2003 Valencian regional election

The 2003 Valencian regional election was held on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect the 6th Corts of the Valencian Community. All 89 seats in the Corts were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

2003 Valencian regional election

25 May 2003
All 89 seats in the Corts Valencianes 45 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	3,423,098 1.8%
Turnout	2,447,224 (71.5%) 3.7 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Francisco Camps Joan Ignasi Pla Joan Ribó Party PP PSPV–PSOE L'Entesa Leader since 10 July 2002 24 September 2000 1997 Leader's seat Valencia Valencia Valencia Last election 49 seats, 47.9% 35 seats, 33.9% 5 seats, 6.1% Seats won 48 35 6 Seat change 1 0 1 Popular vote 1,146,780 874,288 154,494 Percentage 47.2% 36.0% 6.4% Swing 0.7 pp 2.1 pp 0.3 pp
Constituency results map for the Corts Valencianes
President before election José Luis Olivas PP Elected President Francisco Camps PP

Despite growing discontent with the nationwide José María Aznar's government, the People's Party (PP) was able to comfortably retain its absolute majority in the Courts, losing only 1 seat compared to 1999, which went to United Left (IU). The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), despite becoming the party that grew the most from 1999, was unable to translate those new votes into any new seats.

Valencian Union (UV), the former coalition partner of the PP during the first Zaplana Government (1999-2003), continued its decline into irrelevance and fell below 3%, depriving it of any possibility of overcoming the 5% required threshold to enter the Courts.

Francisco Camps became the new President of the Valencian Community succeeding José Luis Olivas, who had replaced Eduardo Zaplana in 2002 after the latter was named Minister of Labour and Social Affairs in Aznar's Cabinet.

Overview

Electoral system

The Corts Valencianes were the devolved, unicameral legislature of the Valencian autonomous community, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a President of the Government.[1] Voting for the Corts was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in the Valencian Community and in full enjoyment of their political rights.

The 89 members of the Corts Valencianes were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 5 percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied regionally. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Alicante, Castellón and Valencia. Each constituency was entitled to an initial minimum of 20 seats, with the remaining 29 allocated among the constituencies in proportion to their populations on the condition that the seat to population ratio in any given province did not exceed three times that of any other.[1][2]

The electoral law provided that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors were allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors were required to secure the signature of at least 1 percent of the electors registered in the constituency for which they sought election. Electors were barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called.[2][3][4]

Election date

The term of the Corts Valencianes expired four years after the date of their previous election. Elections to the Corts were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The previous election was held on 13 June 1999, setting the election date for the Corts on Sunday, 25 May 2003.[1][2][3][4]

The Corts Valencianes could not be dissolved before the date of expiry of parliament.[1]

Opinion polls

The table below lists voting intention estimates 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 given poll. When available, seat projections are also displayed below the voting estimates in a smaller font. 45 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Corts Valencianes.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout						Lead
2003 regional election	25 May 2003	N/A	71.5	47.2 48	36.0 35	6.4 6	3.0 0	4.7 0	11.2
Sigma Dos/Antena 3[p 1]	25 May 2003	?	?	? 46/49	? 34/37	? 6	–	–	?
Ipsos–Eco/RTVE[p 2]	25 May 2003	?	?	? 46/48	? 35/37	? 4/6	–	–	?
Insight/La Razón[p 3]	19 May 2003	?	?	47.6 47/50	? 33/37	? 4/5	–	–	?
Opina/El País[p 4]	18 May 2003	?	?	46.0 46/47	38.0 38	6.0 4/5	3.0 0	3.0 0	8.0
GES/PSPV[p 5]	9–15 May 2003	2,000	72.6	44.0 43/44	39.9 40/41	6.7 5	3.9 0	4.6 0	4.1
Investratègia/Bloc–EV[p 6]	9–11 May 2003	1,500	68.8	45.5 44/47	37.5 33/36	6.5 4/5	3.2 0	5.6 4/5	8.0
CIS[p 7][p 8]	22 Mar–28 Apr 2003	2,096	80.0	41.9 44	37.9 39	7.4 6	3.9 0	4.1 0	4.0
Vox Pública/El Periódico[p 9][p 10][p 11]	25–27 Apr 2003	800	?	45.0– 46.0 45/48	36.5– 37.5 35/39	5.0– 6.0 3/5	–	4.5– 5.5 0/4	8.5
Demoscopia/PP[p 12]	9–18 Dec 2002	1,200	?	51.1 49/52	34.3 34/36	6.1 3/4	3.9 0	3.9 0	16.8
GES/PSPV[p 13]	15–23 Oct 2002	3,000	?	44.9 44	40.2 40	5.7 5	3.8 0	3.9 0	4.7
CIS[p 14][p 15][p 16]	9 Sep–9 Oct 2002	730	76.6	47.7	34.1	6.7	–	–	13.6
GES/PSPV[p 17]	10 Dec–25 Apr 2002	27,000	?	46.1 46	37.8 38	5.9 5	–	3.3 0	8.3
GES/PSPV[p 18]	10 Jan–10 Feb 2002	10,500	?	47.5 47	38.4 38	5.2 4	3.4 0	3.5 0	9.1
Demoscopia/PP[p 19]	26 Dec–10 Jan 2002	900	?	52.1 52/53	33.1 31/33	5.4 4/5	1.7 0	3.6 0	19.0
Demoscopia/PP[p 20]	1–8 Jul 2000	1,200	?	51.8 49/55	31.0 29/32	5.8 4/5	3.9 0	5.0 0/4	20.8
2000 general election	12 Mar 2000	N/A	72.7	52.1 52	34.0 34	5.8 3	2.4 0	2.4 0	18.1
PP[p 21]	3 Jan 2000	?	?	52.8	30.3	–	–	–	22.5
1999 regional election	13 Jun 1999	N/A	67.8	47.9 49	33.9 35	6.1 5	4.7 0	4.5 0	14.0

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 25 May 2003 Corts Valencianes election results →

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	1,146,780	47.17	–0.71	48	–1
	Socialist Party of the Valencian Country (PSPV–PSOE)	874,288	35.96	+2.05	35	±0
	United Left–The Greens–Valencian Left: The Agreement (L'Entesa)	154,494	6.35	+0.30	6	+1
	Valencian Nationalist Bloc–Green Left (Bloc–EV)	114,011	4.69	+0.16	0	±0
	Union–Valencian Union (UV)	72,557	2.98	–1.70	0	±0
	Republican Left of the Valencian Country (ERPV)	7,609	0.31	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE)	3,884	0.16	New	0	±0
	Democratic and Social Centre (CDS)	3,189	0.13	±0.00	0	±0
	Regional Party of the Valencian Community (PRCV)	2,868	0.12	New	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	2,747	0.11	+0.01	0	±0
	Spain 2000 (E–2000)	2,650	0.11	New	0	±0
	Federal Republican Party (PRF)	2,545	0.10	+0.03	0	±0
	Authentic Phalanx (FA)	2,332	0.10	New	0	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFyV)	1,690	0.07	New	0	±0
	Another Democracy is Possible (ODeP)	1,156	0.05	New	0	±0
	National Democracy (DN)	798	0.03	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		37,805	1.55	±0.00
Total		2,431,403			89	±0
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
Abstentions		975,874	28.51	–3.68
Registered voters		3,423,098
Sources[5][6][7]

Popular vote PP   47.17% PSPV–PSOE   35.96% L'Entesa   6.35% Bloc–EV   4.69% UV   2.98% Others   1.29% Blank ballots   1.55%

Seats PP   53.93% PSPV–PSOE   39.33% L'Entesa   6.74%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency	PP		PSPV		L'Entesa
	%	S	%	S	%	S
Alicante	48.3	16	37.2	12	5.9	2
Castellón	48.1	13	36.5	9	4.4	1
Valencia	46.3	19	35.1	14	7.0	3
Total	47.2	48	36.0	35	6.4	6
Sources[6][7]

Aftermath

Government formation

Investiture
Candidate		Ballot →		18 June 2003
		Required majority →		45 out of 89
	Francisco Camps (PP)		Yes • PP (48)	48 / 89	Y
			No • PSPV (34) • L'Entesa (6)	40 / 89
			Abstentions	0 / 89
			Absentees • PSPV (1)	0 / 89
	Joan Ignasi Pla (PSPV)	Cancelled
	Joan Ribó (L'Entesa)	Cancelled
Sources[7]

2006 motion of no confidence

Motion of no confidence Joan Ignasi Pla (PSPV)
Ballot →		4 October 2006
Required majority →		45 out of 89 N
	Yes • PSPV (35)	35 / 89
	No • PP (47)	47 / 89
	Abstentions • L'Entesa (6) • CVa (1)	7 / 89
	Absentees	0 / 89
Sources[7]

References

Opinion poll sources

1. "El sondeo de Sigma Dos determina una lucha codo a codo entre populares y socialistas en Madrid". ABC Sevilla (in Spanish). 25 May 2003. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
2. "Sondeo a pie de urna de Ipsos Eco Consulting para TVE". ABC Sevilla (in Spanish). 25 May 2003. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
3. "La 'batalla' de Madrid, la más reñida en los comicios del 25-M". El Mundo (in Spanish). 20 May 2003.
4. "El PP mantiene su poder autonómico en Valencia". El País (in Spanish). 18 May 2003.
5. "Unas elecciones abiertas, según el PSPV". El País (in Spanish). 17 May 2003.
6. "Una encuesta del Bloc otorga a los nacionalistas de 4 a 5 escaños en las Cortes". El País (in Spanish). 16 May 2003.
7. "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas, 2003. CA Valenciana (Estudio nº 2491. Marzo-Abril 2003)" (PDF). CIS (in Spanish). 17 May 2003.
8. "La guerra pasa factura electoral al PP". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 18 May 2003.
9. "Comunidad Valenciana". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 5 May 2003. Archived from the original on 9 May 2003.
10. "Los valencianos mantienen su apoyo al PP tras irse Zaplana". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 5 May 2003.
11. "VOX PUBLICA". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 5 May 2003.
12. "Un sondeo del PP le otorga la mayoría absoluta con más diputados". El País (in Spanish). 12 January 2003.
13. "Una encuesta del PSPV da mayoría a la izquierda en las autonómicas". El País (in Spanish). 27 October 2002.
14. "Instituciones y autonomías, II. CA Valenciana (Estudio nº 2455. Septiembre-Octubre 2002)". CIS (in Spanish). 19 November 2002.
15. "El PP, partido más votado en diez Comunidades Autónomas" (PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). 19 November 2002.
16. "El PP ganaría las autonómicas en diez Comunidades y el PSOE en cuatro, según el CIS". ABC (in Spanish). 20 November 2002.
17. "Una encuesta del PSPV dice que la diferencia respecto del PP se sitúa ahora en 8 puntos". El País (in Spanish). 12 May 2002.
18. "Una encuesta del PSPV reduce a 9 puntos su distancia con el PP". El País (in Spanish). 24 February 2002.
19. "Un sondeo del PP amplía su mayoría absoluta y revela que baja el PSPV". El País (in Spanish). 10 February 2002.
20. "El PP se atribuye un 51,8% de apoyo en la Comunidad". El País (in Spanish). 25 July 2000.
21. "Un PP hegemónico". El País (in Spanish). 3 January 2000.

Other

1. "Statute of Autonomy of the Valencian Community of 1982". Organic Law No. 1 of 1 July 1982. Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2017.
2. "Valencian Electoral Law of 1987". Law No. 2 of 31 March 1987. Official Journal of the Valencian Community (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2017.
3. "General Electoral System Organic Law of 1985". Organic Law No. 5 of 19 June 1985. Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
4. "Representation of the people Institutional Act". www.juntaelectoralcentral.es. Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
5. "Electoral Results. Electoral Data - Regional Election: 2003". www.cortsvalencianes.es (in Spanish). Valencian Government. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
6. "Corts Valencianes election results, 25 May 2003" (PDF). www.juntaelectoralcentral.es (in Spanish). Electoral Commission of the Valencian Community. 12 August 2003. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
7. "Corts Valencianes elections since 1983". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Electoral History. Retrieved 30 September 2017.