2003 Valencian regional election

2003 Valencian regional election
25 May 2003
All 89 seats in the Corts Valencianes
45 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered3,423,098 1.8%
Turnout2,447,224 (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
President before election

José Luis Olivas
PP

Elected President

Francisco Camps
PP

A regional election was held in the Valencian Community on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect the 6th 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.

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 Corts, losing only one seat compared to 1999, which was gained by the Agreement (L'Entesa) alliance led by United Left of the Valencian Country (EUPV). The Socialist Party of the Valencian Country (PSPV–PSOE), while increasing its vote share in two percentage points compared to its 1999 result, failed to translate it into any new seats. Valencian Union (UV), the former PP coalition partner during the first Zaplana government (1995–1999), continued its decline into irrelevance and fell below 3%, depriving it of any possibility of overcoming the five percent threshold to enter the Corts.

Francisco Camps became the new president of the Valencian Government succeeding José Luis Olivas, who had replaced Eduardo Zaplana in 2002 after the latter was named Labour and Social Affairs minister in Aznar's second cabinet.

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
36 Valencia(–1)
30 Alicante
23 Castellón(+1)

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. 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 13 June 1999, setting the date for election day on the fourth Sunday of May four years later, which was 25 May 2003.

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

The Corts Valencianes were officially dissolved on 1 April 2003 with the publication of the dissolution decree in the DOGV, setting election day for 25 May and scheduling for the chamber to reconvene on 12 June.[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 2003
Groups Parties Legislators
Seats Total
People's Parliamentary Group PP 49 49
Socialist–Progressives Parliamentary Group PSPV–PSOE 34 34
United Left Parliamentary Group EUPV 5 5
Mixed Group EV–IPV 1[a] 1

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.[14][15]

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
 Francisco Camps Conservatism
Christian democracy 		47.9% 49 [16]
[17]
PSPV–PSOE
List
 Joan Ignasi Pla Social democracy 33.9% 35 [18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
L'Entesa
List
 Joan Ribó Valencian nationalism
Socialism
Green politics 		6.1% 5 [22]
[23]
[24]
[25]
Bloc–EV
List
 Pere Mayor Valencian nationalism
Eco-socialism
Green politics 		4.5% 0 [26]
[27]
[28]

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.

Color key:

  Exit poll

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 25 May 2003 Corts Valencianes election results →
Parties and alliances 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[11][29][30]
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[11][29]

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
40 / 89
Absentees
0 / 89
Abstentions
0 / 89
Joan Ignasi Pla (PSPV) Cancelled
Joan Ribó (L'Entesa) Cancelled
Sources[11]

2006 motion of no confidence

Motion of no confidence
Nomination of Joan Ignasi Pla (PSPV)
Ballot → 4 October 2006
Required majority → 45 out of 89 N
Yes
35 / 89
No
  • • PP (47)
47 / 89
Abstentions
7 / 89
Absentees
0 / 89
Sources[11]

Notes

  1. ^ Joan Francesc Peris, former PSPV legislator.[12][13]
  2. ^ a b c Does not include non-resident citizens.

References

Opinion poll sources

  1. ^ "El sondeo de Sigma Dos determina una lucha codo a codo entre populares y socialistas en Madrid". ABC (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 (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. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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 (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 3/2003, de 31 de marzo, del Presidente de la Generalitat, de disolución y convocatoria de elecciones a las Cortes Valencianas (PDF) (Decree 3/2003). Official Journal of the Valencian Government (in Spanish). 31 March 2003. 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.
  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. ^ Moltó, Ezequiel (27 May 2001). "Esquerra Verda nace con el apoyo de ex militantes de Nova Esquerra". El País (in Spanish). Alicante. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Peris anuncia su probable pase al Grupo Mixto de las Cortes". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Agencias. 16 November 2001. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  14. ^ LECV (1987), art. 26.
  15. ^ LOREG (1985), art. 44.
  16. ^ "Zaplana comunica a las Cortes Valencianas su dimisión como presidente de la Generalitat". ABC (in Spanish). 9 July 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  17. ^ García del Moral, Juanjo (10 July 2002). "Francisco Camps será el candidato del PP al Gobierno valenciano". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  18. ^ Ferrandis, Joaquín (21 September 1999). "Asunción dimite como líder de la oposición en Valencia". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  19. ^ Ferrandis, Joaquín (24 September 2000). "Pla gana el congreso de los socialistas valencianos sólo por 10 votos". El País (in Spanish). Alicante. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Pla, proclamado candidato a la Generalitat valenciana". ABC (in Spanish). 27 March 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  21. ^ "Joan Ignasi Pla gana las primarias de los socialistas valencianos". El Mundo (in Spanish). Valencia. EFE. 24 September 2000. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  22. ^ Simón, Federico (4 December 2000). "Ribó es reelegido como coordinador general de IU en el País Valenciano". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  23. ^ Moltó, Ezequiel (27 February 2002). "La Entesa se abre a otros partidos de izquierda y grupos ecologistas". El País (in Spanish). Alicante. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  24. ^ "EU aprueba la Entesa a falta de que sea ratificada en referéndum". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Agencias. 10 March 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  25. ^ "L'Entesa nace con voluntad de 'hacer lo posible por tirar al PP'". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 12 September 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  26. ^ Olivares, Miguel (24 January 2000). "Mayor cierra el congreso constituyente del Bloc con sendos ataques a regionalistas y socialistas". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  27. ^ "Pere Mayor será ratificado el próximo día 21 como cabeza de cartel de las elecciones autonómicas". El País (in Spanish). Valencia. 15 September 2002. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  28. ^ Batalla, Eva (10 February 2003). "Mayor afirma que ha llegado el fin de las mayorías absolutas". El País (in Spanish). Gandia. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  29. ^ a b "Información pública de los resultados definitivos y de la relación de diputados y diputadas electos en las elecciones de las Cortes Valencianas celebradas el 25 de mayo de 2003" (PDF). Official Journal of the Valencian Government (in Spanish) (4564): 11469–11471. 12 August 2003. ISSN 0212-8195. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  30. ^ "Resultados electorales. Datos electorales - Elecciones autonómicas: 2003" (in Spanish). Corts Valencianes. Retrieved 10 November 2025.

Bibliography

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