The 2003 Spanish regional elections were held on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect the regional parliaments of thirteen of the seventeen autonomous communities—Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile and León, Castilla–La Mancha, Extremadura, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre and the Valencian Community—, not including Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia, which had separate electoral cycles. 792 of 1,186 seats in the regional parliaments were up for election, as well as the 50 seats in the regional assemblies of Ceuta and Melilla. The elections were held simultaneously with local elections all throughout Spain.
Quick Facts Registered, Turnout ...
2003 Spanish regional elections|
|
|
| Registered | 18,719,976  2.5% |
|---|
| Turnout | 12,856,902 (68.7%)
2.9 pp |
|---|
|
|
 |
Close
Determination of election day varied depending on the autonomous community, with each one having competency to establish its own regulations. Typically, thirteen out of the seventeen autonomous communities—all but Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia—had their elections fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years, to be held together with nationwide local elections.[1][2]
In some cases, regional presidents had the prerogative to dissolve the regional parliament and call for extra elections at a different time, but newly elected assemblies were restricted to serving out what remained of their previous four year-terms without altering the period to their next ordinary election.[3]
Parties campaigned for votes in both these elections and the local elections held at the same time. Some key issues that kept coming up for parties were:
- The Prestige oil spill: This occurred in November 2002 and caused an oil spill affecting the coast of Galicia and parts of Cantabria. Parties reported this was affecting voter habits in the north of the country.
- The National Hydrological Plan (Spanish: Plan Hidrológico Nacional): This was a multi-million-euro water management project causing rifts between governments of communities affected, transferring some of the water from the Ebro to the driest areas of Murcia and Valencia. Whilst both of these regions supported the proposal, Aragon and Catalonia did not.
- Terrorism: In 2003 there had been only three deaths from terrorist attacks in Spain, unusually low. However, political discussions between Madrid and the Basque Government did not cease during the previous Parliament. Certain parties accused the PP of using this to their political advantage.
The following table lists party control in autonomous communities. Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
More information Region, Previous control ...
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More information Parties and alliances, Popular vote ...
← Summary of the 25 May 2003 regional election results[b] in Spain →
| Parties and alliances |
Popular vote |
Seats |
| Votes |
% |
ACm. |
ACt. |
Total |
|
People's Party (PP) |
5,482,311 | 42.98 |
347 | 34 | 381 |
|
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) |
4,833,389 | 37.89 |
312 | 5 | 317 |
|
United Left (IU) |
724,070 | 5.68 |
30 | 0 | 30 |
|
Canarian Coalition (CC) |
304,413 | 2.39 |
23 | 0 | 23 |
|
Navarrese People's Union (UPN) |
127,460 | 1.00 |
23 | 0 | 23 |
|
Aragonese Union (CHA) |
97,763 | 0.77 |
9 | 0 | 9 |
|
Aragonese Party (PAR) |
79,670 | 0.62 |
8 | 0 | 8 |
|
Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) |
66,480 | 0.52 |
8 | 0 | 8 |
|
Leonese People's Union (UPL) |
60,331 | 0.47 |
2 | 0 | 2 |
|
Canarian Nationalist Federation (FNC) |
44,703 | 0.35 |
3 | 0 | 3 |
|
PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) |
33,920 | 0.27 |
4 | 0 | 4 |
|
Majorcan Union (UM) |
31,781 | 0.25 |
3 | 0 | 3 |
|
Aralar (Aralar) |
24,068 | 0.19 |
4 | 0 | 4 |
|
Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) |
23,516 | 0.18 |
4 | 0 | 4 |
|
Basque Solidarity–Basque Nationalist Party (EA–PNV) |
22,824 | 0.18 |
4 | 0 | 4 |
|
Progressive Pact+Coalition of Progressive Organizations (Pacte+COP) |
16,811 | 0.13 |
5 | 0 | 5 |
|
Riojan Party (PR) |
11,842 | 0.09 |
2 | 0 | 2 |
|
Coalition for Melilla (CpM) |
7,392 | 0.06 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
|
Ceutan Democratic Union (UDCE) |
3,589 | 0.03 |
0 | 3 | 3 |
|
Democratic and Social Party of Ceuta (PDSC) |
1,722 | 0.01 |
0 | 1 | 1 |
|
Independent Popular Council of Formentera (AIPF) |
1,647 | 0.01 |
1 | 0 | 1 |
|
Others |
533,750 | 4.18 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank ballots |
222,089 | 1.74 | |
|
| Total |
12,755,541 | |
792 | 50 | 842 |
|
| Valid votes |
12,755,541 | 99.21 | |
| Invalid votes |
101,361 | 0.79 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
12,856,902 | 68.68 |
| Registered voters |
18,719,976 | |
Close
More information Popular vote ...
| Popular vote |
|---|
|
|
|
| PP |
|
42.98% |
| PSOE |
|
37.89% |
| IU |
|
5.68% |
| CC |
|
2.39% |
| UPN |
|
1.00% |
| CHA |
|
0.77% |
| PAR |
|
0.62% |
| PRC |
|
0.52% |
| Others |
|
6.41% |
| Blank ballots |
|
1.74% |
|
Close
Aragon
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PSOE |
270,468 | 37.94 | +7.13 |
27 | +4 |
|
PP |
219,058 | 30.73 | –7.48 |
22 | –6 |
|
CHA |
97,763 | 13.71 | +2.67 |
9 | +4 |
|
PAR |
79,670 | 11.18 | –2.07 |
8 | –2 |
|
IU |
21,795 | 3.06 | –0.80 |
1 | ±0 |
|
Others |
9,216 | 1.29 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
14,874 | 2.09 | +0.01 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
712,844 | 99.36 | +0.07 |
|
| Invalid votes |
4,613 | 0.64 | –0.07 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
717,457 | 70.36 | +5.76 |
| Registered voters |
1,019,644 | |
Close
Asturias
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PSOE |
250,474 | 40.48 | –5.52 |
22 | –2 |
|
PP |
242,396 | 39.18 | +6.87 |
19 | +4 |
|
IU–BA |
68,360 | 11.05 | +2.05 |
4 | +1 |
|
URAS |
17,552 | 2.84 | –4.30 |
0 | –3 |
|
PAS |
11,376 | 1.84 | –0.74 |
0 | ±0 |
|
LV–IVA |
6,561 | 1.06 | +0.52 |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
7,854 | 1.27 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
14,143 | 2.29 | +0.72 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
618,716 | 99.29 | –0.11 |
|
| Invalid votes |
4,433 | 0.71 | +0.11 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
623,149 | 63.84 | +0.22 |
| Registered voters |
976,104 | |
Close
Balearic Islands
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
190,562 | 44.70 | +0.69 |
29 | +1 |
|
PSIB–PSOE |
104,614 | 24.54 | +2.52 |
15 | +2 |
|
PSM–EN |
33,920 | 7.95 | –3.77 |
4 | –1 |
|
UM |
31,781 | 7.45 | +0.14 |
3 | ±0 |
|
EU–EV |
20,797 | 4.88 | –0.55 |
2 | –1 |
|
Pacte+COP |
16,811 | 3.94 | –0.91 |
5 | –2 |
|
ASI |
6,707 | 1.57 | +0.92 |
0 | ±0 |
|
AIPF |
1,647 | 0.39 | +0.07 |
1 | +1 |
|
Others |
12,408 | 2.91 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
7,093 | 1.66 | –0.20 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
426,340 | 99.35 | +0.13 |
|
| Invalid votes |
2,795 | 0.65 | –0.13 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
429,135 | 62.84 | +5.34 |
| Registered voters |
682,857 | |
Close
Canary Islands
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
CC |
304,413 | 32.90 | –4.36 |
23 | –3 |
|
PP |
283,186 | 30.61 | +3.48 |
17 | +2 |
|
PSOE |
235,234 | 25.42 | +1.39 |
17 | –2 |
|
FNC |
44,703 | 4.83 | +0.02 |
3 | +3 |
|
LVC |
18,340 | 1.98 | +0.52 |
0 | ±0 |
|
IUC |
12,128 | 1.31 | –1.43 |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
15,438 | 1.67 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
11,806 | 1.28 | –0.23 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
925,248 | 99.44 | +0.02 |
|
| Invalid votes |
5,201 | 0.56 | –0.02 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
930,449 | 64.62 | +1.88 |
| Registered voters |
1,439,784 | |
Close
Cantabria
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
146,796 | 42.49 | –0.01 |
18 | –1 |
|
PSOE |
103,608 | 29.99 | –3.09 |
13 | –1 |
|
PRC |
66,480 | 19.24 | +5.73 |
8 | +2 |
|
IUC |
12,770 | 3.70 | +0.01 |
0 | ±0 |
|
UCn |
5,515 | 1.60 | New |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
3,147 | 0.91 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
7,202 | 2.08 | –0.35 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
345,518 | 99.18 | –0.03 |
|
| Invalid votes |
2,859 | 0.82 | +0.03 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
348,377 | 73.05 | +4.27 |
| Registered voters |
476,924 | |
Close
Castile and León
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
760,510 | 48.49 | –1.96 |
48 | ±0 |
|
PSOE |
576,769 | 36.77 | +3.71 |
32 | +2 |
|
UPL |
60,331 | 3.85 | +0.15 |
2 | –1 |
|
IUCyL |
54,085 | 3.45 | –1.98 |
0 | –1 |
|
TC–PNC |
18,595 | 1.19 | –0.20 |
0 | –1 |
|
Others |
62,109 | 3.96 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
36,027 | 2.30 | –0.37 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
1,568,426 | 99.14 | +0.09 |
|
| Invalid votes |
13,557 | 0.86 | –0.09 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
1,581,983 | 72.66 | +5.08 |
| Registered voters |
2,177,222 | |
Close
Castilla–La Mancha
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PSOE |
634,132 | 57.83 | +4.41 |
29 | +3 |
|
PP |
402,047 | 36.66 | –3.74 |
18 | –3 |
|
IU–ICAM |
33,413 | 3.05 | –0.36 |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
12,438 | 1.13 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
14,554 | 1.33 | –0.09 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
1,096,584 | 99.32 | ±0.00 |
|
| Invalid votes |
7,534 | 0.68 | ±0.00 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
1,104,118 | 76.24 | +1.39 |
| Registered voters |
1,448,289 | |
Close
Extremadura
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PSOE–p |
341,522 | 51.66 | +2.03 |
36 | +2 |
|
PP |
255,808 | 38.70 | –1.31 |
26 | –2 |
|
IU–SIEx |
41,448 | 6.27 | –0.74 |
3 | ±0 |
|
EU |
12,171 | 1.84 | +0.17 |
0 | ±0 |
|
PH |
1,082 | 0.16 | New |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
9,033 | 1.37 | +0.22 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
661,064 | 99.19 | –0.19 |
|
| Invalid votes |
5,404 | 0.81 | +0.19 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
666,468 | 75.63 | +2.19 |
| Registered voters |
881,228 | |
Close
La Rioja
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
84,533 | 48.60 | –2.66 |
17 | –1 |
|
PSOE |
66,410 | 38.18 | +2.90 |
14 | +1 |
|
PR |
11,842 | 6.81 | +1.05 |
2 | ±0 |
|
IU |
4,729 | 2.72 | –1.19 |
0 | ±0 |
|
LV |
2,858 | 1.64 | +0.38 |
0 | ±0 |
|
MASH |
269 | 0.15 | –0.12 |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
3,308 | 1.90 | –0.36 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
173,949 | 99.17 | +0.04 |
|
| Invalid votes |
1,452 | 0.83 | –0.04 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
175,401 | 75.10 | +6.44 |
| Registered voters |
233,553 | |
Close
Madrid
May
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
1,429,890 | 46.67 | –4.40 |
55 | ±0 |
|
PSOE |
1,225,390 | 39.99 | +3.56 |
47 | +8 |
|
IUCM |
235,428 | 7.68 | –0.01 |
9 | +1 |
|
LV |
42,322 | 1.38 | +0.69 |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
70,108 | 2.29 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
60,942 | 1.99 | –0.11 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
3,064,080 | 99.55 | +0.04 |
|
| Invalid votes |
13,972 | 0.45 | –0.04 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
3,078,052 | 69.27 | +8.39 |
| Registered voters |
4,443,533 | |
Close
October
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
1,346,588 | 48.48 | +1.81 |
57 | +2 |
|
PSOE |
1,083,205 | 39.00 | –0.99 |
45 | –2 |
|
IUCM |
236,013 | 8.50 | +0.82 |
9 | ±0 |
|
Others |
63,383 | 2.28 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
48,433 | 1.74 | –0.25 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
2,777,622 | 99.61 | +0.06 |
|
| Invalid votes |
10,873 | 0.39 | –0.06 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
2,788,495 | 62.58 | –6.69 |
| Registered voters |
4,455,706 | |
Close
Murcia
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
367,710 | 56.66 | +3.82 |
28 | +2 |
|
PSOE |
221,392 | 34.11 | –1.80 |
16 | –2 |
|
IURM |
36,754 | 5.66 | –1.34 |
1 | ±0 |
|
LVRM |
10,208 | 1.57 | +0.64 |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
3,024 | 0.47 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
9,941 | 1.53 | +0.09 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
649,029 | 99.20 | –0.10 |
|
| Invalid votes |
5,224 | 0.80 | +0.10 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
654,253 | 69.98 | +2.32 |
| Registered voters |
934,896 | |
Close
Navarre
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
UPN |
127,460 | 41.48 | +0.11 |
23 | +1 |
|
PSN–PSOE |
65,003 | 21.15 | +0.87 |
11 | ±0 |
|
IUN/NEB |
26,962 | 8.77 | +1.89 |
4 | +1 |
|
Aralar |
24,068 | 7.83 | New |
4 | +4 |
|
CDN |
23,516 | 7.65 | +0.79 |
4 | +1 |
|
EA–PNV |
22,824 | 7.43 | +1.99 |
4 | +1 |
|
Batzarre |
7,873 | 2.56 | New |
0 | ±0 |
|
EH |
n/a | n/a | –15.58 |
0 | –8 |
|
Others |
2,307 | 0.75 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
7,304 | 2.38 | +0.03 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
307,317 | 93.52 | –5.65 |
|
| Invalid votes |
21,292 | 6.48 | +5.65 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
328,609 | 70.70 | +4.45 |
| Registered voters |
464,826 | |
Close
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
1,146,780 | 47.17 | –0.71 |
48 | –1 |
|
PSPV–PSOE |
874,288 | 35.96 | +2.05 |
35 | ±0 |
|
Entesa |
154,494 | 6.35 | +0.30 |
6 | +1 |
|
Bloc–EV |
114,011 | 4.69 | +0.16 |
0 | ±0 |
|
UV |
72,557 | 2.98 | –1.70 |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
31,468 | 1.29 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
37,805 | 1.55 | ±0.00 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
2,431,403 | 99.35 | –0.06 |
|
| Invalid votes |
15,821 | 0.65 | +0.06 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
2,447,224 | 71.49 | +3.68 |
| Registered voters |
3,423,098 | |
Close
Autonomous cities
Ceuta
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP |
20,897 | 62.55 | +34.56 |
19 | +11 |
|
UDCE |
3,589 | 10.74 | New |
3 | +3 |
|
PSOE |
2,905 | 8.70 | +1.26 |
2 | ±0 |
|
PDSC |
1,722 | 5.15 | –4.87 |
1 | –2 |
|
PSPC |
1,402 | 4.20 | –0.20 |
0 | ±0 |
|
PIL |
922 | 2.76 | –35.39 |
0 | –12 |
|
FC |
696 | 2.08 | New |
0 | ±0 |
|
UPCE |
573 | 1.72 | New |
0 | ±0 |
|
Others |
451 | 1.35 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
251 | 0.75 | –0.45 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
33,408 | 99.56 | +0.05 |
|
| Invalid votes |
147 | 0.44 | –0.05 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
33,555 | 59.23 | –2.12 |
| Registered voters |
56,656 | |
Close
Melilla
More information Parties and alliances, Votes ...
| Parties and alliances |
Votes |
% |
±pp |
Seats |
+/− |
|
PP–UPM |
15,440 | 55.00 | +24.89 |
15 | +7 |
|
CpM |
7,392 | 26.33 | +5.89 |
7 | +2 |
|
PSOE |
3,365 | 11.99 | +2.62 |
3 | +1 |
|
PIM |
739 | 2.63 | –7.67 |
0 | –3 |
|
CDS |
417 | 1.49 | New |
0 | ±0 |
|
GIL |
n/a | n/a | –25.93 |
0 | –7 |
|
Others |
405 | 1.44 | |
0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots |
315 | 1.12 | +0.08 |
|
|
| Valid votes |
28,073 | 99.45 | –0.22 |
|
| Invalid votes |
156 | 0.55 | +0.22 |
| Votes cast / turnout |
28,229 | 57.39 | –3.05 |
| Registered voters |
49,189 | |
Close
The Community of Madrid was forced to hold a snap election on 26 October 2003 after the Tamayazo scandal led to no new government being elected as a result of the May election.
2.5%
