1999 Spanish local elections explained

Election Name:1999 Spanish local elections
Country:Spain
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1995 Spanish local elections
Previous Year:1995
Next Election:2003 Spanish local elections
Next Year:2003
Seats For Election:65,201 councillors in 8,104 municipal councils
1,034 seats in 38 provincial deputations
Registered:33,585,957
Turnout:21,491,984 (64.0%)
5.9 pp
Election Date:13 June 1999
Leader1:José María Aznar
Party1:People's Party (Spain)
Leader Since1:4 September 1989
Last Election1:24,772 c., 35.3%
Seats1:24,623
Seat Change1:149
Popular Vote1:7,334,135
Percentage1:34.4%
Swing1:0.9 pp
Leader2:Joaquín Almunia
Party2:PSOEp
Colour2:EF1C27
Leader Since2:21 June 1997
Last Election2:21,165 c., 30.8%
Seats2:21,917
Seat Change2:752
Popular Vote2:7,296,484
Percentage2:34.3%
Swing2:3.5 pp
Leader3:Julio Anguita
Party3:United Left (Spain)
Leader Since3:12 February 1989
Last Election3:3,101 c., 9.9%
Seats3:2,295
Seat Change3:806
Popular Vote3:1,387,900
Percentage3:6.5%
Swing3:3.4 pp
Leader4:Jordi Pujol
Party4:Convergence and Union
Leader Since4:19 September 1978
Last Election4:4,265 c., 4.4%
Seats4:4,089
Seat Change4:176
Popular Vote4:774,074
Percentage4:3.6%
Swing4:0.8 pp
Leader5:Xabier Arzalluz
Party5:PNV–EA
Leader Since5:18 January 1985
Last Election5:1,421 c., 2.0%
Seats5:1,206
Seat Change5:215
Popular Vote5:411,274
Percentage5:1.9%
Swing5:0.1 pp
Leader6:Antonio Ortega
Party6:Andalusian Party
Leader Since6:19 October 1996
Last Election6:424 c., 1.6%
Seats6:544
Seat Change6:120
Popular Vote6:355,684
Percentage6:1.7%
Swing6:0.1 pp
Map Size:435px

The 1999 Spanish local elections were held on Sunday, 13 June 1999, to elect all 65,201 councillors in the 8,104 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, the ten island councils in the Balearic and Canary Islands and the 1999 European Parliament election.

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 13 June 1999 municipal election results in Spain →
Parties and coalitionsPopular voteCouncillors
Votes%±ppTotal+/-
People's Party and allies (PPUPN)7,334,135 34.44 –0.8324,623 –149
People's Party (PP)7,243,243 34.01 –0.9224,296 –183
Navarrese People's Union (UPN)90,892 0.43 +0.08327 +34
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and allies (PSOEpPSC)7,296,484 34.26 +3.4521,917 +752
Spanish Socialist Workers' PartyProgressives (PSOE–p)16,205,530 29.14 +3.1419,881 +422
Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Municipal Progress (PSC–PM)1,090,954 5.12 +0.312,036 +330
United Left and allies (IUEUiA)1,387,900 6.52 –3.422,295 –806
United Left (IU)11,330,202 6.25 –3.682,260 –841
United and Alternative Left (EUiA)57,698 0.27 New35 +35
Convergence and Union and allies (CiUCDA–PNA)774,074 3.63 –0.774,089 –176
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA)2411,274 1.93 –0.081,206 –215
Andalusian Party (PA)3355,684 1.67 +0.11544 +120
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)290,187 1.36 +0.42586 +158
Basque Citizens (EH)4272,446 1.28 +0.45890 +269
Canarian Coalition (CC)268,847 1.26 +0.14434 +5
Canarian Coalition (CC)5267,773 1.26 +0.20432 +30
Nationalist Canarian Centre (CCN)542 0.00 –0.051 –18
Independents of Gran Canaria (IGC)531 0.00 –0.011 –7
Initiative for Catalonia–Greens–Agreement for Municipal Progress (IC–V–EPM)227,045 1.07 –0.67284 –105
Republican Left of CataloniaThe Greens–Municipal Agreement (ERC–EV–AM)225,576 1.06 +0.14677 +152
Valencian Nationalist BlocThe Greens (BNV–EV)6113,747 0.53 +0.15234 +66
Valencian Union (UV)108,639 0.51 –0.08229 +14
Liberal Independent Group (GIL)87,743 0.41 +0.2593 +50
Aragonese Party (PAR)87,493 0.41 –0.12925 –125
The GreensAndalusian Left (LV–IA)165,564 0.31 +0.2614 +14
Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS)62,964 0.30 –0.07281 +20
Aragonese Union (CHA)54,614 0.26 +0.1480 +41
Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC)49,898 0.23 +0.08217 +129
PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN)41,181 0.19 +0.01112 +15
Socialist Party of MajorcaNationalist Agreement (PSM–EN)38,675 0.18 +0.01105 +14
Socialist Party of MenorcaNationalist Agreement (PSM–EN)2,506 0.01 ±0.007 +1
Leonese People's Union (UPL)39,321 0.18 +0.02167 +29
Asturian Renewal Union (URAS)36,036 0.17 New83 +83
Democratic Party of the New Left (PDNI)29,300 0.14 New67 +67
Majorcan Union (UM)24,501 0.12 +0.0468 +24
Spanish Democratic Party (PADE)23,865 0.11 New32 +32
Federation of Independents of Catalonia (FIC)22,597 0.11 +0.02180 +3
Canarian Nationalist Federation (FNC)22,363 0.11 +0.0540 –2
Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC)9,989 0.05 +0.052 +2
Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL)9,538 0.04 –0.0129 –2
Independents of Fuerteventura (IF)2,836 0.01 ±0.009 –2
Galician Democracy (DG)18,085 0.08 New36 +36
Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC)16,782 0.08 +0.0645 +22
Asturianist Party (PAS)16,187 0.08 +0.0212 +6
Basque Citizen Initiative (ICV/EHE)15,111 0.07 –0.072 –3
Progressive Pact (Pacte)714,988 0.07 +0.0137 +6
Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN)14,573 0.07 –0.0425 –17
Humanist Party (PH)13,764 0.06 +0.040 ±0
Party of Gran Canaria (PGC)13,150 0.06 ±0.002 ±0
Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL)13,041 0.06 +0.01124 +26
Party for Independence (PI)12,820 0.06 New9 +9
Portuese Independents (IP)11,424 0.05 –0.0210 –6
Extremaduran Coalition (CREx–PREx)10,548 0.05 –0.0850 –89
Galician LeftThe Greens (EdeG–OV)10,146 0.05 New10 +10
Independent Initiative (II)10,122 0.05 New22 +22
Platform of Independents of Spain (PIE)9,683 0.05 –0.3135 –171
Alavese Unity (UA)9,675 0.05 –0.059 –28
Riojan Party (PR)9,669 0.05 ±0.0058 –45
Union for the Progress of Cantabria (UPCA)9,179 0.04 –0.1529 –141
Independent Candidacy–Union of Regionalist Parties of Castile and León (CI)88,679 0.04 +0.0318 +18
United Extremadura (EU)8,641 0.04 New50 ±0
Others922,942 4.33 4,251 –782
Blank ballots415,401 1.95 +0.49
Total21,297,014 100.00 65,201 –668
Valid votes21,297,014 99.09 –0.23
Invalid votes194,970 0.91 +0.23
Votes cast / turnout21,491,984 63.99 –5.88
Abstentions12,093,973 36.01 +5.88
Registered voters33,585,957
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 Coruña243,134Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Albacete145,454People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcalá de Henares163,831People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcobendas86,146Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcorcón143,970Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Algeciras101,972Andalusian Party (PA)Andalusian Party (PA)
Alicante272,432People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Almería168,025People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Ávila47,650People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Avilés84,835People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Badajoz134,710People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Badalona209,606Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Barakaldo98,649Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Barcelona1,505,581Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Bilbao358,467Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Burgos161,984People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Cáceres78,614People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Cádiz143,129People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Cartagena175,628People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Castellón de la Plana137,741People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Ciudad Real61,138People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Córdoba309,961People's Party (PP)United Left (IU)
Cornellà de Llobregat80,329Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Coslada73,732United Left (IU)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Cuenca44,558People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Dos Hermanas92,506Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
El Puerto de Santa María73,728Portuese Independents (IP)Portuese Independents (IP)
Elche191,713Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Ferrol82,548People's Party (PP)Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
Fuenlabrada167,458Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getafe143,629Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getxo82,974Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Gijón265,491Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Girona71,858Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Granada241,471People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Guadalajara64,439People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Huelva139,991People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Huesca45,485People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Jaén107,184People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Jerez de la Frontera181,602Andalusian Party (PA)Andalusian Party (PA)
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat248,521Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Las Palmas352,641People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Leganés173,163Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
León139,809People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Lleida112,207Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Logroño125,617People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Lugo86,620People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Madrid2,881,506People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Málaga528,079People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Marbella98,377Liberal Independent Group (GIL)Liberal Independent Group (GIL)
Mataró103,265Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Móstoles195,311Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Murcia349,040People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Ourense107,965People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Oviedo199,549People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Palencia79,745People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Palma319,181People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Pamplona179,145Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN)Navarrese People's Union (UPN)
Pontevedra73,871People's Party (PP)Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
Reus89,034Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Sabadell184,859Initiative for Catalonia (IC)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Salamanca158,457People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
San Cristóbal de La Laguna127,945Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
San Fernando84,014Andalusian Party (PA)Andalusian Party (PA)
San Sebastián178,229Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Sant Boi de Llobregat78,632Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Coloma de Gramenet120,958Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife211,930Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
Santander184,165People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Santiago de Compostela93,584Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Segovia54,012People's Party (PP)Centrist Unity–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS)
Seville701,927People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Soria33,882People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Talavera de la Reina72,208People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Tarragona112,795Convergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
Telde83,733Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
Terrassa165,654Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Teruel29,320People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Toledo66,989People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Torrejón de Ardoz91,186Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Valencia739,412People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Valladolid319,946People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Vigo283,110People's Party (PP)Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
Vitoria-Gasteiz216,527Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)People's Party (PP)
Zamora64,421People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Zaragoza603,367People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)

Provincial deputations

Summary

← Summary of the 13 June 1999 provincial deputations election results →
Parties and coalitionsSeats
Total+/−
People's Party (PP)454 –10
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and allies (PSOEPSC)425 +31
Convergence and Union and allies (CiUCDA–PNA)57 –7
United Left and allies (IUEUiA)133 –28
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)15 +4
Andalusian Party (PA)212 +1
Aragonese Party (PAR)10 –1
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)6 +4
Liberal Independent Group (GIL)5 +2
Initiative for Catalonia–Greens (IC–V)3 –4
Aragonese Union (CHA)3 +3
Leonese People's Union (UPL)3 +1
Valencian Nationalist BlocThe Greens (BNV–EV)2 +2
Valencian Union (UV)1 ±0
Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS)1 +1
Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC)1 +1
Others3 ±0
Total1,034 ±0
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 CoruñaPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
AlbacetePeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
AlicantePeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
AlmeríaPeople's Party (PP)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)
CastellónPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Ciudad RealPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
CórdobaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
CuencaPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
GironaConvergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
GranadaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
GuadalajaraPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
HuelvaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
HuescaPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
JaénSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
LeónPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
LleidaConvergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
LugoPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
MálagaPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
OurensePeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
PalenciaPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
PontevedraPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
SalamancaPeople's Party (PP)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)Aragonese Party (PAR)
ToledoPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
ValenciaPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
ValladolidPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
ZamoraPeople's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
ZaragozaPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)

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. June 1999. National totals . es . infoelectoral.mir.es . Ministry of the Interior . 24 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Municipal elections (overall results 1979-2011) . es . historiaelectoral.com . 24 September 2017.
  8. Web site: Municipal elections (city majors by party) . historiaelectoral.com . Historia Electoral . es . 24 February 2018.