2003 Navarrese regional election

The 2003 Navarrese regional election was held on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect the 6th Parliament of the Chartered Community of Navarre. All 50 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.

2003 Navarrese regional election

← 1999 25 May 2003 2007 →

All 50 seats in the Parliament of Navarre
26 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered464,826 Green arrow up0.7%
Turnout328,609 (70.7%)
Green arrow up4.5 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Miguel Sanz Juan José Lizarbe Félix Taberna
Party UPN PSN–PSOE IUN/NEB
Leader since 17 January 1995 18 December 1997 1991
Last election 22 seats, 41.4% 11 seats, 20.3% 3 seats, 6.9%
Seats won 23 11 4
Seat change Green arrow up1 Blue arrow right0 Green arrow up1
Popular vote 127,460 65,003 26,962
Percentage 41.5% 21.2% 8.8%
Swing Green arrow up0.1 pp Green arrow up0.9 pp Green arrow up1.9 pp

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Patxi Zabaleta Juan Cruz Alli Begoña Errazti
Party Aralar CDN EA–PNV
Leader since 30 June 2001 10 April 1995 1995
Last election Did not contest 3 seats, 6.9% 3 seats, 5.4%
Seats won 4 4 4
Seat change Green arrow up4 Green arrow up1 Green arrow up1
Popular vote 24,068 23,516 22,824
Percentage 7.8% 7.7% 7.4%
Swing New party Green arrow up0.8 pp Green arrow up2.0 pp

President before election

Miguel Sanz
UPN

Elected President

Miguel Sanz
UPN

Overview

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Electoral system

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The Parliament of Navarre was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the Chartered Community of Navarre, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Reintegration and Enhancement of the Foral Regime of Navarre Law, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a regional president.[1] Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in Navarre and in full enjoyment of their political rights.

The 50 members of the Parliament of Navarre were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied regionally.[2]

Election date

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The term of the Parliament of Navarre expired four years after the date of its previous election, with elections to the Parliament being 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 Parliament on Sunday, 25 May 2003.[1][2][3]

After legal amendments in 2001, the president was granted the prerogative to dissolve the Parliament of Navarre and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no nationwide election was due and some time requirements were met: namely, that dissolution did not occur either during the first legislative session or within the legislature's last year ahead of its scheduled expiry, nor before one year had elapsed since a previous dissolution under this procedure. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional president within a thirty-day period from the first ballot, the Parliament was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called. Any snap election held as a result of these circumstances would not alter the period to the next ordinary election, with elected deputies merely serving out what remained of their four-year terms.[1]

Parties and candidates

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The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in Navarre, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[2][3]

Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:

Candidacy Parties and
alliances
Leading candidate Ideology Previous result Gov. Ref.
Votes (%) Seats
UPN   Miguel Sanz Conservatism
Christian democracy
Regionalism
41.37% 22  Y
PSN–PSOE
List
  Juan José Lizarbe Social democracy 20.28% 11  N
IUN/NEB   Félix Taberna Socialism
Communism
6.88% 3  N
CDN   Juan Cruz Alli Christian democracy
Regionalism
6.86% 3  N
EA–PNV   Begoña Errazti Basque nationalism
Social democracy
Christian democracy
5.44% 3  N
Aralar
List
  Patxi Zabaleta Basque nationalism
Left-wing nationalism
Socialism
New party  N

Opinion polls

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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 poll. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 26 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of Navarre.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Results

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Summary of the 25 May 2003 Parliament of Navarre election results
 
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Navarrese People's Union (UPN) 127,460 41.48 +0.11 23 +1
Socialist Party of Navarre (PSN–PSOE) 65,003 21.15 +0.87 11 ±0
United Left of Navarre (IUN/NEB) 26,962 8.77 +1.89 4 +1
Aralar (Aralar) 24,068 7.83 New 4 +4
Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) 23,516 7.65 +0.79 4 +1
Basque Solidarity–Basque Nationalist Party (EAPNV) 22,824 7.43 +1.99 4 +1
Assembly (Batzarre) 7,873 2.56 New 0 ±0
Humanist Party (PH) 1,290 0.42 New 0 ±0
Carlist Party (EKA–PC) 1,017 0.33 +0.04 0 ±0
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a –15.58 0 –8
Blank ballots 7,304 2.38 +0.03
Total 307,317 50 ±0
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
Abstentions 136,217 29.30 –4.45
Registered voters 464,826
Sources[4][5]
Popular vote
UPN
41.48%
PSN–PSOE
21.15%
IUN/NEB
8.77%
Aralar
7.83%
CDN
7.65%
EA–PNV
7.43%
Batzarre
2.56%
Others
0.75%
Blank ballots
2.38%
Seats
UPN
46.00%
PSN–PSOE
22.00%
IUN/NEB
8.00%
Aralar
8.00%
CDN
8.00%
EA–PNV
8.00%

Aftermath

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After legal amendments in 2001, investiture processes to elect the president of the Government of Navarre required for an absolute majority—more than half the votes cast—to be obtained in the first ballot. If unsuccessful, a new ballot would be held 24 hours later requiring only of a simple majority—more affirmative than negative votes—to succeed. If such majorities were not achieved, successive candidate proposals would be processed under the same procedure. In the event of the investiture process failing to elect a regional president within a thirty-day period from the first ballot, the Parliament would be automatically dissolved and a snap election called.[1]

Investiture
Miguel Sanz (UPN)
Ballot → 26 June 2003
Required majority → 26 out of 50  Y
Yes
27 / 50
No
23 / 50
Abstentions
0 / 50
Absentees
0 / 50
Sources[5]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Within EA.
  2. ^ Within EH.

References

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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 24 June 2018.
  3. ^ "UPN (22-24) y PSN (12-14) suben, Aralar entra con 3 y CDN (3-4) será clave para el Gobierno". Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). 18 May 2003.
  4. ^ "Sondeos electorales CIES" (PDF). CIES (in Spanish). 22 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas, 2003. Comunidad Foral de Navarra (Estudio nº 2495. Marzo-Abril 2003)" (PDF). CIS (in Spanish). 17 May 2003.
  6. ^ "La guerra pasa factura electoral al PP". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 18 May 2003.
  7. ^ "UPN mantiene 22 parlamentarios y el PSN sube de 11 a 12 escaños". Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). 16 March 2003.
  8. ^ "Informe de la Actualidad en Navarra. Noviembre, 2002" (PDF). n@vcomtel (in Spanish). 12 November 2002.
  9. ^ Muez, Mikel (13 November 2002). "Una encuesta del Parlamento navarro concluye que Batasuna recupera apoyos". El País (in Spanish).
  10. ^ "Instituciones y autonomías, II. Comunidad Foral de Navarra (Estudio nº 2455. Septiembre-Octubre 2002)". CIS (in Spanish). 19 November 2002.
  11. ^ "El PP, partido más votado en diez Comunidades Autónomas" (PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). 19 November 2002.
  12. ^ "El PP ganaría las autonómicas en diez Comunidades y el PSOE en cuatro, según el CIS". ABC (in Spanish). 20 November 2002.
  13. ^ "UPN, cerca de la mayoría absoluta y Batasuna pierde 4 escaños". Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). 17 October 2001.
  14. ^ "Estudio sobre la Actualidad de Navarra. Octubre, 2001" (PDF). CIES (in Spanish). 16 October 2001.
Other
  1. ^ a b c d Ley Orgánica 13/1982, de 10 de agosto, de reintegración y amejoramiento del Régimen Foral de Navarra (Organic Law 13) (in Spanish). 10 August 1982. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Ley Foral 16/1986, de 17 de noviembre, reguladora de las elecciones al Parlamento de Navarra (Law 16) (in Spanish). 17 December 1986. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General (Organic Law 5) (in Spanish). 19 June 1985. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  4. ^ "VI Legislature (2003-2007)". parlamentodenavarra.es (in Spanish). Parliament of Navarre. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Elecciones al Parlamento de Navarra (Nafarroako Parlamentua) (1979 - 2019)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 September 2017.