15th Cortes Generales

The 15th Cortes Generales were elected in the 2023 Spanish general election.^[1]

15th Cortes Generales
← 14th
Overview
Legislative body	Cortes Generales
Term	17 August 2023 (2023-08-17) –
Election	23 July 2023
Government	Sánchez III
Website	cortesgenerales.es
Senate
Members	265
President	Pedro Rollán Ojeda (PP)
1st Vice President	Javier Maroto (PP)
2nd Vice President	Guillermo Fernández Vara (PSOE)
Congress of Deputies
Members	350
President	Francina Armengol (PSOE)
1st Vice President	Alfonso Rodríguez (PSOE)
2nd Vice President	José Antonio Bermúdez de Castro (PP)
3rd Vice President	Esther Gil de Reboleño (Sumar)
4th Vice President	Marta González (PP)

Election

The 15th Spanish general election was held on July 23, 2023. The People's Party became the largest party in the Congress of Deputies with 137 seats, overtaking the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party at 121 seats. However, neither major party nor their ostensible allies received enough seats to claim a parliamentary majority.

Parliamentary leadership

The Congress of Deputies and the Senate of the 15th Cortes Generales were constituted at 10am on Thursday, August 17, 2023. That same day, the members of the Bureaus of both Chambers were also appointed, by secret ballot and in ballot box, directed by the corresponding tables.^[2]

These ballots were held following the general election held on 23 July 2023.

Congress of Deputies

Election of president

For the election of the Presidency of the Congress of Deputies and of the Board, a first vote is carried out, secret and in a ballot box, with the candidates who run for said position. In this, the absolute majority of the deputies (176/350) is necessary for a candidate to be elected as such. In the event that this absolute majority is not reached, a second vote is carried out, also secret and in a ballot box, with the two candidates with the most votes and the one who obtains a simple majority of the votes will be elected President of the Congress of Deputies.^[3]

Francina Armengol was elected president of the Congress of Deputies.^[4]

1st vote - Presidency (XV legislature) Majority required: absolute (176/350, 1st vote)
Candidate	Party	Votes		President
Francina Armengol	PSOE	178		Francina Armengol
Cuca Gamarra	PP	139
Ignacio Gil	Vox	33
Blank vote		0
Invalid vote		0
Total		350

Election of vice presidents

After the election of the Presidency, the four vice-presidencies are elected, using the same system as for the previous election. By secret ballot and ballot box, the four candidates with the most votes will be elected, with the first vice-president being the one who gets the most votes and the fourth vice-president, the one with the fewest. In the event of a tie, a second vote is taken between the tied candidates to settle the order.

candidate	Party	1st preference	2nd preference		Elected
Alfonso Rodríguez Gómez de Celis	PSOE	113			1st Vice President	2nd Vice President
José Antonio Bermúdez de Castro	PP	73			Alfonso Rodríguez Gómez de Celis	José Antonio Bermúdez de Castro
Esther Gil de Reboleño Lastortres	Sumar	65	178
Marta González Vázquez	PP	65	139
Ignacio Gil Lazaro	Vox	33			3rd Vice President	4th Vice President
Blank vote		1	33		Esther Gil	Marta Gonzalez

Election of secretaries

After the election of the vice-presidents, the four secretariats are elected using the same system as in the Vice-Presidency. By secret ballot and ballot box, the four candidates with the most votes will be elected, with the first secretary being the one who gets the most votes and the fourth secretary, the one who gets the least. In the event of a tie, a second vote is taken between the tied candidates to settle the order.

Candidate	Party	1st preference		Elected
Gerardo Pisarello	Sumar	101		1st Secretary	2nd Secretary
Isaura Leal Fernández	PSOE	77		Gerardo Pisarello	Isaura Leal Fernández
Guillermo Mariscal Anaya	PP	71
María del Carmen Navarro Lacoba [es]	PP	67
Ignacio Gil Lazaro	Vox	33		3rd Secretary	4th Secretary
Blank vote		1		Guillermo Mariscal Anaya	María del Carmen Navarro Lacoba [es]
Spoilt vote		0

Senate

Election of president

For the election of the President of the Senate and of the Board, a first vote is carried out, secret and in a ballot box, with the candidates who run for said position. In this, the absolute majority of the deputies (134/266) is necessary for a candidate to be elected as such. In case this absolute majority is not reached, a second vote is carried out, also secret and in a ballot box, with the two candidates with the most votes and the one who obtains a simple majority of the votes, will be elected President of the Senate. Each senator casts a single vote, that is, they write a single name on the ballot.^[5]

Pedro Rollán was elected President of the Senate.^[6]

1st vote - Presidency (XV legislature) Majority required: absolute (130/259, 1st vote)
Candidate	Party	1st preference		President
Pedro Rollan Ojeda	PP	142		Pedro Rollan
Angel Pelayo Gordillo	Vox	3
Blank vote		114
Spoilt vote		0
Total		259

Election of vice presidents

After the election of the Presidency, the election of the two vice-presidencies is carried out, through the same system as for the previous election. By secret ballot and ballot box, the two candidates with the most votes will be elected, with the first vice president being the one who gets the most votes and the second vice president the one who gets the fewest. In the event of a tie, a second vote is taken between the tied candidates to settle the order. As in the election for the Presidency, each senator casts a single vote, that is, they write a single name on the ballot.

Candidate	Party	1st preference		Elected
Javier Maroto	PP	142		1st Vice President	2nd Vice President
Guillermo Fernández Vara	PSOE	98		Javier Maroto	Guillermo Fernández Vara
Blank vote		1
Spoilt vote		0
Total		259

Election of the secretaries

After the election of the vice-presidents, the election of the four secretariats is carried out, with a different system from the two previous ones. By secret ballot box, the four candidates with the most votes will be elected, with the first secretary being the one who gets the most votes and the fourth secretary, the one who gets the least. In the event of a tie, a second vote is taken between the tied candidates to settle the order. However, each senator casts a double vote, that is, on the ballot he writes two names of the candidates he wants to vote for.

1st vote - Secretariats (XV legislature)

Candidate	Party	1st preference		Elected
Eva Ortiz Vilella	PP	142		1st Secretary	2nd Secretary
María del Mar Blanco	PP	139		Eva Ortiz Vilella	María del Mar Blanco
Maria Ángeles Luna	PSOE	112
Francisco Fajardo Palarea	PSOE	110
Angel Pelayo Gordillo	Vox	3		3rd Secretary	4th Secretary
Blank vote		2		Maria Ángeles Luna	Francisco Fajardo
Spoilt vote		0
Total		259

Members

See also: 15th Congress of Deputies and 15th Senate of Spain

References

1. Aragón, Heraldo de. "Pedro Sánchez dispara su última bala: elecciones generales el 23 de julio". heraldo.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 July 2023.
2. País, El (17 August 2023). "La constitución de las Cortes Generales, en directo | Junts alcanza un principio de acuerdo con el PSOE para facilitar que Armengol presida el Congreso". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 August 2023.
3. "Reglamento del Congreso de los Diputados" (PDF).
4. Rodríguez, Miguel Ángel (17 August 2023). "Francina Armengol, elegida nueva presidenta del Congreso con los votos de ERC y Junts". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 August 2023.
5. España, Senado de. "Reglamento del Senado | Senado de España". www.senado.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
6. Madridiario. "Pedro Rollán recuerda a las víctimas de la violencia machista en su estreno como presidente del Senado". Madridiario (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2023.