1896 Spanish General Election
12 April 1896 · The Restoration and the turno pacífico · 447 seats, 224 for a majority
A general election was held in Spain on 12 April 1896 (for the Congress of Deputies), and on 26 April 1896 (for the Senate), to elect the members of the 7th Cortes under the Spanish Constitution of 1876, during the Restoration period. All 445 seats in the Congress of Deputies—plus two special districts—were up for election, as well as 180 of 360 seats in the Senate.
Held in wartime. This election took place while the country was engaged in Cuban War of Independence (1895–1898). Conflicts →
A turno pacífico election: the result was largely arranged in advance through the Interior Ministry's encasillado and enforced locally by caciques. The recorded majorities describe the system, not free voting.
Prime Minister before
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Conservative
Prime Minister (continued)
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Conservative
Largest force
Conservative
307 of 447 seats
Turnout
—
The result
6 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.