2014 PSOE federal party congress

This Federal Congress was the first held at a national level in which all party members and affiliates (around 200,000) had the possibility to be consulted, several days before the Congress was held, about which person they wanted to become the new party leader. While not a legally binding ballot, the results were likely to be respected by the 1,000 party delegates which finally elected the new party's Secretary-General.{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/05/30/actualidad/1401478879_877391.html |title=All party members will elect the future PSOE Secretary-General |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2014-05-30}} Party members wishing to contend the election were required to gather the endorsement of at least 5% of the party membership before June 27.

The 2011 general election had resulted in a landslide victory for Mariano Rajoy's People's Party (PP), a result of the financial crisis which had been hurting the country's economy since 2008. The ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), amidst a climate of high unpopularity, was ousted from power with the worst election result since the first post-Francoist electoral process in 1977. Then-Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero had decided to stand down as PM candidate in early 2011 and as party leader once the quadrennial party congress due for early 2012 was held. Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, PSOE candidate for the 2011 election and former Deputy Prime Minister, was elected new Secretary-General in a tight fight against former Minister of Defence Carme Chacón.{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2012/02/05/espana/1328396401_850215.html|language=es|title=Rubalcaba promises a strong PSOE|newspaper=El País|date=2012-02-05}}

However, as the new Rajoy's government was forced to pass new austerity measures and spending cuts, including a harsh labor reform and a very austere state budget for 2012, the new Government's ratings plummeted in opinion polls as it met with widespread protests and two general strikes.{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/2011/12/31/espana/1325286001_850215.html|title=Rajoy approves the biggest spending cut in history and a large tax increase |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2011-12-31}}{{cite news|url=http://economia.elpais.com/economia/2012/02/10/actualidad/1328911729_685382.html|title=The reform eases and cheapens the dismissal |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2012-02-10}}{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/03/09/economia/1331290549.html|title=29 March, general strike |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |date=2012-03-09}}{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/10/17/actualidad/1350490445_610476.html|title=Unions call a general strike for November 14 |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2012-10-17}}{{cite news|url=http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/1356363/0/consejo-ministros/anuncia/presupuestos-generales-2012/|title=The Government presents the state budget with a spending cut of 27.3 billion |language=es |publisher=20 Minutos |date=2012-03-30}} Little over 6 months of government had seen support for the PP government plummet from 45% in the general election to 34% in mid-to late 2012 polls, the most support lost by a political party in its first months of government in the country's history.

However, despite the PP's falling ratings, the PSOE found itself unable to regain lost support, suffering from the memory on Zapatero's last government and his economic management, as well as the emergence of major corruption scandals in both parties, regarding possible illegal financing on both the People's Party and the Socialist Party regional government of Andalusia. A series of negative regional election results throughout 2012, coupled with an internal crisis in 2013 and the threat of rupture from the party's Catalonia partner, the PSC, further weakened the PSOE, with Rubalcaba's leadership being put in question as his popularity ratings plummeted.{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2013/02/26/actualidad/1361912575_465622.html |title=Mas' challenge does not break Spain yet but opens a schism between PSOE and PSC |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2013-02-27}}{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/04/18/espana/1366269356.html |title=Rubalcaba, to the drivers of Madina: "The PSOE is not on it" |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |date=2013-04-18}} The crisis was temporarily settled after the party's Political Conference in November 2013, with the question on the party's leadership being initially postponed for late 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2013/11/08/527c19e40ab740ee188b456d.html |title=PSOE leaders want Rubalcaba's dismissal now |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |date=2013-11-08}}{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2013/11/10/actualidad/1384091000_756301.html |title=Rubalcaba assured that "the PSOE has returned" and urges his people to go to the streets |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2013-11-10}}

After the European Parliament election, 2014 culminated in a major election crash for the party, coupled with a spectacular rise in support for newly created Podemos party, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba announced his intention not to run as his party's candidate for the 2015 general election and to have the party hold an extraordinary Congress for July 2014.{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/05/26/actualidad/1401102768_248408.html |title=Rubalcaba throws in the towel and calls for an extraordinary party conference in July after the debacle |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2014-05-26}}

The key dates are listed below:{{cite news |author=PSOE |date=3 June 2014 |title=Convocatoria y normativa de desarrollo del Congreso Federal Extraordinario |url=http://web.psoe.es/source-media/000000594500/000000594596.pdf |language=es |work=web.psoe.es |access-date=1 April 2017}}

• 26 May: Official announcement and census closure.
• 6–9 June: Communication of provisional census and period of correction of census incidents.
• 10 June: Communication of definitive census.
• 10–13 June: Presentation of pre-candidates.
• 13–28 June: Endorsement collection period (until 27 June) and provisional candidate proclamations.
• 29 June–2 July: Allegation and definitive candidate proclamations.
• 3–12 July: Information campaign.
• 13 July: Primary election (to elect the Secretary-General).
• 13–19 July: Provincial and insular congresses. Election of delegates and amendment period.
• 26–27 July: Extraordinary federal congress.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! colspan="3"| Candidate

! Notable positions

! Announced

! {{abbr|Ref.|References}}

|-

! colspan="6"|

|-

| colspan="6"| Candidates who met endorsement requirements and were officially proclaimed to contest the party congress.

|-

| File:José Antonio Pérez Tapias 2014 (cropped).jpg

| width="1px" style="color:inherit;background:#E6D753"|

| José Antonio Pérez Tapias
(age {{age nts|1955|6|3|2014|7|27}})

| Member of the Congress of Deputies for Granada {{small|(2006–2011)}}

| 31 May 2014

| {{cite news |last=Sanz |first=Luis Ángel |date=31 May 2014 |title=José Antonio Pérez Tapias presenta su candidatura a la Secretaría General del PSOE |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/05/31/5389da4ae2704ef26c8b456d.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=1 April 2017}}

|-

| File:Pedro Sánchez 2014.jpg

| style="color:inherit;background:#DD2239"|

| Pedro Sánchez
(age {{age nts|1972|2|29|2014|7|27}})

| Member of the Congress of Deputies for Madrid {{small|(2009–2011 and since 2016)}}
City Councillor of Madrid {{small|(2004–2009)}}

| 12 June 2014

| {{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=12 June 2014 |title=Pedro Sánchez Castejón aspira a cambiar el PSOE con "corazón y cabeza" |url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/06/12/actualidad/1402571375_357360.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=1 April 2017}}

|-

| File:Eduardo Madina 2014 (cropped).jpg

| style="color:inherit;background:#6C5BBD"|

| Eduardo Madina
(age {{age nts|1976|1|11|2014|7|27}})

| Secretary-General of the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Congress
{{small|(since 2009)}}
Member of the PSOE Executive Commission {{small|(since 2008)}}
Member of the Congress of Deputies for Biscay {{small|(since 2004)}}
City Councillor of Sestao {{small|(1999–2001)}}

| 13 June 2014

| {{cite news |last=Garea |first=Fernando |date=13 June 2014 |title=Madina se presenta para liderar el PSOE prometiendo un "shock de modernidad" |url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/06/13/actualidad/1402651021_173540.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=1 April 2017}}

|-

! colspan="6"|

|-

| colspan="6"| Candidates who announced an intention to run, but failed to qualify due to not meeting endorsement requirements.

|-

| File:Portrait placeholder.svg

| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent politician}};"|

| Alberto Sotillos
(age {{age nts|1985|7|10|2014|7|27}})

| None{{efn|Alberto Sotillos was son of Eduardo Sotillos, former Spokesperson of the Government of Spain under Felipe González between 1982 and 1985.}}

| 11 June 2014

| {{cite news |author=Agencia EFE |date=11 June 2014 |title=Alberto Sotillos anuncia su intención de participar en la carrera por el liderazgo del PSOE |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/06/11/53984cd5268e3ecb158b4577.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=1 April 2017}}
{{cite news |date=27 June 2014 |title=Sánchez muestra su fuerza y obtiene 16.100 avales más que Madina gracias al apoyo de Andalucía |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/06/27/53addfc822601d19348b456d.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=1 April 2017}}

|}

The individuals in this section were the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy, but publicly denied or recanted interest in running:

File:Carme Chacón 2010 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Carme Chacón}}

File:Susana Díaz 2015g (cropped).jpg|{{center|Susana Díaz}}

File:Emiliano García-Page 2015b (cropped).jpg|{{center|Emiliano García-Page}}

File:Patxi López 2013 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Patxi López}}

File:Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba 2012b (cropped).jpg|{{center|Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba}}

• Carme Chacón (age {{age nts|1971|3|13|2014|7|27}}) — Member of the Congress of Deputies for Barcelona {{small|(2000–2013)}}; Member of the PSOE Executive Commission {{small|(2008–2012)}}; Minister of Defence of Spain {{small|(2008–2011)}}; Minister of Housing of Spain {{small|(2007–2008)}}; Secretary of Culture of the PSOE {{small|(2004–2008)}}; First Vice President of the Congress of Deputies {{small|(2004–2007)}}; Secretary of Education, Universities, Culture and Research of the PSOE {{small|(2000–2004)}}; First Deputy Mayor of Esplugues de Llobregat {{small|(1999–2003)}}; City Councillor of Esplugues de Llobregat {{small|(1999–2003)}}.{{cite news |last=Díez |first=Anabel |date=1 June 2014 |title=Chacón renuncia a liderar el PSOE y se postula para las elecciones generales |url=https://elpais.com/politica/2014/06/01/actualidad/1401644040_076138.html |language=es |newspaper=El País |location=Madrid |access-date=13 April 2025}}
• Susana Díaz (age {{age nts|1974|10|18|2014|7|27}}) — President of the Regional Government of Andalusia {{small|(since 2013)}}; Secretary-General of the PSOE–A {{small|(since 2013)}}; Member of the Parliament of Andalusia for Seville {{small|(since 2008)}}; Minister of the Presidency and Equality of Andalusia {{small|(2012–2013)}}; Secretary-General of the PSOE–A in the province of Seville {{small|(2012–2013)}}; Senator appointed by the Parliament of Andalusia {{small|(2011–2012)}}; Secretary of Organization of the PSOE–A {{small|(2010–2012)}}; Secretary of Organization of the PSOE–A in the province of Seville {{small|(2004–2010)}}; Member of the Congress of Deputies for Seville {{small|(2004–2008)}}; Deputy Mayor for Human Resources in Seville {{small|(2003–2004)}}; City Councillor of Seville {{small|(1999–2004)}}; Secretary of Organization of the JSA {{small|(1997–2004)}}.{{cite news |last=Sanz |first=Luis Ángel |date=10 June 2014 |title=Susana Díaz no se presenta a liderar el PSOE para no desgastarse como presidenta |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/06/10/5396a1c1ca47416f438b456c.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=1 April 2017}}
• Emiliano García-Page (age {{age nts|1968|6|11|2014|7|27}}) — Member of the PSOE Executive Commission {{small|(since 2012)}}; Senator appointed by the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha {{small|(since 2011)}}; Mayor of Toledo {{small|(since 2007)}}; City Councillor of Toledo {{small|(1987–1993 and since 2007)}}; Secretary-General of the PSCM–PSOE in the province of Toledo {{small|(since 1997)}}; Second Vice President of the Regional Government of Castilla–La Mancha {{small|(2005–2007)}}; Member of the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha for Toledo {{small|(1995–2007)}}; Minister of Institutional Relations of Castilla–La Mancha {{small|(2004–2005)}}; Spokesperson of the Government of Castilla–La Mancha {{small|(1993–1997, 1998–1999 and 2001–2004)}}; Spokesperson of the Socialist Group in the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha {{small|(2000–2001)}}; Minister of Social Welfare of Castilla–La Mancha {{small|(1999–2000)}}; Minister of Public Works of Castilla–La Mancha {{small|(1997–1998)}}; Deputy Mayor for Celebrations of Toledo {{small|(1991–1993)}}.{{cite news |agency=EFE |date=3 June 2014 |title=Page anuncia que no concurrirá a la Secretaría General del PSOE |url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/06/03/538da281268e3e25068b4578.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Toledo |access-date=25 March 2022}}
• Patxi López (age {{age nts|1959|10|4|2014|7|27}}) — Member of the Basque Parliament for Álava {{small|(since 2012)}}; Secretary of Political Relations of the PSOE {{small|(since 2012)}}; Secretary-General of the PSE–EE (PSOE) {{small|(since 2002)}}; Lehendakari {{small|(2009–2012)}}; Member of the Basque Parliament for Biscay {{small|(1991–2012)}}; Secretary-General of the PSE–EE (PSOE) in Biscay {{small|(1997–2002)}}; Secretary of Organization of the PSE–EE (PSOE) {{small|(1991–1995)}}; Member of the Congress of Deputies for Biscay {{small|(1987–1989)}}; Secretary-General of the JSE–EGAZ {{small|(1985–1988)}}.{{cite news |last=Rioja Andueza |first=Iker |date=29 May 2014 |title=Patxi López se descarta para 'competir' por el liderazgo del PSOE |url=http://www.elmundo.es/pais-vasco/2014/05/29/5387064eca4741d3628b456d.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Vitoria |access-date=1 April 2017}}
• Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba (age {{age nts|1951|7|28|2014|7|27}}) — Secretary-General of the PSOE {{small|(since 2012)}}; Leader of the Opposition of Spain {{small|(since 2012)}}; Member of the Congress of Deputies for Madrid {{small|(1996–2004 and since 2011)}}; Member of the PSOE Executive Commission {{small|(2008–2012)}}; First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain {{small|(2010–2011)}}; Spokesperson of the Government {{small|(1993–1996 and 2010–2011)}}; Member of the Congress of Deputies for Cádiz {{small|(2008–2011)}}; Minister of the Interior of Spain {{small|(2006–2011)}}; Member of the Congress of Deputies for Cantabria {{small|(2004–2008)}}; Spokesperson of the Socialist Parliamentary Group of the Congress {{small|(2004–2006)}}; Secretary of Communication of the PSOE {{small|(1997–2000)}}; Minister of the Presidency of Spain {{small|(1993–1996)}}; Member of the Congress of Deputies for Toledo {{small|(1993–1996)}}; Minister of Education and Science of Spain {{small|(1992–1993)}}; Secretary of State of Education of Spain {{small|(1988–1992)}}; Secretary-General for Education of Spain {{small|(1986–1988)}}; Director-General for University Education of Spain {{small|(1985–1986)}}.{{cite news |last=Sanz |first=Luis Ángel |date=26 May 2014 |title=Rubalcaba se va |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/05/26/53832a0b268e3e1f488b4571.html |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=1 April 2017}}

Candidates seeking to run were required to collect the endorsements of at least 5% of party members.{{cite news |last=Sanz |first=Luis Ángel |date=2 June 2014 |title=Los militantes del PSOE elegirán a su nuevo líder el 13 de julio, día de la final del Mundial de Fútbol |url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/06/02/538c6316268e3ebe368b456d.html |language=es |work=El Mundo |location=Madrid |access-date=1 April 2017}}

{{bar box

|title=Endorsements by party members

|titlebar=#ddd

|width=450px

|barwidth=500px

|bars=

{{bar percent|Sánchez|#DD2239|54.05}}

{{bar percent|Madina|#6C5BBD|32.99}}

{{bar percent|Tapias|#E6D753|12.96}}

}}

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. Polls show data gathered among PSOE voters/supporters as well as Spanish voters as a whole, but not among party members, who were the ones ultimately entitled to vote in the primary election.

{{bar box

|title=Vote by party members

|titlebar=#ddd

|width=450px

|barwidth=500px

|bars=

{{bar percent|Sánchez|#DD2239|48.32}}

{{bar percent|Madina|#6C5BBD|35.98}}

{{bar percent|Tapias|#E6D753|14.97}}

{{bar percent|Blank ballots|#DDDDDD|0.73}}

}}

{{bar box

|title=Vote by delegates (Executive Commission)

|titlebar=#ddd

|width=450px

|barwidth=500px

|bars=

{{bar percent|Sánchez|#DD2239|86.19}}

{{bar percent|Blank ballots|#DDDDDD|13.81}}

}}

In his victory speech after being elected as Secretary-General by party members, Pedro Sánchez proclaimed "the beginning of a new time in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party" and that it was "the beginning of the end of Mariano Rajoy [as Prime Minister]".{{cite news|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20140713/54411871432/pedro-sanchez-proclama-principio-fin-rajoy-presidente-gobierno.html |title=Pedro Sánchez proclaims "it is the beginning of the end of Mariano Rajoy as Prime Minister" |language=es |newspaper=La Vanguardia |date=2014-07-13}}{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/07/13/actualidad/1405256248_349096.html |title=Sánchez promises victory to PSOE |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2014-07-13}} He was formally named to the post on 26 July succeeding Rubalcaba, who announced his intention to quit from active politics and to return to his post professor in the Organic Chemistry faculty, in the Complutense University of Madrid.

Upon his official proclamation as Secretary-General, Sánchez stated that "We [the PSOE] are the party of change, we are the left that will change Spain", urging all Socialists to "work for the millions of people that need a renewed PSOE" and to make the party "the most formidable instrument for making the country progress". Sánchez promised to be blunt with corruption cases within the party, to look forward the promotion of a federal amendment of the Spanish Constitution and that his Executive will report in an open assembly to the militants once per year.{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/07/26/actualidad/1406367781_973603.html |title=New PSOE leader: "We are the left that will change Spain" |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2014-07-26}}{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2014/07/26/53d3dccc22601d68768b457a.html |title=Sánchez promises the PSOE a change 'from bottom to top' |language=es |newspaper=El Mundo |date=2014-07-26}} Sánchez stated that he was inspired by the "modernization drives" of both Felipe González in the past as well as of PD-leader Matteo Renzi in Italy.{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/07/24/actualidad/1406234462_476287.html#sumario_3 |title=Socialists move between Renzi and Valls |language=es |newspaper=El País |date=2014-07-24}}

{{notelist}}

;Opinion poll sources

{{reflist|group="p"}}

;Other

{{reflist}}

{{Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:PSOE congress, 2014}}

Category:2014 conferences

Category:2014 elections in Spain

Category:2014 political party leadership elections

Category:June 2014 in Spain

Category:July 2014 in Spain

Category:Primary elections in Spain

2014