2006 Catalan regional election

The 2006 Catalan regional election was held on Wednesday, 1 November 2006, to elect the 8th Parliament of the autonomous community of Catalonia. All 135 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

2006 Catalan regional election

← 2003 1 November 2006 2010 →
All 135 seats in the Parliament of Catalonia 68 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	5,321,274 0.3%
Turnout	2,982,108 (56.0%) 6.5 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Artur Mas José Montilla Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira Party CiU PSC–CpC ERC Leader since 7 January 2002 15 July 2006 25 November 1996 Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona Last election 46 seats, 30.9% 42 seats, 31.2% 23 seats, 16.4% Seats won 48 37 21 Seat change 2 5 2 Popular vote 935,756 796,173 416,355 Percentage 31.5% 26.8% 14.0% Swing 0.6 pp 4.4 pp 2.4 pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Josep Piqué Joan Saura Albert Rivera Party PP ICV–EUiA C's Leader since 4 September 2003 26 November 2000 9 July 2006 Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona Last election 15 seats, 11.9% 9 seats, 7.3% Did not contest Seats won 14 12 3 Seat change 1 3 3 Popular vote 316,222 282,693 89,840 Percentage 10.7% 9.5% 3.0% Swing 1.2 pp 2.2 pp New party
Vote winner strength by constituency Election results by constituency
President before election Pasqual Maragall PSC Elected President José Montilla PSC

This was a snap election, called roughly one year before the scheduled end of the legislature as a result of the uneasy and controversial drafting of the 2006 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, which further expanded the authority of the Catalan Government. The statutory amendment had been ratified in a referendum on 18 June 2006 after being approved in the Cortes Generales, with roughly 74% of voters in favour of the new Statute and 21% against. The referendum was noted for its low turnout, as only 48.9% of all registered voters had cast a vote.^[1][2]

Since the 2003 election a left-of-centre coalition of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and Alternative Left (ICV–EUiA) had been in power, with Pasqual Maragall as Catalan president. In May 2006, ERC had left the coalition after internal tensions due to its disagreement on the final draft of the Statute of Autonomy approved by the Spanish parliament, thus leaving Maragall without a majority and precipitating the early election call. On 21 June 2006 Maragall announced his will not to seek re-election, arguably due to the political erosion his government had suffered after their uneasy relationship with ERC, as well as his political differences with Spanish Prime Minister and PSOE Secretary-General José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.^[3]

Unlike the previous elections in 1999 and 2003, when Convergence and Union (CiU) had achieved a plurality of seats in the autonomous Parliament despite narrowly losing it out in the popular vote to the PSC, in the 2006 election CiU emerged as the most popular party both in votes and seats, but fell far short of an absolute majority. After coalition negotiations, the PSC, ERC and ICV–EUiA agreed to renew the three-party coalition that had been in power in the 2003–2006 period, this time under the leadership of the new PSC leader, José Montilla. The election also saw a new party, Citizens (C's) entering the autonomous parliament, resulting in six political parties achieving parliamentary representation in the Catalan parliament for the first time since 1988.

Overview

Electoral system

The Parliament of Catalonia was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Catalonia, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Catalan Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a regional president.^[4] As a result of no regional electoral law having been approved since the re-establishment of Catalan autonomy, the electoral procedure came regulated under Transitory Provision Fourth of the 1979 Statute, supplemented by the provisions within the national electoral law.^[a] Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in Catalonia and in full enjoyment of their political rights.

The 135 members of the Parliament of Catalonia 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 Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, with each being allocated a fixed number of seats:^[4][5]

Seats	Constituencies
85	Barcelona
18	Tarragona
17	Girona
15	Lleida

In smaller constituencies, the use of the electoral method resulted in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies.^[6]

Election date

The term of the Parliament of Catalonia expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The regional president was required to call an election fifteen days prior to the date of expiry of parliament, with election day taking place within from forty to sixty days after the call. The previous election was held on 16 November 2003, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 16 November 2007. The election was required to be called no later than 1 November 2007, with it taking place up to the sixtieth day from the call, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Monday, 31 December 2007.^[4]

The president had the prerogative to dissolve the Parliament of Catalonia and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process and that dissolution did not occur before one year had elapsed since a previous one under this procedure. 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.^[4]

Parliamentary composition

The Parliament of Catalonia was officially dissolved on 8 September 2006, after the publication of the dissolution decree in the Official Journal of the Government of Catalonia.^[7] The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the chamber at the time of dissolution.^[8][9][10]

Parliamentary composition in September 2006^[11]

Groups		Parties		Legislators
				Seats	Total
	Convergence and Union's Parliamentary Group		CDC	33	46
			UDC	13
	Socialists–Citizens for Change Parliamentary Group		PSC	32	42
			CpC	10
	Republican Left of Catalonia's Parliamentary Group		ERC	23	23
	People's Party of Catalonia's Parliamentary Group		PP	15	15
	Initiative for Catalonia Greens–Alternative Left's Parliamentary Group		ICV	8	9
			EUiA	1

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.^[12]

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

Candidacy		Parties and alliances	Leading candidate		Ideology	Previous result		Gov.	Ref.
						Votes (%)	Seats
	CiU	List Convergence and Union (CiU) – Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) – Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC)		Artur Mas	Catalan nationalism Centrism	30.94%	46	N	[13]
	PSC–CpC	List Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE) Citizens for Change (CpC)		José Montilla	Social democracy	31.16%	42	Y	[14]
	ERC	List Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)		Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira	Catalan independence Left-wing nationalism Social democracy	16.44%	23	N	[15] [16]
	PP	List People's Party (PP)		Josep Piqué	Conservatism Christian democracy	11.89%	15	N	[17]
	ICV–EUiA	List Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) United and Alternative Left (EUiA)		Joan Saura	Regionalism Eco-socialism Green politics	7.28%	9	Y
	C's	List Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)		Albert Rivera	Social liberalism	New party		N	[18]

Opinion polls

The tables below list opinion polling results 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.

Graphical summary

Local regression trend line of poll results from 16 November 2003 to 1 November 2006, with each line corresponding to a political party.

Voting intention estimates

The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 68 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of Catalonia.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout							Lead
2006 regional election	1 Nov 2006	—	56.0	26.8 37	31.5 48	14.0 21	10.7 14	9.5 12	3.0 3	4.7
Ipsos–Eco/CCRTV[p 1][p 2]	1 Nov 2006	30,000	57.7	26.7 37/40	31.5 45/48	15.2 21/24	10.0 13/15	9.0 10/12	2.7 0/2	4.8
CiU[p 3]	1 Nov 2006	?	?	? 37/39	? 46/48	? 23/24	? 11/12	? 12/13	? 0/3	?
TNS Demoscopia/ADN[p 4]	25 Oct 2006	?	?	? 39/40	? 48/49	? 20/21	? 14/15	? 12	–	?
Opina/Cadena SER[p 5][p 6]	23–24 Oct 2006	1,200	?	30.0 42/43	30.5 43/47	13.0 19/22	10.0 13/14	10.0 13/14	–	0.5
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 7]	19–23 Oct 2006	1,000	?	28.4 38/40	34.0 50/52	12.5 17/19	10.2 13	10.9 13/15	–	5.6
Infortécnica[p 8]	22 Oct 2006	2,000	?	? 39/40	? 56/58	? 16/17	? 13/14	? 8/10	–	?
Opina/El País[p 8][p 9]	22 Oct 2006	1,500	?	30.0 42/43	30.0 45	13.0 20	10.5 14	10.5 13/14	–	Tie
GESOP/El Periódico[p 10]	19–21 Oct 2006	1,000	?	29.0 39/41	32.0 47/49	13.2 19/20	11.3 14/15	10.5 12/13	–	3.0
Feedback/RAC 1[p 11]	18–20 Oct 2006	1,000	52.7	25.9 35/37	35.5 52/54	14.9 20/21	11.9 14/15	9.8 10/13	–	9.6
Iberconsulta/La Razón[p 8][p 12]	17–19 Oct 2006	1,200	61.6	29.9 40/41	33.5 47/49	14.8 20/22	12.1 14/15	8.4 10/11	–	5.6
Opina/Cadena SER[p 8][p 13][p 14]	16 Oct 2006	1,000	?	31.5 43	29.3 43	15.5 23/24	10.7 13/14	9.0 12	–	2.2
DEP/Actual[p 8][p 15]	5–16 Oct 2006	1,237	?	29.3 38/39	31.8 49/50	14.6 20/21	12.1 15	8.7 10/11	–	2.5
CIS[p 16][p 17][p 18]	2–15 Oct 2006	1,986	?	27.8 39	33.7 50/52	14.8 21	10.2 13/14	8.9 10/11	–	5.9
Feedback/RAC 1[p 19]	10–13 Oct 2006	1,000	54.4	27.4 37	35.9 53/54	15.0 20	10.1 13/14	9.1 11	–	8.5
Celeste-Tel/Terra[p 20]	10 Oct 2006	?	61.9	30.5 41/42	34.0 47/49	13.8 19/20	11.6 15	8.1 11	–	3.5
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 21][p 22]	6–9 Oct 2006	800	?	30.5 42/43	32.8 49/52	13.7 19/21	11.0 14/15	6.9 8	2.3 0	2.3
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 23]	5–9 Oct 2006	1,000	?	29.0 38/40	35.5 52/54	12.1 16/18	10.5 13	10.4 12/13	–	6.5
GESOP/El Periódico[p 24]	5–7 Oct 2006	1,000	?	29.9 40/41	34.9 52/53	12.4 18/19	10.1 12/13	9.1 10/11	–	5.0
Feedback/RAC 1[p 25][p 26]	3–6 Oct 2006	1,000	55.7	27.0 37	35.4 52	15.0 20/21	10.4 13/14	9.5 12/13	–	8.4
TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[p 27]	2–3 Oct 2006	1,200	59.2	29.1 40/41	32.1 47/48	14.9 20/22	11.6 14/15	8.8 10/12	–	3.0
Feedback/RAC 1[p 28][p 29]	2 Oct 2006	?	?	27.8 38	35.9 52	14.7 20	9.6 12	9.6 13	–	8.1
Feedback/RAC 1[p 30]	20–22 Sep 2006	1,000	53.9	27.7 37	36.4 53	14.6 20	9.5 12	9.6 13	–	8.7
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 31]	18–21 Sep 2006	1,000	?	29.3 40	33.4 50/51	13.8 19/20	10.4 13	9.5 12	–	4.1
GESOP/El Periódico[p 32]	14–16 Sep 2006	800	?	29.5 40/41	34.5 51/52	13.3 19/20	10.5 13/14	9.0 10/11	–	5.0
Feedback/RAC 1[p 33]	12–15 Sep 2006	1,000	54.1	27.6 37	36.6 53	14.8 21	9.3 12	9.5 12	–	9.0
Feedback/RAC 1[p 34]	13 Sep 2006	?	?	27.7 37	36.4 52	14.8 21	9.2 12	9.6 13	–	8.7
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 35]	17–19 Jul 2006	800	?	32.4 44	34.2 51	12.3 17	10.2 13	8.3 10	–	1.8
Opina/El País[p 36][p 37]	7–8 Jun 2006	1,000	?	33.5 46	30.5 45	15.0 22	10.5 12	7.5 10	–	3.0
GESOP/El Periódico[p 38]	6–7 Jun 2006	600	?	31.0	35.0	13.0	10.5	7.0	–	4.0
Opina/Cadena SER[p 39][p 40]	30 May 2006	1,000	?	33.8 48	31.2 46	13.1 20	9.8 12	8.9 9	–	2.6
GESOP/El Periódico[p 41]	15–16 May 2006	600	?	32.0	32.0	15.0	10.0	8.0	–	Tie
GESOP/El Periódico[p 42]	17–19 Apr 2006	800	?	31.0 42	32.0 48/49	16.0 22/23	10.3 13	7.4 8/9	–	1.0
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 43]	27–30 Mar 2006	850	?	35.0 47/48	31.1 45/46	16.5 22/23	8.4 10/11	6.6 8/9	–	3.9
GESOP/El Periódico[p 44]	2–4 Feb 2006	800	?	30.7	31.5	14.8	12.9	7.5	–	0.8
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 45]	12–15 Dec 2005	850	?	31.7 42/44	32.8 47/48	16.3 23/24	9.6 11/13	8.9 10	–	1.1
CiU[p 46]	3 Dec 2005	?	?	? 40	? 48	? 22	? 15	? 10	–	?
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 47]	7–11 Nov 2005	400	?	33.2 46	27.3 39/40	16.7 23/24	13.7 17/18	7.1 8/9	–	5.9
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 48]	3–6 Oct 2005	1,000	?	32.5 44	29.2 43	16.0 23	12.7 15	8.9 10	–	3.3
GESOP/El Periódico[p 49]	3–5 Oct 2005	800	?	32.0	32.0	15.3	10.8	7.5	–	Tie
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 50]	18–21 Jul 2005	1,000	?	33.5 46	28.9 41	16.3 22	12.9 18	7.2 8	–	4.6
GESOP/El Periódico[p 51]	30 Jun–3 Jul 2005	800	?	31.5	31.5	15.5	11.3	7.5	–	Tie
GESOP/El Periódico[p 52]	20–22 Apr 2005	805	?	30.3	30.3	16.2	12.6	7.8	–	Tie
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 53]	7–10 Mar 2005	850	?	34.2 45/47	29.2 43/44	15.0 21/22	10.8 14	9.3 10/11	–	5.0
GESOP/El Periódico[p 54]	16–18 Jan 2005	800	?	34.7	31.6	13.9	10.4	7.0	–	3.1
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 55]	10–12 Nov 2004	850	?	32.4 44	28.9 43	16.8 23	10.8 14	9.6 11	–	3.5
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 56]	28–29 Sep 2004	802	?	33.5	30.7	15.2	11.5	6.7	–	2.8
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 57]	30 Jun–1 Jul 2004	800	?	34.0	30.5	15.7	9.8	7.5	–	3.5
2004 EP election	13 Jun 2004	—	39.8	42.9 (60)	17.4 (25)	11.8 (17)	17.8 (24)	7.2 (9)	–	25.1
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 58]	14–15 Apr 2004	801	?	33.0	32.0	16.4	9.9	6.1	–	1.0
2004 general election	14 Mar 2004	—	76.0	39.5 (55)	20.8 (31)	15.9 (23)	15.6 (21)	5.8 (5)	–	18.7
2003 regional election	16 Nov 2003	—	62.5	31.2 42	30.9 46	16.4 23	11.9 15	7.3 9	–	0.3

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size						?	N	Lead
2006 regional election	1 Nov 2006	—	15.2	17.8	7.9	6.0	5.4	—	43.2	2.6
GESOP/El Periódico[p 10]	19–21 Oct 2006	1,000	24.7	23.6	11.4	4.1	8.2	17.7	4.4	1.1
CIS[p 16]	2–15 Oct 2006	1,986	21.9	21.6	11.4	4.6	5.0	18.0	12.6	0.3
GESOP/El Periódico[p 24]	5–7 Oct 2006	1,000	25.0	26.5	11.9	4.1	7.2	15.3	4.7	1.5
GESOP/El Periódico[p 32]	14–16 Sep 2006	800	27.8	25.3	12.4	4.6	7.3	22.7		2.5
GESOP/El Periódico[p 38]	6–7 Jun 2006	600	27.2	21.0	11.8	4.5	5.8	28.6		6.2
GESOP/El Periódico[p 41]	15–16 May 2006	600	31.0	21.8	12.2	5.5	7.2	21.9		9.2
GESOP/El Periódico[p 42]	17–19 Apr 2006	800	28.6	25.5	15.5	4.9	6.1	18.6		3.1
GESOP/El Periódico[p 44]	2–4 Feb 2006	800	28.8	23.9	13.5	7.4	6.0	20.3		4.9
GESOP/El Periódico[p 49]	3–5 Oct 2005	800	31.5	22.3	15.0	6.1	5.7	19.2		9.2
GESOP/El Periódico[p 51]	30 Jun–3 Jul 2005	800	29.3	21.8	15.8	6.4	5.9	20.4		7.5
GESOP/El Periódico[p 52]	20–22 Apr 2005	805	29.2	22.0	15.5	7.2	6.8	13.9	7.0	7.2
GESOP/El Periódico[p 54]	16–18 Jan 2005	800	34.4	20.3	11.9	6.1	6.8	13.3	6.1	14.1
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 56]	28–29 Sep 2004	802	34.7	18.6	14.1	7.5	6.1	10.8	6.1	16.1
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 57]	30 Jun–1 Jul 2004	800	35.5	17.0	14.0	4.8	6.0	11.2	4.9	18.5
2004 EP election	13 Jun 2004	—	17.2	7.0	4.7	7.2	2.9	—	59.7	10.0
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 58]	14–15 Apr 2004	801	32.1	24.5	15.5	4.7	6.0	11.2	4.9	7.6
2004 general election	14 Mar 2004	—	30.3	15.9	12.2	11.9	4.5	—	23.0	14.4
2003 regional election	16 Nov 2003	—	19.7	19.6	10.4	7.5	4.6	—	36.6	0.1

Victory preferences

The table below lists opinion polling on the victory preferences for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size						Other/ None	?	Lead
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	23–24 Oct 2006	1,200	28.3	26.6	11.2	6.0	6.2	6.7	15.0	1.7
Opina/El País[p 59]	22 Oct 2006	1,500	29.6	30.1	–	–	–	40.3		0.5
CIS[p 16]	2–15 Oct 2006	1,986	27.6	27.1	13.2	4.5	6.2	1.3	20.1	0.5
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	11 Oct 2006	?	28.4	30.7	11.5	4.8	6.3	7.2	11.3	2.3
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 60]	5–9 Oct 2006	1,000	29.0	33.0	11.0	6.0	8.0	13.0		4.0
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 61]	18–21 Sep 2006	1,000	34.0	27.0	13.0	6.0	7.0	13.0		7.0
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 61]	17–19 Jul 2006	800	41.0	27.0	12.0	6.0	6.0	8.0		14.0
Opina/El País[p 37]	7–8 Jun 2006	1,000	32.8	25.2	10.8	5.2	4.7	1.9	19.5	7.6
Opina/Cadena SER[p 40]	30 May 2006	1,000	29.3	26.2	9.6	7.1	4.9	1.2	21.7	3.1

Victory likelihood

The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size						Other/ None	?	Lead
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	23–24 Oct 2006	1,200	23.5	51.4	1.8	0.7	0.1	–	22.6	11.5
CIS[p 16]	2–15 Oct 2006	1,986	30.1	41.6	1.6	0.9	0.2	0.1	25.5	11.5
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	11 Oct 2006	?	26.6	48.8	2.7	1.5	0.4	–	20.1	22.2
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 60]	5–9 Oct 2006	1,000	32.0	46.0	2.0	2.0	–	18.0		14.0
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 61]	18–21 Sep 2006	1,000	35.0	38.0	1.0	3.0	–	23.0		3.0
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 61]	17–19 Jul 2006	800	41.0	37.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	18.0		4.0
Opina/El País[p 37]	7–8 Jun 2006	1,000	36.6	33.2	2.0	1.5	1.5	0.4	24.7	3.4
Opina/Cadena SER[p 40]	30 May 2006	1,000	30.6	35.9	2.1	3.3	0.3	0.3	27.7	5.3

Preferred President

The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become president of the Government of Catalonia.

All candidates

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size							Other/ None/ Not care	?	Lead
			Maragall PSC	Montilla PSC	Mas CiU	Carod ERC	Piqué PP	Saura ICV–EUiA
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	23–24 Oct 2006	1,200	–	27.2	27.4	10.8	5.9	5.2	8.5	15.0	0.2
Opina/El País[p 59]	22 Oct 2006	1,500	–	28.6	30.8	–	–	–	40.6		2.2
GESOP/El Periódico[p 62]	19–21 Oct 2006	1,000	–	23.8	25.1	9.1	0.9	5.6	10.1	25.4	1.3
Opina/Cadena SER[p 13][p 14]	16 Oct 2006	1,000	–	26.9	31.2	–	–	–	41.9		4.3
CIS[p 16]	2–15 Oct 2006	1,986	–	20.2	28.3	12.5	4.9	6.8	5.5	21.7	8.1
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	11 Oct 2006	?	–	26.9	31.2	9.0	5.3	4.6	9.0	14.0	4.3
Celeste-Tel/Terra[p 20]	10 Oct 2006	?	–	26.7	27.5	8.2	7.2	3.4	27.0		0.8
GESOP/El Periódico[p 63]	5–7 Oct 2006	1,000	–	22.6	29.7	8.4	0.4	5.6	12.8	20.5	7.1
GESOP/El Periódico[p 63]	14–16 Sep 2006	800	–	19.9	29.6	8.9	1.3	6.3	10.4	23.6	9.7
GESOP/El Periódico[p 64]	15–16 May 2006	600	31.7	–	24.8	10.5	6.2	6.2	20.6		6.9
GESOP/El Periódico[p 64]	17–19 Apr 2006	800	29.8	–	25.6	12.8	7.8	7.5	16.5		4.2
GESOP/El Periódico[p 65]	2–4 Feb 2006	800	32.4	–	27.1	10.1	7.3	6.0	17.1		5.3
GESOP/El Periódico[p 65]	3–5 Oct 2005	800	35.0	–	24.2	12.4	7.0	6.6	14.8		10.8
GESOP/El Periódico[p 66]	30 Jun–3 Jul 2005	800	32.3	–	22.5	10.9	7.8	8.5	18.0		9.8
GESOP/El Periódico[p 67]	20–22 Apr 2005	805	32.8	–	20.4	14.5	7.6	6.7	18.0		12.4
GESOP/El Periódico[p 68]	16–18 Jan 2005	800	41.5	–	19.6	10.8	7.4	6.6	8.5	5.8	21.9
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 69]	28–29 Sep 2004	802	39.0	–	19.8	14.0	7.5	6.2	12.4	1.0	19.2
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 70]	30 Jun–1 Jul 2004	800	39.8	–	15.9	13.0	6.3	5.5	17.2	2.5	23.9
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 70]	14–15 Apr 2004	801	40.2	–	20.7	13.6	6.2	4.2	15.1		19.5

Montilla vs. Mas

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size			Other/ None/ Not care	?	Lead
			Montilla PSC	Mas CiU
GESOP/El Periódico[p 62]	19–21 Oct 2006	1,000	37.6	44.1	18.3		6.5
Feedback/RAC 1[p 11]	18–20 Oct 2006	1,000	33.5	46.3	13.4	6.8	12.8
Feedback/RAC 1[p 19]	10–13 Oct 2006	1,000	36.0	45.6	11.6	6.8	9.6
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 60]	5–9 Oct 2006	1,000	34.0	50.0	10.0	6.0	16.0
GESOP/El Periódico[p 62]	5–7 Oct 2006	1,000	36.1	45.6	18.3		9.5
Feedback/RAC 1[p 25]	3–6 Oct 2006	1,000	38.8	44.7	9.9	6.5	5.9
Feedback/RAC 1[p 30]	20–22 Sep 2006	1,000	35.7	44.9	10.5	8.8	9.2
GESOP/El Periódico[p 71]	14–16 Sep 2006	800	33.6	48.3	18.1		14.7
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 61]	18–21 Sep 2006	1,000	36.0	43.0	12.0	9.0	7.0
Feedback/RAC 1[p 33]	12–15 Sep 2006	1,000	33.6	47.7	10.9	7.8	14.1
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 72]	17–19 Jul 2006	800	36.0	39.0	16.0	9.0	3.0

Maragall vs. Mas

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size			Other/ None/ Not care	?	Lead
			Maragall PSC	Mas CiU
GESOP/El Periódico[p 65]	2–4 Feb 2006	800	49.9	39.1	11.0		10.8
GESOP/El Periódico[p 65]	3–5 Oct 2005	800	53.8	34.5	11.7		19.3
GESOP/El Periódico[p 66]	30 Jun–3 Jul 2005	800	52.9	35.4	11.7		17.5
GESOP/El Periódico[p 67]	20–22 Apr 2005	805	53.5	33.0	13.5		20.5
GESOP/El Periódico[p 68]	16–18 Jan 2005	800	59.4	31.1	9.5		28.3
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 69]	28–29 Sep 2004	802	59.6	28.7	11.7		30.9
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 70]	30 Jun–1 Jul 2004	800	59.9	26.4	13.7		33.5
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 70]	14–15 Apr 2004	801	58.3	32.0	9.7		26.3
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 70]	Jan 2004	?	52.7	34.2	13.1		18.5

Predicted President

The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood for each leader to become president of the Government of Catalonia.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size						Other/ None/ Not care	?	Lead
			Montilla PSC	Mas CiU	Carod ERC	Piqué PP	Saura ICV–EUiA
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	23–24 Oct 2006	1,200	21.6	49.4	0.7	1.0	0.0	2.1	25.0	27.8
Opina/El País[p 59]	22 Oct 2006	1,500	23.7	48.9	–	–	–	27.4		25.2
Opina/Cadena SER[p 13][p 14]	16 Oct 2006	1,000	23.3	48.8	–	–	–	27.9		25.5
Opina/Cadena SER[p 6]	11 Oct 2006	?	23.3	48.5	1.6	1.0	0.4	3.2	22.1	25.2
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 72]	17–19 Jul 2006	800	35.0	53.0	–	–	–	1.0	11.0	18.0

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 1 November 2006 Parliament of Catalonia election results →

Parties and alliances		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Convergence and Union (CiU)	935,756	31.52	+0.58	48	+2
	Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Citizens for Change (PSC–CpC)	796,173	26.82	–4.34	37	–5
	Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)	416,355	14.03	–2.41	21	–2
	People's Party (PP)	316,222	10.65	–1.24	14	–1
	Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and Alternative Left (ICV–EUiA)	282,693	9.52	+2.24	12	+3
	Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)	89,840	3.03	New	3	+3
	The Greens–Ecologists and Greens of Catalonia (EV–EVC)	17,900	0.60	+0.04	0	±0
	Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA)	13,730	0.46	New	0	±0
	Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats (Ei–ADD)	6,922	0.23	+0.16	0	±0
	Catalan Republican Party (RC)	6,024	0.20	New	0	±0
	Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)	5,632	0.19	+0.06	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Catalan People (PCPC)	4,798	0.16	+0.08	0	±0
	The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV)	3,228	0.11	+0.05	0	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFiV)	2,776	0.09	New	0	±0
	Forward Catalonia Platform (AES–DN)	2,735	0.09	New	0	±0
	Humanist Party of Catalonia (PHC)	2,608	0.09	+0.04	0	±0
	Republican Social Movement (MSR)	1,096	0.04	+0.02	0	±0
	Carmel/Blue Party (PAzul)	1,039	0.04	New	0	±0
	For a Fairer World (PUM+J)	945	0.03	New	0	±0
	Catalonia Decides (Decideix.cat)	668	0.02	New	0	±0
	Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB)	626	0.02	+0.01	0	±0
	Republican Left–Left Republican Party (IR–PRE)	524	0.02	–0.03	0	±0
Blank ballots		60,244	2.03	+1.12
Total		2,968,534			135	±0
Valid votes		2,968,534	99.54	–0.20
Invalid votes		13,574	0.46	+0.20
Votes cast / turnout		2,982,108	56.04	–6.50
Abstentions		2,339,166	43.96	+6.50
Registered voters		5,321,274
Sources[8][19][20]

Popular vote CiU   31.52% PSC–CpC   26.82% ERC   14.03% PP   10.65% ICV–EUiA   9.52% C's   3.03% Others   2.40% Blank ballots   2.03%

Seats CiU   35.56% PSC–CpC   27.41% ERC   15.56% PP   10.37% ICV–EUiA   8.89% C's   2.22%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency	CiU		PSC–CpC		ERC		PP		ICV–EUiA		C's
	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S
Barcelona	29.9	27	27.9	25	12.6	11	11.2	10	10.4	9	3.5	3
Girona	38.2	7	22.1	4	19.2	4	7.2	1	7.6	1	0.9	−
Lleida	40.0	7	22.0	3	17.7	3	9.1	1	6.6	1	1.0	−
Tarragona	32.4	7	26.0	5	17.6	3	11.0	2	6.5	1	2.4	−
Total	31.5	48	26.8	37	14.0	21	10.7	14	9.5	12	3.0	3
Sources[8][20]

Aftermath

Investiture José Montilla (PSC)
Ballot →		24 November 2006
Required majority →		68 out of 135 Y
	Yes • PSC–CpC (37) • ERC (21) • ICV–EUiA (12)	70 / 135
	No • CiU (48) • PP (14) • C's (3)	65 / 135
	Abstentions	0 / 135
	Absentees	0 / 135
Sources[8]

Notes

1. Transitory Provision Second of the 2006 Statute maintained the validity of the electoral regulations within the 1979 Statute, of application for as long as a specific law regulating the procedures for elections to the Parliament of Catalonia was not approved.

References

Opinion poll sources

1. "Elecciones catalanas". Escolar.net (in Spanish). 1 November 2006.
2. "Los sondeos: Acertaron pero se quedaron cortos con Ciutadans". Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 1 November 2006.
3. "Cataluña protesta y el tripartito aguanta". Periodistas 21 (in Spanish). 1 November 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
4. "Porra Eleccions al Parlament de Catalunya 2006". VilaWeb (in Catalan). 6 September 2006.
5. "CiU y PSC empatan en voto decidido, aunque Mas toma ventaja en número de escaños". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 26 October 2006.
6. "Pulsómetro de la Cadena SER. Instituto Opina 26/10/2006" (PDF). Cadena SER (in Spanish). 26 October 2006.
7. "CiU mantiene una ventaja de casi seis puntos y hasta 14 escaños sobre el PSC". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 26 October 2006.
8. "Sondejos". Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
9. "CiU saca una mínima ventaja al PSC". El País (in Spanish). 22 October 2006.
10. "CiU y PSC se acercan al empate gracias a la recuperación de los pequeños". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 24 October 2006.
11. "RACÒMETRE (23 d'Octubre 06)" (PDF). RAC 1 (in Catalan). 23 October 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2006.
12. "El 1-N dejará el Gobierno de la Generalitat pendiente de nuevos pactos postelectorales". La Razón (in Spanish). 22 October 2006. Archived from the original on 4 November 2006.
13. "Montilla y Mas comienzan empatados la campaña para las elecciones en Cataluña". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 16 October 2006.
14. "Empate de CiU y PSC en número de diputados, según el 'Pulsómetro'". El País (in Spanish). 17 October 2006.
15. "Estimació de vot en les properes eleccions al Parlament de Catalunya". Actual (in Catalan). 19 October 2006. Archived from the original on 20 March 2007.
16. "Preelectoral de Cataluña. Elecciones autonómicas, 2006 (Estudio nº 2656. Octubre 2006)". CIS (in Spanish). 25 October 2006.
17. "Estudio CIS nº 2656. Ficha técnica" (PDF). CIS (in Spanish). 25 October 2006.
18. "El CIS confirma la tendencia al alza de CiU y la pérdida de escaños de PSC y ERC". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 26 October 2006.
19. "RACÒMETRE (16 d'Octubre 06)" (PDF). RAC 1 (in Catalan). 16 October 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2006.
20. "CiU ganaría las elecciones pero el tripartito catalán podría reeditarse". Terra (in Spanish). 10 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
21. "Esquerra Republicana vuelve a tener la llave del futuro gobierno en Cataluña". El Mundo (in Spanish). 15 October 2006.
22. "Las elecciones en Cataluña". El Mundo (in Spanish). 15 October 2006. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
23. "CiU se distancia del PSC y amplía su ventaja hasta seis puntos y 16 escaños". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 15 October 2006.
24. "CiU refuerza su ventaja pero no tiene garantizado poder gobernar". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 11 October 2006.
25. "RACÒMETRE (9 d'Octubre 06)" (PDF). RAC 1 (in Catalan). 9 October 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2006.
26. "El Racòmetre". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 October 2006.
27. "Retallem Distànces". Diari de Miquel Iceta (in Catalan). 8 October 2006.
28. "Quart Racometre (2 d'octubre 2006)". Racó Català (in Catalan). 2 October 2006.
29. "Encuesta RACómetro". Foro IU (in Spanish). 5 October 2006.
30. "RACÒMETRE (25 Setembre 06)" (PDF). RAC 1 (in Catalan). 25 September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2006.
31. "Mas acentúa su ventaja sobre Montilla a un mes de las elecciones". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 24 September 2006.
32. "La desmovilización socialista da a CiU una ventaja de 11 escaños". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 21 September 2006.
33. "RACÒMETRE (18 Setembre 06)" (PDF). RAC 1 (in Catalan). 18 September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2006.
34. "CiU guanyaria les eleccions però el tripartit es podria reeditar, segons un sondeig de RAC-1". Racó Català (in Catalan). 13 September 2006.
35. "Mas inicia por delante de Montilla la carrera a la presidencia de la Generalitat". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 23 July 2006.
36. "El PSC supera a CiU y Maragall es el líder catalán más valorado". El País (in Spanish). 11 June 2006.
37. "Informe Encuesta Cataluña. Estatuto Catalán. Junio 2006" (PDF). Instituto Opina (in Spanish). 11 June 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
38. "CiU se despega del PSC y le aventaja en cuatro puntos". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 9 June 2006.
39. "El PSC ganaría las elecciones autonómicas en Cataluña, según el Pulsómetro". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 12 June 2006.
40. "TOTAL CATALUÑA: Elecciones Autonómicas. Encuesta 12/06/06". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 12 June 2006. Archived from the original on 13 June 2006.
41. "Socialistas y CiU empatarían hoy en las urnas con el 32% de los votos". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 21 May 2006.
42. "Los nacionalistas superan por segunda vez consecutiva a los socialistas". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 23 April 2006.
43. "El PSC se recupera y cobra una ligera ventaja". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2 April 2006.
44. "CiU obtendría ahora el 31,5% de los votos, frente al 30,7% del PSC". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 13 February 2006.
45. "CiU se pone ligeramente por delante del PSC a los dos años del tripartito". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 December 2005.
46. "Esquerra pide una "reflexión" al tripartito tras el último barómetro". El País (in Spanish). 3 December 2005.
47. "La mayoría cree que Maragall no debió abrir la crisis". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 14 November 2005.
48. "El PSC sigue por delante, pero CiU recorta distancias en un mapa electoral estable". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 October 2005.
49. "PSC y CiU siguen empatados a votos". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 9 October 2005.
50. "El PSC mantiene al alza la distancia con CiU pese a la nota regular del tripartito". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 24 July 2005.
51. "PSC y CiU incrementan el apoyo del 2003 y continúan empatados". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 11 July 2005.
52. "El PSC y CiU empatarían de celebrarse ahora las elecciones". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 1 May 2005.
53. "El PSC amplía su ventaja sobre CiU". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 13 March 2005.
54. "El PSC aventaja a CiU en 3,1 puntos en la estimación de voto". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 31 January 2005.
55. "El PSC se despega ligeramente de CiU". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 16 November 2004.
56. "El PSC ganaría las elecciones con una ventaja de 2,8 puntos sobre CiU". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 11 October 2004.
57. "El PSC ganaría las elecciones al Parlament con tres puntos más". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 19 July 2004.
58. "El PSC aumentaría la ventaja sobre CiU en las autonómicas". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 27 April 2004.
59. "El 49% cree que el futuro presidente será Mas y el 24%, Montilla". El País (in Spanish). 22 October 2006.
60. "Mas se impone a Montilla en todos los capítulos salvo en el de la honestidad". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 15 October 2006.
61. "Un 43% prefiere al candidato de CiU y un 36% se inclina por el aspirante socialista". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 24 September 2006.
62. "Descenso generalizado de la valoración de los candidatos". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 24 October 2006.
63. "Aprobado justo o suspenso para los candidatos". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 11 October 2006.
64. "'Sociovergencia' o tripartito, los pactos preferidos". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 21 May 2006.
65. "Mas logra otro objetivo al igualar en valoración personal a Maragall". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 13 February 2006.
66. "Maragall modera la pérdida de apoyo y Mas recorta distancias". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 11 July 2005.
67. "Maragall pierde 9 puntos de apoyo popular aunque sigue por delante". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 1 May 2005.
68. "Maragall sigue siendo el político preferido como 'president'". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 31 January 2005.
69. "La gestión del tripartito recibe el apoyo de la mayoría de catalanes". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 11 October 2004.
70. "Maragall se queda solo como preferido para 'president'". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 19 July 2004.
71. "Mas es el líder preferido para ser presidente de la Generalitat". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 21 September 2006.
72. "El 39% prefiere a Mas y el 36% a Montilla". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 23 July 2006.

Other

1. "El Estatut sale adelante con el 74% del voto, pero la participación no llega al 50%". El Mundo (in Spanish). 19 June 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
2. "Cataluña vota a favor del Estatuto de forma rotunda, pese a una abstención del 50,59%". Cinco Días (in Spanish). 19 June 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
3. "Maragall renuncia a la reelección para facilitar el relevo generacional del PSC". El País (in Spanish). 19 June 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
4. Ley Orgánica 6/2006, de 19 de julio, de reforma del Estatuto de Autonomía de Cataluña (Organic Law 6) (in Spanish). 19 July 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
5. Ley Orgánica 4/1979, de 18 de diciembre, de Estatuto de Autonomía de Cataluña (Organic Law 4) (in Spanish). 18 December 1979. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
6. Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). "Effective threshold in electoral systems". Trinity College, Dublin. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
7. "Decreto 340/2006, de 7 de septiembre, de convocatoria de elecciones al Parlamento de Cataluña y de su disolución" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish) (215): 31963. 8 September 2006. ISSN 0212-033X.
8. "Eleccions al Parlament de Catalunya (1980 - 2021)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2021.
9. "Parlament de Catalunya: grups parlamentaris (1980 - ...)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2021.
10. "Diputats del Parlament de Catalunya (1932 - 2021)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2021.
11. "VII legislatura". Parliament of Catalonia (in Catalan). Retrieved 14 July 2020.
12. Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General (Organic Law 5) (in Spanish). 19 June 1985. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
13. "El candidato socialista acepta el reto de un debate televisivo cara a cara que le lanzó Artur Mas". El País (in Spanish). 20 July 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
14. "Montilla, elegido candidato del PSC a la Generalitat con el 98% de los votos". El País (in Spanish). 16 July 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
15. "Carod-Rovira será el candidato de ERC a la Generalitat y Puigcercós su segundo". El Mundo (in Spanish). 27 June 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
16. "Carod-Rovira es proclamado candidato a la Generalitat con el 84% de los votos". El País (in Spanish). 22 July 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
17. "Piqué encabezará de nuevo la candidatura del Partido Popular para las autonómicas". El País (in Spanish). 30 June 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
18. "Albert Rivera, elegido presidente del nuevo partido político Ciutadans-Partit de la Ciutadania". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 July 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
19. "Electoral results. Parliament of Catalonia election 2006". resultats.dadeselectorals.gencat.cat (in Catalan). Government of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
20. "Parliament of Catalonia election results, 1 November 2006" (PDF). www.juntaelectoralcentral.es (in Spanish). Central Electoral Commission. 13 December 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2017.