2003 Spanish local elections
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Local elections were held in Spain on 25 May 2003[a] to elect all 65,510 councillors in the 8,108 Spanish municipalities (including 50 seats in the assemblies of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla),[2] all 1,187 provincial seats in 41 provinces (including 38 indirectly-elected provincial deputations and the three foral deputations in the Basque Country) and 208 seats in ten island councils (seven Canarian and three Balearic ones). They were held concurrently with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities.
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2.4% 3.7 pp | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25 May 2003[a]
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All 65,510 councillors in 8,108 municipal councils[b] All 1,397 provincial/island seats in 44 provinces[c] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 34,386,462 2.4% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 23,270,072 (67.7%) 3.7 pp | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Provincial results map for municipal elections | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview
Local government
Under the 1978 Constitution, the governance of municipalities in Spain was centered on the figure of city councils (Spanish: ayuntamientos), local corporations with independent legal personality composed of a mayor, a government council and an elected legislative assembly.[3] The mayor was indirectly elected by the local assembly, requiring an absolute majority; otherwise, the candidate from the most-voted party automatically became mayor (ties were resolved by drawing lots).[4] The concejo abierto system (English: open council), under which voters directly elected the local mayor by plurality voting, was reserved for municipalities under 100 inhabitants and some minor local entities.[5]
Provincial deputations were the governing bodies of provinces in Spain—except for single-province autonomous communities—having an administration role of municipal activities and composed of a provincial president, an administrative body, and a plenary.[6] For insular provinces, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, deputations were replaced by island councils in each of the islands or group of islands. For Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma, this figure was referred to in Spanish as cabildo insular, whereas for Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza–Formentera, its name was consejo insular (Catalan: consell insular).[7][g] The three Basque provinces had foral deputations instead (called General Assemblies, or Juntas Generales).[9]
Date
The term of local assemblies in Spain expired four years after the date of their previous election, with election day being fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The election decree was required to be issued no later than 54 days before the scheduled election date and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE).[10] The previous local elections were held on 13 June 1999, setting the date for election day on the fourth Sunday of May four years later, which was 25 May 2003.
Local assemblies could not be dissolved before the expiration of their term, except in cases of mismanagement that seriously harmed the public interest and implied a breach of constitutional obligations, in which case the Council of Ministers could—optionally—decide to call a by-election.[11]
Elections to the assemblies of local entities were officially called on 1 April 2003 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 25 May.[12] Subsequent by-elections were called on 2 September, for 26 October.[1]
Electoral system
Voting for local assemblies and Canarian island councils was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered and residing in the municipality or council 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), as well as resident non-national European citizens, and those whose country of origin allowed reciprocal voting by virtue of a treaty.[13]
Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a five percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency.[14] Each municipality or council was a multi-member constituency, with a number of seats based on the following scale:[15]
| Population | Councillors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipalities | Canary Islands | Balearic Islands[g] | |
| <250 | 5 | No island below 5,000 inhabitants |
Fixed number: Ibiza–Formentera: 13 Menorca: 13 Mallorca: 33 |
| 251–1,000 | 7 | ||
| 1,001–2,000 | 9 | ||
| 2,001–5,000 | 11 | ||
| 5,001–10,000 | 13 | 11 | |
| 10,001–20,000 | 17 | 13 | |
| 20,001–50,000 | 21 | 17 | |
| 50,001–100,000 | 25 | 21 | |
| >100,001 | +1 per each 100,000 inhabitants or fraction +1 if total is an even number | ||
Councillors in municipalities between 100 and 250 inhabitants were elected using open-list partial block voting, with voters choosing up to four candidates.[16]
Most provincial deputations were indirectly elected by applying the D'Hondt method and a three percent-threshold of valid votes to municipal results—excluding candidacies not electing any councillor—in each judicial district. Seats were allocated to provincial deputations based on the following scale (with each judicial district being assigned an initial minimum of one seat and a maximum of three-fifths of the total number of provincial seats, with the remaining ones distributed in proportion to population):[17]
| Population | Seats |
|---|---|
| <500,000 | 25 |
| 500,001–1,000,000 | 27 |
| 1,000,001–3,500,000 | 31 |
| >3,500,001 | 51 |
The General Assemblies of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa were directly elected by voters under their own, specific electoral regulations.[18]
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.[19]
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 a determined amount of the electors registered in the municipality for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list:[20]
- At least one percent of the electors in municipalities with a population below 5,000 inhabitants, provided that the number of signers was more than double that of councillors at stake.
- At least 100 signatures in municipalities with a population between 5,001 and 10,000.
- At least 500 signatures in municipalities with a population between 10,001 and 50,000.
- At least 1,500 signatures in municipalities with a population between 50,001 and 150,000.
- At least 3,000 signatures in municipalities with a population between 150,001 and 300,000.
- At least 5,000 signatures in municipalities with a population between 300,001 and 1,000,000.
- At least 8,000 signatures in municipalities with a population over 1,000,001.
Results
Municipal
Overall
| Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Councillors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− | ||
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1 | 7,999,178 | 34.83 | +0.43 | 23,224 | +1,240 | |
| People's Party (PP) | 7,875,762 | 34.29 | −0.17 | 23,615 | −1,011 | |
| Navarrese People's Union (UPN) | 99,962 | 0.44 | +0.01 | 335 | +8 | |
| United Left (IU) | 1,730,732 | 7.54 | −0.05 | 2,601 | +22 | |
| Initiative–Alternative Left–Agreement for Municipal Progress (ICV–EA–EPM)4 | 335,861 | 1.46 | +0.12 | 397 | +78 | |
| Convergence and Union (CiU) | 791,932 | 3.45 | −0.18 | 3,687 | −402 | |
| Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA) | 514,850 | 2.24 | +0.31 | 1,671 | +465 | |
| Republican Left of Catalonia–Municipal Agreement (ERC–AM) | 419,961 | 1.83 | +0.77 | 1,282 | +605 | |
| Andalusian Party (PA)5 | 342,824 | 1.49 | −0.20 | 693 | +144 | |
| Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) | 325,331 | 1.42 | +0.06 | 595 | +9 | |
| Canarian Coalition (CC) | 283,701 | 1.24 | −0.03 | 458 | +15 | |
| Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) | 2,174 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 10 | +1 | |
| Valencian Nationalist Bloc–Green Left (Bloc–EV) | 139,307 | 0.61 | +0.08 | 298 | +64 | |
| The Greens (LV) | 119,201 | 0.52 | +0.21 | 19 | +5 | |
| Aragonese Union (CHA) | 88,939 | 0.39 | +0.13 | 196 | +116 | |
| Valencian Union (UV) | 86,539 | 0.38 | −0.13 | 131 | −98 | |
| Aragonese Party (PAR) | 85,857 | 0.37 | −0.04 | 907 | −18 | |
| Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | 66,592 | 0.29 | +0.06 | 276 | +59 | |
| Socialist Party of Andalusia (PSA) | 58,931 | 0.26 | New | 57 | +57 | |
| Leonese People's Union (UPL) | 45,791 | 0.20 | +0.02 | 230 | +63 | |
| Majorcan Union (UM) | 36,485 | 0.16 | +0.04 | 103 | +35 | |
| Canarian Nationalist Federation (FNC) | 36,205 | 0.16 | +0.05 | 45 | +5 | |
| Independents of Fuerteventura (IF) | 2,072 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 5 | −4 | |
| PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) | 35,633 | 0.16 | −0.03 | 98 | −14 | |
| Socialist Party of Menorca–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) | 2,890 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 6 | −1 | |
| Aralar (Aralar) | 31,235 | 0.14 | New | 48 | +48 | |
| Liberal Independent Group (GIL) | 26,363 | 0.11 | −0.30 | 20 | −73 | |
| Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 23,428 | 0.10 | −0.20 | 54 | −227 | |
| Federation of Independents of Catalonia (FIC) | 23,278 | 0.10 | −0.01 | 104 | −76 | |
| The Greens of the Community of Madrid (LVCM) | 21,672 | 0.09 | New | 2 | +2 | |
| Independent Group for Almería (GIAL) | 18,961 | 0.08 | New | 31 | +31 | |
| Progressive Pact+Coalition of Progressive Organizations (Pacte+COP) | 16,595 | 0.07 | −0.01 | 39 | −6 | |
| Coalition of Progressive Organizations (COP) | 1,333 | 0.01 | ±0.00 | 6 | −2 | |
| Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) | 16,411 | 0.07 | −0.01 | 42 | −3 | |
| Asturian Renewal Union (URAS) | 15,621 | 0.07 | −0.10 | 29 | −54 | |
| Spanish Democratic Party (PADE) | 14,926 | 0.06 | −0.05 | 34 | +2 | |
| Independent Candidacy–The Party of Castile and León (CI–PCL) | 13,977 | 0.06 | +0.02 | 65 | +47 | |
| Meeting Point for Self-Determination (AuB)7 8 | 13,098 | 0.06 | −1.22 | 63 | −827 | |
| Riojan Party (PR) | 12,667 | 0.06 | +0.01 | 65 | +7 | |
| Independent Democratic Centre (CDI) | 11,381 | 0.05 | New | 24 | +24 | |
| United Extremadura (EU) | 10,489 | 0.05 | +0.01 | 55 | +5 | |
| Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) | 10,440 | 0.05 | −0.02 | 17 | −8 | |
| Galician Progressive Democracy (DPG) | 10,373 | 0.05 | −0.03 | 2 | −34 | |
| Independent Solution (SI) | 9,274 | 0.04 | New | 10 | +10 | |
| Initiative for the Development of Soria (IDES) | 4,040 | 0.02 | New | 21 | +21 | |
| 25 May Citizens' Alternative (AC25M) | 3,022 | 0.01 | New | 5 | +5 | |
| Others (lists at <0.05% not securing any provincial or island seat) | 1,172,067 | 5.10 | — | 4,594 | +54 | |
| Blank ballots | 404,448 | 1.76 | −0.19 | |||
| Total | 22,967,517 | 100.00 | 65,510 | +309 | ||
| Valid votes | 22,967,517 | 98.70 | −0.39 | |||
| Invalid votes | 302,555 | 1.30 | +0.39 | |||
| Votes cast / turnout | 23,270,072 | 67.67 | +3.68 | |||
| Abstentions | 11,116,390 | 32.33 | −3.68 | |||
| Registered voters | 34,386,462 | |||||
| Sources[21][22] | ||||||
Footnotes:
| ||||||
City control
The following table lists party control in provincial capitals (highlighted in bold), as well as in municipalities above 75,000.[23] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
Autonomous cities
The following table lists party control in the autonomous cities. Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
| City | Population | Previous control | New control | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceuta | 76,152 | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) | ||
| Melilla | 69,184 | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) | ||
Provincial and island
Summary
| Parties and alliances | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PD | IC | FD | Total | +/− | ||
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 459 | 61 | 35 | 555 | +46 | |
| People's Party (PP) | 429 | 64 | 34 | 527 | −20 | |
| Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA) | — | — | 73 | 73 | +17 | |
| Canarian Coalition (CC) | — | 56 | — | 56 | ±0 | |
| Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) | — | 7 | — | 7 | ±0 | |
| United Left (IU) | 39 | 2 | 9 | 50 | +8 | |
| Initiative–Alternative Left–Agreement for Municipal Progress (ICV–EA–EPM) | 9 | — | — | 9 | +6 | |
| Convergence and Union (CiU) | 50 | — | — | 50 | −7 | |
| Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) | 15 | — | — | 15 | ±0 | |
| Republican Left of Catalonia–Municipal Agreement (ERC–AM) | 13 | — | — | 13 | +7 | |
| Canarian Nationalist Federation (FNC) | — | 11 | — | 11 | +1 | |
| Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) | — | 1 | — | 1 | +1 | |
| Aragonese Party (PAR) | 9 | — | — | 9 | −1 | |
| Andalusian Party (PA) | 7 | — | — | 7 | −5 | |
| Progressive Pact+Coalition of Progressive Organizations (Pacte+COP) | — | 5 | — | 5 | −2 | |
| Coalition of Progressive Organizations (COP) | — | 0 | — | 0 | −1 | |
| Aragonese Union (CHA) | 4 | — | — | 4 | +1 | |
| PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) | — | 4 | — | 4 | −1 | |
| Socialist Party of Menorca–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) | — | 1 | — | 1 | ±0 | |
| Majorcan Union (UM) | — | 3 | — | 3 | ±0 | |
| Socialist Party of Andalusia (PSA) | 2 | — | — | 2 | +2 | |
| Leonese People's Union (UPL) | 2 | — | — | 2 | −1 | |
| Valencian Nationalist Bloc–Green Left (Bloc–EV) | 1 | — | — | 1 | −1 | |
| Valencian Union (UV) | 1 | — | — | 1 | ±0 | |
| Aralar (Aralar) | — | — | 1 | 1 | +1 | |
| Liberal Independent Group (GIL) | 1 | — | — | 1 | −4 | |
| Independent Group for Almería (GIAL) | 1 | — | — | 1 | +1 | |
| Independent Solution (SI) | 1 | — | — | 1 | +1 | |
| Alavese Unity (UA) | — | — | 1 | 1 | −1 | |
| Initiative for the Development of Soria (IDES) | 1 | — | — | 1 | +1 | |
| 25 May Citizens' Alternative (AC25M) | — | 1 | — | 1 | +1 | |
| Independent Popular Council of Formentera (AIPF) | — | 1 | — | 1 | +1 | |
| Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS) | 0 | — | — | 0 | −1 | |
| Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC) | 0 | — | — | 0 | −1 | |
| Independent Sorian Alternative (ALSI) | 0 | — | — | 0 | −1 | |
| Independent Burgalese Popular Action (APBI) | 0 | — | — | 0 | −1 | |
| Basque Citizens (EH) | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 | −29 | |
| Independents (INDEP) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ±0 | |
| Total | 1,036 | 208 | 153 | 1,397 | +12 | |
| Sources[24] | ||||||
Footnotes:
| ||||||
Indirectly-elected
The following table lists party control in the indirectly-elected provincial deputations.[24] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
Island councils
The following table lists party control in the island councils.[25][26] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
| Island | Population | Previous control | New control | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Hierro | 10,002 | Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) | Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) | ||
| Fuerteventura | 69,762 | Canarian Coalition (CC) | Canarian Coalition (CC) | ||
| Gran Canaria | 771,333 | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) | ||
| Ibiza–Formentera | 107,394[27] | Progressive Pact (Pacte) | People's Party (PP) | ||
| La Gomera | 19,098 | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | ||
| La Palma | 85,547 | Canarian Coalition (CC) | Canarian Coalition (CC) | ||
| Lanzarote | 109,942 | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) (PP in 2005; CC in 2005) | ||
| Mallorca | 730,778[27] | Majorcan Union (UM) | Majorcan Union (UM) | ||
| Menorca | 78,796[27] | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | ||
| Tenerife | 778,071 | Canarian Coalition (CC) | Canarian Coalition (CC) | ||
Foral deputations
The following table lists party control in the foral deputations.[28] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
| Province | Population | Previous control | New control | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Álava | 291,860 | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) | ||
| Biscay | 1,133,444 | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | ||
| Guipúzcoa | 682,977 | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) | ||
Notes
- By-elections were held on 26 October 2003 in those constituencies where results were annulled by a final sentence following an electoral petition, or where elections were not held due to a lack of candidates.[1]
- Including:
- 1,036 seats in 38 provincial deputations;
- 153 seats in 3 Basque foral deputations;
- 149 seats in 7 Canarian island cabildos;
- 59 seats in 3 Balearic island councils.
- For the Balearic Islands, regional lawmakers served as island councillors.[8]