1986 Spanish NATO membership referendum

Spanish NATO membership referendum
12 March 1986

Do you think Spain should remain in the Atlantic Alliance under the terms set down by the nation's government?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 9,054,509 56.85% No 6,872,421 43.15% Valid votes 15,926,930 92.35% Invalid or blank votes 1,319,522 7.65% Total votes 17,246,452 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 29,024,494 59.42%
Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote

A referendum on remaining a member of NATO was held in Spain on 12 March 1986. The proposal was approved by 56.9% of voters.

Results

Do you think it advisable for Spain to remain in the Atlantic Alliance under the terms set down by the government?

Referendum results

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	9,054,509	56.85
No	6,872,421	43.15
Valid votes	15,926,930	92.35
Invalid or blank votes	1,319,522	7.65
Total votes	17,246,452	100.00
Registered voters/turnout	29,024,494	59.42
Source: Ministerio del Interior de España

A majority voted against the proposal in the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, Navarre and Catalonia.

References

• Lawrence Leduc, The Politics of Direct Democracy. Referendums in Global Perspective (Broadview Press, 2003), p. 82.

Further reading

• Anthony Gooch, 'A Surrealistic Referendum: Spain and NATO', Government and Opposition 21(3), pp. 300–16.