15th National Congress of the People's Party (Spain)

15th National Congress of the PP

1–3 October 2004
3,028 delegates in the national congress Plurality needed to win
Opinion polls
Turnout	2,541 (83.9%) (president)
Candidate Mariano Rajoy Blank ballots Delegate vote 2,479 (98.4%) 41 (1.6%)
President before election José María Aznar Elected President Mariano Rajoy

The 15th National Congress of the People's Party was held in Madrid from 1 to 3 October 2004, 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. The congress slogan was "Spain, the hope that unites us" (Spanish: España, la ilusión que nos une),^[1] and it saw Mariano Rajoy being elected unopposed as party president, with 98.4% of the delegate vote in the congress (2,479 votes) and 1.6% of blank ballots (41).^[2]

Overview

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 three years and called at least two months in advance of their celebration. 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. The election of the PP president was based on an indirect system, with party members voting for delegates who would, in turn, elect the president. Any party member was eligible for the post of party president, on the condition that they were up to date with the payment of party fees and were proposed by at least 50 congress delegates.^[3]

Candidates

Candidate		Age	Notable positions	Announced	Eliminated	Ref.
Elected
Candidate elected as president.
Mariano Rajoy		49	Leader of the Opposition of Spain (since 2004) Secretary-General of the PP (since 2003) Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Pontevedra and Madrid (1986 and since 1989) 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)	23 March 2004	Y Elected	[4] [5] [6] [7]

Declined

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

• 
  Ángel Acebes
• 
  Javier Arenas
• 
  José María Aznar
• 
  Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón
• 
  Jaime Mayor Oreja
• 
  Rodrigo Rato

• Ángel Acebes (age 45) — Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Ávila (since 1996); Minister of the Interior of Spain (2002–2004); Minister of Justice of Spain (2000–2002); Minister of Public Administrations of Spain (1999–2000); Coordinator-General of the PP (1996–1999); Spokesperson of the PP Group in the Senate of Spain (1995–1996); Senator in the Cortes Generales for Ávila (1993–1996); Mayor of Ávila (1991–1995); City Councillor of Ávila (1987–1995).^[8]
• Javier Arenas (age 46) — President of the PP of Andalusia (1993–1999 and since 2004); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Seville (1989–1994 and since 2000); Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain (2003–2004); Minister of the Presidency of Spain (2003–2004); Minister of Public Administrations of Spain; (2002–2003); Secretary-General of the PP (1999–2003); Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Spain (1996–1999); Senator in the Cortes Generales appointed by the Parliament of Andalusia (1994–1996); Deputy in the Parliament of Andalusia for Seville (1986–1989 and 1994–1996).
• José María Aznar (age 51) — President of the PP (since 1990); Prime Minister of Spain (1996–2004); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Ávila and Madrid (1982–1987 and 1989–2004); President pro tempore of the Council of the European Union (2002); President of AP/PP of Castile and León (1985–1991); President of the Junta of Castile and León (1987–1989); Procurator in the Cortes of Castile and León for Ávila (1987–1989); Secretary-General of AP in La Rioja (1979–1980).^[9][10]
• Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón (age 45) — Mayor of Madrid (since 2003); City Councillor of Madrid (1983–1987 and since 2003); President of the Community of Madrid (1995–2003); Deputy in the Assembly of Madrid (1987–2003); Spokesperson of the PP Group in the Senate of Spain (1993–1995); Senator in the Cortes Generales appointed by the Assembly of Madrid (1987–1995); Spokesperson of the AP/PP Group in the Assembly of Madrid (1987–1993); Vice President of AP (1987–1989); Secretary-General of AP (1986–1987).^[4]
• Jaime Mayor Oreja (age 52) — Spokesperson of the PP Delegation in the European Parliament (since 2004); Member of the European Parliament for Spain (since 2004); Deputy Secretary-General of the PP (since 1996); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa (1982, 1989–1990, 1996–2001 and 2004); Deputy in the Basque Parliament for Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa (1980, 1984–1986, 1990–1996 and 2001–2004); Minister of the Interior of Spain (1996–2001); Spokesperson of the PP Group in the Basque Parliament (1990–1996); President of the PP of the Basque Country (1989–1996); Delegate of the Government of Spain in the Basque Country (1982–1983); Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade of the Basque Country (1979–1980).^[8][4][11]
• Rodrigo Rato (age 55) — Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (since 2004); First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain (2003–2004); Deputy Secretary-General of the PP (1996–2004); Deputy in the Cortes Generales for Cádiz and Madrid (1982–2004); Second Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Spain (2000–2003); Minister of Economy of Spain (2000–2003); Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain (1996–2000); Minister of Economy and Finance of Spain (1996–2000); Spokesperson of the PP Group in the Congress of Deputies (1989–1996).^[4][12]

Opinion polls

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.

PP voters

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size									Other /None	?	Lead
			Gallardón	Mayor Oreja	Rajoy	Rato	Acebes	Arenas	Zaplana	De Palacio
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 1]	23–25 Jun 2003	1,502	12.6	18.0	12.1	15.3	–	–	–	–	42.0		2.7
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 2]	31 Mar–2 Apr 2003	1,503	–	41.1	25.0	19.2	–	–	–	–	14.7		16.1
Opina/El País[p 3]	25–26 Mar 2003	1,000	8.3	25.4	17.1	14.0	1.3	–	–	–	4.1	29.8	8.3
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 4]	13–16 Jan 2003	1,501	–	45.8	20.9	22.5	–	–	–	–	10.8		23.3
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 5]	5–8 Nov 2002	3,400	9.7	29.5	14.7	15.7	0.7	9.6	5.6	2.8	–	11.8	13.8
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 6]	7–9 Oct 2002	1,507	–	44.2	18.9	22.4	–	–	–	–	14.5		21.8
Opina/El País[p 7][p 8]	29 Sep 2002	?	12.5	32.3	14.8	11.6	1.8	–	–	–	3.8	23.1	17.5
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 9]	24–26 Jun 2002	1,504	–	46.9	16.4	24.8	–	–	–	–	11.9		22.1
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 10]	15–17 Apr 2002	1,510	–	46.1	17.7	23.9	–	–	–	–	12.3		22.2
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 11]	4–5 Feb 2002	1,506	–	45.5	17.4	25.1	–	–	–	–	12.0		20.4

Spanish voters

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size										Other /None	?	Lead
			Gallardón	Mayor Oreja	Rajoy	Rato	Acebes	Arenas	Zaplana	De Palacio	Suárez Illana
Opina/Cadena SER[p 12][p 13]	27 Aug 2003	1,000	21.6	13.9	10.6	9.7	1.4	–	–	–	–	4.6	38.2	7.7
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 14]	24–26 Jun 2003	1,000	34.5	15.4	12.1	12.8	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	19.1
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 1]	23–25 Jun 2003	1,502	–	31.2	20.2	19.8	–	–	–	–	–	28.8		11.0
			11.7	10.3	9.2	8.1	–	–	–	–	–	60.7		1.4
Opina/Cadena SER[p 13]	28 May 2003	?	24.8	14.1	9.2	8.3	0.5	–	–	–	–	6.5	36.6	10.7
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 15]	22–24 Apr 2003	1,000	–	–	44.0	34.0	–	–	–	–	–	11.0	8.0	10.0
Opina/Cadena SER[p 13]	2 Apr 2003	?	12.4	16.1	9.4	8.5	0.9	–	–	–	–	5.6	47.1	3.7
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 2]	31 Mar–2 Apr 2003	1,503	–	37.8	18.6	18.2	–	–	–	–	–	25.4		19.2
			7.7	16.8	10.6	7.2	–	1.9	–	–	–	26.8	29.0	6.2
Opina/El País[p 3]	25–26 Mar 2003	1,000	9.6	16.2	10.6	7.9	0.9	–	–	–	–	6.3	48.5	5.6
Opina/Cadena SER[p 13]	19 Feb 2003	1,000	12.1	14.4	10.6	9.1	0.9	–	–	–	–	5.0	47.9	2.3
Opina/El País[p 3][p 16]	3 Feb 2003	1,000	13.2	17.7	9.5	10.1	1.4	–	–	–	–	4.1	44.0	4.5
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 4]	13–16 Jan 2003	1,501	–	39.2	16.6	18.2	–	–	–	–	–	26.0		21.0
			5.3	15.1	10.6	7.7	–	1.9	–	–	–	22.7	36.7	4.5
Opina/Cadena SER[p 13]	8 Jan 2003	1,000	10.8	19.7	11.1	7.6	1.5	–	–	–	–	4.5	44.8	8.6
Opina/Cadena SER[p 17][p 18]	4 Dec 2002	1,000	11.5	20.9	11.2	7.8	1.3	–	–	–	–	4.3	43.0	9.4
Opina/El País[p 3]	23–24 Nov 2002	1,000	11.4	20.5	8.8	8.1	1.4	–	–	–	–	3.2	46.6	9.1
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 5]	5–8 Nov 2002	3,400	11.6	24.0	12.0	11.9	1.5	7.5	4.1	3.5	–	–	23.9	12.0
Opina/Cadena SER[p 19][p 20]	6 Nov 2002	1,000	11.1	22.7	8.5	7.0	1.2	–	–	–	–	3.4	46.1	11.6
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 5][p 21]	14 Oct 2002	?	16.6	23.0	13.4	10.3	1.6	5.9	4.0	5.0	–	–	20.2	6.4
Opina/Cadena SER[p 22][p 23]	9 Oct 2002	1,000	11.6	22.2	12.6	8.2	1.3	–	–	–	–	5.0	39.1	9.6
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 6]	7–9 Oct 2002	1,507	–	39.9	16.4	18.1	–	–	–	–	–	25.6		21.8
			4.1	16.2	9.3	6.6	–	2.5	–	–	–	21.3	40.0	6.9
Opina/El País[p 7][p 8]	29 Sep 2002	?	12.5	21.5	11.2	8.4	1.3	–	–	–	–	3.7	41.5	9.0
Opina/Cadena SER[p 24][p 25]	27 Aug 2002	1,000	8.1	16.0	11.8	8.7	1.4	–	–	–	–	6.7	47.3	4.2
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 5]	14 Jul 2002	?	7.1	22.6	9.0	8.6	0.3	5.0	2.3	1.5	–	–	43.6	13.6
Opina/Cadena SER[p 26][p 27]	27 Jun 2002	1,000	–	23.9	10.7	9.3	1.7	–	–	–	–	6.2	48.2	13.2
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 9]	24–26 Jun 2002	1,504	–	41.8	15.0	18.7	–	–	–	–	–	24.5		23.1
			4.5	16.5	7.2	7.1	–	1.7	–	–	1.4	20.3	41.3	9.3
Opina/Cadena SER[p 27][p 28][p 29]	8 May 2002	1,000	–	29.2	11.6	11.0	–	–	–	–	–	–	48.2	17.6
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 5]	3 May 2002	?	8.8	18.1	8.7	11.5	–	5.4	4.0	1.8	–	–	41.7	6.6
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 10]	15–17 Apr 2002	1,510	–	42.1	14.5	17.9	–	–	–	–	–	25.5		24.2
			3.0	16.0	7.0	7.2	0.4	1.6	–	0.6	–	64.2		8.8
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 11]	4–5 Feb 2002	1,506	–	41.4	16.0	18.0	–	–	–	–	–	24.6		23.4

Results

Summary of the 2 October 2004 PP congress results

Candidate		President		Board
		Votes	%	Votes	%
	Mariano Rajoy	2,479	98.37	2,479	98.37
Blank ballots		41	1.63	41	1.63
Total		2,520		2,520
Valid votes		2,520	99.17	2,520	99.17
Invalid votes		21	0.83	21	0.83
Votes cast / turnout		2,541	83.92	2,541	83.92
Abstentions		487	16.08	487	16.08
Registered voters		3,028		3,028
Sources[13][14]

Vote by delegates (President) Rajoy   98.37% Blank ballots   1.63%

References

Opinion poll sources

1. "El relevo del jefe del Ejecutivo". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 29 June 2003.
2. "La pugna por la presidencia del Gobierno". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 11 April 2003.
3. "Encuesta Marzo 2003. España" (PDF). Instituto Opina (in Spanish). 30 March 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
4. "La valoración de los políticos registra un bajón generalizado". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 23 January 2003.
5. "La sucesión de Aznar" (PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). 11 November 2002.
6. "Zapatero les gana". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 18 October 2002.
7. "Encuesta España. Septiembre 2002" (PDF). Instituto Opina (in Spanish). 29 September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
8. "El preferido es Zapatero, pero ganaría el sucesor de Aznar". El País (in Spanish). 29 September 2002.
9. "Zapatero se impondría ante cualquiera de los tres aspirantes del PP". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 5 July 2002.
10. "Crece la ventaja de Mayor para suceder a Aznar". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 30 April 2002.
11. "El relevo en el liderazgo del PP". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 18 February 2002.
12. "El PP empieza el curso político con tres puntos de ventaja". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 1 September 2003.
13. "Pulsómetro 27/08/2003". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 1 September 2003. Archived from the original on 5 September 2003.
14. "El PP aventaja al PSOE en 7,2 puntos y Gallardón se sitúa como favorito a la sucesión de Aznar". El Mundo (in Spanish). 30 June 2003.
15. "Rajoy es el delfín preferido". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 4 May 2003.
16. "Rato recorta distancias a Mayor en la carrera por la sucesión". El País (in Spanish). 3 February 2003.
17. "Pulsómetro Cadena SER - Lunes 16 de diciembre de 2002. Índice". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 16 December 2002. Archived from the original on 23 April 2003.
18. "Pulsómetro 16/12/02". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 16 December 2002. Archived from the original on 31 December 2002.
19. "Pulsómetro Cadena SER - Lunes 11 de noviembre de 2002. Índice". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 11 November 2002. Archived from the original on 24 June 2003.
20. "Resultados Pulsómetro 11/11/02". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 11 November 2002. Archived from the original on 28 November 2002.
21. "SUCESIÓN: Mayor Oreja y Ruiz Gallardón, candidatos preferidos". Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 14 October 2002.
22. "Pulsómetro Cadena SER - Lunes 21 de octubre de 2002. Índice". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 21 October 2002. Archived from the original on 24 June 2003.
23. "Pulsómetro 21/10/2002". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 21 October 2002. Archived from the original on 7 November 2002.
24. "Pulsómetro Cadena SER - Lunes 9 de septiembre de 2002. Índice". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 9 September 2002. Archived from the original on 15 October 2002.
25. "Resultados Pulsómetro 09/09/2002". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 9 September 2002. Archived from the original on 30 October 2002.
26. "Pulsómetro Cadena SER - Lunes 1 de julio de 2002. Índice". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 1 July 2002. Archived from the original on 23 June 2003.
27. "Resultado encuesta 27/06/2002". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 1 July 2002. Archived from the original on 18 October 2002.
28. "Pulsómetro Cadena SER - Lunes 20 de mayo de 2002. Índice". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 20 May 2002. Archived from the original on 23 June 2003.
29. "Resultados Pulsómetro 20/05/02". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 20 May 2002. Archived from the original on 30 April 2003.

Other

1. "El PP presenta su congreso como el 'banderín de salida' para que el partido gane las próximas generales". El Mundo (in Spanish). Madrid. EFE. 23 September 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
2. "Alianza Popular / Partido Popular". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2023.
3. "Los nuevos estatutos complican la presentación de candidatos alternativos". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 3 October 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
4. "Aznar decide que Rajoy sea su sucesor". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Madrid. Agencias. 30 August 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
5. Marcos, Charo (15 March 2004). "El PP respalda a Rajoy y a Aznar". El Mundo (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
6. "Rajoy se presentará para presidir el PP y propone a Acebes como 'número dos'". Última Hora (in Spanish). Madrid. OTR Press. 24 March 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
7. "El PP nombra hoy la comisión organizadora del Congreso en el que Rajoy saldrá elegido presidente". El Mundo (in Spanish). Madrid. Servimedia. 21 June 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
8. De la Hoz, Cristina (30 August 2003). "Rajoy y Acebes se perfilan como posibles sucesores de Aznar". ABC (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
9. Bareño, Gonzalo (25 January 2002). "Aznar, elegido por quinta vez presidente del PP con 99,6 % votos". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
10. P. Ramírez, Begoña (2 September 2003). "Rajoy promete continuar la política de Aznar 'por coherencia'". El Mundo (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
11. "Mayor Oreja desmiente que le preguntara a Aznar por el nombre del sucesor". Libertad Digital (in Spanish). Agencias. 2 September 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
12. "Aznar eligió a Rajoy como sucesor después de que Rato rechazase dos veces el puesto". El Confidencial (in Spanish). Agencias. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
13. "El PP elige presidente a Mariano Rajoy con un respaldo del 98,37% de los votos". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 2 October 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
14. Marcos, Pilar (3 October 2004). "El líder del PP se 'reparte' el Comité de Dirección con Acebes". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 25 March 2022.