Elections to the Corts Valencianes, 2003
Encyclopedia
The Elections to the Corts Valencianes, 2003 were the sixth democratic elections to the Corts Valencianes
, the Valencian regional parliament, since the Spanish transition to democracy
and were held on 25 May of that year. As in 1995 and 1999, the elections were won by the People's Party
(PP) who again won an absolute majority of seats.
proportional representation
in three electoral districts corresponding to each of the three Provinces of the Valencian Community. With a total number of 89 seats, Valencia elected 36 members (a decrease of one seat relative to the previous election,) Alicante 30 and Castellon 23 (an increase of one seat.) Only lists which polled 5% or more in the entire Valencian Community were eligible for seats. Seats were then allocated on a Provincial basis using the D'Hondt method
of allocation. As at previous elections, this electoral system proved disadvantageous for two smaller regional parties: the Valencian Nationalist Bloc
(BNV) and Unió Valenciana
(UV) both of which failed to reach the threshold.
(IU) and won a seat from the PP in Valencia Province. This was the first Green representation in the Corts. This was the only change of the election.
Out of a total of 3,423,098 voters, the turnout was 2,447,788 (71.5%) an increase on the low of 67.8% in 1999.
The regional leader of each party was the candidate for President. These were:-
Francisco Camps was re-elected Valencian President.
Additionally 37,812 votes (1.6%) were cast "en blanco" i.e. for "none of the above."
Corts Valencianes
The Corts Valencianes are the main legislative body of the Generalitat Valenciana and therefore of the Valencian Community. The main location of the Corts is in the Palace of Benicarló in Valencia; however it can meet at any location in Valencian territory. The Corts has its origins in bodies...
, the Valencian regional parliament, since the Spanish transition to democracy
Spanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
and were held on 25 May of that year. As in 1995 and 1999, the elections were won by the People's Party
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
(PP) who again won an absolute majority of seats.
Electoral system
The elections were held using closed listClosed list
Closed list describes the variant of party-list proportional representation where voters can only vote for political parties as a whole and thus have no influence on the party-supplied order in which party candidates are elected...
proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
in three electoral districts corresponding to each of the three Provinces of the Valencian Community. With a total number of 89 seats, Valencia elected 36 members (a decrease of one seat relative to the previous election,) Alicante 30 and Castellon 23 (an increase of one seat.) Only lists which polled 5% or more in the entire Valencian Community were eligible for seats. Seats were then allocated on a Provincial basis using the D'Hondt method
D'Hondt method
The d'Hondt method is a highest averages method for allocating seats in party-list proportional representation. The method described is named after Belgian mathematician Victor D'Hondt who described it in 1878...
of allocation. As at previous elections, this electoral system proved disadvantageous for two smaller regional parties: the Valencian Nationalist Bloc
Valencian Nationalist Bloc
The Valencian Nationalist Bloc is a Valencian nationalist party in the Valencian Country, Spain. It is the largest party in the Coalició Compromís....
(BNV) and Unió Valenciana
Unió Valenciana
Valencian Union was a nationalist political party in the Valencian Community, Spain....
(UV) both of which failed to reach the threshold.
Election results
The elections saw little change in the composition of the Corts. The Greens, who had allied with BNV at the previous election, formed an alliance instead with United LeftUnited Left (Spain)
The United Left is a political coalition that was organized in 1986 bringing together several political organisations opposed to Spain joining NATO. It was formed by a number of groups of leftists, greens, left-wing socialists and republicans, but was dominated by the Communist Party of Spain...
(IU) and won a seat from the PP in Valencia Province. This was the first Green representation in the Corts. This was the only change of the election.
Out of a total of 3,423,098 voters, the turnout was 2,447,788 (71.5%) an increase on the low of 67.8% in 1999.
Election of President of the Valencian Community
One of the first tasks of the newly elected deputies was to elect the President of the Valencian Community.The regional leader of each party was the candidate for President. These were:-
- for PP, Francisco CampsFrancisco CampsFrancisco Enrique Camps Ortiz is a Spanish politician belonging to the Partido Popular who served as President of the Generalitat Valenciana, the Valencian regional administration, in the period 2003-2011.-Biography:...
. - for PSOE-PSPV, Joan Pla DuráJoan Pla DuráJoan Pla Durá is a Spanish politician who belongs to the governing Spanish Socialist Workers' Party .Married with one son, Pla graduated in law and also gained a diploma in public administration...
- for IU, Joan Ribó.
- for BNV, Pere Mayor.
- for UV, Valero Eustaquio
- for Republican Left of the Valencian CountryRepublican Left of the Valencian CountryRepublican Left of the Valencian Country is a Valencian left nationalist and republican party.The original ERPV was founded in 1933, then disbanded in 1935...
, Agustí Cerdà.
Francisco Camps was re-elected Valencian President.
Results
| ← |
|||
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
| People's Party (Spain) People's Party (Spain) The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship... |
1,146,780 | 47.15 | 48 |
| PSPV-PSOE | 874,288 | 35,95 | 35 |
| United Left United Left (Spain) The United Left is a political coalition that was organized in 1986 bringing together several political organisations opposed to Spain joining NATO. It was formed by a number of groups of leftists, greens, left-wing socialists and republicans, but was dominated by the Communist Party of Spain... |
154,494 | 6.35 | 6 |
| Valencian Nationalist Bloc Valencian Nationalist Bloc The Valencian Nationalist Bloc is a Valencian nationalist party in the Valencian Country, Spain. It is the largest party in the Coalició Compromís.... - Greens |
114,122 | 4.77 | |
| Unió Valenciana Unió Valenciana Valencian Union was a nationalist political party in the Valencian Community, Spain.... |
72,594 | 3.03 | |
| Republican Left of the Valencian Country Republican Left of the Valencian Country Republican Left of the Valencian Country is a Valencian left nationalist and republican party.The original ERPV was founded in 1933, then disbanded in 1935... |
7,609 | 0.31 | |
| Others | 23,862 | 1.0 | |
Additionally 37,812 votes (1.6%) were cast "en blanco" i.e. for "none of the above."