How governing experience conditions winner-loser effects. An empirical analysis of the satisfaction with democracy in Spain after 2011 elections

•There is evidence indicating that satisfaction with democracy in Spain is constrained by the winner-loser gap.•In Spain, not all losers are equals. Double losers show lower levels of satisfaction with democracy than winner/loser voters.•Governing experience dampens winner/loser effects.•Policy proximity to the governing party increases the winner/loser effects.

Research has shown that those who win an election are more satisfied with democracy than those who lost. The current study explores this winner/loser gap using survey data from the 2011 Spanish general election. The study assumes that there are different losers. The results indicate that citizen satisfaction with democracy shows a negative relationship with parties that are consistently unable to obtain office. The implication is that the effects of the winner-loser effects are much smaller within the group of parties that have previous experience in government. Finally, I report and independent effect that citizengovernment policy proximity boosts satisfaction with democracy.