Not the first time for early elections

Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's Friday announcement of his decision to bring general elections forward from March 2012 to November 20 of this year is not the first time Spaniards have been called to the polls before the full completion of a government's term of office since the return to democracy.

The Constitution stipulates that elections must be held at least every four years, but since the first democratic post-Civil War elections were held on June 15, 1977, Spain's leaders have on six previous occasions decided to hold a ballot before their time was up.

» 1979. The first case was an exceptional one. Following the passing of the Constitution on December 6, 1977, Spain went back to the ballot box two years after the first elections. The result was very similar to the first time round with Adolfo Suárez's ruling Unión de Centro Democrático (UCD) again winning the most votes, but unable to earn an absolute majority. The Socialists (PSOE), led by Felipe González, received the second best result.

» 1982. The second occasion that Spaniards were called early to the polls was in 1982 after Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo had taken charge of the government following the resignation of Adolfo Suárez in January 1981.

Since its 1979 win, the UCD had formed two minority governments, and the instability of its grip on Congress obliged Spain's second post-Transition prime minister to advance elections to October 28, 1982.

The result was an overwhelming and historic victory for González's Socialists, who earned an absolute majority of 202 seats, resulting in the almost complete disappearance of the UCD from the political map.

» 1986. The 1986 elections were brought forward by four months, from October to June 22, with the PSOE, with González at the head, again winning an absolute majority, this time of 184 seats.

» 1989. González said he took the decision to go to the polls early in 1989 because of a need to pass tough economic reforms. The then prime minister also considered that Spain needed a government at full-strength in order to face the upcoming Barcelona Olympics and the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to America, both scheduled to take place in 1992.

» 1993. As in 1986, the elections were brought forward by four months ? to June 6.

» 1996. The last time early elections were called, González was still in power having won again in 1989 and 1993, but both times without an absolute majority, forcing his Socialist Party to pact with nationalist parties to govern. The instability of this situation, coupled with public disgust over scandals surrounding the GAL death squads, which tainted the government, and an economic crisis obliged him to bring general elections forward to March 2. The poll was won this time round by the Popular Party, which picked up 156 seats, marking the return of the right to power and only the second change of government after the PSOE's unseating of the UCD in 1982.