1997 PSOE federal party congress
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945 delegates in the Federal Congress Plurality of delegates needed to win | |||||||||||||
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| Turnout | Executive: 914 (96.7%) Committee: 925 (97.9%) | ||||||||||||
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The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) held its 34th federal congress in Madrid from 20 to 22 June 1997, to renovate its governing bodies—including the post of secretary-general, which amounted to that of party leader—and establish the party platform and policy until the next congress.
Felipe González, who had led the PSOE since 1974 and had been prime minister of Spain between 1982 and 1996, announced in the first day of congress that he would not be seeking re-election as party leader, a move that caught everyone by surprise. This move was seen as a way to facilitate the party's renovation, but also to put an end to tensions over the continuity of his former colleague and now rival, deputy secretary-general Alfonso Guerra, who was forced to step down as a result.
Amid fears of an internal struggle over party succession, with possible contenders including former public works minister Josep Borrell, regional party leaders and González himself backed former several times minister Joaquín Almunia as the latter's replacement. Almunia would be elected unopposed as new secretary-general, securing 74.7% of the delegate vote in the congress for his executive, with 25.3% casting blank ballots.[1]
Background
[edit]Initially scheduled for 1998, the leadership of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) announced that it would hold the party's congress one year earlier, in June 1997, in order to better organize themselves as the opposition to the incumbent government of the People's Party (PP) under prime minister José María Aznar.[2][3][4]
The congress had been initially expected to focus on the continuity of deputy secretary-general Alfonso Guerra—whose support had dwindled internally[5][6]—in the party's executive,[7][8] as well as various proposals to renovate the party's image and structure (including a proposal for drastically reducing the executive body's size and move the party's regional leaders to a separate political body having been brought forward by PSOE leader Felipe González).[9][10][11] González's leadership of the party was not in question, despite his previous plans in 1995 to renounce as its prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 1996 Spanish general election in favour of then-foreign affairs minister Javier Solana[12][13]—a plan thwarted by Solana's election as NATO secretary-general in December 1995[14][15]—and González's own announcement in May 1997 that he did not wish to run for the post of prime minister again.[16] Overall, it was assumed that González would remain at the helm of the party's transition towards its renovation.[17]
As the congress date came closer, the political focus centered on Guerra's position,[18][19][20] with a majority of PSOE regional leaders pushing for his removal.[21][22][23] Guerra himself threatened to entrench himself in the post with the support of party delegates,[24][25][26] while denouncing a "conspiracy" against him.[27][28] Tensions rose further when, in the week preceding the congress, the PSOE leadership dared Guerra to challenge González's list.[29] In the hours previous to the congress' start, it emerged that González would be addressing the process for his succession in his opening remarks in order to move the focus from the internal struggle around Guerra's future.[30]
Candidates
[edit]| Candidate | Notable positions | Announced | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proposed[edit] | |||||
| Candidates who were officially proposed to contest the party congress. | |||||
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Joaquín Almunia (age 49) |
Spokesperson of the Socialist Group of the Congress (since 1994) Secretary of Studies and Programs of the PSOE (1981–1984 and since 1994) Member of the Congress of Deputies for Madrid (since 1979) Minister for Public Administrations of Spain (1986–1991) Minister of Labour and Social Security of Spain (1982–1986) Secretary of Trade Union Policy of the PSOE (1979–1981) |
21 June 1997 | [31] [32] [33] | |
Declined
[edit]The individuals in this section were the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy, but publicly denied or recanted interest in running:
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- Manuel Chaves (age 51) — Secretary-General of the PSOE–A (since 1994); President of the Regional Government of Andalusia (since 1990); Member of the Parliament of Andalusia for Cádiz (since 1990); Member of the PSOE Executive Commission (1981–1984 and since 1990); Minister of Labour and Social Security of Spain (1986–1990); Member of the Congress of Deputies for Cádiz (1977–1990); Secretary of Economy of the PSOE (1984–1988).[31][32][33]
- José Bono (age 46) — President of the PSCM–PSOE (since 1990); Member of the PSOE Executive Commission (since 1990); Member of the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha for Toledo (since 1987); President of the Regional Government of Castilla–La Mancha (since 1983); Secretary-General of the PSCM–PSOE (1988–1990); Member of the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha for Albacete (1983–1987); Member of the Congress of Deputies for Albacete (1979–1983); Fourth Secretary of the Congress of Deputies (1979–1982).[32][33][34]
- Josep Borrell (age 50) — Member of the Congress of Deputies for Barcelona (since 1986); 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).[31][32][33][34][35][36]
- Felipe González (age 55) – Leader of the Opposition of Spain (since 1996); Secretary-General of the PSOE (1974–1979 and since 1979); Member of the Congress of Deputies for Madrid (since 1977); Prime Minister of Spain (1982–1996); President pro tempore of the Council of the European Union (1989 and 1995); Spokesperson of the Congress Socialist Parliamentary Group (1977–1979).[2][37]
- Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra (age 49) — Member of the PSOE Executive Commission (since 1994); President of the Regional Government of Extremadura (since 1983); Secretary-General of the PSOE of Extremadura (since 1988); Member of the Assembly of Extremadura for Badajoz (since 1983); Secretary-General of the PSOE of Badajoz (1979–1988); Member of the Congress of Deputies for Badajoz (1977–1983); Minister of Health and Social Security of Extremadura (1978–1979).[32][33]
- Ramón Jáuregui (age 48) — Minister of Justice, Labour and Social Security of the Basque Country (since 1995); Member of the Basque Parliament for Gipuzkoa (1980–1983 and since 1990); Secretary-General of the PSE–PSOE/PSE–EE (PSOE) (since 1988); Vice Lehendakari (1987–1991); President of the PSE–PSOE (1985–1988); Delegate of the Government of Spain in the Basque Country (1983–1987); City Councillor of San Sebastián (1979–1980); President of the Caretaker Commission of the City Council of San Sebastián (1978–1979).[31]
- Pasqual Maragall (age 56) — President of the European Committee of the Regions (since 1996); Mayor of Barcelona (since 1982); City Councillor of Barcelona (since 1979); Member of the Parliament of Catalonia for Barcelona (1988–1995); Deputy Mayor for Administrative Organization and Reform of Barcelona (1979–1982).[31][38]
- Francisco Vázquez (age 51) — Secretary-General of the PSdeG–PSOE (1980–1982 and since 1994); Mayor of A Coruña (since 1983); City Councillor of A Coruña (since 1983); Member of the Congress of Deputies for A Coruña (1977–1981 and since 1982); President of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (1991–1995); Member of the Parliament of Galicia for A Coruña (1981–1982).[31][32][33]
Opinion polls
[edit]Poll results are listed in the tables below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first, and using the date the survey's fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. If such date is unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the candidate's colour. In the instance of a tie, the figures with the highest percentages are shaded.
PSOE voters
[edit]| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size |
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Other /None |
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Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almunia | Guerra | Solana | Bono | Borrell | Chaves | Serra | ||||||
| ASEP[p 1] | 7–11 Jul 1997[a] | 1,214 | 7.9 | 4.1 | 15.7 | 4.1 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 29.4 | 31.4 | 7.8 |
Spanish voters
[edit]| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size |
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Other /None |
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Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almunia | Guerra | Solana | Bono | Borrell | Chaves | Serra | Corcuera | Solchaga | ||||||
| ASEP[p 1] | 7–11 Jul 1997[a] | 1,214 | 5.2 | 1.8 | 9.7 | 2.6 | 5.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | – | – | 36.3 | 38.7 | 4.5 |
| Opina/La Vanguardia[p 2] | 8–11 Apr 1994 | 2,000 | – | 5.5 | 2.3 | – | – | 0.8 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 16.4 | 66.2 | 0.8 |
Delegate estimations
[edit]González's allies (renovadores, Spanish for "renovators") were estimated as having the support of about 80% of elected delegated to the congress, whereas the pro-Guerra faction (guerristas) was attributed between less than 20% and no more than 25%.[39][40]
Results
[edit]Overall
[edit]| Candidate | Executive | Committee | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Joaquín Almunia | 681 | 74.67 | 823 | 89.17 | |
| Blank ballots | 231 | 25.33 | 100 | 10.83 | |
| Total | 912 | 923 | |||
| Valid votes | 912 | 99.78 | 923 | 99.78 | |
| Invalid votes | 2 | 0.22 | 2 | 0.22 | |
| Votes cast / turnout | 914 | 96.72 | 925 | 97.88 | |
| Not voting | 31 | 3.28 | 20 | 2.12 | |
| Total delegates | 945 | 945 | |||
| Sources[1][41] | |||||
Executive composition
[edit]Executive posts:
- Leader
- Permanent commission
| Post | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| President | Ramón Rubial |
| Secretary-General | Joaquín Almunia |
| Secretary of Organization | Ciprià Ciscar |
| Secretary of Communication | Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba |
| Secretary of International Relations | Raimon Obiols |
| Secretary of Regional Policy | Ramón Jáuregui |
| Secretary of Local Policy | Alfonso Perales |
| Secretary of Economy | Juan Manuel Eguiagaray |
| Secretary of Employment | Joan Lerma |
| Secretary of Social Welfare | Clementina Díez de Baldeón |
| Secretary of Social Movements | Carmen Cerdeira |
| Secretary of Culture | Joaquín Leguina |
| Secretary of Women Participation | Micaela Navarro |
| Member without portfolio | José Bono |
| Member without portfolio | Josep Borrell |
| Member without portfolio | Augusto Brito |
| Member without portfolio | Abel Caballero |
| Member without portfolio | Manuel Chaves |
| Member without portfolio | Dolores Eguren |
| Member without portfolio | Josefa Frau |
| Member without portfolio | Carmen Hermosín |
| Member without portfolio | Ana Leiva |
| Member without portfolio | María Antonia Martínez |
| Member without portfolio | Carmen Martínez Ten |
| Member without portfolio | Ana Noguera |
| Member without portfolio | Alberto Pérez Cueto |
| Member without portfolio | Montserrat Reyes |
| Member without portfolio | Teresa Riera |
| Member without portfolio | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| Member without portfolio | Consuelo Rumí |
| Member without portfolio | Paquita Sauquillo |
| Member without portfolio | Narcís Serra |
| Member without portfolio | Francisco Vázquez |
| Sources[42][43] | |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Opinion poll sources
- ^ a b "Sondeo 'La Opinión Pública de los Españoles' (ASEP, España)". Banco de datos ASEP/JDS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "González no tiene sucesor". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 17 April 1994.
- Other
- ^ a b Lozano, Carles. "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.
- ^ a b Díez, Anabel (17 January 1997). "El PSOE celebrará su congreso en junio y dedicará 1998 a lanzarse como alternativa". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (25 January 1997). "El adelanto del congreso del PSOE se pactó en una reunion de ocho dirigentes con González". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "PSOE. Reunido el Comité Federal del PSOE, que convocará el 34 Congreso del partido" (in Spanish). Madrid: Servimedia. 8 February 1997. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (26 January 1997). "Bono pide a González que de libertad a los delegados para renovar la ejecutiva". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (3 February 1997). "El temor al choque interno y la debilidad de su grupo frenan los apoyos a Guerra". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Casqueiro, Javier; Díez, Anabel (27 January 1997). "Leguina propone hablar con Guerra sobre su futuro antes del congreso". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (5 May 1997). "Los guerristas fuerzan el debate sobre el futuro del vicesecretario, del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (20 January 1997). "La cúpula del PSOE planea reducir la ejecutiva a la mitad". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel; Casqueiro, Javier (27 January 1997). "González reclama una ejecutiva muy reducida y que los 'barones' se vayan a un consejo político". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (18 February 1997). "La próxima ejecutiva socialista excluirá a 20 de sus actuales miembros". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis; Díez, Anabel (8 October 1995). "Los íntimos de Felipe González le ven resuelto a no presentarse". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Galán, Lola; Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (7 December 1995). "González admite en público que ahora puede ser un "problema" y no "la solución" para su partido". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (22 November 1995). "La candidatura de Solana a la OTAN condiciona los planes de González de renunciar a la reelección". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (19 December 1995). "González será candidato por séptima vez". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "El PSOE, seguro de que González optará de nuevo a la presidencia". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 10 May 1997. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Pascual Bueno 2016, p. 110.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (26 May 1997). "El PSOE intentará que su congreso no se centre a la figura del 'número dos'". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (7 June 1997). "González elude opinar sobre el futuro de Guerra "para no interferir en el congreso"". El País (in Spanish). Malmö. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (8 June 1997). "Los felipistas afirman que la ejecutiva del PSOE sólo será compacta sin Guerra". El País (in Spanish). Malmö. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (21 May 1997). "13 de los 18 dirigentes regionales del PSOE no quieren a Guerra en la ejecutiva". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (23 May 1997). "Los líderes regionales del PSOE ya han acordado suprimir el cargo de Guerra". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (10 June 1997). "Los 'barones', contra la vicesecretaría". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (10 June 1997). "Los guerristas exigen a Felipe González que se defina sobre la ejecutiva que quiere". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Guerra dice que sólo los delegados decidirán si sigue en la ejecutiva". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 12 June 1997. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (13 June 1997). "Los guerristas critican la falta de debate entre las bases sobre la salida de Guerra". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Guerra afirma que Chaves encabeza una operación para excluirle de la próxima ejecutiva del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 22 January 1997. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Guerra denuncia una "conspiración" de seis 'barones'". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 20 June 1997. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (17 June 1997). "La dirección del PSOE reta a Alfonso Guerra a que se enfrente a la lista de Felipe González". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (20 June 1997). "Gonzalez abrirá hoy el debate sobre su sucesión en la inauguración del congreso socialista". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Díez, Anabel (21 June 1997). "Los congresistas barajan hasta cinco candidatos". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Paz, Rosa (22 June 1997). "Sólo los guerristas se oponen a Almunia". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Díez, Anabel (22 June 1997). "Los 'barones' colocan a Almunia en la secretaría general tras garantizarse que entran en la ejecutiva". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Bono propone a Borrell como sustituto de González cuando este abandone" (in Spanish). Madrid: Servimedia. 17 July 1995. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel; Rodríguez Aizpeolea, Luis (2 December 1995). "Borrell gana espacio como candidato y arrecian las presiones sobre González". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (22 June 1997). "El espantajo de Borrell". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (21 June 1997). "Felipe González abandona la secretaría general para forzar la renovación del partido". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "En busca de un nuevo líder". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 21 June 1997. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (2 May 1997). "Los renovadores del PSOE cuentan con un 80% de delegados para el congreso de junio". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Paz, Rosa (2 May 1997). "Los felipistas buscan un cargo a Guerra para que deje la ejecutiva". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "PSOE. Elegida la nueva Ejecutiva con casi un 25% de voto en blanco" (in Spanish). Madrid: Servimedia. 22 June 1997. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ Paz, Rosa (23 June 1997). "Sólo los guerristas se oponen a Almunia". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ "Un 55% de caras nuevas en la ejecutiva del PSOE". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 23 June 1997. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
Bibliography
[edit]- Sanz Díaz, Benito (2015). "Primarias en España. Se inicia la era posfelipista. 34 congreso PSOE. 1997. Almunia versus Borrell. 24 de abril de 1998". Elecciones primarias en España. 1993-2015 (in Spanish). Valencia: University of Valencia. hdl:10550/44646.
- 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.