2003 Riojan regional election explained

Election Name:2003 Rioja regional election
Country:La Rioja (Spain)
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1999 Riojan regional election
Previous Year:1999
Next Election:2007 Riojan regional election
Next Year:2007
Seats For Election:All 33 seats in the Parliament of La Rioja
Majority Seats:17
Registered:233,553
Turnout:175,401 (75.1%)
6.4 pp
Election Date:25 May 2003
Leader1:Pedro Sanz
Party1:People's Party of La Rioja
Leader Since1:2 October 1993
Last Election1:18 seats, 51.3%
Seats1:17
Seat Change1:1
Popular Vote1:84,533
Percentage1:48.6%
Swing1:2.7 pp
Leader2:Francisco Martínez-Aldama
Party2:Socialist Party of La Rioja
Leader Since2:30 July 2000
Last Election2:13 seats, 35.3%
Seats2:14
Seat Change2:1
Popular Vote2:66,410
Percentage2:38.2%
Swing2:2.9 pp
Leader3:Miguel González de Legarra
Party3:Riojan Party (1990–2012)
Leader Since3:16 December 1995
Last Election3:2 seats, 5.8%
Seats3:2
Seat Change3:0
Popular Vote3:11,842
Percentage3:6.8%
Swing3:1.0 pp
President
Before Election:Pedro Sanz
Before Party:People's Party of La Rioja
After Election:Pedro Sanz
After Party:People's Party of La Rioja

The 2003 Rioja regional election was held on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect the 6th Parliament of the autonomous community of La Rioja. All 33 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

Overview

Electoral system

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

The 33 members of the Parliament of La Rioja 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 regionally.[1] [2]

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 at least 1 percent of the electors registered in La Rioja. 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.[2] [3] [4]

Election date

The term of the Parliament of La Rioja expired four years after the date of its previous election. Elections to the Parliament 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 Parliament on Sunday, 25 May 2003.[1] [2] [3] [4]

The President of the Autonomous Community had the prerogative to dissolve the Parliament of La Rioja 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 has elapsed since a previous dissolution. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a two-month period from the first ballot, the Parliament 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 deputies merely serving out what remained of their four-year terms.[1]

Results

← Summary of the 25 May 2003 Parliament of La Rioja election results →
Parties and alliancesPopular voteSeats
Votes%±ppTotal+/−
People's Party (PP)84,533 48.60 –2.6617 –1
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)66,410 38.18 +2.9014 +1
Riojan Party (PR)11,842 6.81 +1.052 ±0
United Left La Rioja (IU)4,729 2.72 –1.190 ±0
The Greens of La Rioja (LV)2,858 1.64 +0.380 ±0
Movement for Humanist Socialism (MASH)269 0.15 –0.120 ±0
Blank ballots3,308 1.90 –0.36
Total173,949 33 ±0
Valid votes173,949 99.17 +0.04
Invalid votes1,452 0.83 –0.04
Votes cast / turnout175,401 75.10 +6.44
Abstentions58,152 24.90 –6.44
Registered voters233,553
Sources[5] [6]

Aftermath

Investiture
Pedro Sanz (PP)
Ballot →27 June 2003
Required majority →17 out of 33
Absentees
Sources

Notes and References

  1. Statute of Autonomy of La Rioja of 1982 . Organic Law . 3 . es . 9 June 1982 . 15 September 2017.
  2. General Deputation of La Rioja Elections Law of 1991 . Law . 3 . es . 21 March 1991 . 15 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 . www.juntaelectoralcentral.es . Central Electoral Commission . 16 June 2017.
  5. Web site: Parliament of La Rioja election results, 25 May 2003 . 24 June 2003 . es . www.juntaelectoralcentral.es . Electoral Commission of La Rioja . 30 September 2017.
  6. Web site: Elecciones al Parlamento de La Rioja (1983 - 2019) . es . Historia Electoral.com . 30 September 2017.