Francesc Pallarés

Multi-Level Electoral Competition Regional Elections and Party Systems in Spain

Regionalization in the form of the creation of Autonomous Communities (ACs) has played a significant role in shaping the Spanish party system since the transition to democracy in 1977. Parties are divided into statewide parties, operating at both national and regional levels, and non-statewide parties. The latter have been most important in the historic nations of Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia. We can generally see autonomous elections as second-order elections, with lower turnout than national elections and with results generally following the national pattern. In certain cases, the presence of non-statewide parties challenges this pattern and in Catalonia a distinct political arena exists with its own characteristics. The existence of autonomous parliaments and governments has also provided new opportunities for both statewide and non-statewide parties and served as a power base for political figures within the parties.

Depolarization in the 2005 Autonomous Elections in the Basque Country: Towards a New Scenario For Peace?1

Abstract In this paper, we present the facts and results of the 2005 autonomous election in the Basque Country. After a review of the political context and the campaign, we present and analyze the results at electoral and institutional level and the main reasons behind the apparent stability of the polarized multiparty system and its ideological basis. We finally discuss the implications of the results for the political system at Basque and Spanish levels.

The 2005 Autonomous Election in Galicia: the End of Conservative Hegemony1

Abstract In this paper, the results of the 2005 autonomous election in Galicia are analyzed. After a review of the political context and the campaign, we present and analyze the results at electoral and institutional level explain the main reasons behind the defeat of the Popular Party after 16 years of absolute majority in the Galician Parliament and discuss its implications for the political system at the Galician and Spanish levels.

The Autonomous Elections of 1 November 2006 in Catalonia

In this paper, we present the facts and results of the 2006 autonomous election in Catalonia. After a review of the political context and the campaign, we present and analyze the results at electoral and institutional level and the main reasons behind the stability and change in the electoral behaviour. We finally discuss the implications of the results for the political system at Basque and Spanish levels.

State-level Politics and Regional Electoral Competition: First- and Second-order Effects in Spain's Autonomous Elections in 2007

On 27 May 2007, the eighth series of ‘autonomous’ elections was held in the 13 Spanish autonomous communities (ACs) that hold their elections on the same day (Spain is officially divided into 17 au...

The Spanish regional elections of 13 June 1999

Regional elections of 1999 (except in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and Andalucia, which decide their own dates) were due to have taken place on the last Sunday in May, along with the municipal elections. However, as the European elections were scheduled for 13 June it was decided to hold them all at the same time. At the previous regional elections in 1995 the Partido Popular (PP) had won a comfortable victory with 364 seats against 262 for the Socialists (PSOE) and 66 for the post-communist Izquierda Unida (IU). The PP had gained an absolute majority in the Balearic Islands, Castile and Leon, Madrid, La Rioja and Murcia and was the largest party in Navarre (competing as UPN), Valencia, Cantabria, Aragon and Asturias. PSOE had kept control in Castile la Mancha (with an absolute majority) and Extemadura, while the regionalist Coalition Canaria was the largest party in the Canaries. In March 1996 the PP had won the national elections, albeit without an overall majority. The 1999 elections were thus the first test for the PP after its national victory and its governing pacts with the Catalan CiU, the Basque PNV and Coalition Canaria. It was also the first time the PP had defended its regional governments in Asturias, Murcia, Valencia, Madrid and La Rioja.