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The 2010 Catalan regional election was held on Sunday, 28 November 2010, to elect the 9th Parliament of the autonomous community of Catalonia. All 135 seats in the Parliament were up for election. This was the first election held in Catalonia after the Constitutional Court of Spain struck down parts of the regional 2006 Statute of Autonomy that granted new powers of self-rule to the region. The ruling came after four years of deliberation concerning a constitutional appeal filed by the conservative People's Party (PP) under Mariano Rajoy and was met with anger and street protests throughout the region.[1][2]

Quick Facts All 135 seats in the Parliament of Catalonia 68 seats needed for a majority, Registered ...
2010 Catalan regional election

 2006 28 November 2010 2012 

All 135 seats in the Parliament of Catalonia
68 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered5,363,688 Green arrow up0.8%
Turnout3,152,630 (58.8%)
Green arrow up2.8 pp
  First party Second party Third party
  Thumb Thumb Thumb
Leader Artur Mas José Montilla Alicia Sánchez-Camacho
Party CiU PSC–PSOE PP
Leader since 7 January 2002 15 July 2006 6 July 2008
Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona
Last election 48 seats, 31.5% 37 seats, 26.8% 14 seats, 10.7%
Seats won 62 28 18
Seat change Green arrow up14 Red arrow down9 Green arrow up4
Popular vote 1,202,830 575,233 387,066
Percentage 38.4% 18.4% 12.4%
Swing Green arrow up6.9 pp Red arrow down8.4 pp Green arrow up1.7 pp

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
  Thumb Thumb Thumb
Leader Joan Herrera Joan Puigcercós Joan Laporta
Party ICV–EUiA ERC SI
Leader since 23 November 2008 7 June 2008 4 September 2010
Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona
Last election 12 seats, 9.5% 21 seats, 14.0% Did not contest
Seats won 10 10 4
Seat change Red arrow down2 Red arrow down11 Green arrow up4
Popular vote 230,824 219,173 102,921
Percentage 7.4% 7.0% 3.3%
Swing Red arrow down2.1 pp Red arrow down7.0 pp New party

  Seventh party
  Thumb
Leader Albert Rivera
Party C's
Leader since 9 July 2006
Leader's seat Barcelona
Last election 3 seats, 3.0%
Seats won 3
Seat change Blue arrow right0
Popular vote 106,154
Percentage 3.4%
Swing Green arrow up0.4 pp

Thumb
Election result by constituency

President before election

José Montilla
PSC

Elected President

Artur Mas
CiU

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The election resulted in a resounding victory for the Convergence and Union (CiU) federation under Artur Mas, whose 62 seats—six short of an absolute majority—virtually ensured that no alternative government was mathematically possible, as the left-wing alliance which had formed the government of Catalonia for the previous seven years fell to a bare 48 seats. The tripartit (English: tripartite) coalition formed by the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Initiative for Catalonia Greens (ICV) was already at the brink of split going into the election, with political disagreements between the former allies having led Catalan president José Montilla to announce that he would not seek a third alliance with ERC and ICV even if election numbers favored such a possibility.[3] The election saw a collapse in support for all three parties and Montilla's retirement from the PSC leadership shortly afterwards.[4]

The PP had one of its best showings in a Catalan regional election, with 12.4% of the vote and 18 seats. Albert Rivera's Citizens (C's) party saw a slight increase in its vote share, whereas the pro-Catalan independence Catalan Solidarity for Independence (SI) led by former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta secured 4 seats in the Parliament.

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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.[5] 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:[5][6]

More information Seats, Constituencies ...
Seats Constituencies
85 Barcelona
18 Tarragona
17 Girona
15 Lleida
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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.[7]

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 1 November 2006, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 1 November 2010. The election was required to be called no later than 17 October 2010, with it taking place up to the sixtieth day from the call, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Thursday, 16 December 2010.[5]

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.[5]

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Parliamentary composition

The Parliament of Catalonia was officially dissolved on 5 October 2010, after the publication of the dissolution decree in the Official Journal of the Government of Catalonia.[8] The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the chamber at the time of dissolution.[9][10][11]

More information Groups, Parties ...
Parliamentary composition in October 2010[12]
Groups Parties Legislators
Seats Total
Convergence and Union's Parliamentary Group CDC 34 48
UDC 14
Socialists–Citizens for Change Parliamentary Group PSC 32 37
CpC 5
Republican Left of Catalonia's Parliamentary Group ERC 21 21
People's Party of Catalonia's Parliamentary Group PP 14 14
Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and
Alternative Left's Parliamentary Group
ICV 10 12
EUiA 2
Mixed Group Cs 2 2
Non-Inscrits INDEP 1[b] 1
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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.[14]

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

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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

Thumb
Local regression trend line of poll results from 1 November 2006 to 28 November 2010, 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:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls   Exit poll

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...
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Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...
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Victory preferences

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

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...
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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.

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...
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Preferred President

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

All candidates
Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...
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Mas vs. Montilla
Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...
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Predicted President

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

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...
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Results

Overall

More information Parties and alliances, Popular vote ...
Summary of the 28 November 2010 Parliament of Catalonia election results
Thumb
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes  % ±pp Total +/−
Convergence and Union (CiU) 1,202,83038.43+6.91 62+14
Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC–PSOE) 575,23318.38–8.44 28–9
People's Party (PP) 387,06612.37+1.72 18+4
Initiative for Catalonia Greens–United and Alternative Left (ICV–EUiA) 230,8247.37–2.15 10–2
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 219,1737.00–7.03 10–11
Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 106,1543.39+0.36 3±0
Catalan Solidarity for Independence (SI) 102,9213.29New 4+4
Platform for Catalonia (PxC) 75,1342.40New 0±0
Independence Rally (RI.cat) 39,8341.27New 0±0
Blank SeatsCitizens for Blank Votes (EB–CenB)1 18,6790.60+0.35 0±0
The Greens–European Green Group (EV–GVE) 15,7840.50New 0±0
Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 14,2380.45–0.01 0±0
From Below (Des de Baix) 7,1890.23New 0±0
Reus Independent Coordinator (CORI) 6,9900.22New 0±0
Pirates of Catalonia (Pirata.cat) 6,4510.21New 0±0
Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 5,4180.17New 0±0
Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA) 3,3300.11New 0±0
Communist Party of the Catalan People (PCPC) 3,0280.10–0.08 0±0
Government Alternative (AG) 2,2080.07New 0±0
Family and Life Party (PFiV) 2,2010.07–0.02 0±0
For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 2,1000.07+0.04 0±0
Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 1,9200.06–0.13 0±0
Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) 1,7600.06New 0±0
Left Republican Party–Republican Left (PRE–IR) 1,5470.05+0.03 0±0
Castilian Party (PCAS) 1,0660.03New 0±0
Humanist Party (PH) 9080.03–0.06 0±0
Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) 9040.03New 0±0
Farmers for the Catalan Rural Dignity (PDR.cat) 8240.03New 0±0
Republican Social Movement (MSR) 7880.03–0.01 0±0
Our People (GN) 5970.02New 0±0
We Are All Equal (GLBTH/TSI) 4980.02New 0±0
Party for Catalonia (PxCAT) 3140.01New 0±0
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 2180.01New 0±0
Catalan Sovereigntist Bloc (Bloc SC) 1870.01New 0±0
Aragonese Party (PAR) 980.00New 0±0
Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) 820.00New 0±0
Social and Liberal Alternative (ALS) 540.00New 0±0
Progress and Justice Party (PJP) 490.00New 0±0
Democratic Web (DW) 460.00New 0±0
Blank ballots 91,6312.93+0.90
Total 3,130,276 135±0
Valid votes 3,130,27699.29–0.25
Invalid votes 22,3540.71+0.25
Votes cast / turnout 3,152,63058.78+2.74
Abstentions 2,211,05841.22–2.74
Registered voters 5,363,688
Sources[9][27][28]
Footnotes:
  • 1 Blank SeatsCitizens for Blank Votes results are compared to the combined totals of Unsubmissive Seats–Alternative of Discontented Democrats and Citizens for Blank Votes in the 2006 election.
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More information Popular vote ...
Popular vote
CiU
38.43%
PSC–PSOE
18.38%
PP
12.37%
ICV–EUiA
7.37%
ERC
7.00%
C's
3.39%
SI
3.29%
PxC
2.40%
RI.cat
1.27%
Others
3.18%
Blank ballots
2.93%
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More information Seats ...
Seats
CiU
45.93%
PSC–PSOE
20.74%
PP
13.33%
ICV–EUiA
7.41%
ERC
7.41%
SI
2.96%
C's
2.22%
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Distribution by constituency

More information Constituency, CiU ...
Constituency CiU PSC PP ICV–EUiA ERC C's SI
 % S  % S  % S  % S  % S  % S  % S
Barcelona 36.8 35 19.2 18 12.9 12 8.3 8 6.4 6 3.8 3 3.1 3
Girona 45.1 9 14.3 3 8.6 1 4.8 1 9.2 2 1.7 4.7 1
Lleida 46.9 8 14.8 3 10.2 2 4.0 9.1 1 1.5 3.1
Tarragona 39.3 9 18.2 4 13.4 3 5.1 1 8.5 1 2.7 3.4
Total 38.4 62 18.4 28 12.4 18 7.4 10 7.0 10 3.4 3 3.3 4
Sources[9][28]
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Aftermath

More information Ballot →, 21 December 2010 ...
Investiture
Artur Mas (CiU)
Ballot → 21 December 2010 23 December 2010
Required majority → 68 out of 135 ☒N Simple checkY
Yes
62 / 135
62 / 135
No
73 / 135
45 / 135
Abstentions
  • PSC (28) (on 23 Dec)
0 / 135
28 / 135
Absentees
0 / 135
0 / 135
Sources[9]
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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.
  2. José Domingo, former Cs legislator.[13]

References

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