2001 Basque regional election explained

Election Name:2001 Basque regional election
Country:Basque Country
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1998 Basque regional election
Previous Year:1998
Next Election:2005 Basque regional election
Next Year:2005
Seats For Election:All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament
Majority Seats:38
Opinion Polls:
  1. Opinion polls
Registered:1,813,356 0.5%
Turnout:1,431,996 (79.0%)
9.0 pp
Election Date:13 May 2001
Leader1:Juan José Ibarretxe
Party1:PNV–EA
Leader Since1:31 January 1998
Leaders Seat1:Álava
Last Election1:27 seats, 36.2%
Seats1:33
Seat Change1:6
Popular Vote1:604,222
Percentage1:42.4%
Swing1:6.2 pp
Leader2:Jaime Mayor Oreja
Party2:People's Party of the Basque Country
Leader Since2:26 February 2001
Leaders Seat2:Biscay
Last Election2:18 seats, 21.1%
Seats2:19
Seat Change2:1
Popular Vote2:326,933
Percentage2:22.9%
Swing2:1.8 pp
Leader3:Nicolás Redondo
Party3:PSE–EE (PSOE)
Leader Since3:20 October 1997
Leaders Seat3:Biscay
Last Election3:14 seats, 17.4%
Seats3:13
Seat Change3:1
Popular Vote3:253,195
Percentage3:17.8%
Swing3:0.4 pp
Leader4:Arnaldo Otegi
Party4:Euskal Herritarrok
Leader Since4:14 February 1998
Leaders Seat4:Guipúzcoa
Last Election4:14 seats, 17.7%
Seats4:7
Seat Change4:7
Popular Vote4:143,139
Percentage4:10.0%
Swing4:7.7 pp
Leader5:Javier Madrazo
Party5:IU/EB
Leader Since5:14 May 1994
Leaders Seat5:Biscay
Last Election5:2 seats, 5.6%
Seats5:3
Seat Change5:1
Popular Vote5:78,862
Percentage5:5.5%
Swing5:0.1 pp
Lehendakari
Before Election:Juan José Ibarretxe
Before Party:Basque Nationalist Party
After Election:Juan José Ibarretxe
After Party:Basque Nationalist Party

The 2001 Basque regional election was held on Sunday, 13 May 2001, to elect the 7th Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

The PNV–EA alliance, established by the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and Basque Solidarity (EA) parties which had formed the Basque government since 1998, won a landslide victory with 33 seats and 42.4% of the share, which represented their best combined result in history as well as the best performance for the top voted list in a Basque regional election, outperforming the PNV's own record in 1984. The People's Party (PP), which for this election ran in coalition with Alavese Unity (UA), came second with 22.9% of the share and 19 seats, whereas the Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE) came in third with 13 seats and 17.8% of the vote. Together, they fell well short of their intended aim of commanding an overall majority in parliament that was able to oust the ruling PNV from power, but also one seat behind the PNV–EA result. The abertzale left Basque Citizens (EH) coalition obtained 7 seats and 10.0% of the vote, in what was seen as a mix of both tactical voting in favour of the PNV–EA list as well as a punishment to the political force because of its leadership's alleged collaboration with the banned separatist group ETA.

Overview

Electoral system

The Basque Parliament was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of the Basque Country, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Basque Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a lehendakari.[1] Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Basque Country and in full enjoyment of their political rights.

The 75 members of the Basque Parliament 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, corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Guipúzcoa, with each being allocated a fixed number of 25 seats in order to provide for an equal parliamentary representation of the three provinces, as required under the regional statute of autonomy.[1] [2]

Election 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 the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country, with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication. The previous election was held on 25 October 1998, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 25 October 2002. The election decree was required to be published in the BOPV no later than 1 October 2002, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 24 November 2002.[1] [2]

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. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a lehendakari within a sixty-day period from the Parliament re-assembly, the Parliament was to be dissolved and a fresh election called.[3]

Parties and candidates

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]

Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:

CandidacyParties and
alliances		Leading candidateIdeologyPrevious result
Votes (%)Seats
PNV–EAJuan José IbarretxeBasque nationalism
Christian democracy
Conservative liberalism		36.19%
PPJaime Mayor OrejaConservatism
Christian democracy		21.09%
EHArnaldo OtegiBasque independence
Abertzale left
Revolutionary socialism		17.66%
PSE–EE
(PSOE)		Nicolás RedondoSocial democracy17.35%
IU/EBJavier MadrazoSocialism
Communism		5.60%

Opinion polls

The table below lists voting intention estimates 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. 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.

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 13 May 2001 Basque Parliament election results →
Parties and alliancesPopular voteSeats
Votes%±ppTotal+/−
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)1604,222 42.38 +6.1933 +6
People's Party (PP)2326,933 22.93 +1.8419 +1
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE))253,195 17.76 +0.4113 –1
Basque Citizens (EH)143,139 10.04 –7.627 –7
United Left (IU/EB)78,862 5.53 –0.073 +1
Humanist Party (PH)3,708 0.26 ±0.000 ±0
Party of the Democratic Karma (PKD)2,000 0.14 New0 ±0
Workers for Democracy Coalition (TD)1,017 0.07 New0 ±0
Freedom (Askatasuna)663 0.05 New0 ±0
Carlist Party (EKA/PC)530 0.04 New0 ±0
Blank ballots11,508 0.81 –0.58
Total1,425,777 75 ±0
Valid votes1,425,777 99.57 +0.10
Invalid votes6,219 0.43 –0.10
Votes cast / turnout1,431,996 78.97 +8.98
Abstentions381,360 21.03 –8.98
Registered voters1,813,356
Sources[46] [47]

Distribution by constituency

ConstituencyPNV–EAPPPSE–EEEHIU/EB
data-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"Sdata-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"Sdata-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"Sdata-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"Sdata-sort-type="number"%data-sort-type="number"S
Álava33.6932.5920.456.115.91
Biscay43.41223.4618.148.025.61
Guipúzcoa44.31218.0416.1415.145.21
Total42.43322.91917.81310.075.53
Sources

Aftermath

Investiture
Ballot →11 July 200112 July 2001
Required majority →38 out of 75Simple
Sources

References

Opinion poll sources
Other

Notes and References

  1. Ley Orgánica 3/1979, de 18 de diciembre, de Estatuto de Autonomía para el País Vasco] ]. Organic Law . 3 . es . 18 December 1979 . 17 July 2017.
  2. Ley 5/1990, de 15 de junio, de Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco . Law . 5 . es . 15 June 1990 . 17 July 2017.
  3. Ley 7/1981, de 30 de junio, sobre Ley de Gobierno . Law . 7 . es . 30 June 1981 . 17 July 2017.
  4. Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General . Organic Law . 5 . es . 19 June 1985 . 28 December 2016.
  5. Web site: Los sondeos dan más crecimiento a PNV-EA que a PP-UA y PSE . es . El Mundo . 13 May 2001.
  6. Web site: La coalició PNB-EA guanya clarament els comicis a Euskadi . Catalan . Racó Català . 13 May 2001.
  7. Web site: Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco de 13 de mayo de 2001: ¿Unas elecciones sorprendentes? . es . Revista de Derecho Político . 2001.
  8. Web site: Encuestas y previsiones . es . La Razón . 6 May 2001.
  9. Web site: PP y PSE podrían quedarse a un solo escaño de la mayoría absoluta en el País Vasco . es . ABC . 6 May 2001.
  10. Web site: Encuesta de Ipsos-Eco Consulting para ABC . es . ABC . 6 May 2001.
  11. Web site: PP y PSOE se acercan a la mayoría absoluta pese al alza de PNV-EA . https://web.archive.org/web/20010630102808/http://www.elmundo.es/2001/05/04/espana/990602.html . dead . 30 June 2001 . es . La Vanguardia . 4 May 2001.
  12. Web site: Portada: PP y PSE rozan la mayoría suficiente para gobernar . es . El País . 6 May 2001.
  13. News: PP y PSE rozan la mayoría suficiente para gobernar . es . El País . 6 May 2001 .
  14. Web site: Un tercio de los votantes del PP apuesta por un diálogo con ETA para lograr la paz . es . La Voz de Galicia . 5 May 2001.
  15. Web site: Los sondeos colocan una alianza entre PP y PSE al borde de la mayoría absoluta . es . Última Hora . 7 May 2001.
  16. Web site: Los nacionalistas rozarían la mayoría mientras que PP-PSOE necesitarían a IU . es . La Voz de Galicia . 1 May 2001.
  17. Web site: Preelectoral del País Vasco elecciones autonómicas, 2001 (Estudio nº 2414. Abril 2001) . es . CIS . 9 May 2001.
  18. Web site: El PNV no hace ascos al voto de Otegi . es . La Vanguardia . 10 May 2001.
  19. Web site: PP y PSE se acercan a su objetivo . es . La Vanguardia . 29 April 2001.
  20. Web site: Los populares confían en los más de 45.000 votos por correo . es . La Vanguardia . 29 April 2001.
  21. Web site: El PNV gana, pero sólo podría gobernar con EH . es . La Vanguardia . 29 April 2001.
  22. Web site: Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas (Abril 2001) . es . Basque Government . 11 April 2001.
  23. News: Un sondeo del Gobierno vasco coloca al PP y al PSOE a dos escaños de la mayoría absoluta . es . El País . 12 April 2001. Uriona . Alberto .
  24. Web site: Elecciones en el País Vasco . https://web.archive.org/web/20030106013411/http://www.cadenaser.com/PaginasASP/especiales_ser.asp?pagina=pulsometro%2F010322%2Findex.htm . dead . 6 January 2003 . es . Cadena SER . 22 March 2001 . 19 May 2020 .
  25. Web site: Intención de voto . https://web.archive.org/web/20030126005632/http://www.cadenaser.com/PaginasASP/especiales_ser.asp?pagina=pulsometro%2F010322%2Ftemassemana%2Fp7.htm . dead . 26 January 2003 . es . Cadena SER . 22 March 2001 . 19 May 2020 .
  26. Web site: Ficha técnica . https://web.archive.org/web/20030126010610/http://www.cadenaser.com/PaginasASP/especiales_ser.asp?pagina=pulsometro%2F010322%2Ffichatecnica.htm . dead . 26 January 2003 . es . Cadena SER . 22 March 2001 . 19 May 2020 .
  27. News: El PNV y EA parten en la precampaña como ganadores, seguidos del Partido Popular . es . El País . 23 March 2001 .
  28. Web site: IU, posible llave para un Gobierno no nacionalista, según un sondeo del PSOE . es . ABC . 7 April 2001.
  29. News: Aznar: 'Mayor ha renunciado a estar en el Gobierno para jugársela' . es . El País . 5 March 2001. Casqueiro . Javier .
  30. Web site: El frente nacionalista pierde entre tres y cinco diputados y PP-PSE ganan hasta seis . es . ABC . 25 February 2001.
  31. Web site: Encuesta de Ipsos-Eco Consulting sobre las Elecciones Vascas . es . ABC . 25 February 2001.
  32. Web site: Situación social y política del País Vasco, XIII (Estudio nº 2407. Enero-Febrero 2001) . es . CIS . 20 March 2001.
  33. Web site: El CIS pronostica que el cambio de mayoría en el País Vasco es difícil pero no imposible . es . La Vanguardia . 21 March 2001.
  34. Web site: El PP se ve en condiciones de ganar las elecciones . es . La Vanguardia . 18 February 2001.
  35. Web site: Mayor, Alonso y San Gil, cabezas de candidatura del PP a las vascas . es . ABC Sevilla . 1 March 2001.
  36. Web site: Arenas afirma que el PP está en posición de ganar en Euskadi, según los sondeos . es . La Voz de Galicia . 17 February 2001.
  37. Web site: Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas (Diciembre 2000) . es . Basque Government . 28 December 2000.
  38. Web site: Atutxa no ve más salida que las elecciones . es . La Vanguardia . 29 December 2000.
  39. Web site: La alianza de PP y UA podría igualar al PNV en las elecciones . es . La Vanguardia . 16 December 2000.
  40. Web site: Empate técnico en intención de voto entre nacionalistas y no nacionalistas . es . El Mundo . 15 December 2000.
  41. News: El Euskobarómetro augura un empate entre nacionalistas y constitucionalistas . es . El País . 16 December 2000 .
  42. Web site: Euskal Etxeak. Nº 49 Año 2001. El Lehendakari convoca elecciones en Euskadi para el día 13 de mayo . es . Basque Government . 2001.
  43. News: El PNV volvería a ganar las elecciones, según una encuesta . es . El País . 15 November 2000 .
  44. Web site: Un sondeo pone al PP a un solo escaño del PNV y deja a los nacionalistas sin mayoría . es . La Vanguardia . 29 July 2000.
  45. News: Ibarretxe admite que la apuesta por el diálogo ha fracasado y se impone una nueva etapa . es . El País . 29 July 2000. Martínez . Isabel C. .
  46. Web site: Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco / Eusko Legebilitzarra (1980 - 2020) . es . Historia Electoral.com . 24 September 2017.
  47. Web site: Election Results Archive . es . euskadi.eus . Basque Government . 24 September 2017.

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