2003 Spanish local elections explained

Election Name:2003 Spanish local elections
Country:Spain
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1999 Spanish local elections
Previous Year:1999
Next Election:2007 Spanish local elections
Next Year:2007
Seats For Election:65,510 councillors in 8,108 municipal councils
1,036 seats in 38 provincial deputations
Registered:34,386,462
Turnout:23,270,072 (67.7%)
3.7 pp
Election Date:25 May 2003
Leader1:José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Party1:Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Leader Since1:22 July 2000
Last Election1:21,984 c., 34.4%
Seats1:23,224
Seat Change1:1,240
Popular Vote1:7,999,178
Percentage1:34.8%
Swing1:0.4 pp
Leader2:José María Aznar
Party2:People's Party (Spain)
Leader Since2:4 September 1989
Last Election2:24,623 c., 34.4%
Seats2:23,615
Seat Change2:1,008
Popular Vote2:7,875,762
Percentage2:34.3%
Swing2:0.1 pp
Leader3:Gaspar Llamazares
Party3:IUICV–EA
Colour3:732021
Leader Since3:29 October 2000
Last Election3:2,579 c., 7.6%
Seats3:2,601
Seat Change3:22
Popular Vote3:1,730,732
Percentage3:7.5%
Swing3:0.1 pp
Leader4:Jordi Pujol
Party4:Convergence and Union
Leader Since4:19 September 1978
Last Election4:4,089 seats, 3.6%
Seats4:3,687
Seat Change4:402
Popular Vote4:791,932
Percentage4:3.4%
Swing4:0.2 pp
Leader5:Xabier Arzalluz
Party5:PNV–EA
Leader Since5:18 January 1985
Last Election5:1,206 c., 1.9%
Seats5:1,671
Seat Change5:465
Popular Vote5:514,850
Percentage5:2.2%
Swing5:0.3 pp
Leader6:Jordi Carbonell
Party6:ERC–AM
Colour6:FFB232
Leader Since6:1996
Last Election6:677 seats, 1.1%
Seats6:1,282
Seat Change6:605
Popular Vote6:419,961
Percentage6:1.8%
Swing6:0.7 pp
Map Size:435px

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 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 25 May 2003 municipal election results in Spain →
Parties and coalitionsPopular voteCouncillors
Votes%±ppTotal+/-
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and allies (PSOEPSC)7,999,178 34.83 +0.4323,224 +1,240
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)16,895,327 30.02 +0.7420,944 +996
Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Municipal Progress (PSC–PM)1,103,851 4.81 –0.312,280 +244
People's Party and allies (PPUPNUPM)7,875,762 34.29 –0.1623,615 –1,011
People's Party (PP)27,760,360 33.79 –0.2023,265 –1,026
Navarrese People's Union (UPN)99,962 0.44 +0.01335 +8
People's PartyMelillan People's Union (PP–UPM)315,440 0.07 +0.0315 +7
United Left and allies (IUICV–EA)1,730,732 7.54 –0.052,601 +22
United Left (IU)1,394,871 6.07 –0.182,204 –56
Initiative–Alternative Left–Agreement for Municipal Progress (ICV–EA–EPM)4335,861 1.46 +0.12397 +78
Convergence and Union (CiU)791,932 3.45 –0.183,687 –402
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA)514,850 2.24 +0.311,671 +465
Republican Left of Catalonia–Municipal Agreement (ERC–AM)419,961 1.83 +0.771,282 +605
Andalusian Party (PA)5342,824 1.49 –0.20693 +144
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)325,331 1.42 +0.06595 +9
Canarian Coalition (CC)283,701 1.24 –0.02458 +26
Valencian Nationalist Bloc–Green Left (Bloc–EV)139,307 0.61 +0.08298 +64
The Greens (LV)6119,201 0.52 +0.2119 +5
Aragonese Union (CHA)88,939 0.39 +0.13196 +116
Valencian Union (UV)86,539 0.38 –0.13131 –98
Aragonese Party (PAR)85,857 0.37 –0.04907 –18
Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC)66,592 0.29 +0.06276 +59
Socialist Party of Andalusia (PSA)58,931 0.26 New57 +57
Leonese People's Union (UPL)45,791 0.20 +0.02230 +63
Majorcan Union (UM)36,485 0.16 +0.04103 +35
Canarian Nationalist Federation (FNC)36,205 0.16 +0.0545 +5
Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC)13,951 0.06 +0.0111 +9
Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL)11,721 0.05 +0.0127 –2
Canarian Union–Canarian Nationalist Federation (UC–FNC)8,461 0.04 New2 +2
Independents of Fuerteventura (IF)2,072 0.01 ±0.005 –4
PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN)35,633 0.16 –0.0398 –14
Socialist Party of MajorcaNationalist Agreement (PSM–EN)32,743 0.14 –0.0492 –13
Socialist Party of MenorcaNationalist Agreement (PSM–EN)2,890 0.01 ±0.006 –1
Aralar (Aralar)31,235 0.14 New48 +48
Liberal Independent Group (GIL)26,363 0.11 –0.3020 –73
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)23,428 0.10 –0.2054 –227
Federation of Independents of Catalonia (FIC)23,278 0.10 –0.01104 –76
The Greens of the Community of Madrid (LVCM)21,672 0.09 New2 +2
Independent Group for Almería (GIAL)18,961 0.08 New31 +31
Commoners' Land–Castilian Nationalist Party (TC–PNC)16,411 0.07 –0.0142 –3
Asturian Renewal Union (URAS)15,621 0.07 –0.1029 –54
Progressive Pact (Pacte)15,262 0.07 ±0.0033 –4
Spanish Democratic Party (PADE)14,926 0.06 –0.0534 +2
Independent Candidacy–The Party of Castile and León (CI–PCL)13,977 0.06 +0.0265 +47
Meeting Point for Self-Determination (AuB)7 813,098 0.06 –1.2263 –827
Riojan Party (PR)12,667 0.06 +0.0165 +7
Independent Democratic Centre (CDI)11,381 0.05 New24 +24
United Extremadura (EU)10,489 0.05 +0.0155 +5
Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN)10,440 0.05 –0.0217 –8
Galician Progressive Democracy (DPG)10,373 0.05 –0.032 –34
Portuese Independents (IP)10,301 0.04 –0.0110 ±0
Platform of the Left of Coslada (PIC)10,285 0.04 New6 +6
Citizens for Change Platform (AFV–CIUCA)10,026 0.04 New5 +5
Humanist Party (PH)9,446 0.04 –0.020 ±0
Independents for Ferrol (IF)9,412 0.04 +0.026 +3
Independent Solution (SI)9,274 0.04 New10 +10
Unity for Narón (UN)8,874 0.04 +0.0113 +4
Asturianist Party (PAS)8,823 0.04 –0.043 –9
Assembly (Batzarre)8,449 0.04 New15 +15
Cantabrian Unity (UCn)8,226 0.04 New15 +15
Others1,096,620 4.77 4,573 +28
Blank ballots404,448 1.76 –0.19
Total22,967,517 100.00 65,510 +309
Valid votes22,967,517 98.70 –0.39
Invalid votes302,555 1.30 +0.39
Votes cast / turnout23,270,072 67.67 +3.68
Abstentions11,116,390 32.33 –3.68
Registered voters34,386,462
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.

MunicipalityPopulationPrevious controlNew control
A Coruña242,458Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Albacete152,155Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcalá de Henares179,602Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Alcobendas95,104Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alcorcón149,594People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Algeciras106,710Andalusian Party (PA)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Alicante293,629People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Almería173,338Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Ávila50,241People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Avilés83,511Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Badajoz136,851People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Badalona210,370Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Barakaldo95,515Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Barcelona1,527,190Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Bilbao353,950Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Burgos167,962Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Cáceres84,439People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Cádiz136,236People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Cartagena188,003People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Castellón de la Plana153,225People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Ciudad Real65,084People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Córdoba314,805United Left (IU)United Left (IU)
Cornellà de Llobregat81,881Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Coslada79,862Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Cuenca46,859Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Dos Hermanas103,282Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
El Puerto de Santa María77,747Portuese Independents (IP)Portuese Independents (IP)
Elche201,731Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Ferrol79,520Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)People's Party (PP)
Fuenlabrada179,735Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getafe153,868Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Getxo84,024Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA)
Gijón270,211Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Girona77,475Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Granada240,522Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Guadalajara69,098People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Huelva140,862People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Huesca46,462Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Jaén112,921People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Jerez de la Frontera187,087Andalusian Party (PA)People's Party (PP)
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat244,323Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Las Palmas370,649People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Leganés174,436Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
León135,794People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Lleida115,000Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Logroño136,841People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Lorca79,481Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Lugo89,509Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Madrid3,016,788People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Málaga535,686People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Marbella115,871Liberal Independent Group (GIL)Liberal Independent Group (GIL)
Mataró109,298Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Móstoles198,819Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Murcia377,888People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Ourense109,011People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Oviedo202,938People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Palencia80,801Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Palma358,462People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Pamplona189,364Navarrese People's Union (UPN)Navarrese People's Union (UPN)
Parla80,545Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Pontevedra76,798Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)
Reus91,616Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Sabadell187,201Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Salamanca156,006People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
San Cristóbal de La Laguna135,004Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
San Fernando88,333Andalusian Party (PA)Andalusian Party (PA)
San Sebastián181,700Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Sant Boi de Llobregat80,041Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Coloma de Gramenet115,568Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife217,415Canarian Coalition (CC)Canarian Coalition (CC)
Santander184,661People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Santiago de Compostela93,273Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Segovia54,945Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Seville704,114Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Soria35,112Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)People's Party (PP)
Talavera de la Reina77,519Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Tarragona117,184Convergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
Telde91,160Canarian Coalition (CC)People's Party (PP)
Terrassa179,300Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE)
Teruel31,506People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Toledo70,893People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Torrejón de Ardoz101,056Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Torrevieja69,763People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Valencia761,871People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Valladolid318,576People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Vigo288,324Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
Vitoria-Gasteiz221,270People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Zamora65,575People's Party (PP)People's Party (PP)
Zaragoza620,419People's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)

Provincial deputations

Summary

← Summary of the 25 May 2003 provincial deputations election results →
Parties and coalitionsSeats
Total+/−
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and allies (PSOEPSC)459 +34
People's Party (PP)429 –25
Convergence and Union (CiU)50 –7
United Left and allies (IUICV–EA)139 +3
Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG)15 ±0
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)13 +7
Aragonese Party (PAR)9 –1
Andalusian Party (PA)7 –5
Aragonese Union (CHA)4 +1
Socialist Party of Andalusia (PSA)2 +2
Leonese People's Union (UPL)2 –1
Valencian Nationalist Bloc–Green Left (Bloc–EV)1 –1
Valencian Union (UV)1 ±0
Liberal Independent Group (GIL)1 –4
Independent Solution (SI)1 +1
Others3 –2
Total1,036 +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 CoruñaPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
AlbaceteSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)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 RealSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
CórdobaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
CuencaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
GironaConvergence and Union (CiU)Convergence and Union (CiU)
GranadaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
GuadalajaraSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
HuelvaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
HuescaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)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)
MálagaSpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)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)
TeruelAragonese Party (PAR)Aragonese Party (PAR)
ToledoPeople's Party (PP)Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)
ValenciaPeople's Party (PP)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)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. May 2003. 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.