Basque parliamentary election, 2016

Basque parliamentary election, 2016
Basque Country (autonomous community)
25 September 2016

All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament
38 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered 1,783,419 Increase0.5%
Turnout 1,070,357 (60.0%)
Decrease3.9 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Iñigo Urkullu Maddalen Iriarte Pilar Zabala
Party EAJ/PNV EH Bildu Elkarrekin Podemos
Leader since 2 December 2007 24 August 2016 11 August 2016
Leader's seat Álava Gipuzkoa Gipuzkoa
Last election 27 seats, 34.2% 21 seats, 24.7% 0 seats, 3.7%[lower-alpha 1]
Seats won 28 18 11
Seat change Increase1 Decrease3 Increase11
Popular vote 398,168 225,172 157,334
Percentage 37.4% 21.1% 14.8%
Swing Increase3.2 Decrease3.5 pp Increase11.0 pp

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Idoia Mendia Alfonso Alonso Nicolás de Miguel
Party PSE–EE (PSOE) PP C's
Leader since 20 September 2014 15 October 2015 2 August 2016
Leader's seat Biscay Álava Álava
Last election 16 seats, 18.9% 10 seats, 11.6% Did not contest
Seats won 9 9 0
Seat change Decrease7 Decrease1 ±0
Popular vote 126,420 107,771 21,477
Percentage 11.9% 10.1% 2.0%
Swing Decrease7.0 pp Decrease1.5 pp New party

Lehendakari before election

Iñigo Urkullu
EAJ/PNV

Elected Lehendakari

Iñigo Urkullu
EAJ/PNV

The 2016 Basque parliamentary election will be held on Sunday, 25 September 2016, to elect the 11th Basque Parliament, the regional legislature of the Spanish autonomous community of the Basque Country. All 75 seats in the Parliament will be up for election. The election was held simultaneously with a regional election in Galicia.

Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu announced the election would be held one month ahead of schedule, on September 2016, as a result of the ongoing "climate of ungovernability" affecting the national government so as to move the regional election away from a possible new general election and from the speculation surrounding the government formation process.[1] In a domino effect, this prompted Galician President Alberto Núñez Feijóo to also set the Galician regional election, scheduled for autumn 2016, for the same date.[2]

Electoral system

The 75 members of the Basque Parliament are elected in 3 multi-member districtsces using the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation system. Each district is assigned a fixed number of 25 seats. Only party lists polling above 3% of valid votes in each district (which include blank ballotsfor none of the above) are entitled to enter the seat distribution.[3] Owing to large discrepancies in population between the three provinces, each of the 25 elected members in Álava represents around 6,000 electors, while in the more populous Biscay each of the 25 elected members represents over 20,000 electors.[4]

Background

On 1 March 2016, Sortu Secretary-General Arnaldo Otegi left the Logroño prison after serving his full prison sentence imposed for attempting to reorganize the banned Batasuna party. In addition to the prison sentence, Otegi had been sentenced to disqualification from holding any public office until 2021.[5] Despite this, on 24 May the EH Bildu coalition proclaimed him as its candidate for lehendakari, on grounds that the ruling did not specify what specific charges affected his disqualification.[6] After the official announcement of elections for 25 September, the various parties began to express their opinions on the issue.

The Basque Nationalist Party and Podemos announced that they would challenge his candidacy because they thought it should be up to the Basque citizens to decide whether Otegi deserved to be elected or not;[7] the Socialist Party of the Basque Country, meanwhile, said that it would not challenge him neither because the decision should be taken by justice.[8] The People's Party, Citizens and Union, Progress and Democracy announced that, following the publication of electoral lists, they would go to the prosecution to challenge Otegi's candidacy.[9]

On August 24 the Gipuzkoa Provincial Electoral Board ruled that Otegi could not be a candidate in the lists of EH Bildu for being barred to stand for election as part of his sentence.[10] The journalist Maddalen Iriarte, who was second in EH Bildu Gipuzkoa's list, went on to top the list as provided for in Article 65.2 of the Electoral Law of the Basque Country.[11]

Campaign

Parties, leaders and slogans

Party/alliance Leader/candidate Campaign slogan(s)
Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) Iñigo Urkullu "Build the Basque Country. Look to the future"[12]
Basque Country Unite (EH Bildu) Arnaldo Otegi
Maddalen Iriarte
"Here and now. A shared country"[12]
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) Idoia Mendia "Together"[12]
People's Party of the Basque Country (PP) Alfonso Alonso "Alonso, the voice that unites us"[12]
United We Can (PodemosIUeQuo) (Elkarrekin Podemos) Pilar Zabala "For the Basque Country. With the people"[12]
Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) Nicolás de Miguel "Europeans from the South, Spaniards from the North, Basques of centre"[12]

Opinion polling

Party vote

Poll results are listed in the tables below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first, and using the date the survey's fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. If such date is unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the leading party's colour. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded. The lead column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the two parties with the highest figures. When a specific poll does not show a data figure for a party, the party's cell corresponding to that poll is shown empty.

Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls

Polling firm/Link Fieldwork/
publication date
Sample
size
TO Lead
Regional Election 25.09.16 N/A 59.8% 37.7 21.2 11.9 10.2 14.8 2.0 16.5
Gizaker 23.09.16–25.09.16 2,400 ? 36.5 20.7 11.1 9.7 17.9 2.2 15.8
Celeste-Tel 12.09.16–16.09.16 1,200 64.1% 37.3 20.4 11.9 8.4 18.3 2.0 16.9
Gizaker 14.09.16–15.09.16 1,200 64.4% 37.2 21.0 11.0 9.7 17.8 2.3 16.2
GAD3 14.09.16–15.09.16 801 ? 38.5 19.7 10.8 9.2 17.8 18.8
Metroscopia 13.09.16–15.09.16 2,100 65.8% 36.3 19.2 12.1 8.8 17.9 2.0 17.1
Sigma Dos 12.09.16–15.09.16 1,200 ? 35.1 21.1 12.5 9.5 16.9 2.1 14.0
NC Report 06.09.16–14.09.16 1,000 ? 36.2 21.0 11.4 9.1 18.8 15.2
Ikerfel 08.09.16–11.09.16 2,700 65.4% 36.7 18.9 12.9 8.8 19.3 2.2 17.4
Ikertalde 01.09.16–08.09.16 2,576 64.7% 33.5 21.3 11.7 9.2 19.3 2.2 12.2
Gizaker 05.09.16–06.09.16 1,200 63.5% 36.2 20.7 10.7 10.3 18.2 2.7 15.5
CIS/IMOP 27.08.16–02.09.16 3,007 ? 37.9 20.2 10.8 8.8 18.9 1.8 17.7
General Election 26.06.16 N/A 64.9% 24.9 13.3 14.2 12.9 0.1 29.1 3.5 4.2
Gizaker 08.06.16–09.06.16 1,200 ? 37.2 21.3 10.7 9.1 0.4 18.2 2.7 15.9
Ikertalde 23.05.16–02.06.16 2,310 67.5% 31.8 21.0 12.3 8.7 0.2 20.8 2.2 10.8
Ikertalde 23.05.16–02.06.16 2,310 67.5% 31.8 21.0 12.3 8.7 3.0 0.2 17.8 2.2 10.8
SYM Consulting 05.05.16–20.05.16 1,274 ? 34.1 20.4 11.8 9.1 20.7 3.5 13.4
Gizaker 11.05.16–12.05.16 1,200 ? 35.5 20.2 11.0 9.2 0.2 19.4 3.0 15.3
Gizaker 13.04.16–14.04.16 1,200 ? 35.3 19.0 12.1 8.8 2.4 0.2 19.1 2.3 16.2
Ikertalde 25.01.16–02.02.16 2,310 70.5% 31.3 19.1 12.0 8.8 2.5 0.2 20.5 3.3 10.8
UPV/EHU 19.01.16–31.01.16 600 67% 29.3 16.3 12.2 9.4 25.2 3.6 4.1
Redondo & Asociados 16.01.16 ? ? 30.0 19.0 12.8 8.3 3.0 25.0 5.0
General Election 20.12.15 N/A 69.0% 24.7 15.1 13.2 11.6 2.9 0.3 26.0 4.1 1.3
UPV/EHU 29.05.15–15.06.15 600 65% 33.5 23.1 14.5 8.1 1.7 15.1 10.4
JJGG Election 24.05.15 N/A 63.8% 33.3 22.4 13.6 9.3 2.7 0.5 13.7 2.1 10.9
Municipal Elections 24.05.15 N/A 63.8% 33.1 23.4 14.6 9.4 3.1 0.1 1.6 9.7
UPV/EHU 27.10.14–14.11.14 600 67% 30.5 19.7 12.8 8.1 3.2 2.2 25.6 4.9
EP Election 25.05.14 N/A 43.1% 27.5 23.4 13.8 10.2 5.6 3.3 6.9 0.8 4.1
UPV/EHU 30.04.14–19.05.14 600 60% 34.2 23.9 16.5 8.1 6.4 2.2 4.8 10.3
UPV/EHU 24.10.13–15.11.13 1,200 60% 34.9 25.9 15.5 9.6 4.4 2.2 9.0
Ikertalde 08.10.13–11.10.13 2,289 64.0% 34.7 24.1 17.7 10.8 3.1 2.3 10.6
UPV/EHU 07.05.13–27.05.13 1,200 60% 34 24 18 10 4 3 10
Ikertalde 22.04.13–27.04.13 2,277 63.5% 34.9 24.2 17.8 10.0 3.1 2.5 10.7
Regional Election 21.10.12 N/A 64.0% 34.2 24.7 18.9 11.6 2.7 1.9 9.5

Seat projections

Opinion polls showing seat projections are displayed in the table below. The highest seat figures in each polling survey have their background shaded in the leading party's colour. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded. 38 seats are required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament.

Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls

Polling firm/Link Fieldwork/
publication date
Regional Election 25.09.16 28 18 9 9 11 0
Gizaker 23.09.16–25.09.16 27/30 16/18 8/10 7/8 13/15 0/1
Celeste-Tel 12.09.16–16.09.16 29 15 9 7 15 0
Gizaker 14.09.16–15.09.16 27/29 17 8/9 7/8 13/14 0/1
GAD3 14.09.16–15.09.16 28/29 15/16 8/9 8/9 14/15 0
Metroscopia 13.09.16–15.09.16 27/29 16/17 8 6/7 14/16 1
Sigma Dos 12.09.16–15.09.16 26/28 17/18 9 8 13/14 0
NC Report 06.09.16–14.09.16 27 16 9 8 15 0
Ikerfel 08.09.16–11.09.16 28 14/15 9/10 8 15/16 0
Ikertalde 01.09.16–08.09.16 26 17 9 8 15 0
Gizaker 05.09.16–06.09.16 27 17 8 8 14 1
CIS/IMOP 27.08.16–02.09.16 27/28 16 8 8 15/16 0
General Election 26.06.16 (18) (10) (11) (10) (0) (25) (1)
Gizaker 08.06.16–09.06.16 27 17 8 8 0 14 1
Ikertalde 23.05.16–02.06.16 24 17 9 7 0 17 1
Ikertalde 23.05.16–02.06.16 24 18 10 8 0 0 14 1
Gizaker 11.05.16–12.05.16 27 16 9 7 0 15 1
Gizaker 13.04.16–14.04.16 27 15 10 7 0 0 15 1
Ikertalde 25.01.16–02.02.16 24 15 9 8 0 0 18 1
UPV/EHU 19.01.16–31.01.16 22/23 13 9 8/9 0 0 19/21 1/3
Redondo & Asociados 16.01.16 22/23 13/14 10 6 0/1 0 21/22 0
General Election 20.12.15 (18) (12) (10) (10) (1) (0) (21) (3)
UPV/EHU 29.05.15–15.06.15 25/26 18/19 10/11 7/8 0 0 11/12 0
JJGG Election 24.05.15 (26) (18) (10) (9) (1) (0) (11) (0)
UPV/EHU 27.10.14–14.11.14 22/23 13/14 10 6 0/1 0/1 21/22 0
EP Election 25.05.14 (21) (21) (12) (10) (4) (1) (6) (0)
UPV/EHU 30.04.14–19.05.14 29 22 12 7 3 1 1
UPV/EHU 24.10.13–15.11.13 29 23 12 8 2 1
Ikertalde 08.10.13–11.10.13 27 21 15 10 1 1
UPV/EHU 07.05.13–27.05.13 28 20 14 10 2 1
Ikertalde 22.04.13–27.04.13 27 21 15 10 1 1
Regional Election 21.10.12 27 21 16 10 0 1

Results

Overall

Summary of the 25 September 2016 Basque Parliament election results
Party Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Won +/−
Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 398,168 37.36 +3.20 28 +1
Basque Country Unite (EH Bildu) 225,172 21.13 –3.54 18 –3
United We Can (PodemosIUeQuo) (Elkarrekin Podemos)[lower-alpha 1] 157,334 14.76 +11.04 11 +11
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 126,420 11.86 –7.03 9 –7
People's Party of the Basque Country (PP) 107,771 10.11 –1.48 9 –1
Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 21,477 2.02 New 0 ±0
Blank ballots 6,681 0.63 –0.67
Total 1,065,685 100.00 75 ±0
Valid votes 1,065,685 99.56 +0.37
Invalid votes 4,672 0.44 –0.37
Votes cast / turnout 1,070,357 60.02 –3.94
Abstentions 713,062 39.98 +3.94
Registered voters 1,783,419
Source: Election Results
  1. 1 2 Elkarrekin Podemos results are compared to the combined totals of IU–LV and EB–EE in the 2012 election.
Vote share
EAJ/PNV
 
37.36%
EH Bildu
 
21.13%
Elkarrekin Podemos
 
14.76%
PSE–EE (PSOE)
 
11.86%
PP
 
10.11%
C's
 
2.02%
Others
 
2.12%
Blank ballots
 
0.63%
Parliamentary seats
EAJ/PNV
 
37.33%
EH Bildu
 
24.00%
Elkarrekin Podemos
 
14.67%
PSE–EE (PSOE)
 
12.00%
PP
 
12.00%

Results by district

District PNV EHB EP PSE–EE PP
% S % S % S % S % S
Álava 28.0 8 17.8 5 16.1 4 12.9 3 18.5 5
Biscay 41.8 11 17.5 5 14.8 4 11.7 3 9.7 2
Gipuzkoa 34.0 9 28.7 8 14.2 3 11.8 3 7.2 2
Total 37.6 28 21.3 18 14.9 11 11.9 9 10.2 9

Aftermath

Investiture vote

First round: 23 November 2016
Absolute majority (38/75) required
Choice Vote
Parties Votes
Iñigo Urkullu PNV (28), PSE–EE (9)
37 / 75
Maddalen Iriarte EH Bildu (18)
18 / 75
Blank ballots EP (11), PP (9)
20 / 75
Source: Historia Electoral
Second round: 24 November 2016
Simple majority required
Choice Vote
Parties Votes
YesIñigo Urkullu PNV (28), PSE–EE (9)
37 / 75
Maddalen Iriarte EH Bildu (18)
18 / 75
Blank ballots EP (11), PP (9)
20 / 75
Source: Historia Electoral

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.