024 amnesty law cover Puigdemont?

Not so far: the Supreme Court judge refused to apply the amnesty to Puigdemont for embezzlement, so his arrest warrant stood. The law itself came into force in June 2024 and the Constitutional Court upheld it in large part in June 2025, and many other people were covered. His appeal and questions before the EU Court of Justice are still open.

How do Catalonia and the Basque Country relate to the national government?

Both regions have their own governments, and their parties affect votes in Madrid. Catalonia's president Salvador Illa (PSC) governs in minority with ERC support and is not pro-independence. In the Basque Country, Imanol Pradales (PNV) governs with the Basque Socialists, while EH Bildu leads the opposition.