View source for 1980 Andalusian autonomy initiative referendum

{{Infobox referendum
| title       = "Do you agree to the ratification of the initiative, provided for in Article 151 of the Constitution, for the purpose of transacting it by the procedure provided in that article?"
| country     = Andalusia
| date        = {{start date|1980|02|28|df=y}}
| yes_text    = {{tick|12}} Yes
| no_text     = {{cross|12}} No
| yes         = 2,472,287
| no          =   152,438
| total       = 2,843,962
| electorate  = 4,430,356
| map         = 
| mapdivision = 
| notes       = 
}}
A '''referendum on the initiative of the Andalusian autonomy process''' was held in [[Andalusia]] on Thursday, 28 February 1980. Voters were asked whether they ratified a proposed initiative for the [[Provinces of Spain|provinces]] of [[Province of Almería|Almería]], [[Province of Cádiz|Cádiz]], [[Province of Córdoba (Spain)|Córdoba]], [[Province of Granada|Granada]], [[Province of Huelva|Huelva]], [[Province of Jaén (Spain)|Jaén]], [[Province of Málaga|Málaga]] and [[Province of Seville|Seville]] to organize themselves into an [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community of Spain]] throughout the legal procedure outlined in Article 151 of the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]].

The referendum resulted in 94.2% of valid votes in support of the bill on a turnout of 64.2%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=es011980 |title=Andalusia (Spain), 28 February 1980: Initiation of the Autonomy Process |language=German |website=sudd.ch |publisher=Direct Democracy |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/elecciones/referendos/ref_and_80.htm |title=Referéndum de ratificación de la iniciativa autonómica de Andalucía |language=Spanish |website=congreso.es |publisher=[[Congress of Deputies]] |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref> However, the "Yes" vote failed to reach the required 50% majority in the province of Almería—garnering 42.3% of the electorate under a turnout of 51.1%—resulting in a deadlock of several months until an inter-party agreement resulted in legal amendments allowing the autonomy process to continue as envisaged under Article 151.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/estatutos/sinopsis.jsp?com=63 |title=Sinopsis del Estatuto de Andalucía |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

==Legal framework==
Articles 143 and 151 of the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]] provided for two ordinary procedures for regions to access [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomy status]]:<ref name="SpaCons">{{cite act |title=Constitución Española |type=Constitution |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=29 December 1978 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19781229 |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>
*The "slow-track" route of Article 143, whose initiative required the approval of the corresponding [[Provincial deputation (Spain)|Provincial]] or Island Councils as well as two-thirds of all [[Municipalities of Spain|municipalities]] which comprised, at least, a majority of the population in each [[Provinces of Spain|province]] or [[Islands of Spain|island]]. [[Devolution]] for autonomous communities constituted through this procedure was limited for a period of at least five years from the adoption of the [[Statute of Autonomy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=143&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Sinopsis artículo 143 |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>
*The "fast-track" route of Article 151, whose initiative required the approval of the corresponding Provincial or Island Councils; three-fourths of all municipalities which comprised, at least, a majority of the population in each province or island; as well as its subsequent ratification through referendum requiring the affirmative vote of at least the absolute majority of all those eligible to vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=151&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Sinopsis artículo 151 |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> This procedure was also provided under Article 8 of the Organic Law 2/1980, of 18 January, on the regulation of the different forms of referendums.<ref name="RefLaw">{{cite act |title=Ley Orgánica 2/1980, de 18 de enero, sobre regulación de las distintas modalidades de referéndum |type=Organic Law |number=2 |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=18 January 1980 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1980-1564 |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Transitory Provision Second of the Constitution waived off these requirements for the "historical regions" which had statutes of autonomy approved by voters during the [[Second Spanish Republic]], namely: [[Catalonia]] ([[1931 Catalan Statute of Autonomy referendum|1931]]), the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] ([[1933 Basque Statute of Autonomy referendum|1933]]) and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] ([[1936 Galician Statute of Autonomy referendum|1936]]).<ref>{{cite news |date=31 October 1979 |title=Los estatutos de autonomía de las nacionalidades históricas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/10/31/espana/310172406_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=[[El País]] |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 December 1979 |title=El referéndum de iniciativa, barrera no exigida a las nacionalidades históricas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/09/espana/313542004_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

Once initiated, failure in securing the requirements laid out in each of these procedures determined a five-year period during which the corresponding provinces or islands would not be able to apply for autonomy under the same Article.<ref name="SpaCons"/><ref name="RefLaw"/> Additionally, Article 144 provided for an exceptional procedure under which the [[Cortes Generales]] could, because of "national interest reasons": a) Authorize the constitution of an autonomous community when its territorial scope did not exceed that of a province and did not meet the requirements of Article 143; b) Authorize the approval of statutes of autonomy for territories not integrated into the provincial organization; and c) Replace the local councils' initiative referred to in Article 143.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/constitucion/indice/sinopsis/sinopsis.jsp?art=144&tipo=2 |title=Constitución española. Sinopsis artículo 144 |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref>

The electoral procedures of the referendum came regulated under Royal Decree-Law 20/1977, of 18 March, and its related legal provisions. Voting was on the basis of [[universal suffrage]], which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in the provinces of [[Province of Almería|Almería]], [[Province of Cádiz|Cádiz]], [[Province of Córdoba (Spain)|Córdoba]], [[Province of Granada|Granada]], [[Province of Huelva|Huelva]], [[Province of Jaén (Spain)|Jaén]], [[Province of Málaga|Málaga]] and [[Province of Seville|Seville]] and in full enjoyment of their civil and political rights.<ref>{{cite act |title=Real Decreto-ley 20/1977, de 18 de marzo, sobre Normas Electorales |type=Royal Decree-Law |number=20 |work=Boletín Oficial del Estado |language=Spanish |date=18 March 1977 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1977-7445 |access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> The question asked was "Do you agree to the ratification of the initiative, provided for in Article 151 of the Constitution, for the purpose of transacting it by the procedure provided in that article?" ({{langx|es|¿Da usted su acuerdo a la ratificación de la iniciativa, prevista en el articulo 151 de la Constitución, a efectos de su tramitación por el procedimiento previsto en dicho articulo?}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://app.congreso.es/consti/elecciones/referendos/index.htm |title=Referendos |website=congreso.es |publisher=Congress of Deputies |language=Spanish |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="AndRef">{{cite journal |journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado |issue=24 |date=28 January 1980 |pages=2084–2085 |issn=0212-033X |title=Real Decreto 145/1980, de 26 de enero, por el que se convoca a referéndum de las provincias de Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga y Sevilla en cumplimiento de lo dispuesto en el artículo 151 de la Constitución |url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/01/28/pdfs/A02084-02085.pdf |language=Spanish |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="Comp">{{cite journal |journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado |issue=38 |date=13 February 1980 |pages=3431–3432 |issn=0212-033X |title=Real Decreto 260/1980, de 8 de febrero, sobre normas complementarias para la celebración del Referéndum convocado por Real Decreto 145/1980, de 26 de enero |url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/02/13/pdfs/A03431-03432.pdf |language=Spanish |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

==Background==
The Andalusian autonomic process had its roots in a number of events throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries that fueled [[Andalusian nationalism]]: the [[Glorious Revolution (Spain)|1868 Glorious Revolution]], the [[Cantonal rebellion|1873 Cantonal Revolution]], the 1883 Federal Constitution for Andalusia (nicknamed as the "Constitution of Antequera") and the [[Blas Infante]]-led autonomist movement between 1910 and 1936, with the [[Assembly of Ronda|1918 Assembly of Ronda]] adopting a regional [[Flag of Andalusia|flag]] and [[Emblem of Andalusia|emblem]], the [[Assembly of Córdoba (1919)|1919 Assembly of Córdoba]] or the ''[[Centros Andaluces]]'' ({{langx|en|"Andalusian Centers"}}). The proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic led to the 1932 meetings of the Provincial Council of Seville, when a draft statute of autonomy was written to comply with the regulations provided under the [[Spanish Constitution of 1931]]; however, this initial process of autonomy died down with the outbreak of the [[Spanish Civil War]] and the execution of Infante by [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Francoist forces]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 2005 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2005/06/espana/estatutos_autonomia/estatutos/andalucia.html |title=La España de las Autonomías. Andalucía. Breve historia |language=Spanish |newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>

Prospects for attaining autonomy returned after [[Francisco Franco]]'s death in 1975 and the start of the [[Spanish transition to democracy]]. On 12 October 1977, an Assembly of Parliamentarians was constituted based on [[1977 Spanish general election|that year's general election]] results in the region—7 seats for the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE), 7 for the [[Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)|Union of the Democratic Centre]] (UCD), 2 for the [[Communist Party of Spain]] (PCE) and 2 for independent progressive groups<ref>{{cite news |date=6 July 1977 |title=La Asamblea de Parlamentarios andaluces puede ser inminente |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/07/06/espana/236988021_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=[[El País]] |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=13 October 1977 |title=Constituida la Asamblea de Parlamentarios de Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/10/13/espana/245545211_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>—with the intent of establishing a pre-autonomic regime for Andalusia.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 August 1977 |title=Campaña en pro de un estatuto de autonomía para Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/08/13/espana/240271211_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 September 1977 |title=Actitud favorable del PSOE a la Asamblea de Parlamentarios andaluces |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/09/28/espana/244249215_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=19 November 1977 |title=Hoy puede ser aprobado el proyecto de régimen preautonómico andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/11/19/espana/248742025_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> Massive pro-autonomy demonstrations on 4 December 1977<ref>{{cite news |date=5 November 1977 |title=El 4 de diciembre puede ser el "Día de Andalucía" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/11/05/espana/247532423_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>—1.4 million attended throughout the eight Andalusian provinces<ref>{{cite news |date=4 December 1977 |title=Andalucia se manifiesta hoy por su Estatuto |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/12/04/espana/250038030_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 December 1977 |title=Tensión en Málaga por la muerte del joven manifestante |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/12/06/espana/250210824_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>—set a turning point in the autonomic aspirations of the Andalusian people. After some initial delay,<ref>{{cite news |date=8 January 1978 |title=Los parlamentarios andaluces aprueban su régimen preautonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/01/08/espana/253062021_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=11 January 1978 |title=El Gobierno frena el proyecto preautonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/01/11/espana/253321221_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=8 March 1978 |title=Nuevo intento para acelerar la negociación andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/03/08/espana/258159622_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> a pre-autonomic [[Regional Government of Andalusia]] ({{langx|es|Junta de Andalucía}}) was adopted in April 1978,<ref>{{cite news |date=20 April 1978 |title=La Junta de Andalucía se constituirá en el plazo de un mes |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/04/20/espana/261871234_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite act |title=Real Decreto-ley 11/1978, de 27 de abril, por el que se aprueba el régimen preautonómico para Andalucía |type=Royal Decree-Law |number=11 |work=[[Boletín Oficial del Estado]] |language=Spanish |date=27 April 1978 |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1978-11313 |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> with Socialist [[Plácido Fernández Viagas]] being elected as the first [[president of Andalusia]].<ref>{{cite news |date=23 April 1978 |title=Las fuerzas parlamentarias ultiman la composición de la Junta de Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/04/23/espana/262130422_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 April 1978 |title=El socialista Fernández Viagas será el presidente de la Junta de Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/04/26/espana/262389627_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 May 1978 |title=La Junta de Andalucía, constituida ayer en Cádiz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/05/28/espana/265154411_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> On 4 December 1978, all political parties committed to achieving the greatest possible level of devolution for Andalusia in the shortest possible timeframe within the scope of the newly-approved Spanish Constitution of 1978, in what was to be known as the "Pact of Antequera" ({{langx|es|Pacto de Antequera}}).<ref>{{cite news |date=4 October 1978 |title=Llamamiento para la suscripción de un pacto autonómico andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/10/04/espana/276303635_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 December 1978 |title=Once partidos suscriben en Antequera el pacto autonómico andaluz autonómico andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1978/12/05/espana/281660420_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>

Poor progress on the issue of the Andalusian autonomy resulted in significant gains for the nationalist [[Andalusian Party|Socialist Party of Andalusia]] (PSA) in the [[1979 Spanish general election|1979 general]]<ref>{{cite news |date=14 March 1979 |title=Cierta euforia del PSA |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/03/14/espana/290214038_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 March 1979 |title=La sorpresa de Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/03/18/opinion/290559603_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=22 March 1979 |title=Clavero Arévalo aspira a presidir la Junta |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/03/22/espana/290905236_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> and [[1979 Spanish local elections|local elections]],<ref>{{cite news |date=5 April 1979 |title=El PSA, árbitro de la situación |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/04/05/espana/292111224_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 April 1979 |title=Empate entre UCD y la izquierda |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/04/27/espana/294012021_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> as well as in a change of leadership in the pre-autonomic government, as Fernández Viagas was replaced by PSOE's [[Rafael Escuredo]] on 2 June 1979.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 May 1979 |title=Rafael Escuredo, futuro presidente andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/05/25/espana/296431225_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=3 June 1979 |title=El socialista Rafael Escuredo, nuevo presidente de la Junta de Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/06/03/espana/297208814_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Under Escuredo, the region initiated the procedures for applying to autonomy through the "fast-track route" set down in Article 151 of the Constitution,<ref>{{cite news |date=24 June 1979 |title=La Junta de Andalucía acuerda iniciar la tramitación autonómica |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/06/24/espana/299023216_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=3 July 1979 |title=La Junta de Andalucía acepta las transferencias y rechaza los recursos económicos |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/07/03/espana/299800827_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> including the drafting of a new statute of autonomy,<ref>{{cite news |date=15 August 1979 |title=Hoy quedará ultimado el proyecto de Estatuto andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/08/15/espana/303516031_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 August 1979 |title=El Estatuto andaluz obviará la disyuntiva nacionalidad-región |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/08/16/espana/303602405_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> as well as the approval of the autonomy initiative by the municipalities of all eight Andalusian provinces.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 September 1979 |title=El presidente de la Junta de Andalucía llega a Almería, fase final de su campana en favor del Estatuto |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/09/05/espana/305330428_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> By December 1979, 100% of the municipalities of the provinces of Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba and Jaén, 96.03% of Almería's, 94% of Huelva's, 93.37% of Granada's and 92.9% of Malaga's had approved the initiative for applying through the procedure of Article 151.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 December 1979 |title=El mapa autonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/09/espana/313542005_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

As the governing UCD's stance started to swing against a general application of Article 151,<ref>{{cite news |date=2 November 1979 |title=Enfrentamiento Fontán-Escuredo en un acto de transferencias a la Junta andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/02/espana/310345225_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 November 1979 |title=La izquierda se opone al frenazo a la autonomía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/06/espana/310690824_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=7 November 1979 |title=Los miembros de UCD en el Consejo Permanente, contra el frenazo autonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/07/espana/310777220_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> the PSOE-led regional government launched a campaign in support of Andalusian autonomy and self-government.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 November 1979 |title=Rafael Escuredo: "Nuestra autonomía también es cuestión de Estado" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/08/espana/310863606_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 November 1979 |title=Marcado carácter reivindicativo del próximo Día de Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/23/espana/312159631_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 December 1979 |title=Llamamiento de Escuredo a la participación en las mociones autonomistas del domingo |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/01/espana/312850824_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> The obstacles put forward by [[Prime Minister of Spain|Prime Minister]] [[Adolfo Suárez]]'s party and [[Government of Spain|government]] to Andalucia accessing autonomy through the route of Article 151 were denounced, such as delaying the date for holding the mandatory referendum on the autonomy initiative,<ref>{{cite news |date=19 December 1979 |title=Ofensiva del presidente de la Junta andaluza para despejar las dudas sobre el referéndum |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/19/espana/314406022_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 January 1980 |title=Rafael Escuredo, pesimista sobre las posibles autonómicas por la vía del artículo 151 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/06/espana/315961218_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> or the questioning of the draft Statute which had been negotiated by the parties.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 January 1980 |title=La Junta acelera los preparativos del referéndum |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/08/espana/316134030_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Finally in January 1980, seeking to "rationalize" the autonomic process of all future autonomous regions over concerns that all would attempt to achieve maximum devolution within a short timeframe,<ref>{{cite news |date=9 December 1979 |title=UCD y PSOE estudian una fórmula para "racionalizar" reivindicaciones autonómicas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/09/espana/313542001_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> the UCD officially made public its stance not to support the route of Article 151 for regions other than the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia, instead suggesting the application of the "slow-track" route of Article 143;<ref name="EP170180">{{cite news |date=17 January 1980 |title=El artículo 143 de la Constitución, vía adecuada para alcanzar un sistema autonómico racional |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/17/espana/316911613_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 January 1980 |title=Socialistas y comunistas critican la postura centrista |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/17/espana/316911603_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> a decision which included Andalusia.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 January 1980 |title=UCD decide que la autonomía andaluza se lleve por la "vía lenta" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/16/portada/316825204_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 January 1980 |title=Indignación en la izquierda andaluza por la actitud de UCD |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/17/espana/316911615_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 January 1980 |title=La UCD de Andalucía se toma un tiempo de reflexión |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/18/espana/316998008_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

==Date==
The date for the referendum on the autonomy initiative to be held was negotiated by the various parties with representation in the pre-autonomic Andalusian institutions, PSOE, UCD, PCE and PSA. Originally scheduled for some point in late 1979, such as 25 October (concurrently with the [[1979 Basque Statute of Autonomy referendum|Basque]] and [[1979 Catalan Statute of Autonomy referendum|Catalan]] Statute of Autonomy referendums) or 4 December (the second anniversary of the 1977 demonstrations),<ref>{{cite news |date=9 September 1979 |title=El PSA propone que el referéndum de adhesión a la autonomía se celebre el día 25 de octubre |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/09/09/espana/305676022_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=19 September 1979 |title=La fecha del referéndum andaluz puede ser acordada hoy por los partidos |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/09/19/espana/306540035_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 September 1979 |title=El 4 de diciembre, fecha probable del referéndum autonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/09/20/espana/306626425_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> the date was moved into early 1980, either on 28 February<ref>{{cite news |date=4 October 1979 |title=Acuerdo Suárez-Escuredo sobre el referéndum autonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/10/04/espana/307839621_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 October 1979 |title=El 28 de febrero, referéndum autonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/10/09/espana/308271623_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> or 1 March.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 October 1979 |title=El 1 de marzo, fecha probable para el referéndum, preautonómico |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/10/05/espana/307926025_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

The UCD government had announced that the date was still dependent on the final approval by the [[Cortes Generales]] of the Referendum Law—providing the legal framework for referendums on autonomy initiatives as the one scheduled for Andalusia<ref name="RefLaw"/>—with the implication that the referendum could be delayed beyond 28 February,<ref>{{cite news |date=28 November 1979 |title=La fecha del referéndum, andaluz depende de las Cortes, según Fontán |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/11/28/espana/312591622_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> leading Andalusian president Rafael Escuredo to threaten with his resignation, conditional on the referendum not being held as scheduled.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 December 1979 |title=Suárez tendrá que visitar Andalucía fuertemente protegido", dice el PSOE |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/05/espana/313196403_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 December 1979 |title=Escuredo dimitirá como presidente si se retrasa el referéndum andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/05/espana/313196406_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 December 1979 |title=Rafael Escuredo, inflexible con la fecha del referéndum andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/09/espana/313542002_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Mounting pressure on the national government led to the approval of the Referendum Law in time for the Andalusian vote to be held as scheduled,<ref>{{cite news |date=11 December 1979 |title=Clavero defiende el 28 de febrero |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/11/portada/313714803_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=21 December 1979 |title=Mejoran las perspectivas para el referéndum de autonomía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1979/12/21/espana/314578828_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=11 January 1980 |title=El Senado aprobará sin modificaciones el proyecto de ley sobre modalidades del referéndum |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/11/espana/316393204_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> with plans maintained after UCD's rejection to support the autonomy initiative increasing the hardships for it to be successful.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 January 1980 |title=La Junta de Andalucía mantiene la celebración del referéndum |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/18/portada/316998002_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

The referendum was formally called upon the publication of the specific [[decree]] in the [[Boletín Oficial del Estado|Official State Gazette]] on 28 January 1980,<ref name="AndRef"/> with the date being confirmed for Thursday, 28 February.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 January 1980 |title=El 28 de febrero, probable fecha para el referéndum andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/23/portada/317430002_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 1980 |title=Convocado el referéndum andaluz para el 28 de febrero |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/26/portada/317689201_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

==Campaign==
After the UCD's [[Flip-flop (politics)|u-turn]] on the autonomy process in January 1980, when it advocated for voters to either abstain or cast blank ballots in the autonomy initiative referendums held under the provisions of Article 151 of the Constitution,<ref name="EP170180"/> internal differences emerged within the regional party as some members—including former minister of Culture and regional party president [[Manuel Clavero]]—came out in support of Article 151 by announcing a "Yes" vote,<ref>{{cite news |date=19 January 1980 |title=Manuel Clavero anuncia su decisión de votar "sí" en el referéndum autonómico andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/19/espana/317084410_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=22 January 1980 |title=Enfrentamiento entre los partidarios de Clavero y García Añoveros en Sevilla |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/22/espana/317343626_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> while others adhered to the national party's stance.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 January 1980 |title=La UCD cordobesa acepta plenamente los criterios del comité ejecutivo nacional |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/22/espana/317343627_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

The PSOE government of Andalusia came to criticize the UCD over alleged obstacles in the referendum campaign, including the short duration of the propaganda campaign—15 days—the ambiguity of the question (abstent of words such as "autonomy" or "Andalusia", in what would be later described as an attempt to promote confusion and abstention),<ref name="UCD">{{cite web |url=http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/archivos_html/sites/default/contenidos/archivos/aga/difusion/documentoMes/Dxpticos/Dxptico_feb_2011.pdf |title=El voto del SI en el referéndum autonómico del 28 de febrero de 1980 |website=www.juntadeandalucia.es |publisher=[[Regional Government of Andalusia]] |language=Spanish |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> a shortage in public funding for the institutional campaign and limitations in the allocation and broadcasting of media spaces in the public [[RTVE]] corporation, which was seen as discriminatory compared to the campaigns for the Basque and Catalan referendums.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 1980 |title=Recortada la campaña por el referéndum andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/29/espana/317948425_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=30 January 1980 |title=Habrá nuevos recortes a la campaña del referéndum sobre la autonomía andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/30/espana/318034821_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> The Spanish government defended its position on the referendum question and campaign's duration out of "technical and legal rigor" reasons while justifying the limitations to the use of RTVE broadcasting media over an alleged lack of institutional neutrality of the Regional Government's campaign, oriented in favor of the "Yes" vote.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 February 1980 |title=Rafael Arias-Salgado defendió la pregunta del referéndum andaluz y la duración de la campaña |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/01/espana/318207623_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=15 February 1980 |title=Duros ataques de la izquierda al Gobierno por la política autonómica en Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/15/espana/319417214_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> This stance would lead to a three-day hunger strike from President Rafael Escuredo,<ref>{{cite news |date=31 January 1980 |title=Rafael Escuredo amenaza con una huelga de hambre de 72 horas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/01/31/espana/318121224_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 February 1980 |title=Rafael Escuredo no contó con su partido para iniciar una huelga de hambre |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/01/espana/318207622_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=3 February 1980 |title=Escuredo inicia su huelga de hambre |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/03/espana/318380423_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> terminated as a result of a stark worsening in Escuredo's health.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 February 1980 |title=Malestar en el PSOE por la actitud de Escuredo |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/02/espana/318294019_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 February 1980 |title=Rafael Escuredo entra, con 38 grados de fiebre, en su tercer a de huelga de hambre |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/05/espana/318553206_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Accusations on the UCD national government's attempts to undermine the referendum's logistics would keep going over further limitations in public funding for institutional advertising to 125 million Pta, a delay in the regulation of [[postal voting]] and the introduction of a different model of ballot to those used in the Basque and Catalan votes.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 February 1980 |title=Más dificultades para los votantes del referéndum andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/08/espana/318812419_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=9 February 1980 |title=La Junta pide al Gobierno que no obstaculice el plebiscito |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/09/espana/318898822_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="EP130280">{{cite news |date=13 February 1980 |title=La Junta podría verse obligada a interrumpir la campaña instucional para la participación ciudadana |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/13/espana/319244434_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|+ Party policies
|-
! Position
! colspan="2"| Parties
! {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| rowspan="8"| {{tick|15}} '''Yes'''
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"|
| [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]] (PSOE)
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Communist Party of Spain}}"|
| [[Communist Party of Spain]] (PCE)
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Andalusian Party}}"|
| [[Andalusian Party|Socialist Party of Andalusia–Andalusian Party]] (PSA–PA)
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Party of Labour of Spain}}"|
| [[Party of Labour of Spain]] (PTE)
| <ref name="EP130280"/><ref name="Stance-1">{{cite news |date=19 February 1980 |url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/sevilla/abc.sevilla/1980/02/19/027.html |title=Los partidos extraparlamentarios opinan sobre la autonomía |language=Spanish |newspaper=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Communist Movement (Spain)}}"|
| [[Communist Movement]] (MC)
| <ref name="EP130280"/><ref name="Stance-1"/>
|-
| bgcolor="#00A153"|
| Andalusian Christian Democracy (DCA)
| <ref name="Stance-1"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Communist Organization of Spain (Red Flag)}}"|
| [[Communist Organization of Spain (Red Flag)]] (OCE–BR)
| <ref name="Stance-1"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Andalusian Liberation}}"|
| [[Liberation Front of Andalusia]] (FLA)
| <ref name="Stance-1"/>
|-
| rowspan="3"| {{cross|15}} '''No'''
| bgcolor="{{party color|New Force (Spain)}}"|
| [[New Force (Spain)|New Force]] (FN)
| <ref name="EP130280"/><ref name="Stance-2">{{cite news |date=23 January 1980 |url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/sevilla/abc.sevilla/1980/01/23/014.html |title=El primer secretario del PSA, ante el 28-F |language=Spanish |newspaper=[[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Falange Española de las JONS (1976)}}"|
| [[Falange Española de las JONS (1976)|Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO]] (FE–JONS)
| <ref name="Stance-2"/>
|-
| bgcolor="#4C603B"|
| Spanish Democratic Right (DDE)
| <ref name="Stance-1"/><ref name="Stance-2"/>
|-
| rowspan="2"| '''Abstention'''
| bgcolor={{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}}|
| [[Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)|Union of the Democratic Centre]] (UCD)
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|People's Alliance (Spain)}}"|
| [[People's Alliance (Spain)|People's Alliance]] (AP)
| <ref name="EP130280"/><ref>{{cite news |date=12 February 1980 |url=http://hemeroteca.sevilla.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/sevilla/abc.sevilla/1980/02/12/025.html |title=Alianza Popular se decidió por el voto en blanco o la abstención el 28-F |language=Spanish |newspaper=ABC |access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref>
|}

The Spanish government's decree on complementary regulations for the referendum, approved on 8 February, showed differences with those provided for the Basque and Catalan referendums, such as a limitation of the free spaces awarded to political parties in nationwide media or a restriction in the regional president of Andalusia's possibilities of making use of RTVE media—mainly ''[[Televisión Española]]'' and ''[[Radio Nacional de España]]''—for campaigning in favour of the "Yes" vote.<ref name="Comp"/><ref name="EP140280">{{cite news |date=14 February 1980 |title=Limitada la propaganda de los partidos políticos en los periódicos estatales |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/14/espana/319330833_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Despite these shortcomings, the Andalusian government organized an institutional campaign under the ''Vota Andalucía nuestra'' slogan ({{langx|en|"Vote, our Andalusia"}}) to encourage turnout in the referendum, including the placement of advertisements and billboards throughout the entire region, informative car caravans in the rural areas and the personal involvement in the campaign of Escuredo himself.<ref name="EP130280"/><ref>{{cite news |date=15 February 1980 |title=Escuredo comenzó en Córdoba la campaña institucional en favor del voto |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/15/espana/319417231_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Delays in the payment of the promised campaign public funding from the national Treasury were compensated through loans or economic help offered by other institutions.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 February 1980 |title=La Junta pide un crédito, ante el retraso en la entrega de las subvenciones |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/16/espana/319503630_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=14 February 1980 |title=La Diputación de Valencia prestará ayuda a la Junta andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/14/espana/319330830_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 1980 |title=La Diputación de Alava se solidariza con la Junta |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/23/espana/320108435_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

The parties supporting the "Yes" campaign (mainly the PSOE, PCE and PSA) launched a massive effort with more than 1,000 announced rallies, billboards in the eight Andalusian provincial capitals, radio spots, press announcements, posters and distribution of millions of stickers and leaflets,<ref>{{cite news |date=9 February 1980 |title=El PSOE invertirá setenta millones en la campaña |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/09/espana/318898824_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> with a particular focus in the easternmost province of Almería, where the success of the "Yes" campaign was more dubious over fears of not meeting the legal electorate requirements for ratification.<ref name="EP130280"/><ref>{{cite news |date=13 February 1980 |title=Escuredo: "El Gobierno ha dado un golpe de Estado en Andalucía" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/13/espana/319244433_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> The Assembly of Parliamentarians had convened on 9 February with the attendance of PSOE, PCE and PSA members and the absence of UCD, ahead of the start of official campaigning, to approve a joint resolution denouncing the national government's policy of boycott to the "Yes" campaign and urging voters to throw their support behind it.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 February 1980 |title=La Asamblea de Parlamentarios de Andalucía ratifica la política autonómica de la Junta |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/10/espana/318985229_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=12 February 1980 |title=La campaña del referéndum andaluz comienza hoy, en un clima tenso con el Gobierno |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/12/espana/319158021_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> UCD and AP, defenders of abstention in the referendum, initially limited their campaigns to the use of their legal rights in the media—mainly their corresponding press, radio and television free spaces—to present their arguments contrary to Article 151.<ref name="EP130280"/><ref>{{cite news |date=21 February 1980 |title=UCD califica de "aventurada y peligrosa" la via del artículo 151 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/21/espana/319935620_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> The only party campaigning for the "No" vote was the far-right [[New Force (Spain)|New Force]] (FN), which claimed that the proposed autonomy was "marxist and separatist", instead advocating for an "agile and efficient administrative decentralization".<ref name="EP130280"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:left;"
|+ Party slogans
|-
! style="text-align:left;" colspan="2"| Parties
! Original slogan
! English translation
! {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| width="1" bgcolor="{{party color|Spanish Socialist Workers' Party}}"|
| [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]
| « Por derecho »
| "By right"
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|-
| bgcolor={{party color|Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)}}|
| [[Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain)|UCD]]
| « Andaluz, éste no es tu referéndum »
| "Andalusian, this is not your referendum"
| <ref name="UCD"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Communist Party of Spain}}"|
| [[Communist Party of Spain|PCE]]
| « Que no le falte tu voto »
| "So that your vote is not missed"
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Andalusian Party}}"|
| [[Andalusian Party|PSA–PA]]
| « Votar sí es votar por tu tierra »
| "Voting Yes means voting for your land"
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|New Force (Spain)}}"|
| [[New Force (Spain)|FN]]
| « La unidad engrandece, el separatismo destruye »
| "Unity magnifies, separatism destroys"
| <ref name="EP130280"/>
|}

Several UCD members and local groupings unheeded their party's official stance and campaigned for either the "Yes" vote or for encouraging turnout,<ref>{{cite news |date=20 February 1980 |title=Los concejales sevillanos de UCD llaman a la participación en el referéndum |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/20/espana/319849224_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 1980 |title=Concejales centrístas de Atarfe, por el 151 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/23/espana/320108407_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 1980 |title=Un diputado centrista por Granada pide que se vote en conciencia |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/27/espana/320454010_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> while others abandoned the party outright<ref>{{cite news |date=22 February 1980 |title=Dimite un prestigioso dirigente de la UCD sevillana |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/22/espana/320022022_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 1980 |title=Dimiten dos dirigentes de UCD de Granada |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/23/espana/320108429_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 February 1980 |title=Abandonan UCD los concejales centristas de Dos Hermanas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/24/espana/320194817_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 1980 |title=Abandonos en UCD de Málaga |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/27/espana/320454006_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>—including former UCD regional leader Manuel Clavero<ref>{{cite news |date=17 February 1980 |title=El ex ministro Clavero abandona UCD para actuar con libertad en la campaña por el "sí" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/17/espana/319590007_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 1980 |title=Clavero hará campaña en Córdoba por la vía del artículo 151 |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/23/espana/320108436_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>—as criticism of the Spanish government's administrative obstacles kept increasing throughout the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 February 1980 |title=Escuredo: "Se está jugando sucio y con trampa" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/17/espana/319590009_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=19 February 1980 |title=La Junta de Andalucía recibirá hoy el primer anticipo para la campaña institucional |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/19/espana/319762815_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Public perception of a "Yes" success increased as the campaign progressed,<ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 1980 |title=Crece el optimismo respecto a las oportunidades del "sí"' |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/23/espana/320108406_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> with the UCD changing its strategy by doubling its advertising against Article 151 and sending about half of its ministers to Andalusia to campaign in favour of abstention,<ref>{{cite news |date=24 February 1980 |title=Casi la mitad del Gobierno hace campaña por la abstención en Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/24/portada/320194801_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 1980 |title=La Junta protesta por la publicidad de UCD |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/27/espana/320454004_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> while engaging in a more organized propaganda campaign,<ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 1980 |title=La Junta protesta por la publicidad de UCD |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/27/espana/320454004_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> increasingly aware that the referendum had turned into an electoral test on the Suárez government as many Andalusian voters, previously indifferent or neutral on the issue of autonomy, were being driven to protest against the tactics of the ruling party against the "Yes" campaign.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 February 1980 |title=El "test" andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/24/opinion/320194811_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 February 1980 |title="Se me caería la cara de vergüenza si, como ministro, os pidiera la abstención" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/27/espana/320454007_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

==Results==
===Overall===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Question
|-
| style="width:500px;"| {{Cquote|quote=Do you agree to the ratification of the initiative, provided for in Article 151 of the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|Constitution]], for the purpose of transacting it by the procedure provided in that article?}}
|}
{{Referendum graph
| yespct     = 94.19
| nopct      = 5.81
| turnoutpct = 64.19
}}
{{Referendum
|yes        = 2,472,287
|yespct     = 94.19
|no         = 152,438
|nopct      = 5.81
|valid      = 2,624,725
|validpct   = 92.29
|invalid    = 219,237
|invalidpct = 7.71
|total      = 2,843,962
|electorate = 4,430,356
|turnoutpct = 64.19
|source     = [[Regional Government of Andalusia]]<ref name="Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/justiciaeinterior/siel/busquedaAvanzadaAction.html?vuelta=1&codComunidad=1&codTipoEleccion=1&codPeriodo=198002&totalAnd=on&codProvincia=4&codMunicipio=0&codDistrito=0 |title=Electoral Results Consultation. Referendum. February 1980. Andalusia totals |language=Spanish |website=juntadeandalucia.es |publisher=Regional Government of Andalusia |access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>
}}

===Results by province===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right; line-height:20px;"
|-
! width="150" colspan="2" rowspan="3"| Province
! rowspan="3"| Electorate
! rowspan="3"| Turnout
! width="120" colspan="2"| Yes
! width="120" colspan="2"| No
! rowspan="3"| Majority<br/>requirement
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#088A29;"|
! colspan="2" style="background:#E90000;"|
|-
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
|-
| width="1" style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Almería|Almería]]
| 279,300
| 51.12
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''118,186'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''91.42'''
| 11,092
| 8.58
| style="background:#FFD8CC;"| '''{{font color|#940000|42.32}}'''
|-
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Cádiz|Cádiz]]
| 664,109
| 61.36
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''367,065'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''96.47'''
| 13,412
| 3.53
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| '''{{font color|#229400|55.27}}'''
|-
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Córdoba (Spain)|Córdoba]]
| 521,027
| 69.60
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''312,419'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''93.89'''
| 20,339
| 6.11
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| '''{{font color|#229400|59.96}}'''
|-
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Granada|Granada]]
| 535,926
| 62.52
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''283,777'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''93.27'''
| 20,491
| 6.73
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| '''{{font color|#229400|52.95}}'''
|-
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Huelva|Huelva]]
| 307,943
| 60.64
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''165,976'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''96.06'''
| 6,808
| 3.94
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| '''{{font color|#229400|53.90}}'''
|-
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Jaén (Spain)|Jaén]]
| 468,804
| 63.25
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''234,746'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''88.80'''
| 29,610
| 11.20
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| '''{{font color|#229400|50.07}}'''
|-
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Málaga|Málaga]]
| 661,825
| 59.29
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''346,819'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''94.34'''
| 20,822
| 5.66
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| '''{{font color|#229400|52.40}}'''
|-
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| [[Province of Seville|Seville]]
| 991,422
| 72.66
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''643,299'''
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| '''95.56'''
| 29,864
| 4.44
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| '''{{font color|#229400|64.89}}'''
|- style="font-weight:bold;background:#E4E4E4;"
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"|
| align="left"| Total
| 4,430,356
| 64.19
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| 2,472,287
| style="background:#CEF6D8;"| 94.19
| 152,438
| 5.81
| style="background:#D8FFCC;"| {{font color|#229400|55.80}}
|-
! colspan="9"|
|-
! style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; background:#F9F9F9" colspan="9"| Sources<ref name="Results"/>
|}

==Aftermath==
Despite early predictions of a defeat of the "Yes" campaign in up to four provinces,<ref>{{cite news |date=28 February 1980 |title=Escasas posibilidades de éxito para los partidarios del "sí" en el referéndum andaluz |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/28/espana/320540402_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> the higher-than-expected turnout and the early counts confirmed an outright victory for the "Yes" vote in six out of the eight provinces,<ref>{{cite news |date=29 February 1980 |title=Notable afluencia de votantes y cúmulo de irregularidades en los colegios de Sevilla |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/29/espana/320626810_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=29 February 1980 |title=Los partidarios del "sí" triunfaron holgadamente en cinco de las ocho provincias andaluzas |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/02/29/espana/320626821_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> with doubts over the definitive results in Almería and Jaén.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=Dudas sobre el resultado definitivo |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713225_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Initial tallies showing a defeat of the initiative in these two provinces were met with satisfaction within the UCD as an endorsement to their Article 143 policy,<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=Los centristas consideran que el resultado es la solución idónea |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713221_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> whereas the Regional Government of Andalusia regarded the outcome as "a political and moral victory"<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=La Junta califica el resultado como victoria política y moral |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713217_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> and the PSOE considered the results as the manifestation of a unanimous desire for broad self-government.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=Deseo unánime de un amplio autogobierno |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713206_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> However, later analyses on the high turnout revealed that many UCD voters had not adhered to their party's call for abstention,<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=Aumenta el respaldo a la izquierda y disminuye el del centro y la derecha |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713220_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=UCD reconoce que había previsto una participación menor |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713224_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> with results being interpreted as a massive blow to the governing party in Spain,<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=Los resultados se interpretan en Andalucía como una derrota del partido del Gobierno |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713216_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=El Gobierno rechaza la interpretación del referéndum andaluz como batalla contra el ejecutivo |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713201_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> leading to a plummeting of the party's public image in the region.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 March 1980 |title=UCD, relegada a cuarta fuerza política en Andalucía tras el referéndum |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/02/espana/320799606_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=4 March 1980 |title=Sectores centristas califican de oportuna la dimisión del presidente en funciones de la UCD andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/04/espana/320972408_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Days after the referendum, the UCD executive committee acknowledged "errors" in the management of its campaign.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 March 1980 |title=La ejecutiva centrista analiza la situación en Andalucía, País Vasco y Cataluña |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/04/espana/320972409_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 March 1980 |title=Duras críticas a la dirección de UCD en la reunión del comité ejecutivo |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/05/portada/321058805_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 March 1980 |title=El partido centrista no logró hacerse oír con suficiente claridad, según su comité ejecutivo |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/05/espana/321058802_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

The results in Almería and Jaén were contested by the "Yes" supporters:<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=El PSOE impugnará el censo de Almería |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/espana/320713226_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 March 1980 |title=El PSA impugnará los resultados de Almería |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/02/espana/320799618_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 March 1980 |title=Los comunistas, dispuestos a impugnar los resultados de Almería y Jaén |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/05/espana/321058827_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> in the former, it was claimed that a large number of deceased people was shown as registered, inflating the census data and thus preventing the success of the initiative;<ref>{{cite news |date=7 March 1980 |title=La izquierda ha impugnado los resultados del 75% de las mesas electorales de Almería |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/07/espana/321231626_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> whereas in the later, the closeness of results—with the "Yes" vote at 49.3% of the electorate—led to claims over counted ballots in several wards.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 March 1980 |title=Los principales partidos se disponen a negociar en un amplio autogobierno para Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/01/portada/320713203_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> As the UCD sought to initiate procedures for the application of Article 143,<ref>{{cite news |date=4 March 1980 |title=Andalucía tendrá asamblea legislativa por la vía del 143, según UCD de Sevilla |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/04/espana/320972410_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=4 March 1980 |title=UCD no aceptará negociar la autonomía andaluza sobre la base del Estatuto de Carmona |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/05/espana/321058801_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> "Yes" supporters rejected these plans and advocated for results to be declared void in Almería and for a new vote to be held in the province,<ref>{{cite news |date=8 March 1980 |title=La izquierda quiere repetir el referéndum en Almería |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/08/espana/321318031_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 March 1980 |title=El PSOE reclama autonomía plena y un plan económico para Andalucía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/20/espana/322354815_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=25 March 1980 |title=La Junta de Andalucía defiende el Estatuto de Carmona como base para la autonomía |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/03/25/espana/322786820_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> with renewed calls after an official recount resulted in the "Yes" vote surpassing the 50% threshold in the province of Jaén.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 April 1980 |title=Confirmado el triunfo del referéndum andaluz en la provincia de Jaén |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/04/13/espana/324424816_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

The deadlock, which threatened to bog down the entire autonomic process,<ref>{{cite news |date=20 August 1980 |title=Andalucía, en la crisis del Estado de las autonomías |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/08/20/espana/335570403_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> was resolved in October 1980 through two legal amendments under the cover of Article 144 of the Constitution:<ref>{{cite news |date=19 October 1980 |title=Gobierno y oposición, a punto de pactar una fórmula para desbloquear la autonomía andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/19/portada/340758003_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> the first, a modification of the Referendum Law allowing for the approval of the Article 151 autonomy initiative in the provinces having met the 50%-over-electorate threshold, and the possibility to make the initiative extendable to those provinces within the same region not meeting this requirement—such as the case of Almería—as long as it was requested by a majority of the elected members of that province within the Cortes Generales; the second, an organic law approving this mechanism for the province of Almería by applying it retroactively to the 28 February referendum result.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 October 1980 |title=Modificación de la ley de Referéndum y ley especial para la incorporacion de Almería |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/24/espana/341190021_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=28 February 2014 |url=https://hayderecho.expansion.com/2014/02/28/referendum-andaluz-de-28-de-febrero-de-1980-el-caso-almeria/ |title=Referéndum andaluz de 28 de Febrero de 1980: el "caso Almería" |website=hayderecho.expansion.com |publisher=[[Expansión (Spanish newspaper)|Hay Derecho. Expansión]] |language=Spanish |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> Both amendments would be definitely approved by the Cortes Generales on 11 November 1980,<ref>{{cite news |date=24 October 1980 |title=El Congreso aprobó por unanimidad la fórmula que desbloquea la autonomía andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/24/espana/341190020_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 November 1980 |title=Aprobadas las leyes que desbloquean la autonomía andaluza |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/06/espana/342313207_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=12 November 1980 |title=La reforma de la ley de Referéndum legaliza la victoria andaluza del 28 de febrero |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/12/espana/342831604_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> leading to the final phase of negotiations over the draft Statute and its subsequent ratification in the [[1981 Andalusian Statute of Autonomy referendum|1981 referendum]].<ref>{{cite news |date=21 October 1981 |title=Más de la mitad de los andaluces participaron en el referéndum de ratificación del Estatuto |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/10/21/espana/372466807_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> Attempts to avoid similar political clashes in the future over the devolution issue led to the so-called "rationalization" of the autonomic process, through the signing of the first autonomic pacts between UCD and PSOE on 31 July 1981, agreeing for a joint calendar of devolution for the remaining regions.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 August 1981 |title=El Gobierno y el PSOE firman los acuerdos autonómicos, tras la retirada del PCE y AP |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1981/08/01/espana/365464804_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref> This would be embodied through the approval, in 1982, of the Organic Law of Harmonization of the Autonomic Process (LOAPA).<ref>{{cite news |date=1 July 1982 |title=La LOAPA, eje de los pactos autonómicos |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1982/07/01/espana/394322408_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=June 2005 |url=https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2005/06/espana/estatutos_autonomia/historia2.html |title=La España de las Autonomías. La transferencia de competencias. Los pactos autonómicos |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Mundo |access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref>

The outcome of the 1980 referendum would have a long-lasting impact in Andalusia. Despite the UCD later acknowledging its "Andalusian mistake" of rejecting the route of Article 151 for the Andalusian autonomy,<ref>{{cite news |date=10 October 1980 |title=Calvo Ortega: "UCD ya ha reconocido su error andaluz" |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/10/10/espana/339980421_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> the Spanish government's tactics throughout the referendum campaign and the outcome of the vote would see the party's popularity in the region destroyed, never to recover.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 August 2017 |title=1980: Andalucía, tumba política de la UCD |url=https://elcorreoweb.es/extra/1980-andalucia-tumba-politica-de-la-ucd-IX3257758 |language=Spanish |newspaper=El Correo de Andalucía |access-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> In the [[Spanish Senate]] by-elections held on 27 November 1980 in the provinces of Almería and Seville, the UCD vote collapsed as the PSOE emerged as the largest party in both elections,<ref>{{cite news |date=28 November 1980 |title=Importante retroceso electoral de UCD |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/28/espana/344214006_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=29 November 1980 |title=Triunfo del PSOE, avance de AP y descalabro de UCD y PSA |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/29/espana/344300406_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> whereas the [[1982 Andalusian regional election|first Andalusian regional election in May 1982]] would see the establishment of a PSOE regional hegemony that would last for decades to come and the obliberation of UCD as a valid government alternative. 28 February would be institutionalized as the new [[Andalusia Day]] from 1982 onwards, in remembrance of the referendum outcome and the success of the autonomy process.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 November 1980 |title=UCD protesta por la decisión de la Junta de institucionalizar el 28 de febrero |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/11/13/espana/342918027_850215.html |language=Spanish |newspaper=El País |access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[1979 Basque Statute of Autonomy referendum]]
*[[1979 Catalan Statute of Autonomy referendum]]
*[[1980 Galician Statute of Autonomy referendum]]
*[[1981 Andalusian Statute of Autonomy referendum]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Andalusian elections}}

[[Category:1980 referendums]]
[[Category:Referendums in Andalusia]]
[[Category:February 1980 events in Europe]]
[[Category:1980 elections in Spain|Andalusia]]