The PNC originated as a split in the Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) in early 1988.
After the regional and municipal elections of 1987, the PRC won five seats in the Regional Assembly of Cantabria and two town councilors in the city of Santander.
Internal party strife culminated in the abandonment of the organization by the two councilors of Santander (Miguel Pérez Bustamante and Ángel Díaz Ocejo), as well as by the deputy of the Regional Assembly Esteban Solana Lavín.
Other politicians would later joining the new nationalist formation (among them the regionalist Santoña councilor José Antonio Solar[4]).
During the rest of the legislature, the nationalist deputy was a key element for the governance of the Autonomous Community, giving its support to the 19 deputies of People's Coalition, and thus supporting the Cantabrian president Juan Hormaechea.