1998 Basque regional election
Election in the Spanish region of the Basque Country
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A regional election was held in the Basque Country on 25 October 1998 to elect the 6th Parliament of the autonomous community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.
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25 October 1998
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All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament 38 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Opinion polls | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registered | 1,821,608 4.1% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 1,275,008 (70.0%) 10.3 pp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) won 21 seats, the People's Party (PP) came second for the first time with 16 seats, the Basque Citizens (EH) coalition and the Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE) won 14 seats each.
Overview
Under the 1979 Statute of Autonomy, the Basque Parliament was the unicameral legislature of the Basque Autonomous Community, having legislative power in devolved matters, as well as the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a lehendakari.[1] The electoral and procedural rules were supplemented by national law provisions.[2]
Date
The term of the Basque Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The election decree was required to be issued no later than 25 days before the scheduled expiration date of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV), with election day taking place 54 days after the decree's publication.[3] The previous election was held on 23 October 1994, which meant that the chamber's term would have expired on 23 October 1998. The election decree was required to be published in the BOPV no later than 29 September 1998, setting the latest possible date for election day on 22 November 1998.
The lehendakari had the prerogative to dissolve the Basque Parliament at any given time and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process.[4] In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a lehendakari within a 60-day period from the Parliament's reconvening, the chamber was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called.[5]
The Basque Parliament was officially dissolved on 1 September 1998 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOPV, setting election day for 25 October.[6]
Electoral system
Voting for the Parliament was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Basque Country and with full political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.[7]
The Basque Parliament had 75 seats. All were elected in three multi-member constituencies—corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Guipúzcoa, each of which was assigned a fixed number of 25 seats to provide for an equal parliamentary representation of the three provinces—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a five percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency.[8]
The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacant seats; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.[9]
Outgoing parliament
The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the chamber at the time of dissolution.[10][11]
| Groups | Parties | Legislators | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | Total | ||||
| Basque Nationalists Parliamentary Group | EAJ/PNV | 22 | 22 | ||
| Basque Socialists Parliamentary Group | PSE–EE (PSOE) | 12 | 12 | ||
| Popular Unity's Parliamentary Group | HB | 11 | 11 | ||
| Basque People's Parliamentary Group | PP | 11 | 11 | ||
| Basque Solidarity Parliamentary Group | EA | 8 | 8 | ||
| Alavese Foralist Parliamentary Group | UA | 4 | 4 | ||
| Mixed Group | IU/EB | 5 | 7 | ||
| Berdeak | 1 | ||||
| DFA | 1 | ||||
Parties and candidates
The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list.[12]
Below is a list of the main parties and alliances which contested the election:
| Candidacy | Parties and alliances |
Leading candidate | Ideology | Previous result | Gov. | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote % | Seats | ||||||||
| EAJ/PNV | List
|
|
Juan José Ibarretxe | Basque nationalism Christian democracy Conservative liberalism |
29.3% | 22 |  |
[13] [14] [15] | |
| PSE–EE (PSOE) |
List
|
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Nicolás Redondo | Social democracy | 16.8% | 12 |  |
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| EH | List
|
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Arnaldo Otegi | Basque independence Abertzale left Revolutionary socialism |
16.0% [a] |
11 | |
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| PP | List
|
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Carlos Iturgaiz | Conservatism Christian democracy |
14.2% | 11 | |
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| EA | List
|
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Carlos Garaikoetxea | Basque nationalism Social democracy |
10.1% | 8 | |
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| IU/EB | List
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Javier Madrazo | Socialism Communism |
9.0% | 6 | |
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| UA | List
|
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Pablo Mosquera | Alavese regionalism Christian democracy |
2.7% | 5 | |
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Opinion polls
The tables below list opinion polling results in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a poll.
Voting intention estimates
The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 38 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament.
- Color key:
Exit poll
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout |  |
 |
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 regional election | 25 Oct 1998 | N/a | 70.0 | 27.6 21 |
17.4 14 |
17.7 14 |
19.9 16 |
8.6 6 |
5.6 2 |
1.2 2 |
7.7 |
| Eco Consulting/EITB[p 1][p 2] | 25 Oct 1998 | 21,000 | ? | 28.9 21/23 |
16.0 11/13 |
20.9 16/18 |
14.7 13/15 |
8.6 5/7 |
6.2 3/5 |
1.0 1/2 |
8.0 |
| Sondaxe/Tele 5[p 1][p 2] | 25 Oct 1998 | 2,250 | ? | ? 21 |
? 16 |
? 11 |
? 15 |
? 6 |
? 5 |
? 1 |
? |
| Sigma Dos/Antena 3[p 1][p 2] | 25 Oct 1998 | ? | ? | ? 21/22 |
? 12/14 |
? 12/13 |
? 15 |
? 5/7 |
? 4/5 |
? 2/3 |
? |
| Demoscopia/El País[p 3][p 4] | 18 Oct 1998 | ? | 65–67 | 30.4 21/22 |
17.4 13/14 |
15.8 11/12 |
16.8 13/15 |
9.7 6/7 |
8.7 5/6 |
1.2 2 |
13.0 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 5][p 6] | 14–16 Oct 1998 | 1,000 | ? | 30.2 21/23 |
14.7 10/12 |
16.6 12/14 |
17.8 13/15 |
9.9 7 |
7.8 5 |
1.5 3 |
12.4 |
| Gallup/ABC[p 7] | 9–14 Oct 1998 | 1,506 | 76.0 | 30.8 22/23 |
18.6 14/15 |
15.3 11 |
15.4 13/14 |
9.5 7 |
8.3 5 |
0.9 1/2 |
12.2 |
| Ábaco/Tele 5 | 13 Oct 1998 | ? | ? | ? 21 |
? 15 |
? 12 |
? 16 |
? 5 |
? 5 |
? 1 |
? |
| Opina/La Vanguardia[p 8][p 9] | 12–13 Oct 1998 | 1,500 | 70 | 29.0 20/21 |
19.0 13/15 |
15.0 11/12 |
18.0 14/15 |
9.0 8 |
7.0 6 |
1.0 2 |
10.0 |
| Bergareche/El Correo[p 4][p 6][p 10] | 8–12 Oct 1998 | 4,650 | ? | 27.2 20/21 |
19.5 15/16 |
14.9 11/12 |
17.1 14/15 |
8.4 5/6 |
8.4 5/6 |
1.3 2 |
7.7 |
| PP[p 11] | 9 Oct 1998 | ? | ? | ? 22/23 |
? 13/14 |
? 11/12 |
? 14/15 |
? 6 |
? 3/4 |
? 2 |
? |
| Siadeco/GPS[p 12][p 13] | 2–9 Oct 1998 | 2,000 | 66.0 | 29.0 22 |
16.1 12 |
18.4 14 |
15.3 13 |
9.7 7 |
8.5 5 |
1.4 2 |
10.6 |
| CIS[p 14][p 15] | 25 Sep–8 Oct 1998 | 2,097 | 64.7 | 29.3 21/22 |
18.4 14/15 |
16.1 12/13 |
16.7 13/14 |
8.7 6 |
7.7 5 |
1.4 2 |
10.9 |
| PSOE[p 11][p 16][p 17] | 6–7 Oct 1998 | 1,354 | ? | ? 23 |
? 15 |
? 11 |
? 14 |
? 6 |
? 4 |
? 2 |
? |
| Siadeco/GPS[p 18][p 19] | 21–26 Sep 1998 | 2,000 | 67.0 | 29.4 22 |
15.9 12 |
17.7 13 |
15.3 12 |
9.9 7 |
8.7 6 |
1.5 3 |
11.7 |
| Siadeco/GPS[p 20][p 21] | 7–15 Sep 1998 | 2,000 | 65.0 | 29.6 22 |
16.5 12 |
15.8 11 |
15.5 13 |
10.0 8 |
9.3 6 |
1.5 3 |
13.1 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 22] | 28 Aug–3 Sep 1998 | 900 | ? | 30.0 21 |
16.2 13 |
15.2 11 |
16.5 14 |
9.2 6 |
9.1 6 |
2.0 4 |
13.5 |
| CPS/EHU[p 23][p 24] | 1–15 Jun 1998 | 1,400 | 64 | 29.0 20/21 |
21.0 15/16 |
13.0 10 |
17.0 13/15 |
9.0 6/7 |
7.0 5 |
1.0 2/3 |
8.0 |
| Bergareche/El Correo[p 25][p 26][p 27] | 4–9 Jun 1998 | 2,625 | ? | 28.3 21 |
20.1 15/16 |
12.6 9/10 |
17.4 14/15 |
7.7 6 |
8.8 6/7 |
1.1 2 |
8.2 |
| Siadeco/GPS[p 28][p 29] | 11–20 May 1998 | 2,846 | 62.5 | 29.5 22 |
17.0 14 |
14.9 11 |
16.0 13 |
10.0 7 |
9.1 6 |
1.4 2 |
12.5 |
| CIS[p 30][p 31] | 6–31 Mar 1998 | 2,099 | 61.4 | 29.2 21/22 |
18.4 14/15 |
15.3 11 |
16.5 13/14 |
9.7 7/8 |
7.6 5 |
1.5 2 |
10.8 |
| Bergareche/El Correo[p 32][p 33][p 34][p 35] | 6–13 Mar 1998 | 2,636 | ? | 26.6 20/22 |
20.0 16 |
12.2 9 |
18.6 16 |
7.4 5 |
9.0 5/6 |
1.4 2/3 |
6.6 |
| Siadeco/GPS[p 36][p 37] | 30 Jan–7 Feb 1998 | 1,500 | 65.0 | 29.6 22 |
16.6 12 |
14.4 11 |
16.4 13 |
10.2 8 |
9.1 6 |
1.3 3 |
13.0 |
| Bergareche/El Correo[p 38][p 39][p 40] | 9 Nov 1997 | 2,682 | ? | 29.6 23 |
19.2 15 |
12.0 9 |
16.7 15 |
8.1 6 |
7.5 5 |
1.3 2 |
10.4 |
| Siadeco/GPS[p 28][p 41][p 42][p 43] | 16–24 Sep 1997 | ? | 66.0 | 29.9 22 |
16.6 12 |
14.0 11 |
16.2 13 |
10.2 9 |
9.0 5 |
1.4 3 |
13.3 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 44] | 16–17 Jul 1997 | 800 | ? | 32.5 | 15.6 | 12.9 | 17.9 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 2.2 | 14.6 |
| CPS/EHU | 8 Jun 1997 | 1,400 | ? | 29.1 20 |
18.5 15 |
12.5 10 |
14.0 12 |
9.2 7 |
9.4 7 |
2.0 4 |
10.6 |
| Siadeco/GPS[p 45] | 25 Mar 1997 | ? | 64.0 | 29.6 22 |
16.8 12 |
13.7 11 |
15.6 12 |
10.1 8 |
9.8 7 |
1.5 3 |
12.8 |
| 1996 general election | 3 Mar 1996 | N/a | 71.5 | 25.0 (18) |
23.7 (20) |
12.3 (9) |
18.3 (15) |
8.2 (6) |
9.2 (7) |
– | 1.3 |
| 1995 foral elections | 28 May 1995 | N/a | 63.9 | 28.4 (22) |
16.7 (13) |
14.4 (11) |
15.5 (11) |
10.9 (9) |
8.1 (5) |
2.1 (4) |
11.7 |
| 1994 regional election | 23 Oct 1994 | N/a | 59.7 | 29.3 22 |
16.8 12 |
16.0 11 |
14.2 11 |
10.1 8 |
9.0 6 |
2.7 5 |
12.5 |
Voting preferences
The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 regional election[b] | 25 Oct 1998 | N/a | 19.1 | 12.0 | 12.3 | 13.8 | 5.9 | 3.9 | 0.9 | N/a | 29.4 | 5.3 |
| CIS[p 14] | 25 Sep–8 Oct 1998 | 2,097 | 24.2 | 5.2 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 35.9 | 12.0 | 15.2 |
| 1996 general election[b] | 3 Mar 1996 | N/a | 17.9 | 16.9 | 8.8 | 13.1 | 5.9 | 6.6 | – | N/a | 28.1 | 1.0 |
| 1995 foral elections | 28 May 1995 | N/a | 18.0 | 10.6 | 9.1 | 9.8 | 6.9 | 5.1 | 1.3 | N/a | 36.1 | 7.4 |
| 1994 regional election[b] | 23 Oct 1994 | N/a | 17.3 | 9.9 | 9.5 | 8.3 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 1.6 | N/a | 40.1 | 7.4 |
Results
Overall
 | ||||||
| Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Seats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− | ||
| Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | 350,322 | 27.62 | −1.70 | 21 | −1 | |
| People's Party (PP) | 251,743 | 19.85 | +5.69 | 16 | +5 | |
| Basque Citizens (EH)1 | 224,001 | 17.66 | +1.65 | 14 | +3 | |
| Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) | 220,052 | 17.35 | +0.52 | 14 | +2 | |
| Basque Solidarity (EA) | 108,635 | 8.57 | −1.56 | 6 | −2 | |
| United Left (IU/EB) | 71,064 | 5.60 | −3.39 | 2 | −4 | |
| Alavese Unity (UA) | 15,738 | 1.24 | −1.44 | 2 | −3 | |
| Natural Law Party (PLN/LNA) | 4,858 | 0.38 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Humanist Party (PH) | 3,288 | 0.26 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Basque Country Greens (EHB) | 864 | 0.07 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Blank ballots | 17,641 | 1.39 | −0.35 | |||
| Total | 1,268,206 | 75 | ±0 | |||
| Valid votes | 1,268,206 | 99.47 | +0.06 | |||
| Invalid votes | 6,802 | 0.53 | −0.06 | |||
| Votes cast / turnout | 1,275,008 | 69.99 | +10.30 | |||
| Abstentions | 546,600 | 30.01 | −10.30 | |||
| Registered voters | 1,821,608 | |||||
| Sources[10][16][17][18] | ||||||
Footnotes:
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Distribution by constituency
| Constituency | PNV | PP | EH | PSE–EE | EA | IU/EB | UA | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | S | % | S | % | S | % | S | % | S | % | S | % | S | |
| Álava | 21.6 | 6 | 26.7 | 7 | 12.1 | 3 | 16.8 | 5 | 6.3 | 1 | 5.6 | 1 | 8.4 | 2 |
| Biscay | 32.6 | 9 | 20.2 | 5 | 14.6 | 4 | 18.3 | 5 | 6.0 | 1 | 6.2 | 1 | 0.1 | – |
| Guipúzcoa | 21.7 | 6 | 16.4 | 4 | 25.2 | 7 | 16.0 | 4 | 13.9 | 4 | 4.6 | – | 0.1 | – |
| Total | 27.6 | 21 | 19.9 | 16 | 17.7 | 14 | 17.4 | 14 | 8.6 | 6 | 5.6 | 2 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Sources[10][16][17] | ||||||||||||||
Aftermath
Government formation
2000 motions of no confidence
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Notes
- Does not include non-resident citizens.