PROFILPELAJAR.COM

35th Federal Congress of the PSOE
998 delegates in the federal congress; Plurality of delegates needed to win
Turnout	995 (99.7%) (secretary); 964 (96.6%) (executive)
Secretary before election; Caretaker committee headed by Manuel Chaves;	Elected Secretary ; José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero;

The 35th Federal Congress of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party was held in Madrid from 21 to 23 July 2000 to renovate the governing bodies of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and establish the party's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term. It was held after the party's defeat in the 2000 general election and the subsequent resignation of then secretary-general Joaquín Almunia.

Under a plurality voting system, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero unexpectedly won the party leadership with 41.6% of the delegate vote (414 votes), to president of Castilla–La Mancha and initial favourite José Bono's 40.7% (405 votes). Former social affairs minister Matilde Fernández secured 11.0% (109 votes), whereas the leader of the PSOE group in the European Parliament, Rosa Díez, obtained 6.5% (65 votes).^[1]^[2] Zapatero would subsequently win the 2004 Spanish general election and become prime minister of Spain in April 2004, a post he would held until 2011.

Timetable

The key dates are listed below (all times are CET):^[3]^[4]

22 March: Official announcement of the congress.
13–15 June: Election of congress delegates.
21–23 July: Federal congress.

Candidates

Candidate	Age	Notable positions	Announced	Eliminated	Ref.
Elected
Candidate elected as secretary-general.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	39	Deputy in the Cortes Generales for León (since 1986)	25 June 2000	Y Elected	^[5]
Proclaimed
Candidates who met the endorsement requirement and were officially proclaimed to contest the party congress.
José Bono	49	President of the Junta of Communities of Castilla–La Mancha (since 1983) Deputy in the Cortes of Castilla–La Mancha for Albacete and Toledo (since 1983) President of the PSCM–PSOE (1990–1997) Secretary-General of the PSCM–PSOE (1988–1990) Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Albacete and Toledo (1979–1983) Fourth Secretary of the Congress of Deputies (1979–1982)	17 June 2000	22 July 2000	^[4] ^[6]
Matilde Fernández	50	City Councillor of Madrid (since 1999) President of the PSC–PSOE (since 1997) Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Cantabria (1989–2000) Secretary of Women of the PSOE (1984–1997) Minister of Social Affairs of Spain (1988–1993)	27 May 2000	22 July 2000	^[7] ^[8]
Rosa Díez	47	President of the PSOE Delegation in the European Parliament (since 1999) Member of the European Parliament for Spain (since 1999) Deputy in the Basque Parliament for Álava and Biscay (1987–1999) Minister of Trade, Consumer Affairs and Tourism of the Basque Country (1991–1998) City Councillor of Güeñes (1987–1991) Vice President of the General Councils of Biscay for Valmaseda (1983–1987) Deputy in the General Councils of Biscay for Valmaseda and Encartaciones (1979–1987)	4 May 2000	22 July 2000	^[9] ^[10]

Declined

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

Cristina Alberdi (age 54) — President of the FSM–PSOE (since 1997); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Málaga and Madrid (since 1996); Minister of Social Affairs of Spain (1993–1996).^[11]
Joaquín Almunia (age 51) — Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Madrid (since 1979); Leader of the Opposition of Spain (1997–1998 and 1999–2000); Secretary-General of the PSOE (1997–2000); Spokesperson of the PSOE Group in the Congress of Deputies (1994–1997); Minister of Public Administrations (1986–1991); Minister of Labour and Social Security (1982–1986).^[12]
Josep Borrell (age 52) — Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Barcelona (since 1986); Leader of the Opposition of Spain (1998–1999); Spokesperson of the PSOE Group in the Congress of Deputies (1998–1999); 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).^[13]
Felipe González (age 58) — Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Madrid and Seville (since 1977); Secretary-General of the PSOE (1974–1979 and 1979–1997); Prime Minister of Spain (1982–1996); President pro tempore of the Council of the European Union (1989 and 1995); Spokesperson of the PSOE Group in the Congress of Deputies (1977–1979).^[14]

Endorsements

Candidates seeking to run were required to collect the endorsements of at least 10% of congress delegates.^[15]^[16]

Summary of candidate endorsement results
Candidate		Delegates
Candidate		Count	% T	% V
	José Bono	350	35.07	47.43
	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	184	18.44	24.93
	Rosa Díez	103	10.32	13.96
	Matilde Fernández	101	10.12	13.69

Total		738

Valid endorsements		738	73.95
Not endorsing		260	26.05
Total members		998

Sources^[17]

Endorsements by delegates

Bono			47.43%
Zapatero			24.93%
Díez			13.96%
Fernández			13.69%

Results

Summary of the 22–23 July 2000 congress results
Candidate		Secretary		Executive
Candidate		Votes	%	Votes	%
	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero	414	41.61	865	90.20
	José Bono	405	40.70	Withdrew
	Matilde Fernández	109	10.95	Withdrew
	Rosa Díez	65	6.53	Withdrew
Blank ballots		2	0.20	94	9.80

Total		995		959

Valid votes		995	100.00	959	99.48
Invalid votes		0	0.00	5	0.52
Votes cast / turnout		995	99.70	964	96.59
Abstentions		3	0.30	34	3.41
Total delegates		998		998

Sources^[2]^[18]^[19]