1999 Valencian regional election

1999 Valencian regional election
13 June 1999
All 89 seats in the Corts Valencianes
45 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered3,361,989 7.4%
Turnout2,279,805 (67.8%)
8.2 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Eduardo Zaplana Antoni Asunción Joan Ribó
Party PP PSOE–p EUPV
Leader since 26 September 1993 7 April 1999 1997
Leader's seat Valencia Valencia Valencia
Last election 42 seats, 42.8% 32 seats, 34.0% 10 seats, 11.5%
Seats won 49 35 5
Seat change 7 3 5
Popular vote 1,085,011 768,548 137,212
Percentage 47.9% 33.9% 6.1%
Swing 5.1 pp 0.1 pp 5.4 pp
President before election

Eduardo Zaplana
PP

Elected President

Eduardo Zaplana
PP

A regional election was held in the Valencian Community on Sunday, 13 June 1999 to elect the 5th Corts of the autonomous community. All 89 seats in the Corts were up for election. It was held concurrently with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all across Spain, as well as the 1999 European Parliament election.

The People's Party (PP), which had ruled the community from 1995 in a coalition government, won an absolute majority of seats; a majority which it would maintain for the next 20 years. Its coalition partner, the Valencian Union (UV), fell just below the 5% threshold, resulting in it losing all seats and being expelled from the Corts. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) remained static on its 1995 vote share, though it gained 3 additional seats thanks to United Left (IU) electoral collapse from 10 to 5 seats.

Overview

Under the 1982 Statute of Autonomy, the Corts Valencianes were the unicameral legislature of the Valencian Community, having legislative power in devolved matters, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a regional president.[1]

Electoral system

Voting for the Corts was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Valencian Community and in full enjoyment of their political rights, provided that they were not sentenced—by a final court ruling—to deprivation of the right to vote, nor being legally incapacitated.[2][3]

The Corts Valencianes entitled to a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 100 seats, with the electoral law setting its size at 89. All members were elected in three multi-member constituencies—corresponding to the provinces of Alicante, Castellón and Valencia, with each being allocated an initial minimum of 20 seats and the remaining 29 being distributed in proportion to their populations (provided that the seat-to-population ratio in any given province did not exceed three times that of any other)—using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional voting system, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes (which included blank ballots) being applied regionally.[4][5]

As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Corts constituency was entitled the following seats:[6]

Seats Constituencies
37 Valencia
30 Alicante
22 Castellón

The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacated seats; instead, any vacancies that occurred after the proclamation of candidates and into the legislative term were to be covered by the successive candidates in the list and, when required, by the designated substitutes.[7][8]

Election date

The term of the Corts Valencianes expired four years after the date of their previous election, with election day being fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years, but a legal amendment introduced in 1998 allowed for regional elections held in May 1995 to be held concurrently with European Parliament elections, provided that they were scheduled for within a four month-timespan. The election decree was required to be issued no later than the fifty-fifth day prior to the scheduled election date and published on the following day in the Official Journal of the Valencian Government (DOGV).[4][9][10] The previous election was held on 28 May 1995, setting the date for election day concurrently with that year's European Parliament election on Sunday, 13 June 1999.

The Corts could not be dissolved before the date of expiry of parliament.[4]

The Corts Valencianes were officially dissolved on 20 April 1999 with the publication of the dissolution decree in the DOGV, setting election day for 13 June and scheduling for the chamber to reconvene on 9 July.[6]

Outgoing parliament

The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the chamber at the time of dissolution.[11]

Parliamentary composition in April 1999
Groups Parties Legislators
Seats Total
People's Parliamentary Group PP 42 42
Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 30 30
United Left–The Greens Parliamentary Group EUPV 7 7
Valencian Union Nationalist Parliamentary Group UV 4 4
Mixed Group PDNI 3[a] 5
IPCV 1[b]
INDEP 2[c]

Parties and candidates

The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance 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 the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[16][17]

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.
Vote % Seats
PP
List
 Eduardo Zaplana Conservatism
Christian democracy 		42.8% 42 [18]
[19]
PSOE–p
List
 Antoni Asunción Social democracy 34.0% 32 [20][21]
[22][23]
[24][25]
[26]
EUPV
List
 Joan Ribó Socialism
Communism 		11.5% 10 [27]
[28]
[29]
UV
List
 Héctor Villalba Blaverism
Conservatism 		7.0% 5 [30]
[31]
[32]
BNV–EV
List
 Pere Mayor Valencian nationalism
Eco-socialism
Green politics
2.7%
[d] 		0 [33]
[34]

Opinion polls

The tables below list opinion polling results 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.

Voting intention estimates

The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 45 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Corts Valencianes.

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Victory preferences

The table below lists opinion polling on the victory preferences for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

Victory likelihood

The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

Preferred President

The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become president of the Valencian Government.

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 13 June 1999 Corts Valencianes election results →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
People's Party (PP) 1,085,011 47.88 +5.05 49 +7
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party–Progressives (PSOE–p) 768,548 33.91 −0.07 35 +3
United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV) 137,212 6.05 −5.48 5 −5
Valencian Union (UV) 106,119 4.68 −2.33 0 −5
Valencian Nationalist Bloc–The Greens (BNV–EV)1 102,700 4.53 +1.82 0 ±0
Valencian Community Alternative (ACV) 6,146 0.27 New 0 ±0
Liberal Centre (CL) 4,813 0.21 New 0 ±0
The Ecologist–Pacifist Greens (LVEP) 4,176 0.18 New 0 ±0
Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS) 2,978 0.13 −0.10 0 ±0
Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) 2,973 0.13 +0.06 0 ±0
Independent Initiative (II) 2,524 0.11 New 0 ±0
Humanist Party (PH) 2,253 0.10 +0.07 0 ±0
Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV) 2,070 0.09 +0.01 0 ±0
Federal Republican Left–Federal Republican Party (IRF–PRF) 1,660 0.07 New 0 ±0
Valencian Independent Organization (OIV) 1,316 0.06 New 0 ±0
Spanish Autonomous League (LAE) 608 0.03 +0.01 0 ±0
Blank ballots 35,168 1.55 +0.50
Total 2,266,275 89 ±0
Valid votes 2,266,275 99.41 −0.03
Invalid votes 13,530 0.59 +0.03
Votes cast / turnout 2,279,805 67.81 −8.22
Abstentions 1,082,184 32.19 +8.22
Registered voters 3,361,989
Sources[11][35][36]
Footnotes:
Popular vote
PP
 
 47.88%
PSOE–p
 
 33.91%
EUPV
 
 6.05%
UV
 
 4.68%
BNV–EV
 
 4.53%
Others
 
 1.39%
Blank ballots
 
 1.55%
Seats
PP
 
 55.06%
PSOE–p
 
 39.33%
EUPV
 
 5.62%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency PP PSOE–p EUPV
% S % S % S
Alicante 48.7 16 36.0 12 6.1 2
Castellón 49.3 12 34.6 9 4.2 1
Valencia 47.1 21 32.6 14 6.4 2
Total 47.9 49 33.9 35 6.1 5
Sources[11][35]

Aftermath

Government formation

Investiture
Candidate Ballot → 16 July 1999
Required majority → 45 out of 89
Eduardo Zaplana (PP)
Yes
  • • PP (49)
49 / 89
 Y
No
40 / 89
Abstentions
0 / 89
Absentees
0 / 89
Antoni Asunción (PSOE) Cancelled
Joan Ribó (EUPV) Cancelled
Sources[11]

2002 investiture

Investiture
Candidate Ballot → 16 July 2002
Required majority → 45 out of 89
José Luis Olivas (PP)
Yes
  • • PP (49)
49 / 89
 Y
No
40 / 89
Abstentions
0 / 89
Absentees
0 / 89
Joan Ribó (EUPV) Cancelled
Sources[11]

Notes

  1. ^ Francesc Colomer, Albert Taberner and Pedro Zamora, former EUPV legislators.[12][13]
  2. ^ Rafael Ferraro, former UV legislator.[13][14]
  3. ^ Roberto García Blanes and Josep Garés, former PSOE legislators.[13][15]
  4. ^ Results for UPV–BN in the 1995 election.
  5. ^ a b c Does not include non-resident citizens.

References

Opinion poll sources

  1. ^ "Zaplana roza la mayoría absoluta al restar al menos un diputado al PSOE". ABC (in Spanish). 7 June 1999.
  2. ^ "Zaplana alcanza la mayoría absoluta". El País (in Spanish). 7 June 1999.
  3. ^ "Comunidad Valenciana: el nacionalismo se deshincha". El Mundo (in Spanish). 30 May 1999.
  4. ^ "ELECCIONES 13-J/BALANCE DE LAS ENCUESTAS". El Mundo (in Spanish). 6 June 1999.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas y municipales, 1999. Comunidad Valenciana (Estudio nº 2338. Mayo 1999)". CIS (in Spanish). 4 June 1999.
  6. ^ "Estudio CIS nº 2338. Ficha técnica". CIS (in Spanish). 4 June 1999.
  7. ^ "Bono e Ibarra repiten y el PSOE recuperará Asturias". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 June 1999.
  8. ^ "Una encuesta da al PP la mayoría absoluta y otorga escaños al BNV". El País (in Spanish). 4 May 1999.
  9. ^ "El PP consolida su hegemonía y roza la mayoría absoluta en Valencia". El País (in Spanish). 9 October 1998.
  10. ^ a b c "El Partido Popular roza la mayoría absoluta". El País (in Spanish). 9 October 1998.

Other

  1. ^ Statute (1982), arts. 10–11.
  2. ^ LECV (1987), art. 2.
  3. ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 2–3.
  4. ^ a b c Statute (1982), arts. 12–13.
  5. ^ LECV (1987), arts. 10–12.
  6. ^ a b Decreto 8/1999, de 19 de abril, del presidente de la Generalitat Valenciana, de disolución y convocatoria de elecciones a las Cortes Valencianas (PDF) (Decree 8/1999). Official Journal of the Valencian Government (in Spanish). 19 April 1999. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ LECV (1987), art. 13.
  8. ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 46 & 48.
  9. ^ LECV (1987), art. 14.
  10. ^ LOREG (1985), art. 42 & add. prov. 5.
  11. ^ a b c d e Lozano, Carles. "Eleccions a les Corts Valencianes (des de 1983)". Historia Electoral.com (in Catalan). Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  12. ^ Ferrandis, Joaquín (13 September 1997). "La expulsión de Nueva Izquierda dejará a IU sin sus líderes más conocidos en el País Valenciano". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  13. ^ a b c "El cuarto diputado no adscrito de la historia de las Cortes Valencianas". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. EFE. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  14. ^ "Una larga historia de deserciones en la Cámara". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 12 November 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  15. ^ Ferrandis, Joaquín (16 February 1999). "El Grupo Socialista registra su segundo tránsfuga en las Cortes en sólo diez días". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  16. ^ LECV (1987), art. 26.
  17. ^ LOREG (1985), art. 44.
  18. ^ "El PP se refuerza en las regiones ante las próximas autonómicas". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 28 September 1996. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  19. ^ "El PP nombra candidato a Zaplana y la oposición busca controlar TVV". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 16 January 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  20. ^ Torrent, Josep (24 June 1997). "Lerma renuncia a repetir como líder de los socialistas valencianos". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  21. ^ Ferrandis, Joaquín (7 July 1997). "El renovador Romero, nuevo líder del socialismo valenciano por tres votos". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  22. ^ "El secretario general Romero gana en la Comunidad Valenciana al ex ministro Asunción por sólo 450 votos". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 28 June 1998. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  23. ^ Díez, Anabel (23 February 1999). "El PSOE y NI formarán coalición electoral en cinco regiones". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Los críticos y algunos lermistas descontentos con las listas fuerzan la dimisión de Romero". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 28 March 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  25. ^ Beltrán, Adolf (29 March 1999). "Los socialistas valencianos certifican con la renuncia de Romero una larga crisis interna". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  26. ^ Prats, Jaime (8 April 1999). "Asunción anuncia un vuelco electoral y acusa al PP de actuar como una "sociedad mercantil"". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  27. ^ Ferrandis, Joaquín (15 June 1998). "Ribó fuerza el consenso en EU y es reelegido como coordinador general". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  28. ^ "El PCPV propone a EU el tándem Ribó y Marcos para aspirar a la Generalitat". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 24 January 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  29. ^ Olivares, Miguel (14 February 1999). "Ribó es proclamado candidato a la presidencia de la Generalitat". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  30. ^ Ferrandis, Joaquín (1 December 1996). "El presidente de las Cortes valencianas, González Lizondo, expulsado de su partido". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  31. ^ "Fallece Vicente González Lizondo, presidente de las Cortes Valencianas". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 24 December 1996. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  32. ^ "Villalba, nominado candidato a la presidencia del Consell". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 17 January 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  33. ^ "La ejecutiva del BNV ratifica hoy a Pere Mayor como candidato". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 14 September 1998. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  34. ^ "Els Verds renuncian a la coalición con Esquerra Unida y acudirán a las elecciones junto al Bloc Nacionalista". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 15 March 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  35. ^ a b "Acuerdo de 1 de julio de 1999, de la Junta Electoral de la Comunidad Valenciana, por el que se publican los resultados finales y de la relación de diputados y diputadas electos en las elecciones a las Cortes Valencianas, celebradas el día 13.06.1999" (PDF). Official Journal of the Valencian Government (in Spanish) (3531): 12130–12131. 5 July 1999. ISSN 0212-8195. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  36. ^ "Resultados electorales. Datos electorales - Elecciones autonómicas: 1999" (in Spanish). Corts Valencianes. Retrieved 10 November 2025.

Bibliography

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