Spanish Congress lowers thresholds for parliamentary groups, easing path for ERC and Junts

What the reform changes

The Spanish Congress approved a modification of its standing orders on Thursday, lowering the electoral thresholds required for political parties to form their own parliamentary groups. The reform, which amends Article 23 of the 1982 rules, was backed by the governing PSOE, its junior partner Sumar, and a bloc of nationalist and left-wing forces including ERC, Junts, PNV, EH Bildu, Podemos and BNG. The right-wing PP, Vox and UPN voted against. Under the new rules, a party still needs at least five seats, but the alternative national vote threshold drops from 5% to 3%, and the requirement in each contested province falls from 15% to 10%. The change will take effect from the next legislature.

Why it was needed

The reform was driven by the experience of the current legislature. After the July 2023 general election, neither ERC nor Junts met the old thresholds: ERC obtained 13.1% of the vote in Catalonia, and Junts 11.1%, both below the 15% provincial bar. To allow them to form groups, PSOE and Sumar temporarily lent them several deputies, a manoeuvre that the Constitutional Court later endorsed but which the right denounced as a fraud. With the next general election due within a year and polls pointing to a possible right-wing majority, the parties that depend on group status sought a permanent fix. The reform ensures that even if PP and Vox control the Congress bureau in the future, smaller formations will have a legal path to group recognition without relying on ad-hoc deals.

Opposition reaction

PP and Vox fiercely opposed the change, calling it a "gift" to Pedro Sánchez's allies and accusing the left of engineering "artificial groups" that distort parliamentary proportionality. During the debate, they warned that if they win a majority, they will apply the rules strictly and not permit the kind of deputy-lending that occurred in 2023. The PP also tabled an amendment to replace the principle of equity among groups with strict proportionality in the distribution of subsidies, speaking time and material resources, but it was rejected.

Benefits of having a group

Forming a parliamentary group carries significant political and financial advantages. It guarantees a party its own voice in all debates, at least one seat on every committee, the Permanent Deputation and the Spokespersons' Board, and one question in each government control session. Economically, it unlocks higher public subsidies and funding for postal mailings to constituents. Without group status, deputies are relegated to the Mixed Group, where resources and visibility are diluted.

A pattern of rule changes

Thursday's vote marks the third reform of the Congress's internal regulations this legislature. The first, approved earlier, allowed the use of co-official languages in parliamentary proceedings, another concession to nationalist parties. The second introduced inclusive language norms and a code of conduct allowing the withdrawal of press credentials for serious breaches. The latest reform was registered in May and processed in under two months, a pace that opposition parties criticised as rushed. On the same day, the lower house also rejected the government's deficit path for the fifth time this term, underscoring the legislative fragility of the Sánchez administration.