35th Federal Congress of the PSOE

35th Federal Congress of the PSOE

← 1997 21−23 July 2000 2004 →
998 delegates in the 35th Federal Congress of the PSOE Plurality of delegates needed to win
Turnout	995 (99.7%) (secretary) 964 (96.6%) (executive)
Candidate José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero José Bono Matilde Fernández Delegate vote 414 (41.6%) 405 (40.7%) 109 (11.0%) Executive 865 (90.2%) Withdrew Withdrew   Candidate Rosa Díez Blank ballots Delegate vote 65 (6.5%) 2 (0.2%) Executive Withdrew 94 (9.8%)
Secretary before election Caretaker committee headed by Manuel Chaves Elected Secretary José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero

The 35th Federal Congress of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party was held in Madrid from 21 to 23 July 2000 to renovate the governing bodies of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and establish the party's main lines of action and strategy for the next leadership term. It was held after the party's defeat in the 2000 general election and the subsequent resignation of then secretary-general Joaquín Almunia.

Under a plurality voting system, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero unexpectedly won the party leadership with 41.6% of the delegate vote (414 votes), to president of Castilla–La Mancha and initial favourite José Bono's 40.7% (405 votes). Former social affairs minister Matilde Fernández secured 11.0% (109 votes), whereas the leader of the PSOE group in the European Parliament, Rosa Díez, obtained 6.5% (65 votes).^[1][2] Zapatero would subsequently win the 2004 Spanish general election and become prime minister of Spain in April 2004, a post he would held until 2011.