Spanish Socialist Workers' Party facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Partido Socialista Obrero Español
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| Abbreviation | PSOE |
| Secretary General | Pedro Sánchez |
| Deputy Secretary General | María Jesús Montero |
| President | Cristina Narbona |
| Founder | Pablo Iglesias Posse |
| Founded | 2 May 1879 |
| Headquarters | C/ Ferraz, 70 28008, Madrid |
| Newspaper | El Socialista |
| Student wing | Campus Joven |
| Youth wing | Socialist Youth of Spain |
| Membership (2022) |  159,943 |
| Ideology | Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| National affiliation | Republican–Socialist Conjunction (1909–1919, 1931–1933) Alliance of the Left (1918) Popular Front (1936–1939) |
| European affiliation | Party of European Socialists |
| International affiliation | Progressive Alliance Socialist International |
| European Parliament group | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| Colours | Red |
| Anthem |
"Anthem of the PSOE" |
| Congress of Deputies |
120 / 350
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| Senate |
88 / 266
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| European Parliament (Spanish seats) |
20 / 61
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| Regional Parliaments |
324 / 1,261
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| Regional Governments |
3 / 19
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| Local government |
20,784 / 60,941
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| Election symbol | |
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The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (Spanish: Partido Socialista Obrero Español, or PSOE) is a major political party in Spain. It is a social-democratic party, which means it believes in a fair society where everyone has equal opportunities. The PSOE has been in charge of the Spanish government for many years. This includes periods with leaders like Felipe González (1982–1996), José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (2004–2011), and currently Pedro Sánchez (since 2018).
The PSOE was started in 1879, making it the oldest active political party in Spain. It played a big role during the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939). After the Spanish Civil War, the party was banned under the Franco dictatorship. Its members were often persecuted or had to leave the country. The ban was lifted in 1977 when Spain became a democracy again.
The PSOE has strong connections with the General Union of Workers (UGT), a large workers' union in Spain. Over the years, the party has supported important social changes. For example, it helped make same-sex marriage and adoption legal in 2005. More recently, it supported a law to give more freedom regarding gender identity. The PSOE is also part of bigger groups like the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International.
Contents
What is the PSOE's history?
Early years (1879–1931)
The PSOE was founded by Pablo Iglesias Posse on 2 May 1879 in Madrid. Iglesias was a typesetter who wanted to help workers. The party's first plan was approved by about 40 people. For a long time, the PSOE and its union, the UGT, mainly grew in certain parts of Spain.
In 1910, Pablo Iglesias won a seat in the Spanish Parliament. This was a very important moment for the party, giving it more attention across the country. The PSOE and UGT were also key in a big strike in 1917. Some of their leaders were even jailed but were later released. Around 1919–1921, some members left the PSOE to form communist parties.
After Pablo Iglesias passed away in 1925, Julián Besteiro became the new leader. During the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923–1930), some PSOE members worked with the government. Others, like Indalecio Prieto, wanted to work with groups that supported a republic.
Second Republic and Civil War (1931–1939)
When the Second Spanish Republic was declared in 1931, three PSOE members became ministers in the new government. They included Indalecio Prieto (Finance), Fernando de los Ríos (Education), and Francisco Largo Caballero (Labour). Socialists remained in government for a few years.
After the 1933 election, which saw more conservative parties win, some PSOE leaders like Largo Caballero started talking about big changes. There was a lot of tension in the country. In October 1934, a new government was formed that included ministers from a party called CEDA. Many on the left saw this as a step backward.
The UGT called for a nationwide strike, which led to a revolt in the mining region of Asturias in 1934. This revolt was supported by some socialists. After the revolt was put down, many PSOE and UGT leaders were arrested.
In 1936, the PSOE joined a group of left-wing parties called the Popular Front. This group won the 1936 general election. A few months later, the Spanish Civil War began. During the war, Francisco Largo Caballero became the head of the government in September 1936. Later, another socialist, Juan Negrín, took over as prime minister.
Hidden and in exile (1939–1974)
After the Civil War ended in 1939, Francisco Franco's dictatorship began. The PSOE was made illegal, and its members were hunted down. Many leaders and supporters were put in prison, forced to leave Spain, or even executed. For example, Julián Besteiro died in prison, and Julián Zugazagoitia was executed. The party only became legal again in 1977.
During this time, many PSOE members lived in exile, mostly in France and Mexico. They tried to keep the party alive from outside Spain. Rodolfo Llopis became the party's new secretary-general in 1944. The party in exile was very against communism, which was common during the Cold War. This meant they didn't work with the Communist Party of Spain.
As time went on, the leaders in exile became less connected to the party members still secretly working in Spain. New groups started to form inside Spain because the exiled leadership wasn't very active.
Back to democracy
Felipe González's time (1974–1996)
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In 1974, Felipe González was chosen as the new Secretary-General. He was a young leader who wanted to change the party. He aimed to make the PSOE a modern social-democratic party, like those in other Western European countries. This meant moving away from some of its older ideas.
In 1977, the PSOE became the main opposition party in Spain's new democracy. They won many seats in parliament. In 1979, González resigned because the party didn't want to give up its Marxist ideas. But later that year, he was re-elected when the party agreed to move away from Marxism. Other European social-democratic parties supported González. The PSOE also supported the new Spanish Constitution of 1978.
In the 1982 election, the PSOE won a huge victory, and Felipe González became the Prime Minister of Spain. He stayed in this position until 1996. During his time, the government spent more money on education, health, and pensions.
The González government faced some challenges, including economic problems and a scandal involving a group called GAL. In the 1996 election, the PSOE lost to the conservative People's Party (PP). After this, González resigned as leader in 1997. The PSOE had a difficult time and lost many votes in the 2000 election.
Zapatero and Rubalcaba's time (2000–2014)
In 2000, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero became the new Secretary-General. The PSOE strongly disagreed with the government's support for the Iraq War.
In 2004, the PSOE won the general election. Zapatero became Prime Minister. His government legalized same-sex marriage and adoption in 2005. The PSOE won again in the 2008 election, and Zapatero continued as prime minister.
However, the party's popularity went down because of a difficult economic crisis in Spain. In the 2011 election, the PSOE lost to the People's Party. After this, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba was chosen as the new Secretary-General. This caused some disagreements within the party.
In 2013, the PSOE tried to update its ideas to gain more support. But in the 2014 European Parliament election, they lost many votes. New parties like Podemos gained popularity. Rubalcaba then resigned.
Pedro Sánchez's time (2014–present)
In 2014, Pedro Sánchez was elected as the new Secretary-General. This was the first time the party used a direct vote by members to choose its leader.
In the 2015 and 2016 general elections, the PSOE had some of its worst results since Spain became a democracy. This showed that the traditional two-party system in Spain was changing.
In 2016, the PSOE went through a big internal crisis. Pedro Sánchez resigned as Secretary-General after disagreements within the party. However, he ran again for the leadership in 2017 and won, returning as Secretary-General.
In 2018, the PSOE led a vote of no confidence against the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. This vote was successful, and Pedro Sánchez became Prime Minister of Spain in June 2018. He formed a minority government.
In April 2019, the PSOE won the general election, gaining many seats. They also did well in the European Parliament elections and many regional and local elections in May 2019. However, forming a government was difficult, leading to another general election in November 2019.
After the November 2019 election, the PSOE formed a coalition government with Unidas Podemos. Pedro Sánchez continued as Prime Minister. In 2021, the PSOE started its own podcast called Donde hay partido. In the 2023 general election, the PSOE gained one seat and continued in a coalition government.
What are the PSOE's main ideas?
From older ideas to social democracy
When the PSOE was founded in 1879, its main goal was to protect workers' rights. It aimed to give political power to the working class and create a society where the means of production (like factories) were owned by everyone. These ideas came from Marxism.
However, the PSOE's ideas have changed a lot over the years. In 1979, under Felipe González, the party decided to move away from Marxism. This was a big change and caused some debate within the party. From then on, the PSOE became more like other social-democratic parties in Europe. They accepted the idea of a market economy but still wanted to make sure it was fair for everyone.
The PSOE now describes itself as social democratic, left-wing, and progressive. It supports pro-Europeanism, meaning it believes in working closely with other European countries.
Federalism
The PSOE generally supports a federal system for Spain. This means that different regions of Spain would have more power to govern themselves, while still being part of the larger country.
Historically, the party has supported the idea of "self-determination" for the different peoples of Spain. However, during Spain's transition to democracy, they gradually stopped using this term. Some members of the party support more independence for regions like Catalonia or the Basque Country. Others in the PSOE disagree, believing it could threaten equality between all of Spain's regions.
Important people in the PSOE
The Secretary General is the main leader of the party.
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Regional leaders
The PSOE also has leaders for each of Spain's regions:
- Andalusia: Juan Espadas (since 2021)
- Aragon: Javier Lambán (since 2012)
- Asturias: Adrián Barbón (since 2017)
- Balearic Islands: Francina Armengol (since 2012)
- Basque Country: Eneko Andueza (since 2021)
- Canary Islands: Ángel Víctor Torres (since 2017)
- Cantabria: Pablo Zuloaga (since 2017)
- Castile and León: Luis Tudanca (since 2014)
- Castilla-La Mancha: Emiliano García-Page (since 2012)
- Catalonia: Salvador Illa (since 2021)
- Ceuta: Vacant (since 2024)
- Community of Madrid: Juan Lobato (since 2021)
- Extremadura: Guillermo Fernández Vara (since 2008)
- Galicia: José Ramón Gómez Besteiro (since 2024)
- La Rioja: Concha Andreu (since 2021)
- Melilla: Sabrina Moh Abdelkader (since 2024)
- Murcia: José Vélez (since 2021)
- Navarre: María Chivite (since 2014)
- Valencian Community: Diana Morant (since 2024)
What are some special terms?
- Baron: This is an informal name for the party's powerful regional leaders. They can be very influential, especially if they lead a region.
- Compañero: This Spanish word means "companion" or "comrade." Socialists use it to address each other.
- Currents: These are different groups or ways of thinking within the PSOE. Sometimes, these groups have led to members leaving the party. Examples include Izquierda Socialista (Socialist Left).
Former logos
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1976–1977 (provisional)
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1977–2001 (co-existed with the 1994 logo until 2001)
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1994–2001
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2013–2015 (variation)
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2017 (variation)
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2019 (variation)
See also
In Spanish: Partido Socialista Obrero Español para niños
- List of political parties in Spain
- Politics of Spain
