长期以来被视为相对无足轻重机构的参议院，意外成为下个月全国大选前的主要攻防目标之一。
Senate, long dismissed as a relatively insignificant body, has unexpectedly become one of the main targets ahead of a national election next month.
这个拥有266个席位的议院引发了如此高的关注度，以至于左右两翼的两大主要政党均同意与较小的盟友组建联合名单参选，以最大化赢得席位的机会。直到2020年，西班牙现代史上从未出现过联合政府，选举联盟也是罕见现象。
The 266-member chamber is drawing so much interest that the two main parties on each side of the left-right divide have agreed to run joint ballots with smaller rivals, to maximize their chances of winning seats. Spain never had a government coalition in modern history until 2020 and electoral alliances are a rarity.
与美国不同，西班牙参议院设定政治议程的权力有限，直到现在才被视为主要的政治奖赏。长期以来，它一直被用作过气政客的“养老岗位”，或是未能入选权力更大的众议院名单官员的安置地。
Unlike in the US, the Spanish Senate has limited power to set the political agenda and wasn’t considered a major political prize until now. Instead, it has long been used as a retirement post for politicians past their prime or as a destination for officials left off ballots for the more powerful Congress of Deputies.
西班牙选民将于11月29日前往投票。众议员按人口比例从52个选区产生，而参议员则从60个不论人口多寡的选区选出——此外还有一部分代表由各自治区政府指派。
Voters across Spain will go to polls on Nov. 29. While deputies are elected from 52 electoral districts in proportion to population, senators are picked from 60 constituencies regardless of population — and there are also a number of representatives picked by regional administrations.
参议院的选举制度意味着，在较小选区中排名第三或更低的政党极难赢得席位。组建联盟可让较弱势政党与伙伴整合选票，避免选票浪费。
The Senate electoral system means that clinching a seat is unlikely for parties that come in third or lower in smaller districts. Coalitions enable weaker parties to pool votes with their partners rather than wasting them.
民调领跑的中右翼人民党，以及预计将获第三的民族主义政党“呼声党”，周一宣布在特定选区达成协议；总理佩德罗·桑切斯领导的社会党与极左翼的“广泛阵线”则更早宣布达成全国性协议。
The center-right People’s Party — the frontrunner in all polls — and the nationalists of Vox, expected to win third place, announced an agreement for certain districts on Monday, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists and the far-left Frente Amplio announced a nationwide deal earlier.
传统上，两院由同一政党控制。2023年这一局面改变：人民党虽获第一，却无法组阁。然而，人民党最终在参议院取得多数，并利用这一优势传唤桑切斯及其部长出席公开听证会、寻求否决立法、并设立调查委员会。
Traditionally, both chambers were controlled by the same party. This changed in 2023 when the PP won first place but was unable to form government. However, the PP ended up with a majority in the Senate, and used it to call Sánchez and his ministers to public hearings, sought to reject legislation, and launched investigative committee.
参议院还拥有批准动用一项特殊宪法权力的权力，该权力允许中央政府在特殊情况下接管各地区的控制权。它在通过宪法修正案方面也可能起关键作用。
The Senate also has the power to approve the use of a special constitutional power that enables the central government to take control of regions under exceptional circumstances. It can also be crucial in passing constitutional amendments.