An election, step by step
De la campaña al escaño
1
la campaña electoralkam-PAH-nyah eh-lek-toh-RALthe election campaignlah kam-PAH-nyah DOO-rah KEEN-theh DEE-ahs · “The campaign lasts fifteen days.”Why: In Spain the official campaign is short: fifteen days by law.
La campañathe campaignduralastsquincefifteendías.days
2
el candidatokan-dee-DAH-tohthe candidateseh preh-SEN-tah KOH-moh kan-dee-DAH-toh · “He’s standing as a candidate.”Why: presentarse = to stand for election (literally “to present oneself”).
Se presentapresents-himselfcomoascandidato.candidate
3
el colegio electoralkoh-LEH-hyoh eh-lek-toh-RALthe polling stationBOY ah boh-TAR al koh-LEH-hyoh · “I’m going to the polling station to vote.”Why: Polling stations are often schools, so people just say el colegio.
VoyI-goa votarto voteal colegio.to-the school
4
la papeletapah-peh-LEH-tahthe ballot paperMEH-toh lah pah-peh-LEH-tah en lah OOR-nah · “I put the ballot paper in the ballot box.”Why: la urna is the ballot box.
MetoI-putla papeletathe balloten la urna.in the box
5
los resultadosrreh-sool-TAH-dohsthe resultsel par-TEE-doh gah-NOH lahs eh-lek-THYOH-nes · “The party won the election.”Why: elecciones is always plural, even for one election.
El partidothe partyganówonlas elecciones.the elections
6
el escañoes-KAH-nyohthe seat (in parliament)kon-see-GYOH THYEN-toh BAYN-teh es-KAH-nyohs · “It won 120 seats.”Why: 176 seats out of 350 is la mayoría absoluta (an absolute majority).
Consiguióit-gotciento veinteone-hundred twentyescaños.seats
Talking about political positions
La izquierda, el centro, la derecha
Political adjectives agree with the noun: they take -o for masculine nouns and -a for feminine ones (un partido conservador, una política conservadora). Words ending in -ista stay the same for both.
Giving a political opinion
Estoy a favor, me opongo, depende
A favores-TOY ah fah-BOR deh lah rreh-FOR-mah · “I’m in favour of the reform.”Why: estar a favor de: estar, because an opinion is a current state.ah-POH-yoh ES-tah meh-DEE-dah · “I support this measure.”Why: apoyar = to support. una medida = a measure, a policy step.
EstoyI-ama favor dein favour ofla reforma.the reform
ApoyoI-supportestathismedida.measure
En contraes-TOY en KON-trah deh lah soo-BEE-dah deh eem-PWES-tohs · “I’m against the tax rise.”Why: en contra de is the opposite of a favor de.meh oh-PON-goh ah EH-sah LEY · “I oppose that law.”Why: oponerse a is reflexive (needs me, te, se…) and irregular: me opongo.
EstoyI-amen contra deagainstla subidathe risede impuestos.of taxes
Me opongoI-oppose-myselfatoesa ley.that law
Con maticesdeh-PEN-deh deh KOH-moh seh ah-PLEE-keh · “It depends on how it’s applied.”Why: After depende de cómo, the verb goes into the subjunctive (aplique): the result is still uncertain.en PAR-teh TYEH-nen rrah-THON · “They’re partly right.”Why: tener razón = to be right (literally “to have reason”).
Dependeit-dependsdeoncómohowse aplique.it-is-applied
En partein parttienenthey-haverazón.reason
Core political nouns
El escaño, la ley, el ministerio
| Spanish | Say it | English | Related verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| la ley | LEY | law | aprobar una ley (pass a law) |
| el partido | par-TEE-doh | party | afiliarse a (join) |
| el ministerio | mee-nees-TEH-ryoh | ministry | dirigir (run) |
| el alcalde / la alcaldesa | al-KAL-deh | mayor | gobernar (govern) |
| el ayuntamiento | ah-yoon-tah-MYEN-toh | town council, town hall | — |
| la oposición | oh-poh-see-THYON | the opposition | criticar (criticise) |
| el impuesto | eem-PWES-toh | tax | pagar, subir, bajar |
| la manifestación | mah-nee-fes-tah-THYON | demonstration, protest | manifestarse (protest) |
| la encuesta | en-KWES-tah | opinion poll | encuestar (poll) |
| el pacto | PAK-toh | pact, deal | pactar (strike a deal) |
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