Spanish Congress poised to ease group‑formation rules for ERC and Junts

The lower house of Spain's Parliament is ready to approve a reform of its standing orders that would lower the vote thresholds required for parties to form their own parliamentary groups. Under current rules a party needs at least 15 deputies, or alternatively 5 deputies with 15 % of the vote in every constituency it contests, or 5 % of the national vote. The proposed amendment, approved by the Rules Committee, would reduce those minima to 10 % of the vote in the constituencies where a party runs, or 3 % nationally.

The change is aimed at nationalist and regional parties such as ERC, Junts, EH Bildu and the PNV, which often struggle to meet the existing thresholds. The measure has the backing of the governing PSOE‑Sumar bloc and is expected to be ratified by the full chamber next week. Critics note that a future majority of PP and Vox could block similar accommodations.

If adopted, the reform would make it simpler for these parties to obtain official group status, granting them greater speaking time, funding and procedural rights within the Congress.