19th National Congress of the PP

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3,082 delegates in the national congress Plurality of delegates needed to win
Opinion polls
Registered	67,083 (primary)
Turnout	58,304 (86.9%) (primary) 2,973 (96.5%) (congress, president) 2,971 (96.4%) (congress, board)
Candidate Pablo Casado Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría María Dolores de Cospedal Popular vote 19,954 (34.3%) 21,512 (36.9%) 15,092 (25.9%) Delegate vote 1,701 (57.3%) 1,250 (42.1%) Eliminated Board 1,689 (56.9%) 1,251 (42.1%) Eliminated   Candidate José Manuel García-Margallo José Ramón García-Hernández Elio Cabanes Popular vote 688 (1.2%) 671 (1.2%) 185 (0.3%) Delegate vote Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated Board Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated
Autonomous community results map
President before election Mariano Rajoy Elected President Pablo Casado

The 19th National Congress of the People's Party, officially the 19th Extraordinary National Congress, was held in Madrid from 20 to 21 July 2018, to renovate the governing bodies of the People's Party (PP) and establish the party's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term. A primary election to elect the new party president was held on 5 July. The congress was called by the party's National Board of Directors on 11 June as a consequence of former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy's resignation as PP leader on 5 June,^[1][2][3] following the motion of no confidence that had voted his government down on 1 June. The leadership election was the first whereby PP members directly participate in choosing a leader for the party. On 26 June 2018, it was announced that only 66,706 PP members out of the 869,535 reported by the party had registered to vote in the election.^[4][5][6]

Former deputy prime minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría and the party's Deputy Secretary-general of Communication Pablo Casado topped the poll in the primary election held on 5 July 2018, becoming eligible for the run-off to be held among the party's delegates on 20−21 July. After preliminary data was published, Sáenz de Santamaría conceded the election and acknowledged Casado's victory. Casado's win, which was considered a party swing towards the right, was possible through the support to his candidacy of former party secretary-general María Dolores de Cospedal, who had been a bitter rival of Santamaría during the PP's time in government.^[7][8][9]

The congress of the PP was the party's supreme body, and could be of either ordinary or extraordinary nature, depending on whether it was held following the natural end of its term or due to any other exceptional circumstances not linked to this event. Ordinary congresses were to be held every four years and called at least two months in advance of their celebration, though this timetable could be altered for up to twelve months in the event of coincidence with electoral processes. Extraordinary congresses had to be called by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors at least one-and-a-half month in advance of their celebration, though in cases of "exceptional urgency" this deadline could be reduced to 30 days.

The president of the PP was the party's head and the person holding the party's political and legal representation, and presided over its board of directors and executive committee, which were the party's maximum directive, governing and administration bodies between congresses.^[10]

The election of the PP president was based on a two-round system, introduced in the party statutes during the previous PP congress in 2017.^[11] Any party member with at least one-year membership was eligible for the post of party president, on the condition that they were up to date with the payment of party fees and that they were able to secure the signed endorsements of at least 100 party members. The election was to be held in the party's 60 constituencies, corresponding to each province and island of Spain.^[10]

In the first round, all registered party members who had their payment fees up to date were allowed to vote for any of the candidates who had been officially proclaimed by virtue of securing the required number of signatures to run. In the event that no candidate won the first round outright—which required securing at least 50 percent of the national vote, being the most voted candidate in at least half of the constituencies and at least a 15-percentage point advantage over the runner-up—a second round would be held concurrently with the party congress, in which party delegates would elect the new party leader from among the two candidates who had previously received the most votes in the first round. Most of the delegates were to be elected by party members concurrently with the first round of voting to the party leadership.^[12][13][14]

The key dates are listed below (all times are CEST. Note that the Canary Islands use WEST (UTC+1) instead):^[15][16][17]

• 11 June: Official announcement of the congress. Start of application period for party members to register in order to participate in the leadership election.
• 18 June: Start of candidate submission period at 12 pm.
• 20 June: End of candidate submission period at 2 pm.
• 22 June: Proclamation of candidates to the party presidency.
• 23 June: Official start of internal electoral campaigning (at 10 am).
• 25 June: Deadline for party members to register for voting at 2 pm.
• 29 June: Deadline for party members to apply as delegates at 2 pm.
• 4 July: Last day of internal electoral campaigning.
• 5 July: Primary election (first round of voting, with all registered party members entitled to vote for the proclaimed candidates) and election of congress delegates.
• 20−21 July: Party congress (if needed, a run-off voting was to be held among delegates to elect the party leader among the two most voted candidates in the first round).

Candidate		Age	Notable positions	Announced	Eliminated	Campaign	Ref.
Elected
Candidate elected as president.
Pablo Casado		37	Deputy Secretary-General of Communication of the PP (since 2015) Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Ávila (since 2011) President of NNGG in the Community of Madrid (2005–2013) Deputy in the Assembly of Madrid (2007–2009)	18 June 2018	Y Elected	(pablocasado.es)	[18]
Advanced to run-off
Candidates who secured the required support to contest the run-off voting in the party congress.
Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría		47	Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Madrid (since 2004) Deputy Prime Minister of Spain (2011–2018) Minister of the Presidency and for Territorial Administrations of Spain (2016–2018) Minister of the Presidency of Spain (2011–2016) Spokesperson of the Government of Spain (2011–2016) Spokesperson of the PP Group in the Congress of Deputies (2008–2011)	19 June 2018	21 July 2018	(sorayapp.es)	[19]
Proclaimed
Candidates who met the endorsement requirement and were officially proclaimed to contest the primary election, but failed to advance to the run-off voting.
Elio Cabanes		43	City Councillor of La Font de la Figuera (since 2011)	20 June 2018	5 July 2018	—	[20]
María Dolores de Cospedal		52	Secretary-General of the PP (since 2008) President of the PP of Castilla–La Mancha (since 2006) Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Toledo (since 2015) Minister of Defence of Spain (2016–2018) President of the Junta of Communities of Castilla–La Mancha (2011–2015) Deputy in the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha for Toledo (2007–2015) Senator in the Cortes Generales appointed by the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha (2006–2011) Minister of Transport and Infrastructures of the Community of Madrid (2004–2006) Secretary of State of Security of Spain (2002–2004) Undersecretary of Public Administrations of Spain (2000–2002)	19 June 2018	5 July 2018	(primeroelpp.es)	[21]
José Manuel García-Margallo		73	Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Melilla, Valencia and Alicante (1977–1982, 1986–1994 and since 2016) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain (2011–2016) Member of the European Parliament for Spain (1994–2011)	18 June 2018	5 July 2018	(margallocandidato.es/)	[22]
José Ramón García-Hernández		47	Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Ávila and Madrid (since 2014)	16 June 2018	5 July 2018	(joserapp.es)	[23]
Announced
Candidates who announced an intention to run for the primary election, but were rejected as a result of not meeting the endorsement requirement.
José Luis Bayo		40	President of NNGG in the Valencian Community (2000–2008)	18 June 2018	25 June 2018	—	[24] [25] [26]

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

• 
  Alfonso Alonso
• 
  José Ramón Bauzá
• 
  Cristina Cifuentes
• 
  Íñigo de la Serna
• 
  Alberto Núñez Feijóo
• 
  Ana Pastor
• 
  Mariano Rajoy

• Alfonso Alonso (age 51) — Deputy in the Basque Parliament for Álava (since 2016); President of the PP of the Basque Country (since 2015); Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality of Spain (2014–2016); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Álava (2000–2002 and 2008–2016); Spokesperson of the PP Group in the Congress of Deputies (2011–2014); City Councillor of Vitoria (1996–2008); Mayor of Vitoria (1999–2007).^[27][28]
• José Ramón Bauzá (age 47) — Senator in the Cortes Generales appointed by the Parliament of the Balearic Islands (since 2015); Deputy in the Parliament of the Balearic Islands for Mallorca (2011–2015); President of the Balearic Islands (2011–2015); President of the PP of the Balearic Islands (2009–2015); Mayor of Marratxí (2005–2011); City Councillor of Marratxí (1999–2011); Vice President of the PP of the Balearic Islands (2007–2009); Deputy Mayor for Urbanism and Health of Marratxí (2003–2005).^[29][30]
• Cristina Cifuentes (age 53) — President of the PP of the Community of Madrid (2017–2018); President of the Community of Madrid (2015–2018); Deputy in the Assembly of Madrid (1991–2012 and 2015–2018); President of the PP Group in the Assembly of Madrid (2015); Delegate of the Government of Spain in the Community of Madrid (2012–2015); First Vice President of the Assembly of Madrid (2005–2012); First Secretary of the Assembly of Madrid (1999–2003).^[27][31]
• Íñigo de la Serna (age 47) — Minister of Development of Spain (2016–2018); Deputy in the Parliament of Cantabria (2015–2016); President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (2015–2016); Mayor of Santander (2007–2016); City Councillor of Santander (2003–2016); President of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (2012–2015).^[27][32]
• Alberto Núñez Feijóo (age 56) — President of the Regional Government of Galicia (since 2009); President of the PP of Galicia (since 2006); Deputy in the Parliament of Galicia for Pontevedra (since 2005); First Vice President of the Xunta de Galicia (2004–2005); Minister of Territorial Policy, Public Works and Housing of Galicia (2003–2005); President of the State Society of Mail and Telegraphs (2000–2003); Secretary-General for Healthcare (1996–2000).^[27][33]
• Ana Pastor (age 60) — President of the Congress of Deputies (since 2016); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Pontevedra (since 1996); Minister of Development of Spain (2011–2016); Coordinator of Participation and Sectorial Action of the PP (2008–2012); Second Vice President of the Congress of Deputies (2008–2011); Executive Secretary of Social Policy and Welfare of the PP (2004–2008); Minister of Health and Consumer Affairs of Spain (2002–2004); Undersecretary of Interior of Spain (2001–2002); Undersecretary of the Presidency of Spain (2000–2001); Undersecretary of Education and Culture of Spain (1999–2000).^[27][34]
• Mariano Rajoy (age 63) — Prime Minister of Spain (2011–2018); President of the PP (2004–2018); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Pontevedra and Madrid (1986 and 1989–2018); Leader of the Opposition of Spain (2004–2011); Secretary-General of the PP (2003–2004); Spokesperson of the Government of Spain (2002–2003); Minister of the Presidency of Spain (2000–2001 and 2002–2003); First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain (2000–2003); Deputy Secretary-General of the PP (1990–2003); Minister of the Interior of Spain (2001–2002); Minister of Education and Culture of Spain (1999–2000); Minister of Public Administrations of Spain (1996–1999); President of AP/PP in Pontevedra (1983–1986 and 1987–1991); Vice President of the Xunta de Galicia (1986–1987); President of the Provincial Deputation of Pontevedra (1983–1986); City Councillor of Pontevedra (1983–1986); Deputy in the Parliament of Galicia for Pontevedra (1981–1985); Director-General for Institutional Relations of Galicia (1982); Deputy Secretary of the Parliament of Galicia (1981–1982).^[1][2][35]

Candidates seeking to run were required to collect the endorsements of at least 100 party members.

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 PP voters/supporters as well as Spanish voters as a whole, but not among party members, who are the ones ultimately entitled to vote in the primary election.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size													Other /None	?	Lead
			Casado	Santamaría	Cospedal	García- Hernández	Margallo	Cabanes	Bayo	Feijóo	Pastor	De la Serna	Alonso	Cifuentes
Congress election	21 Jul 2018	—[a]	57.3	42.1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	0.6	—	15.2
Demoscopia Servicios/OKDiario[p 1]	20 Jul 2018	566[b]	49.5	35.7	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	14.8	13.8
NC Report/La Razón[p 2][p 3]	8–14 Jul 2018	600	42.5	42.8	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	14.7	0.3
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 4]	9–12 Jul 2018	?	29.7	56.9	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	13.4	27.2
ElectoPanel/Electomanía[p 5]	5–10 Jul 2018	?	48.8	51.2	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	2.4
Primary election	5 Jul 2018	—[c]	34.3	36.9	25.9	1.2	1.2	0.3	–	–	–	–	–	–	0.2	—	2.6
Demoscopia Servicios/OKDiario[p 6]	28 Jun–2 Jul 2018	447[b]	16.8	16.3	18.8	0.4	1.8	0.2	–	–	–	–	–	–	4.3	41.4	2.0
IMOP/El Confidencial[p 7]	22–27 Jun 2018	500	22.2	45.2	11.9	1.2	6.4	0.1	–	–	–	–	–	–	12.9		23.0
Demoscopia Servicios/OKDiario[p 8]	22–24 Jun 2018	330[b]	16.7	14.5	15.2	0.3	2.4	0.0	–	–	–	–	–	–	4.8	46.1	1.5
SocioMétrica/El Español[p 9]	19–22 Jun 2018	?[d]	–	52.6	31.2	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	16.2	21.4
			22.8	47.8	16.2	2.3	4.0	–	0.0	–	–	–	–	–	–	6.9	25.0
		?[e]	–	52.5	38.2	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	9.3	14.3
			18.6	49.3	12.0	3.5	9.2	–	0.0	–	–	–	–	–	–	7.3	30.7
GESOP/El Periódico[p 10][p 11]	11–13 Jun 2018	163	–	27.0	8.6	–	–	–	–	33.1	14.1	6.1	–	–	0.6	10.4	6.1
DYM/El Independiente[p 12][p 13]	11–12 Jun 2018	?	–	33.1	5.7	–	–	–	–	37.3	11.5	–	–	–	7.0	5.4	4.2
GAD3/ABC[p 14]	7–8 Jun 2018	?	4.1	23.1	7.6	–	–	–	–	37.0	5.8	–	–	–	22.4		13.9
InvyMark/laSexta[p 15]	4–8 Jun 2018	?	–	43.2	7.1	–	–	–	–	30.3	7.9	2.5	–	–	–	9.0	12.9
MyWord/Cadena SER[p 16][p 17]	6–7 Jun 2018	?	–	38.0	6.0	–	–	–	–	39.0	3.8	–	1.6	–	0.4	11.2	1.0
ElectoPanel/Electomanía[p 18]	26–28 May 2018	?	7.4	44.4	1.9	–	1.9	–	–	35.2	5.6	–	0.0	–	3.6	0.0	9.2
NC Report/La Razón[p 19][p 20]	3–6 Apr 2018	350	–	27.7	20.3	–	–	–	–	26.9	10.6	–	–	0.6	3.7	10.3	0.8
SocioMétrica/El Español[p 21]	19–29 Mar 2018	?	6.0	40.0	3.0	–	–	–	–	24.0	–	–	–	10.0	10.0	7.0	16.0

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size												Other /None	?	Lead
			Casado	Santamaría	Cospedal	García- Hernández	Margallo	Bayo	Feijóo	Pastor	De la Serna	Alonso	Cifuentes
YouGov/El Huffington Post[p 22]	10–12 Jul 2018	1,005	22.0	30.0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	48.0	8.0
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 4]	9–12 Jul 2018	1,000	27.3	44.2	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	28.5	16.9
ElectoPanel/Electomanía[p 5]	5–10 Jul 2018	882	40.1	59.9	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	19.8
SocioMétrica/El Español[p 9]	19–22 Jun 2018	1,000	–	34.9	29.0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	36.1	5.9
			9.6	32.4	10.8	1.3	10.4	0.4	–	–	–	–	–	–	35.1	21.6
GESOP/El Periódico[p 10][p 11]	11–13 Jun 2018	800	–	27.5	5.8	–	–	–	20.4	11.6	6.0	–	–	0.3	28.6	7.1
DYM/El Independiente[p 12][p 13]	11–12 Jun 2018	1,019	–	24.9	5.7	–	–	–	19.5	11.7	–	–	–	26.3	11.9	5.4
YouGov/La Vanguardia[p 23]	8–11 Jun 2018	1,004	–	26.0	4.0	–	–	–	18.0	7.0	3.0	–	–	12.0	31.0	8.0
GAD3/ABC[p 14]	7–8 Jun 2018	800	3.2	20.3	4.4	–	–	–	22.0	8.4	–	–	–	41.7		1.7
InvyMark/laSexta[p 15]	4–8 Jun 2018	?	–	23.1	5.4	–	–	–	26.8	11.5	4.5	–	–	–	28.7	3.7
Top Position[p 24]	4–7 Jun 2018	1,200	–	33.4	–	–	–	–	31.6	–	–	–	–	35.0		1.8
MyWord/Cadena SER[p 16][p 17]	6–7 Jun 2018	1,215	–	23.5	5.1	–	–	–	22.8	7.7	–	2.8	–	4.7	33.4	0.7
ElectoPanel/Electomanía[p 18]	26–28 May 2018	1,425	4.2	32.2	2.1	–	5.3	–	17.9	7.5	–	0.7	–	13.4	16.7	14.3
SocioMétrica/El Español[p 21]	19–29 Mar 2018	1,000	2.0	18.0	2.0	–	–	–	9.0	–	–	–	6.0	21.0	42.0	9.0

Source	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Delegates					Percentage
						Other /None /Unknown					Other /None /Unknown
			Casado	Santamaría	Cospedal			Casado	Santamaría	Cospedal
Congress election	21 Jul 2018	3,082	1,701	1,250	–	131		55.2	40.6	–	4.3
Demoscopia Servicios/OKDiario[140]	20 Jul 2018	3,082	1,751	1,331	–	–		56.8	43.2	–	–
Casado's campaign[141][142][143]	20 Jul 2018	3,082	2,198	777	–	107		71.3	25.2	–	3.5
Santamaría's campaign[142][143]	20 Jul 2018	3,082	?	1,950	–	?		?	63.0	–	?
Casado's campaign[144][145][146]	17 Jul 2018	3,082	2,100	836	–	146		68.1	27.1	–	4.7
Santamaría's campaign[144][147]	17 Jul 2018	3,082	<1,350	1,850	–	?		<45.0	60.0	–	?
Casado's campaign[144][148]	12 Jul 2018	3,082	2,156	800	–	126		70.0	26.0	–	4.0
Electomanía[149]	7 Jul 2018	2,718[f]	672	1,196	850	–		24.7	44.0	31.3	–
El Español[150]	7 Jul 2018	2,615[f]	882	1,008	725	–		33.7	38.5	27.7	–
ABC[151]	6 Jul 2018	2,612[f]	684	1,369	559	–		26.2	52.4	21.4	–
El País[152]	6 Jul 2018	2,503[f]	645	1,149	709	–		25.8	45.9	28.3	–

Opinion poll sources

Other