1995 Spanish local elections explained

Election Name:1995 Spanish local elections
Country:Spain
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1991 Spanish local elections
Previous Year:1991
Next Election:1999 Spanish local elections
Next Year:1999
Seats For Election:65,869 councillors in 8,067 municipal councils
1,034 seats in 38 provincial deputations
Registered:31,953,812
Turnout:22,324,852 (69.9%)
7.1 pp
Election Date:28 May 1995
Leader1:José María Aznar
Party1:People's Party (Spain)
Leader Since1:4 September 1989
Last Election1:19,543 c., 25.7%
Seats1:24,772
Seat Change1:5,229
Popular Vote1:7,820,392
Percentage1:35.3%
Swing1:9.6 pp
Leader2:Felipe González
Party2:Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Leader Since2:13 October 1974
Last Election2:25,365 c., 38.7%
Seats2:21,189
Seat Change2:4,176
Popular Vote2:6,838,607
Percentage2:30.8%
Swing2:7.9 pp
Leader3:Julio Anguita
Party3:United Left (Spain)
Leader Since3:12 February 1989
Last Election3:2,537 c., 8.0%
Seats3:3,493
Seat Change3:956
Popular Vote3:2,589,780
Percentage3:11.7%
Swing3:3.7 pp
Leader4:Jordi Pujol
Party4:Convergence and Union
Leader Since4:19 September 1978
Last Election4:4,360 c., 4.9%
Seats4:4,265
Seat Change4:95
Popular Vote4:975,037
Percentage4:4.4%
Swing4:0.5 pp
Leader5:Xabier Arzalluz
Party5:Basque Nationalist Party
Leader Since5:18 January 1985
Last Election5:993 c., 1.6%
Seats5:1,015
Seat Change5:22
Popular Vote5:313,318
Percentage5:1.4%
Swing5:0.2 pp
Leader6:Antonio Moreno
Party6:Andalusian Party
Leader Since6:July 1994
Last Election6:540 c., 1.8%
Seats6:345
Seat Change6:195
Popular Vote6:260,249
Percentage6:1.2%
Swing6:0.6 pp
Map Size:435px

The 1995 Spanish local elections were held on Sunday, 28 May 1995, to elect all 65,869 councillors in the 8,067 municipalities of Spain and all 1,034 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 electionsMunicipalities 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:

PopulationCouncillors
<2505
251–1,0007
1,001–2,0009
2,001–5,00011
5,001–10,00013
10,001–20,00017
20,001–50,00021
50,001–100,00025
>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; Castilian: 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:

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 councilsProvincial 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 IbizaFormentera this figure was referred to in Spanish as consejo insular (Catalan; Valencian: 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:

PopulationSeats
<500,00025
500,001–1,000,00027
1,000,001–3,500,00031
>3,500,00151

Island councils and foral deputations were elected directly by electors under their own, specific electoral regulations.[3] [4]

Municipal elections

Overall

← Summary of the 28 May 1995 municipal election results in Spain →
Parties and coalitionsPopular voteCouncillors
Votes%±ppTotal+/-
People's Party and allies (PPUPN)7,820,392 35.27 +9.5624,772 +5,229
People's Party (PP)7,743,656 34.93 +9.5924,479 +5,181
Navarrese People's Union (UPN)76,736 0.35 –0.01293 +48
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and allies (PSOEPSC)6,838,607 30.84 –7.8821,189 –4,176
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)15,771,843 26.03 –7.3019,483 –4,038
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)1,066,764 4.81 –0.591,706 –138
United Left and allies (IUIC)2,589,780 11.68 +3.673,493 +956
United Left (IU)2,203,281 9.94 +3.333,104 +843
Initiative for CataloniaThe Greens (IC–EV)386,499 1.74 +0.34389 +113
Convergence and Union and allies (CiUCDA–PNA)975,037 4.40 –0.464,265 –95
Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)313,318 1.41 –0.181,015 +22
Andalusian Party (PA)260,249 1.17 –0.65345 –195
Canarian Coalition (CC)247,219 1.12 +0.04429 +101
Canarian Coalition (CC)2211,882 0.96 +0.28372 +126
Canarian Initiative (ICAN)21,140 0.10 –0.2730 –47
Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN)10,915 0.05 New19 +19
Independents of Gran Canaria (IGC)3,282 0.01 –0.038 +3
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)208,098 0.94 +0.37428 +187
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)204,906 0.92 +0.43525 +297
Popular Unity (HB)184,742 0.83 –0.23621 –80
Basque Solidarity (EA)133,576 0.60 –0.10406 +13
Valencian Union–Independents–Centrists (UV–FICVA–CCV)129,759 0.59 –0.40215 –120
Aragonese Party (PAR)116,447 0.53 –0.151,050 –171
Andalusian Progress Party (PAP)86,895 0.39 New79 +79
Valencian People's UnionNationalist Bloc (UPV–BN)84,462 0.38 +0.09168 +76
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)81,560 0.37 –3.51261 –2,678
Platform of Independents of Spain (PIE)79,338 0.36 New206 +206
Union for the Progress of Cantabria (UPCA)41,628 0.19 –0.19170 –115
Nationalists of the Balearic Islands (PSM–ENE)40,246 0.18 +0.0497 +31
Socialist Party of Majorca–Nationalists of Majorca (PSM–NM)37,230 0.17 +0.0691 +37
Socialist Party of Menorca–Nationalists of the Islands (PSM–NI)32,352 0.01 –0.016 –5
Nationalist and Ecologist Agreement (ENE)664 0.00 –0.010 –1
Liberal Independent Group (GIL)36,438 0.16 +0.0543 +24
Leonese People's Union (UPL)34,715 0.16 +0.11138 +110
Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC)33,221 0.15 +0.0588 +19
Basque Citizen Initiative (ICV–Gorordo)32,129 0.14 New5 +5
Extremaduran Coalition (CEx)428,060 0.13 +0.05139 +72
Aragonese Union (CHA)27,648 0.12 +0.0739 +23
Nationalist Canarian Platform (PCN)26,956 0.12 +0.0644 –10
Party of Gran Canaria (PGC)14,018 0.06 New2 +2
Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL)10,493 0.05 ±0.0031 –14
Independents of Fuerteventura (IF)2,445 0.01 ±0.0011 +2
Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN)24,186 0.11 New42 +42
The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV)23,415 0.11 New1 +1
Alavese Unity (UA)21,562 0.10 –0.0137 –2
Federation of Independents of Catalonia (FIC)19,718 0.09 New177 +177
Majorcan Union (UM)518,713 0.08 +0.0344 +23
Portuese Independents (IP)16,522 0.07 +0.0416 +8
The Greens (LV)13,490 0.06 –0.384 –1
Asturianist Party (PAS)613,414 0.06 ±0.006 ±0
Andalusian Federation of Independents (FADI)12,964 0.06 New58 +58
Riojan Party (PR)11,842 0.05 +0.01103 +21
Galician Nationalist Convergence (CNG)11,551 0.05 –0.2321 –116
The Alternative Greens (LVA)711,519 0.05 –0.030 ±0
Coalition for Gran Canaria (CGC)10,970 0.05 New6 +6
Ávila Independent Group (AIAV)10,547 0.05 New115 +115
Independent Solution (SI)10,310 0.05 –0.0761 ±0
Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL)810,004 0.05 +0.0298 +62
Independent Socialists of Extremadura (SIEx)9,361 0.04 New37 +37
Independent Socialist Party (PSI)8,067 0.04 +0.039 +6
Others934,652 4.22 4,812 –631
Blank ballots323,712 1.46 +0.33
Total22,171,945 100.00 65,869 –439
Valid votes22,171,945 99.32 +0.02
Invalid votes152,907 0.68 –0.02
Votes cast / turnout22,324,852 69.87 +7.09
Abstentions9,628,960 30.13 –7.09
Registered voters31,953,812
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.

MunicipalityPopulationPrevious controlNew control
A Coruña255,087Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Albacete141,179Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Alcalá de Henares166,250Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Alcobendas83,990Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcorcón103,787Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Algeciras102,079Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Andalusian Progress Party (PAP)
Alicante274,964Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Almería167,361Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Ávila49,639People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Avilés88,570Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Badajoz130,153Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Badalona219,340Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Barakaldo103,594Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Barcelona1,630,867Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Bilbao371,876Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Burgos166,251People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Cáceres80,235Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Cádiz155,438Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Cartagena179,659Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Castellón de la Plana139,094People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Ciudad Real62,072Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Córdoba315,948United Left (IU)People's Party (PP)
Cornellà de Llobregat84,142Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Coslada79,240United Left (IU)United Left (IU)
Cuenca44,960Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Dos Hermanas82,814Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Elche191,305Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Ferrol85,692Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Fuenlabrada158,212Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getafe144,368Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getxo83,466Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Gijón269,644Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Girona72,333Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Granada271,180Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Guadalajara67,401People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Huelva145,049Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Huesca45,515Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Aragonese Party (PAR)
Jaén112,772Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Jerez de la Frontera186,273Andalusian Progress Party (PAP)Andalusian Progress Party (PAP)
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat266,642Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Las Palmas371,787Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Leganés178,162Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
León147,311People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Lleida114,234Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Logroño124,823Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Lugo87,305People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Madrid3,041,101People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Málaga531,443Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Marbella86,013Liberal Independent Group (GIL)Liberal Independent Group (GIL)
Mataró102,117Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Móstoles199,141Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Murcia341,531Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Ourense108,547Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Oviedo201,712People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Palencia79,561Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Palma322,008People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Pamplona182,465Navarrese People's Union (UPN)Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN)
Pontevedra76,461People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Reus90,059Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Sabadell189,006Initiative for Catalonia (IC)Initiative for Catalonia (IC)
Salamanca167,382Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
San Cristóbal de La Laguna125,183Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
San Fernando87,588Andalusian Party (PA)Andalusian Party (PA)
San Sebastián177,929Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Sant Boi de Llobregat79,594Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Coloma de Gramenet131,764Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife203,929Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
Santander194,822People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Santiago de Compostela93,398Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Segovia55,372People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Seville714,148Andalusian Party (PA)People's Party (PP)
Soria33,317People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Talavera de la Reina75,138Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Tarragona114,630Convergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
Telde84,078Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
Terrassa161,428Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Teruel29,971Aragonese Party (PAR)People's Party (PP)
Toledo64,040Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Torrejón de Ardoz87,219Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Valencia764,293People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Valladolid336,917Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Vigo288,573Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Vitoria-Gasteiz214,148Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Zamora65,885Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Zaragoza606,620Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)

Provincial deputations

Summary

← Summary of the 28 May 1995 provincial deputations election results →
Parties and coalitionsSeats
Total+/−
People's Party (PP)464 +127
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and allies (PSOEPSC)394 –130
United Left and allies (IUIC)68 +32
Convergence and Union and allies (CiUCDA–PNA)64 –4
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)11 +8
Aragonese Party (PAR)11 –4
Andalusian Party (PA)6 –9
Andalusian Progress Party (PAP)5 +5
Liberal Independent Group (GIL)3 +1
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)2 +2
Leonese People's Union (UPL)2 +1
Valencian Union–Independents–Centrists (UV–FICVA–CCV)1 –3
Others3 –24
Total1,034 +2
Sources

Deputation control

The following table lists party control in provincial deputations.[2] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.

ProvincePrevious controlNew control
A CoruñaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
AlbaceteSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
AlicanteSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
AlmeríaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
ÁvilaPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
BadajozSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
BarcelonaSocialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
BurgosPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
CáceresSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
CádizSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
CastellónSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Ciudad RealSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
CórdobaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
CuencaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
GironaConvergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
GranadaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
GuadalajaraPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
HuelvaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
HuescaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
JaénSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
LeónSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
LleidaConvergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
LugoPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
MálagaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
OurensePeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
PalenciaPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
PontevedraPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
SalamancaIndependent (INDEP)People's Party (PP)
SegoviaPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
SevilleSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
SoriaPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
TarragonaConvergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
TeruelPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
ToledoSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
ValenciaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
ValladolidPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
ZamoraPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
ZaragozaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Municipal elections in Spain 1979-2011 . interior.gob.es . Ministry of the Interior . es . 12 August 2017.
  2. Web site: Provincial deputation elections since 1979 . es . historiaelectoral.com . 24 September 2017.
  3. General Electoral System Organic Law of 1985 . Organic Law . 5 . . es . 19 June 1985 . 28 December 2016.
  4. Web site: Representation of the people Institutional Act . . . juntaelectoralcentral.es . Central Electoral Commission . 16 June 2017.
  5. Regulation of the Basis of Local Regimes Law of 1985 . Law . 7 . . es . 2 April 1985 . 27 August 2017.
  6. Web site: Electoral Results Consultation. Municipal. May 1995. National totals . es . infoelectoral.mir.es . Ministry of the Interior . 24 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Municipal elections (overall results since 1979) . es . historiaelectoral.com . 24 September 2017.
  8. Web site: Municipal elections (city majors by party) . historiaelectoral.com . Historia Electoral . es . 24 February 2018.