1980 Galician Statute of Autonomy referendum

Articles 143 and 151 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 provided for two ordinary procedures for regions to access autonomy status:{{cite act |title=Constitución Española |type=Constitution |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=29 December 1978 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19781229 |access-date=1 September 2019}}

• The "slow-track" route of Article 143, whose initiative required the approval of the corresponding Provincial or Island Councils as well as two-thirds of all municipalities which comprised, at least, a majority of the population in each province or island. Devolution for autonomous communities constituted through this procedure was limited for a period of at least five years from the adoption of the Statute of Autonomy.{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=143&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Sinopsis artículo 143 |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=19 December 2019}}
• The "fast-track" route of Article 151, whose initiative required the approval of the corresponding Provincial or Island Councils; three-fourths of all municipalities which comprised, at least, a majority of the population in each province or island; as well as its subsequent ratification through referendum requiring the affirmative vote of at least the absolute majority of all those eligible to vote.{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=151&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Sinopsis artículo 151 |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=19 December 2019}} Transitory Provision Second of the Constitution waived off these requirements for the "historical regions" which had statutes of autonomy approved by voters during the Second Spanish Republic, namely: Catalonia (1931), the Basque Country (1933) and Galicia (1936).{{cite news |date=31 October 1979 |title=Los estatutos de autonomía de las nacionalidades históricas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/10/31/espana/310172406_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=1 September 2019}}{{cite news |date=9 December 1979 |title=El referéndum de iniciativa, barrera no exigida a las nacionalidades históricas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/09/espana/313542004_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=1 September 2019}}

Once initiated, failure in securing the requirements laid out in each of these procedures determined a five-year period during which the corresponding provinces or islands would not be able to apply for autonomy under the same Article. Additionally, Article 144 provided for an exceptional procedure under which the Cortes Generales could, because of "national interest reasons": a) Authorize the constitution of an autonomous community when its territorial scope did not exceed that of a province and did not meet the requirements of Article 143; b) Authorize the approval of statutes of autonomy for territories not integrated into the provincial organization; and c) Replace the local councils' initiative referred to in Article 143.{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=144&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Sinopsis artículo 144 |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=19 December 2019}}

Draft statutes of autonomy approved under the procedure outlined in Article 151 of the Constitution required for its subsequent ratification in referendum, once ruled favourably by the Constitutional Commission of the Congress of Deputies. Under Article 9 of the Organic Law 2/1980, of 18 January, on the regulation of the different forms of referendums, the ratification required the affirmative vote of at least a majority of those validly issued. In the absence of such a majority in one or several provinces, those voting favourably could constitute themselves into an autonomous community of their own, provided that:{{cite act |title=Ley Orgánica 2/1980, de 18 de enero, sobre regulación de las distintas modalidades de referéndum |type=Organic Law |number=2 |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=18 January 1980 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1980-1564 |access-date=18 December 2019}}

1. The provinces were bordering.
2. That it was decided to continue the statutory process by virtue of an agreement adopted by the absolute majority of the Assembly of Parliamentarians corresponding to the provinces that had voted affirmatively on the draft. In this case, the draft Statute was to be transacted as an Organic Law by the Cortes Generales for the sole purpose of its adaptation to the new territorial scope.
3. If the referendum result had been negative in most or all of the provinces, no new Statute would be drafted for a time lapse of five years, notwithstanding those provinces that, having voted affirmatively, chose to constitute themselves into an autonomous community of their own.

The electoral procedures of the referendum came regulated under Royal Decree-Law 20/1977, of 18 March, and its related legal provisions. Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in the provinces of La Coruña, Lugo, Orense and Pontevedra and in full enjoyment of their civil and political rights.{{cite act |title=Real Decreto-ley 20/1977, de 18 de marzo, sobre Normas Electorales |type=Royal Decree-Law |number=20 |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=18 March 1977 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1977-7445 |access-date=14 December 2019}} The question asked was "Do you approve of the Statute of Autonomy of Galicia Bill?" ({{langx|es|¿Aprueba el proyecto de Estatuto de Autonomía para Galicia?}}).{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/elecciones/referendos/index.htm |title=Referendos |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=1 September 2019}}{{cite journal |journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado |issue=269 |date=8 November 1980 |pages=24949–24955 |issn=0212-033X |title=Real Decreto 2400/1980, de 7 de noviembre, por el que se somete a referéndum el proyecto de Estatuto de Autonomía para Galicia |url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/11/08/pdfs/A24949-24955.pdf |language=Spanish |access-date=17 December 2019}}{{cite journal |journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado |issue=269 |date=8 November 1980 |pages=24955–24956 |issn=0212-033X |title=Real Decreto 2401/1980, de 7 de noviembre, sobre normas complementarias para la celebración de referéndum convocado por Real Decreto 2400/1980, de la misma fecha |url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/11/08/pdfs/A24955-24956.pdf |language=Spanish |access-date=19 December 2019}}

Negotiations for a new statute of autonomy for Galicia had its roots in the 1936 Statute, voted in referendum and submitted to the Spanish parliament for ratification, but never implemented due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/estatutos/sinopsis.jsp?com=73 |title=Sinopsis del Estatuto de Galicia |language=Spanish |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |access-date=16 December 2019}} Galicia was granted a pre-autonomic regime after Francisco Franco's death in 1975 and during the Spanish transition to democracy,{{cite news |date=6 October 1977 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/10/06/espana/244940419_850215.html |title=Proyecto de régimen transitorio de autonomía para Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=7 October 1977 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/10/07/espana/245026816_850215.html |title=Reservas en la izquierda gallega ante el proyecto autonómico de UCD |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=12 October 1977 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/10/12/espana/245458825_850215.html |title=Aprobadas las bases para negociar la autonomía de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} together with the Valencian Country, Aragon and the Canary Islands based on the examples of Catalonia and the Basque Country.{{cite news |date=9 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/09/espana/313542008_850215.html |title=Galicia, un caso aparte |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=9 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/09/espana/313542007_850215.html |title=La negociación constitucional de las autonomías estuvo condicionada por el "problema vasco" y la "cuestión catalana" |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The re-establishment of the Regional Government of Galicia ({{langx|gl|Xunta de Galicia}}) was formalized with its official approval on 18 March 1978 and the appointment of the first regional government in June that year.{{cite act |title=Real Decreto-ley 7/1978, de 16 de marzo, por el que se aprueba el régimen preautonómico para Galicia |type=Royal Decree-Law |number=7 |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=16 March 1978 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1978-7435 |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite act |title=Real Decreto 474/1978, de 16 de marzo, por el que se desarrolla el Real Decreto-ley 7/1978, que aprueba el régimen preautonómico para Galicia |type=Royal Decree |number=474 |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=16 March 1978 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1978-7439 |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=13 June 1978 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/06/13/espana/266536837_850215.html |title=Designado el Gobierno preautonómico gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The subsequent Spanish Constitution of 1978 and the celebration in Spain of the first ordinary general election paved the way for the re-establishment of the "historical communities" of the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia under the "fast-track" procedure of Article 151 of the Constitution, setting the first steps for the institutionalization of the so-called "State of the Autonomies".{{cite news |date=28 June 2005 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2005/06/espana/estatutos_autonomia/estatutos/galicia.html |title=La España de las Autonomías. Galicia. Breve historia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=16 December 2019}}

For Galicia, an Assembly of Parliamentarians was constituted by 16 political representatives—8 from the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD), 2 each from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and People's Alliance (AP) and 1 each from the Communist Party of Spain (PCE), the Galician Workers Party (POG), the Galicianist Party (PG) and the Party of Labour of Spain (PTE)—in order to elaborate a draft statute of autonomy, but the process was delayed by the UCD's opposition to granting the Galician autonomy the level of devolution achieved by the Basque Country and Catalonia.{{cite news |date=20 December 1978 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/12/20/espana/282956418_850215.html |title=Se retrasa el anteproyecto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=17 June 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/06/17/espana/298418407_850215.html |title=El Estatuto es más moderado que los de Cataluña y País Vasco |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=17 June 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/06/26/espana/299196009_850215.html |title=Aprobado definitivamente el proyecto de Estatuto de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} In July 1979, there was a change in the leadership of the pre-autonomic Regional Government as Galician president Antonio Rosón was replaced by José Quiroga Suárez over discrepancies within UCD to Rosón's determined pro-autonomy stance.{{cite news |date=26 May 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/05/26/espana/296517637_850215.html |title=Intensa pugna entre parlamentarios de UCD por la presidencia de la Junta gallega |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=11 July 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/07/11/espana/300492017_850215.html |title=El nuevo Gobierno preautonómico, copado por UCD |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The resulting text was considered by left-wing and nationalist parties as unambitious when compared to the Basque and Catalan projects concurrently underway,{{cite news |date=9 June 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/06/09/espana/297727224_850215.html |title=Los parlamentarios de UCD retocan el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=28 June 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/06/28/espana/299368808_850215.html |title=Protestas por el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=30 July 2011 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/07/30/galicia/1312042602.html |title=Los estatutos gallegos cumplen años |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=16 December 2019}} and it was met with growing dissatisfaction from the various political groups over the limited extent of devolution as it was submitted to the Cortes Generales for its ratification,{{cite news |date=18 September 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/09/18/espana/306453619_850215.html |title=El PSOE busca un acuerdo con PC y nacionalistas |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=26 October 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/10/26/espana/309740427_850215.html |title=Discrepancias entre los miembros de UCD por el Estatuto de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=30 October 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/10/30/espana/310086013_850215.html |title=No hay acuerdo de los partidos mayoritarios sobre el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=1 November 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/01/espana/310258807_850215.html |title=La oposición intentará evitar un fuerte intervencionismo estatal en el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} with subsequent negotiations over the proposed text not reaching fruition.{{cite news |date=17 November 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/17/espana/311641222_850215.html |title=UCD y PSOE negocian un acuerdo global sobre el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} Attempts from the UCD to unilaterally impose the draft Statute were met with public outcry from opposition parties,{{cite news |date=23 November 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/23/espana/312159604_850215.html |title=Dictaminado el Estatuto gallego, pese a la oposición de la izquierda, que votó en contra |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=23 November 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/23/espana/312159614_850215.html |title=UCD será responsable de la radicalización política de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=25 November 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/25/espana/312332412_850215.html |title=Los comunistas harán campaña contra el Estatuto de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=28 November 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/28/espana/312591621_850215.html |title=Sólo UCD y Coalición Democrática apoyan el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} and caused an internal crisis within the Galician UCD over disagreements with the proposed text,{{cite news |date=30 November 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/30/espana/312764429_850215.html |title=Parlamentarios gallegos de UCD defienden el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=1 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/01/espana/312850818_850215.html |title=Dimisiones en la UCD gallega por disconformidad con el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} despite both the UCD-controlled regional government and Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez coming out in support of the draft.{{cite news |date=7 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/07/espana/313369222_850215.html |title=La Junta de Galicia, satisfecha con el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=20 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/20/espana/314492419_850215.html |title=Rosón reitera su apoyo al Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=2 January 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/02/espana/315615607_850215.html |title=Suárez: "La autonomía gallega no será inferior a la catalana o vasca" |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}

Massive political demonstrations held throughout the main Galician cities on 4 December 1979 in protest against the proposed draft, dubbed as the "Statute of UCD" or the "outrage Statute" ({{langx|gl|Estatuto da aldraxe}}),{{cite news |date=5 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/05/espana/313196413_850215.html |title=Normalidad en las manifestaciones contra el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=29 December 2005 |url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/galicia/2005/12/09/ano-pudimos-perder-estatuto/0003_4328319.htm |title=El año en que pudimos perder el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=La Voz de Galicia |access-date=18 December 2019}} and threats from opposition parties of campaigning for the 'No' vote in the eventual referendum required under Article 151 of the Constitution to ratify the Statute,{{cite news |date=13 January 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/13/espana/316566019_850215.html |title=La izquierda gallega realizará una campaña conjunta contra el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=25 January 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/25/espana/317602831_850215.html |title=Los socialistas, en la campaña conjunta contra el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=31 January 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/31/espana/318121221_850215.html |title=Parlamentarios gallegos de UCD estudian con Suárez la campaña del referéndum |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} namely the PSOE,{{cite news |date=15 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/15/espana/314060433_850215.html |title=El PSOE, partidario de votar "no" en el referéndum del Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=26 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/26/espana/315010815_850215.html |title=El PSOE de Galicia votará "no" al Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} the PCE,{{cite news |date=11 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/11/espana/313714823_850215.html |title=Los comunistas urgirán la celebración del referéndum |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} the POG,{{cite news |date=12 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/12/espana/313801224_850215.html |title=El POG pretende un frente de oposición del Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=8 January 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/08/espana/316134031_850215.html |title=Duros ataques del Partido Obrero Gallego a la Junta |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} and the PG,{{cite news |date=19 December 1979 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/19/espana/314406023_850215.html |title=El Partido Galleguista votará en contra del Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} among others, led the UCD to accept negotiations over a more relaxed interpretation of the Statute in order to prevent a political deadlock over the issue.{{cite news |date=28 March 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/28/espana/323046033_850215.html |title=Conversaciones para formalizar un pacto constituyente sobre la autonomía gallega |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=28 June 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/06/28/espana/330991206_850215.html |title=Centristas y socialistas buscan un acuerdo para sacar al Estatuto gallego de la vía muerta |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} After the UCD accepted to reform the draft Statute to allow for devolution in equal terms to the Basque Country and Catalonia,{{cite news |date=5 August 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/08/05/espana/334274420_850215.html |title=UCD, dispuesta a propiciar la reforma del Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=5 September 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/05/espana/336952805_850215.html |title=El PSOE exigirá la modificación del Estatuto en las negociaciones |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} negotiations ensued with the PSOE, AP, PCE and PG,{{cite news |date=9 September 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/09/espana/337298426_850215.html |title=Cuatro partidos gallegos, dispuestos a negociar con UCD |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=13 September 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/13/espana/337644029_850215.html |title=Hoy comienzan las negociaciones formales sobre el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=21 September 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/21/espana/338335225_850215.html |title=UCD admite la posibilidad de modificar el Estatuto antes del referéndum |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} leading to an agreement over the Statute's reform ahead of the scheduled referendum, the "Hostel Pact" ({{langx|es|Pacto del Hostal}}) of 26 September 1980.{{cite news |date=26 September 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/26/espana/338767206_850215.html |title=UCD y PSOE de Galicia coinciden en devolver el Estatuto al Congreso |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=30 September 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/30/espana/339116418_850215.html |title=Firmado el acuerdo para modificar el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}

The date of the referendum had been initially scheduled for the end of May or the beginning of June 1980,{{cite news |date=3 February 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/03/espana/318380424_850215.html |title=El referéndum del Estatuto, a últimos de mayo |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} but the strong opposition to the draft Statute from left-wing and nationalist parties, who had announced a campaign for a 'No' vote in the referendum,{{cite news |date=10 February 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/10/espana/318985227_850215.html |title=Partidos gallegos iniciarán en marzo una campaña contra el Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=4 March 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/04/espana/320972406_850215.html |title=El PSOE mantiene el voto negativo al Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} resulted in several delays in the date while negotiations were ongoing,{{cite news |date=20 May 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/05/20/espana/327621630_850215.html |title=Denuncia del PTG contra Adolfo Suárez |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} firstly to the end of June,{{cite news |date=27 March 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/27/espana/322959628_850215.html |title=El referéndum gallego podría celebrarse a finales de junio |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} then to September or October,{{cite news |date=4 April 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/04/04/espana/323650812_850215.html |title=Las negociaciones en torno al Estatuto gallego pueden demorar el referéndum hasta septiembre |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=10 June 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/06/10/espana/329436024_850215.html |title=El referéndum gallego, a finales de octubre |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=15 June 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/06/15/espana/329868023_850215.html |title=UCD, partidaria de que el referéndum autonómico se celebre en octubre |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} or beyond.{{cite news |date=3 September 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/09/03/espana/336780025_850215.html |title=Posible retraso del referéndum autonómico |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} After an inter-party agreement was reached and ratified on 1 October 1980 over the draft Statute's reform,{{cite news |date=2 October 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/02/espana/339289219_850215.html |title=Los parlamentarios gallegos ratificaron el acuerdo para modificar el estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=10 October 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/10/espana/339980434_850215.html |title=Reapertura del proceso estatutario gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} and the approval of the reformed Statute on 29 October, the referendum for its ratification was scheduled for Sunday, 21 December,{{cite news |date=30 October 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/30/espana/341708412_850215.html |title=El Estatuto gallego, modificado ayer, será sometido a referéndum el 21 de diciembre |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} with its decree being published in the Official State Gazette on 8 November.

The Regional Government of Galicia invested 100 million Pta in an institutional campaign to encourage turnout in the referendum,{{cite news |date=15 November 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/15/espana/343090823_850215.html |title=Hermetismo de la Junta de Galicia sobre la campaña del referéndum |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=23 November 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/23/espana/343782020_850215.html |title=Perfilada la campaña institucional para el referéndum gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=5 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/05/espana/344818834_850215.html |title=Presupuesto de 100 millones de pesetas para la campaña institucional del referéndum gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} over fears from political parties that high abstention rates, coming as a consequence from disaffection with the chaotic Statute negotiations, could en up blurring the final result.{{cite news |date=31 October 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/31/espana/341794834_850215.html |title=Los partidos gallegos, interesados en evitar una alta abstención en el referéndum |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=14 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/14/espana/345596418_850215.html |title=La campaña de propaganda parece insuficiente para lograr una alta participación |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The parties in favour of the 'Yes' vote to the Statute did not reach an agreement for running a joint campaign, instead organizing separate party campaigns to highlight their particular views on the Galician autonomy.{{cite news |date=5 November 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/05/espana/342226828_850215.html |title=Descartada una campaña unitaria para el referéndum gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} Concurrently, the UCD had shown reluctance to coordinating itself with other parties over specific plans on the devolution timetable, the organization of the referendum, the date of the first Galician regional election or the application of a specific economic plan for Galicia.{{cite news |date=1 November 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/01/espana/341881221_850215.html |title=UCD no asistió a una reunión preparatoria del referéndum gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}

The table below lists voting intention estimates in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading choice's colour. The "Lead" columns on the right show the percentage-point difference between the "Yes" and "No" choices in a given poll.

{{Referendum graph

| yespct = 78.77

| nopct = 21.23

| turnoutpct = 28.27

}}

{{Referendum

|yes = 450,556

|yespct = 78.77

|no = 121,448

|nopct = 21.23

|valid = 572,004

|validpct = 93.13

|invalid = 42,214

|invalidpct = 6.87

|total = 614,218

|electorate = 2,172,898

|turnoutpct = 28.27

|source = Congress of Deputies

}}

The most commented feat of the referendum result were the extremely high abstention rates in all four Galician provinces.{{cite news |date=23 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/23/portada/346374004_850215.html |title=Sólo una quinta parte de los gallegos refrendó su Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The city of La Coruña recorded one of the highest turnouts, barely above 40%, but also the highest proportion of negative votes with more than 34%.{{cite news |date=23 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/23/espana/346374018_850215.html |title=La Coruña: la ciudad que más votó en contra del Estatuto |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} In the province of Pontevedra, turnout was lower in those local councils under UCD control.{{cite news |date=23 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/23/espana/346374005_850215.html |title=Pontevedra: lamentos "a posteriori" |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} It was reported that in several election wards in the city of Orense neither the full members nor the substitutes had shown up, with the provincial electoral commission commenting on the unusual nature of this circumstance.{{cite news |date=23 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/23/espana/346374004_850215.html |title=Orense: no acudió la gente ni a constituir las mesas |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The province of Lugo registered the lowest turnout, with more than 80% of registered voters abstaining.{{cite news |date=23 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/23/espana/346374003_850215.html |title=Lugo: la abstención más alta |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} While some political leaders attributed the high abstention rates to an inflation in census data of up to 20 or 30%, a result of double records and outdated register figures in a very rural and backward region such as was Galicia at the time,{{cite news |date=13 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/13/espana/345510020_850215.html |title=Una participación del 40% en el rerferéndum sería un éxito, según Alfonso Guerra |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=18 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/18/espana/345942028_850215.html |title=El ministro Pío Cabanillas cree que el 60% de los gallegos se va a abstener |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} the National Statistics Institute replied that these mismatches would amount to no more than 10% of the census.{{cite news |date=7 January 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/01/07/espana/347670010_850215.html |title=Estadísticos en desacuerdo con Rosón sobre los errores del censo |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The final results of the vote were published in the Official State Gazette on 10 January 1981.{{cite news |date=11 January 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/01/11/espana/348015619_850215.html |title=Los resultados oficiales del referéndum gallego, en el BOE |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}

The high abstention prompted the only AP member in the Regional Government to resign.{{cite news |date=30 December 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/30/espana/346978820_850215.html |title=UCD monopoliza la Junta de Galicia, tras la dimisión del representante de AP |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The regional PSOE rejected UCD's pleas for re-joining the government—which it had left in November 1979 over disagreements on the Statute issue—and instead requested for the regional government's renovation, amid calls that UCD had proven unable to generate the required confidence in the Galician people with the autonomy process,{{cite news |date=11 November 1980 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/11/espana/342745224_850215.html |title=UCD pide a los socialistas que vuelvan a integrarse en la Junta de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=22 January 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/01/22/espana/348966025_850215.html |title=El PSOE pide la dimisión de la Junta |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=11 February 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/02/11/espana/350694028_850215.html |title=El PSOE, dispuesto a integrarse en una Junta renovada |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} a move which UCD rejected likewise.{{cite news |date=13 February 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/02/13/espana/350866825_850215.html |title=UCD descarta la remodelación de la Junta de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} After several delays,{{cite news |date=29 January 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/01/29/espana/349570824_850215.html |title=El PSOE reclama la ratificación del Estatuto por las Cortes |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} the Statute was taken to the Cortes Generales for its final ratification, being approved by the Congress on 17 February 1981,{{cite news |date=18 February 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/02/18/espana/351298816_850215.html |title=El Congreso ratificó el Estatuto gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} and by the Senate on 17 March.{{cite news |date=18 March 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/03/18/espana/353718019_850215.html |title=El Senado ratifica el Estatuto de Galicia |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The Statute was promulgated on 6 April 1981 and published in the Official State Gazette on 28 April,{{cite news |date=28 April 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/04/28/espana/357256818_850215.html |title=Abierto el plazo para las próximas elecciones al Parlamento gallego |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} coming into force on 18 May.{{cite news |date=19 May 1981 |url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1981/05/19/019.html |title=Galicia, tercera comunidad autónoma de España |language=Spanish |newspaper=ABC |access-date=16 December 2019}}{{cite news |date=19 May 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/05/19/espana/359071222_850215.html |title=El Estatuto de Autonomía entró en vigor ayer |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}} The first regional election would, under the Statute's provisions, be scheduled for 20 October 1981.{{cite news |date=21 August 1981 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/08/21/espana/367192806_850215.html |title=El 20 de octubre, elecciones gallegas y referéndum andaluz |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=16 December 2019}}

• 1979 Basque Statute of Autonomy referendum
• 1979 Catalan Statute of Autonomy referendum
• 1980 Andalusian autonomy initiative referendum
• 1981 Andalusian Statute of Autonomy referendum

;Opinion poll sources

{{reflist|group="p"}}

;Other

{{reflist}}

{{Galician elections}}

Galicia

Category:1980 in Galicia (Spain)

Category:1980 referendums

Category:December 1980 in Europe

Category:Referendums in Galicia (Spain)