2003 Spanish local elections
2003 Spanish local elections Registered 34,386,462 2.4% Turnout 23,270,072 (67.7%) 3.7 pp
First party
Second party
Third party
Leader
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José María Aznar
Gaspar Llamazares
Party
PSOE
PP
IU –ICV–EA
Leader since
22 July 2000
4 September 1989
29 October 2000
Last election
21,984 c., 34.4%[a]
24,623 c., 34.4%
2,579 c., 7.6%[b]
Seats won
23,224
23,615
2,601
Seat change
1,240
1,008
22
Popular vote
7,999,178
7,875,762
1,730,732
Percentage
34.8%
34.3%
7.5%
Swing
0.4 pp
0.1 pp
0.1 pp
Fourth party
Fifth party
Sixth party
Leader
Jordi Pujol
Xabier Arzalluz
Jordi Carbonell
Party
CiU
EAJ/PNV
ERC–AM
Leader since
19 September 1978
18 January 1985
1996
Last election
4,089 seats, 3.6%
1,206 c., 1.9%
677 seats, 1.1%
Seats won
3,687
1,671
1,282
Seat change
402
465
605
Popular vote
791,932
514,850
419,961
Percentage
3.4%
2.2%
1.8%
Swing
0.2 pp
0.3 pp
0.7 pp
The 2003 Spanish local elections were held on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect all 65,510 councillors in the 8,108 municipalities of Spain and all 1,036 seats in 38 provincial deputations .[1] [2] The elections were held simultaneously with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities , as well as local elections in the three foral deputations of the Basque Country and the ten island councils in the Balearic and Canary Islands .
Electoral system
Municipal elections
Municipalities in Spain were local corporations with independent legal personality . They had a governing body, the municipal council or corporation , composed of a mayor , deputy mayors and a plenary assembly of councillors. Voting for the local assemblies was on the basis of universal suffrage , with all nationals over eighteen, registered in the corresponding municipality and in full enjoyment of all political rights entitled to vote. The mayor was in turn elected by the plenary assembly, with a legal clause providing for the candidate of the most-voted party to be automatically elected to the post in the event no other candidate was to gather an absolute majority of votes.
Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation , with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each local council. Councillors were allocated to municipal councils based on the following scale:
Population
Councillors
<250
5
251–1,000
7
1,001–2,000
9
2,001–5,000
11
5,001–10,000
13
10,001–20,000
17
20,001–50,000
21
50,001–100,000
25
>100,001
+1 per each 100,000 inhabitants or fraction +1 if total is an even number
Councillors of municipalities with populations between 100 and 250 inhabitants were elected under an open list partial block voting , with electors voting for individual candidates instead of parties and for up to four candidates. Additionally, municipalities below 100 inhabitants, as well as those whose geographical location or the best management of municipal interests or other circumstances made it advisable, were to be organized through the open council system (Spanish : régimen de concejo abierto ), in which voters would directly elect the local major.[3] [4] [5]
The electoral law provided that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors were allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors were required to secure the signature of a determined amount of the electors registered in the municipality for which they sought election:
At least 1 percent of the electors in municipalities 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 between 5,001 and 10,000.
At least 500 signatures in municipalities between 10,001 and 50,000.
At least 1,500 signatures in municipalities between 50,001 and 150,000.
At least 3,000 signatures in municipalities between 150,001 and 300,000.
At least 5,000 signatures in municipalities between 300,001 and 1,000,000.
At least 8,000 signatures in municipalities over 1,000,001.
Electors were barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called.[3] [4]
Deputations and island councils
Provincial deputations were the governing bodies of provinces in Spain , having an administration role of municipal activities and composed of a provincial president, an administrative body, and a plenary. Basque provinces had foral deputations instead—called Juntas Generales —, whereas deputations for single-province autonomous communities were abolished: their functions transferred to the corresponding regional parliaments. 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 Majorca , Menorca and Ibiza –Formentera this figure was referred to in Spanish as consejo insular (Catalan : consell insular ), whereas for Gran Canaria , Tenerife , Fuerteventura , La Gomera , El Hierro , Lanzarote and La Palma its name was cabildo insular .
Most deputations were indirectly elected by local councillors from municipalities in each judicial district . Seats were allocated to provincial deputations based on the following scale:
Population
Seats
<500,000
25
500,001–1,000,000
27
1,000,001–3,500,000
31
>3,500,001
51
Island councils and foral deputations were elected directly by electors under their own, specific electoral regulations.[3] [4]
Municipal elections
Overall
Councillor share for different parties in the elections.
Other (9.47%)
← Summary of the 25 May 2003 municipal election results in Spain →
Parties and coalitions
Popular vote
Councillors
Votes
%
±pp
Total
+/-
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and allies (PSOE –PSC )
7,999,178
34.83
+0.43
23,224
+1,240
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)1
6,895,327
30.02
+0.74
20,944
+996
Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Municipal Progress (PSC–PM)
1,103,851
4.81
–0.31
2,280
+244
People's Party and allies (PP –UPN –UPM )
7,875,762
34.29
–0.16
23,615
–1,011
People's Party (PP)2
7,760,360
33.79
–0.20
23,265
–1,026
Navarrese People's Union (UPN)
99,962
0.44
+0.01
335
+8
People's Party –Melillan People's Union (PP–UPM)3
15,440
0.07
+0.03
15
+7
United Left and allies (IU –ICV–EA )
1,730,732
7.54
–0.05
2,601
+22
United Left (IU)
1,394,871
6.07
–0.18
2,204
–56
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
–0.02
458
+26
Valencian Nationalist Bloc–Green Left (Bloc–EV)
139,307
0.61
+0.08
298
+64
The Greens (LV)6
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
Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC)
13,951
0.06
+0.01
11
+9
Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL)
11,721
0.05
+0.01
27
–2
Canarian Union–Canarian Nationalist Federation (UC–FNC)
8,461
0.04
New
2
+2
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 Majorca –Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN)
32,743
0.14
–0.04
92
–13
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
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
Progressive Pact (Pacte)
15,262
0.07
±0.00
33
–4
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
Portuese Independents (IP)
10,301
0.04
–0.01
10
±0
Platform of the Left of Coslada (PIC)
10,285
0.04
New
6
+6
Citizens for Change Platform (AFV–CIUCA)
10,026
0.04
New
5
+5
Humanist Party (PH)
9,446
0.04
–0.02
0
±0
Independents for Ferrol (IF)
9,412
0.04
+0.02
6
+3
Independent Solution (SI)
9,274
0.04
New
10
+10
Unity for Narón (UN)
8,874
0.04
+0.01
13
+4
Asturianist Party (PAS)
8,823
0.04
–0.04
3
–9
Assembly (Batzarre)
8,449
0.04
New
15
+15
Cantabrian Unity (UCn)
8,226
0.04
New
15
+15
Others
1,096,620
4.77
—
4,573
+28
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[6] [7]
City control
The following table lists party control in provincial capitals, as well as in municipalities above or around 75,000.[8] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
Municipality
Population
Previous control
New control
A Coruña
242,458
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Albacete
152,155
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcalá de Henares
179,602
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
People's Party (PP)
Alcobendas
95,104
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcorcón
149,594
People's Party (PP)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Algeciras
106,710
Andalusian Party (PA)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alicante
293,629
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Almería
173,338
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
People's Party (PP)
Ávila
50,241
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Avilés
83,511
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Badajoz
136,851
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Badalona
210,370
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Barakaldo
95,515
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Barcelona
1,527,190
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Bilbao
353,950
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Burgos
167,962
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
People's Party (PP)
Cáceres
84,439
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Cádiz
136,236
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Cartagena
188,003
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Castellón de la Plana
153,225
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Ciudad Real
65,084
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Córdoba
314,805
United Left (IU)
United Left (IU)
Cornellà de Llobregat
81,881
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Coslada
79,862
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
People's Party (PP)
Cuenca
46,859
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Dos Hermanas
103,282
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
El Puerto de Santa María
77,747
Portuese Independents (IP)
Portuese Independents (IP)
Elche
201,731
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Ferrol
79,520
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
People's Party (PP)
Fuenlabrada
179,735
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getafe
153,868
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getxo
84,024
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Gijón
270,211
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Girona
77,475
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Granada
240,522
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
People's Party (PP)
Guadalajara
69,098
People's Party (PP)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Huelva
140,862
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Huesca
46,462
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Jaén
112,921
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Jerez de la Frontera
187,087
Andalusian Party (PA)
People's Party (PP) (PSOE in 2005)
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
244,323
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Las Palmas
370,649
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Leganés
174,436
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
León
135,794
People's Party (PP)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (PP in 2004)
Lleida
115,000
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Logroño
136,841
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Lorca
79,481
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Lugo
89,509
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Madrid
3,016,788
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Málaga
535,686
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Marbella
115,871
Liberal Independent Group (GIL)
Liberal Independent Group (GIL) (PSOE in 2006)
Mataró
109,298
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Móstoles
198,819
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
People's Party (PP)
Murcia
377,888
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Ourense
109,011
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Oviedo
202,938
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Palencia
80,801
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Palma
358,462
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Pamplona
189,364
Navarrese People's Union (UPN)
Navarrese People's Union (UPN)
Parla
80,545
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Pontevedra
76,798
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
Reus
91,616
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Sabadell
187,201
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Salamanca
156,006
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
San Cristóbal de La Laguna
135,004
Canarian Coalition (CC)
Canarian Coalition (CC)
San Fernando
88,333
Andalusian Party (PA)
Andalusian Party (PA)
San Sebastián
181,700
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Sant Boi de Llobregat
80,041
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Coloma de Gramenet
115,568
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
217,415
Canarian Coalition (CC)
Canarian Coalition (CC)
Santander
184,661
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Santiago de Compostela
93,273
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Segovia
54,945
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Seville
704,114
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Soria
35,112
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
People's Party (PP)
Talavera de la Reina
77,519
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Tarragona
117,184
Convergence and Union (CiU)
Convergence and Union (CiU)
Telde
91,160
Canarian Coalition (CC)
People's Party (PP)
Terrassa
179,300
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Teruel
31,506
People's Party (PP)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Toledo
70,893
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Torrejón de Ardoz
101,056
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Torrevieja
69,763
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Valencia
761,871
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Valladolid
318,576
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Vigo
288,324
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (PP in 2003)
Vitoria-Gasteiz
221,270
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Zamora
65,575
People's Party (PP)
People's Party (PP)
Zaragoza
620,419
People's Party (PP)
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Provincial deputations
Summary
Provincial deputy share for different parties in the elections.
Other (0.67%)
Deputation control
The following table lists party control in provincial deputations.[2] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
Notes
^ Aggregated data for PSOE –PSC and PDNI in the 1999 elections.
^ Aggregated data for IU –EUiA and IC–V in the 1999 elections.
References