2003 Asturian regional election

Electoral system

The General Junta of the Principality of Asturias was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Asturias, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Asturian Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a regional president.^[1]

Voting for the General Junta was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in Asturias and in full enjoyment of their political rights. The 45 members of the General Junta of the Principality of Asturias were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, which were established by law as follows:

• Central District, comprising the municipalities of Aller, Avilés, Bimenes, Carreño, Caso, Castrillón, Corvera de Asturias, Gijón, Gozón, Illas, Las Regueras, Langreo, Laviana, Lena, Llanera, Mieres, Morcín, Noreña, Oviedo, Proaza, Quirós, Ribera de Arriba, Riosa, San Martín del Rey Aurelio, Santo Adriano, Sariego, Siero, Sobrescobio and Soto del Barco.
• Eastern District, comprising the municipalities of Amieva, Cabrales, Cabranes, Cangas de Onís, Caravia, Colunga, Llanes, Nava, Onís, Parres, Peñamellera Alta, Peñamellera Baja, Piloña, Ponga, Ribadedeva, Ribadesella and Villaviciosa.
• Western District, comprising the municipalities of Allande, Belmonte de Miranda, Boal, Candamo, Cangas del Narcea, Castropol, Coaña, Cudillero, Degaña, El Franco, Grado, Grandas de Salime, Ibias, Illano, Muros de Nalón, Navia, Pesoz, Pravia, Salas, San Martín de Oscos, Santa Eulalia de Oscos, San Tirso de Abres, Somiedo, Tapia de Casariego, Taramundi, Teverga, Tineo, Valdés, Vegadeo, Villanueva de Oscos, Villayón and Yernes y Tameza.

Each constituency was allocated an initial minimum of two seats, with the remaining 39 being distributed in proportion to their populations.^[2]

In smaller constituencies, the use of the electoral method resulted in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies.^[3]

The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten 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 of candidates.^[2][4]

Election date

The term of the General Junta of the Principality of Asturias expired four years after the date of its previous election. Elections to the General Junta were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The previous election was held on 13 June 1999, setting the election date for the General Junta on 25 May 2003.^[1][2][4]

The president had the prerogative to dissolve the General Junta and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no nationwide election was due and some time requirements were met: namely, that dissolution did not occur either during the first legislative session or within the legislature's last year ahead of its scheduled expiry, nor before one year had elapsed since a previous dissolution under this procedure. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional president within a two-month period from the first ballot, the General Junta was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called. Any snap election held as a result of these circumstances would not alter the period to the next ordinary election, with elected lawmakers serving the remainder of its original four-year term.^[1]

Overall

More information Parties and alliances, Popular vote ...

← Summary of the 25 May 2003 General Junta of the Principality of Asturias election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	250,474	40.48	−5.52	22	−2
	People's Party (PP)	242,396	39.18	+6.87	19	+4
	United Left–Bloc for Asturias (IU–BA)	68,360	11.05	+2.05	4	+1
	Asturian Renewal Union (URAS)	17,552	2.84	−4.30	0	−3
	Asturianist Party (PAS)	11,376	1.84	−0.74	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Left of Asturias (LV–IVA)	6,561	1.06	+0.52	0	±0
	Andecha Astur (AA)	3,821	0.62	+0.26	0	±0
	Senior Defense Platform (PlaDeTE)	1,297	0.21	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)1	1,211	0.20	−0.02	0	±0
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	642	0.10	−0.02	0	±0
	Asturian Council (Conceyu)	524	0.08	±0.00	0	±0
	Asturian Democratic Convergence (CDAS)	359	0.06	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		14,143	2.29	+0.72
Total		618,716			45	±0
Valid votes		618,716	99.29	−0.11
Invalid votes		4,433	0.71	+0.11
Votes cast / turnout		623,149	63.84	+0.22
Abstentions		352,955	36.16	−0.22
Registered voters		976,104
Sources[5][6][7]
Footnotes: 1 Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain results are compared to Asturian Left Bloc totals in the 1999 election.

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Distribution by constituency