2011 Canarian regional election

The 2011 Canarian regional election was held on Sunday, 22 May 2011, to elect the 8th Parliament of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. All 60 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

2011 Canarian regional election

22 May 2011
All 60 seats in the Parliament of the Canary Islands 31 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	1,580,359 2.9%
Turnout	931,010 (58.9%) 2.4 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader José Manuel Soria Paulino Rivero José Miguel Pérez García Party PP CC–PNC–CCN PSOE Leader since 16 July 1999 3 February 2007 20 March 2010 Leader's seat Gran Canaria Tenerife Gran Canaria Last election 15 seats, 24.0% 19 seats, 28.1%[lower-alpha 1] 26 seats, 34.5% Seats won 21 21 15 Seat change 6 2 11 Popular vote 289,381 225,948 190,028 Percentage 31.9% 24.9% 21.0% Swing 7.9 pp 3.2 pp 13.5 pp   Fourth party   Leader Román Rodríguez Party NCa Leader since 26 February 2005 Leader's seat Gran Canaria Last election 0 seats, 6.5%[lower-alpha 2] Seats won 3 Seat change 3 Popular vote 93,634 Percentage 9.1% Swing 2.6 pp
Constituency results map for the Parliament of the Canary Islands
President before election Paulino Rivero CC Elected President Paulino Rivero CC

Overview

Electoral system

The Parliament of the Canary Islands was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Canarian 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 Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in the Canary Islands and in full enjoyment of their political rights. Amendments to the electoral law in 2011 required for Canarians abroad to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).[2]

The 60 members of the Parliament of the Canary Islands were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 30 percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution. Alternatively, parties could also enter the seat distribution as long as they reached 6 percent regionally. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the islands of El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Each constituency was allocated a fixed number of seats: 3 for El Hierro, 7 for Fuerteventura, 15 for Gran Canaria, 4 for La Gomera, 8 for La Palma, 8 for Lanzarote and 15 for Tenerife.[1]

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.[3][4][5]

Election date

The term of the Parliament of the Canary Islands expired four years after the date of its previous election. Elections to the Parliament were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The previous election was held on 27 May 2007, setting the election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 22 May 2011.[1][3][4][5]

The Parliament of the Canary Islands could not be dissolved before the date of expiry of parliament except in the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a two-month period from the first ballot. In such a case, the Parliament was to be automatically dissolved and a snap election called, with elected deputies merely serving out what remained of their four-year terms.[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. 31 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of the Canary Islands.

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout					CCN	PIL			Lead
2011 regional election	22 May 2011	N/A	58.9	21.0 15	24.9 21	31.9 21	9.1 3	[lower-alpha 3]	[lower-alpha 4]	0.8 0	1.0 0	7.0
Demométrica/ACN Press[p 1][p 2]	2–12 May 2011	2,820	?	26.9 17/19	25.8 17/19	30.4 16/19	11.6 6	[lower-alpha 3]	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	3.5
NC Report/La Razón[p 3][p 4]	3–10 May 2011	?	?	25.9 17/18	27.5 20/21	27.9 19/20	? 2/3	[lower-alpha 3]	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	0.4
Ikerfel/Vocento[p 5]	9 May 2011	?	?	28.8 19/21	25.7 18/19	22.9 15/16	12.9 6	[lower-alpha 3]	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	3.1
TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[p 6][p 7]	9 May 2011	1,500	?	26.7 19/21	28.4 18/20	27.7 18/20	6.0 0/3	–	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	0.7
Celeste-Tel/Terra[p 8]	13–20 Apr 2011	700	?	23.2 16	25.1 20	30.3 21	8.5 2	–	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	5.2
OPMC Consultores[p 9][p 10]	5–17 Apr 2011	2,400	?	27.7 20/21	27.1 19/21	30.6 16/18	9.2 3	–	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	2.9
CIS[p 11][p 12]	17 Mar–17 Apr 2011	1,797	?	30.2 23	23.9 19/20	27.3 16/17	5.1 0/2	–	[lower-alpha 4]	1.7 0	0.8 0	2.9
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 13]	7–12 Apr 2011	1,200	?	27.3 17/18	25.6 17/22	33.6 19/23	6.0 1/3	–	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	6.3
Demométrica/ACN Press[p 14][p 15]	22 Feb–17 Mar 2011	2,806	?	26.9 17/19	24.6 16/19	30.7 17/19	11.0 6	–	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	3.8
Sigma Dos/PP[p 16][p 17][p 18]	15–18 Feb 2011	3,600	?	28.0 16/21	25.7 19/20	33.1 20/24	–	–	–	–	–	5.1
Perfiles/Canarias7[p 19][p 20][p 21]	1–9 Feb 2011	2,400	?	22.0– 23.0 17	30.0– 31.0 22/24	29.0– 30.0 17/20	7.0– 8.0 1/3	–	[lower-alpha 4]	–	–	1.0
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 22]	21–27 Dec 2010	1,200	?	27.6 17/18	25.2 18/22	37.0 21/24	–	–	–	–	–	9.4
OPMC Consultores[p 23][p 24]	12–24 Jul 2010	3,600	60.1	31.7 23	20.5 14	28.4 14	[lower-alpha 5]	15.8 9	[lower-alpha 5]	–	–	3.3
			60.1	33.1 23/25	22.7 18/19	29.6 15/16	6.7 0/2	5.2 0/2	0.8 0	–	–	3.5
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 25]	19–24 May 2010	1,200	?	30.7 20/23	22.0 14/17	35.3 22/24	–	–	–	–	–	4.6
2009 EP election	7 Jun 2009	N/A	39.2	36.0 23	15.8 12	40.8 25	–	–	–	1.6 0	1.2 0	4.8
KDK Creativa[p 26]	1 Jun 2009	2,550	60.5	33.6 22	23.1 16/17	27.4 14	9.8 5/6	6.9 1/3	0.8 0	–	–	6.2
2008 general election	9 Mar 2008	N/A	65.9	39.6 27	17.5 10	35.0 23	3.8 0	[lower-alpha 4]	[lower-alpha 3]	1.2 0	0.4 0	4.6
2007 regional election	27 May 2007	N/A	61.3	34.5 26	24.2 19	24.0 15	5.4 0	4.0 0	1.0 0	0.7 0	–	10.3

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 22 May 2011 Parliament of the Canary Islands election results →

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	People's Party (PP)	289,381	31.94	+7.90	21	+6
	Canarian Coalition–Nationalist Party–Canarian Centre (CC–PNC–CCN)^1	225,948	24.94	–3.16	21	+2
	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)	190,028	20.98	–13.53	15	–11
	New Canaries (NCa)^2	82,148	9.07	+2.60	3	+3
	Yes We Can Citizens' Alternative (ACSSP)^3	19,020	2.10	+1.58	0	±0
	The Greens (Verdes)	18,831	2.08	+0.18	0	±0
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)	9,069	1.00	New	0	±0
	Commitment for Gran Canaria (CGCa)	7,382	0.81	–0.10	0	±0
	Canarian United Left (IUC)	6,818	0.75	+0.05	0	±0
	Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC)	6,494	0.72	+0.45	0	±0
	Common Sense in the Canaries (SCC)	4,761	0.53	New	0	±0
	Majorero Progressive Party (PPMAJO)	4,334	0.48	New	0	±0
	Canarian Patriotic Movement (MPC)	2,750	0.30	New	0	±0
	Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA)	2,715	0.30	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Canarian People (PCPC)	2,368	0.26	+0.12	0	±0
	Party for Services and Public Employed (PSyEP)	1,993	0.22	New	0	±0
	For a Fairer World (PUM+J)	1,442	0.16	New	0	±0
	Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC)	1,268	0.14	+0.05	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	1,246	0.14	+0.06	0	±0
	Unity of the People (UP)	1,133	0.13	–0.03	0	±0
	Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL)	1,018	0.11	New	0	±0
	Canarian Social Democratic Centre (CSDC)	361	0.04	New	0	±0
	National Democracy (DN)	314	0.03	±0.00	0	±0
	Communist Unification of Spain (UCE)	120	0.01	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		25,017	2.76	+1.34
Total		905,959			60	±0
Valid votes		905,959	97.31	–2.12
Invalid votes		25,051	2.69	+2.12
Votes cast / turnout		931,010	58.91	–2.36
Abstentions		649,349	41.09	+2.36
Registered voters		1,580,359
Sources[6][7][8]

Popular vote PP   31.94% CC–PNC–CCN   24.94% PSOE   20.98% NCa   9.07% ACSSP   2.10% Verdes   2.08% UPyD   1.00% Others   5.13% Blank ballots   2.76%

Seats PP   35.00% CC–PNC–CCN   35.00% PSOE   25.00% NCa   5.00%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency	PP		CC–PNC		PSOE		NCa
	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S
El Hierro	25.3	1	35.7	1	33.9	1
Fuerteventura	20.4	2	33.7	3	17.3	2	8.6	−
Gran Canaria	41.4	8	9.2	1	21.1	4	14.3	2
La Gomera	24.7	1	20.9	1	44.9	2	4.2	−
La Palma	28.1	2	39.5	4	24.9	2	1.8	−
Lanzarote	22.4	2	34.8	4	17.2	1	13.6	1
Tenerife	25.6	5	36.6	7	20.2	3	4.7	−
Total	31.9	21	24.9	21	21.0	15	9.1	3

Notes

1. Aggregated data for CC–PNC and CCN in the 2007 election.
2. Aggregated data for NCa and PIL in the 2007 election.
3. Within CC.
4. Within NCa.
5. Within CCN.

References

Opinion poll sources

1. "Empate a escaños entre PP, PSC y CC". Canarias Ahora (in Spanish). 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
2. "Empate en escaños CC-PP-PSOE en el Parlamento de Canarias (ACN Press)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
3. "El PP doblega al PSOE a siete días de la cita electoral". La Razón (in Spanish). 15 May 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
4. "Vuelco en Cantabria (La Razón)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 15 May 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
5. "CC puede continuar en las islas con el pacto que da aire a Zapatero hasta 2012". ABC (in Spanish). 9 May 2011.
6. "Triple empate entre CC, PSOE Y PP en Canarias". Antena 3 (in Spanish). 10 May 2011.
7. "Encuesta de TNS para Antena 3 y Onda Cero. Elecciones 22M. Expectativas electorales en Canarias" (PDF). TNS Demoscopia (in Spanish). 10 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2012.
8. "Barómetro electoral autonómico" (PDF). Celeste-Tel (in Spanish). 9 May 2011.
9. "PSOE y CC empatarían a diputados". Canarias Ahora (in Spanish). 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
10. "PSOE y CC empatarían a diputados en Canarias (Canarias Ahora)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
11. "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas, 2011. Comunidad Autónoma de Canarias (Estudio nº 2875. Marzo-Abril 2011)" (PDF). CIS (in Spanish). 5 May 2011.
12. "El PSOE fija su objetivo: salvar los muebles". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 6 May 2011.
13. "El Mundo 25-27 de Abril 2011". El Mundo (in Spanish). 25 April 2011.
14. "El PP sería la primera fuerza, con una derrota del PSC". La Provincia (in Spanish). 2 April 2011.
15. "Empate a tres en el Parlamento de Canarias (ACN Press)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 2 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
16. "El PP sería el partido más votado en Canarias, delante del PSOE y con CC de tercera fuerza, según un sondeo". Europa Press (in Spanish). 12 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
17. "El parlamento canario contará con las mismas formaciones (Sigma Dos)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 12 March 2011. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
18. "Un sondeo otorga la victoria al PP en las elecciones regionales". ABC (in Spanish). 14 March 2011.
19. "CC gana las elecciones". Canarias7 (in Spanish). 13 February 2011.
20. "El Partido Socialista Canario registra su mayor caída en la circunscripción electoral de Gran Canaria". Canarias7 (in Spanish). 13 February 2011.
21. "Coalición Canaria ganaría las autonómicas y Nueva Canaria entraría en la Cámara (Canarias7)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 14 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011.
22. "Coalición Canaria sigue teniendo la llave del archipiélago (El Mundo)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 7 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011.
23. "El PSC-PSOE ganaría otra vez las elecciones con 23 diputados". Canarias Ahora (in Spanish). 14 August 2010. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
24. "El PSOE estaría a la cabeza en Canarias (OPMC)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 2 September 2010. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011.
25. "Cuarta entrega de sondeos de El Mundo: Navarra, Aragón y Canarias". Electómetro (in Spanish). 2 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010.
26. "PEV-2009 MAYO" (PDF). KDK Creativa (in Spanish). 1 June 2009.

Other

1. "Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands of 1982". Organic Law No. 10 of 10 August 1982. Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2017.
2. Reig Pellicer, Naiara (16 December 2015). "Spanish elections: Begging for the right to vote". cafebabel.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
3. "Parliament of the Canary Islands Elections Law of 2003". Law No. 7 of 20 March 2003. Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2017.
4. "General Electoral System Organic Law of 1985". Organic Law No. 5 of 19 June 1985. Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
5. "Representation of the people Institutional Act". www.juntaelectoralcentral.es. Central Electoral Commission. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
6. "Electoral Information System in the Canary Islands". www.gobiernodecanarias.org (in Spanish). Canarian Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
7. "2011 Election Results". parcan.es (in Spanish). Parliament of the Canary Islands. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
8. "Parliament of the Canary Islands elections since 1983". historiaelectoral.com (in Spanish). Electoral History. Retrieved 30 September 2017.