2003 Spanish regional elections Registered 18,719,976 2.5% Turnout 12,856,902 (68.7%) 2.9 pp
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 .
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.
Regional governments [ edit ]
The following table lists party control in autonomous communities. Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
← 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
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%
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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