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1999 Catalan regional election

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1999 Catalan regional election
← 1995 17 October 1999 2003 →
All 135 seats in the Parliament of Catalonia
68 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered5,293,657 Green arrow up4.2%
Turnout3,133,926 (59.2%)
Red arrow down4.4 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Jordi Pujol Pasqual Maragall Alberto Fernández Díaz
Party CiU PSC–CpC PP
Leader since 17 November 1974 6 March 1999 28 September 1996
Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona
Last election 60 seats, 40.9% 35 seats, 26.1%[a] 17 seats, 13.1%
Seats won 56 52 12
Seat change Red arrow down4 Green arrow up17 Red arrow down5
Popular vote 1,178,420 1,183,299 297,265
Percentage 37.7% 37.9% 9.5%
Swing Red arrow down3.2 pp Green arrow up11.8 pp Red arrow down3.6 pp
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira Rafael Ribó Antoni Lucchetti
Party ERC IC–V EUiA
Leader since 25 November 1996 23 February 1987 6 November 1998
Leader's seat Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona
Last election 13 seats, 9.5% 8 seats (IC–EV)[b] 1 seat (IC–EV)[b]
Seats won 12 3 0
Seat change Red arrow down1 Red arrow down5 Red arrow down1
Popular vote 271,173 78,441 44,454
Percentage 8.7% 2.5% 1.4%
Swing Red arrow down0.8 pp n/a n/a
Election result by constituency
President before election

Jordi Pujol
CDC (CiU)

Elected President

Jordi Pujol
CDC (CiU)

The 1999 Catalan regional election was held on Sunday, 17 October 1999, to elect the 6th Parliament of the autonomous community of Catalonia. All 135 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

The election saw the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) under former Mayor of Barcelona Pasqual Maragall achieve a razor-thin victory in the popular vote, the first time since 1980 that the Convergence and Union (CiU) alliance of incumbent president Jordi Pujol did not come out in top of voters' preferences. However, as a result of the electoral system, CiU was able to retain first place in terms of seats, and together with the conservative People's Party (PP), secure a small majority of 68 seats in the Parliament of Catalonia, compared to the 67 garnered by the combined total of all three left-from-centre parties: the PSC, Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Initiative for Catalonia–Greens (IC–V). The latter had recently split from its national referent, United Left (IU), which ahead of the election established a new regional branch, United and Alternative Left (EUiA), which failed to secure any parliamentary representation.

Overview

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Electoral system

[edit]

The Parliament of Catalonia was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Catalonia, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Catalan Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a regional president.[1] Transitory Provision Fourth of the Statute established a specific electoral procedure for elections to the Parliament of Catalonia, of application for as long as a regional electoral law was not approved, to be supplemented by the provisions within the national electoral law. Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in Catalonia and in full enjoyment of their political rights.

The 135 members of the Parliament of Catalonia were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, with each being allocated a fixed number of seats:[1]

Seats Constituencies
85 Barcelona
18 Tarragona
17 Girona
15 Lleida

In smaller constituencies, the use of the electoral method resulted in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies.[2]

Election date

[edit]

The term of the Parliament of Catalonia expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The regional president was required to call an election fifteen days prior to the date of expiry of parliament, with election day taking place within sixty days after the call. The previous election was held on 19 November 1995, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 19 November 1999. The election was required to be called no later than 4 November 1999, with it taking place on the sixtieth day from the call, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Monday, 3 January 2000.[1]

The president had the prerogative to dissolve the Parliament of Catalonia and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process and that dissolution did not occur before one year had elapsed since a previous one under this procedure. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a two-month period from the first ballot, the Parliament was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called.[3][4]

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 the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[5]

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
CiU
List
 Jordi Pujol Catalan nationalism
Centrism 		40.95% 60 checkY
PSC–CpC
List
 Pasqual Maragall Social democracy 24.89% 34 ☒N [6]
PP
List
 Alberto Fernández Díaz Conservatism
Christian democracy 		13.08% 17 ☒N
ERC
List
 Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira Catalan independence
Left-wing nationalism
Social democracy 		9.49% 13 ☒N
IC–V
List
 Rafael Ribó Regionalism
Eco-socialism
Green politics 		9.71%[b] 11 ☒N
EUiA
List
 Antoni Lucchetti Socialism
Communism 		[7]
EV–CEC
List
 Elisenda Fores Ecologism

Opinion polls

[edit]

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.

Graphical summary

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Local regression trend line of poll results from 19 November 1995 to 17 October 1999, with each line corresponding to a political party.

Voting intention estimates

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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; 68 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of Catalonia.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Results

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Overall

[edit]
← Summary of the 17 October 1999 Parliament of Catalonia election results →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Citizens for Change (PSC–CpC) 1,183,299 37.85 +11.75 52 +17
Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Citizens for Change (PSC–CpC)1 948,202 30.33 +11.08 36 +14
Socialists' Party–Citizens for Change–Initiative–Greens (PSC–CpC–IC–V)2 235,097 7.52 +0.67 16 +3
Convergence and Union (CiU) 1,178,420 37.70 –3.25 56 –4
People's Party (PP) 297,265 9.51 –3.57 12 –5
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) 271,173 8.67 –0.82 12 –1
Initiative for Catalonia–Greens (IC–V)2 3 78,441 2.51 n/a 3 –5
United and Alternative Left (EUiA)3 44,454 1.42 n/a 0 –1
The Greens–Ecologist Confederation of Catalonia (EV–CEC)3 22,797 0.73 n/a 0 –1
The Greens–Green Alternative (EV–AV) 8,254 0.26 New 0 ±0
Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 2,784 0.09 New 0 ±0
Catalan State (EC) 1,774 0.06 New 0 ±0
Humanist Party of Catalonia (PHC) 1,327 0.04 New 0 ±0
Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) 1,281 0.04 +0.03 0 ±0
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 1,161 0.04 New 0 ±0
Natural Law Party (PLN) 1,029 0.03 New 0 ±0
UNIC–Federation of Independents of Catalonia (UNIC–FIC) 881 0.03 New 0 ±0
Bounced Public Workers (TPR) 833 0.03 New 0 ±0
Espinalist Party (PE) 799 0.03 New 0 ±0
Internationalist Struggle (LI (LIT–CI)) 485 0.02 New 0 ±0
Federal Democratic Union (UFD) 447 0.01 New 0 ±0
Catalans in the World (CAM) 110 0.00 New 0 ±0
Democratic Party of the People (PDEP) 108 0.00 ±0.00 0 ±0
Blank ballots 28,968 0.93 –0.04
Total 3,126,090 135 ±0
Valid votes 3,126,090 99.75 +0.03
Invalid votes 7,836 0.25 –0.03
Votes cast / turnout 3,133,926 59.20 –4.44
Abstentions 2,159,731 40.80 +4.44
Registered voters 5,293,657
Sources[8][9]
Footnotes:
Popular vote
PSC–CpC
 
 37.85%
CiU
 
 37.70%
PP
 
 9.51%
ERC
 
 8.67%
IC–V
 
 2.51%
EUiA
 
 1.42%
Others
 
 1.41%
Blank ballots
 
 0.93%
Seats
CiU
 
 41.48%
PSC–CpC
 
 38.52%
PP
 
 8.89%
ERC
 
 8.89%
IC–V
 
 2.22%

Distribution by constituency

[edit]
Constituency PSC–CpC CiU PP ERC IC–V
% S % S % S % S % S
Barcelona 40.0 36 35.1 31 9.9 8 7.7 7 3.3 3
Girona 29.2 5 48.6 9 6.0 1 12.8 2
Lleida 29.5 5 48.1 8 8.0 1 11.6 1
Tarragona 34.1 6 41.3 8 10.6 2 10.5 2
Total 37.9 52 37.7 56 9.5 12 8.7 12 2.5 3
Sources[10][11][12][13][9]

Aftermath

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Government formation

[edit]
Investiture
Jordi Pujol (CDC)
Ballot → 16 November 1999
Required majority → 68 out of 135 checkY
Yes
  • • CiU (56)
  • • PP (12)
68 / 135
No
55 / 135
Abstentions
12 / 135
Absentees
0 / 135
Sources[9]

2001 motion of no confidence

[edit]
Motion of no confidence
Pasqual Maragall (PSC)
Ballot → 17 October 2001
Required majority → 68 out of 135 ☒N
Yes
55 / 135
No
  • • CiU (56)
  • • PP (12)
68 / 135
Abstentions
12 / 135
Absentees
0 / 135
Sources[9]

Notes

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  1. ^ Results for PSC–PSOE and IC–EV in Girona, Lleida and Tarragona in the 1995 election.
  2. ^ a b c Results for IC–EV in the 1995 election, not including results in Girona, Lleida and Tarragona.
  3. ^ In Girona, Lleida and Tarragona.
  4. ^ Large turnout from CiU's voters.
  5. ^ Large turnout from PSC's voters.

References

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Opinion poll sources
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Sondejos". Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 2015-01-03. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  2. ^ "DYM 10/10/1999". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 10 October 1999.
  3. ^ "Pujol aventaja en ocho escaños a Maragall a una semana de las elecciones catalanas". ABC (in Spanish). 10 October 1999.
  4. ^ "CiU gana terreno y podría llegar a los 55 diputados". ABC (in Spanish). 9 October 1999.
  5. ^ "Pujol se despega de Maragall". El País (in Spanish). 10 October 1999.
  6. ^ "Pujol afianza su ventaja sobre Maragall". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 October 1999.
  7. ^ "Convergencia retrocede un escaño, que pasaría a ERC". ABC (in Spanish). 6 October 1999.
  8. ^ "Preelectoral de Cataluña. Elecciones autonómicas, 1999. Cataluña". CIS (in Spanish). 7 October 1999.
  9. ^ "Estudio CIS nº 2373. Ficha técnica". CIS (in Spanish). 7 October 1999.
  10. ^ "El sondeo del CIS da a Pujol una ventaja de 6,9 puñtos pese al avance de Maragall". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 8 October 1999.
  11. ^ "Subida de Pujol en el arranque de la campaña". ABC (in Spanish). 4 October 1999.
  12. ^ "Subida de Pujol en el arranque de la campaña". ABC (in Spanish). 3 October 1999.
  13. ^ "Pujol recupera una cómoda ventaja". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 25 September 1999.
  14. ^ Díez, Anabel (1 October 1999). "Un sondeo socialista da ganador al PSC por dos puntos". El País (in Spanish).
  15. ^ "Pujol supera a Maragall en sólo un punto a un mes de las elecciones". El País (in Spanish). 19 September 1999.
  16. ^ "Pujol y Maragall, codo a codo". El País (in Spanish). 19 September 1999.
  17. ^ "El enigma del 17 de octubre". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 13 September 1999.
  18. ^ Rusiñol, Pere (6 September 1999). "Pujol y Maragall encaran la campaña catalana con un inédito empate técnico en los sondeos". El País (in Spanish).
  19. ^ "Maragall se sitúa a sólo 10 escaños de Pujol, según un sondeo de CiU". El País (in Spanish). 3 September 1999.
  20. ^ "La ventaja de Pujol se reduce a 2 puntos". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 September 1999.
  21. ^ "Un sondeo da 55 escaños a CiU y 45 al PSC". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 28 July 1999.
  22. ^ "El PP caería en las autonómicas del 13,1% al 7,7%, según una encuesta". El País (in Spanish). 19 July 1999.
  23. ^ "Una encuesta augura la victoria de CiU". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 19 July 1999.
  24. ^ "CiU recupera ventaja sobre el PSC". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 May 1999.
  25. ^ "El PP sufraga la recuperación de CiU y Esquerra". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 May 1999.
  26. ^ "El PSC dispone de un sondeo que marca por vez primera un empate entre Pujol y Maragall". El País (in Spanish). 7 May 1999.
  27. ^ "Un sondeo de 'La Vanguardia' da a CiU ocho puntos más que al PSC". El País (in Spanish). 10 May 1999.
  28. ^ "CiU aventaja en más de diez puntos al PSC". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 24 January 1999.
  29. ^ "Un sondeo da la mayoría a CiU en Cataluña, pese a la subida del PSC". El País (in Spanish). 24 January 1999.
  30. ^ "Maragall acorta distancias con Pujol". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 December 1998.
  31. ^ "El bajón de CiU apenas incide en sus escaños". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 December 1998.
  32. ^ "El PP designará este mes a Alberto Fernández candidato a la Generalidad". ABC (in Spanish). 6 November 1998.
  33. ^ a b Mauri, Luis (4 November 1998). "Pujol pretende compensar un "tirón" de Maragall en Barcelona quitando votos a ERC en comarcas". El País (in Spanish).
  34. ^ a b "Los socialistas contraatacan con un sondeo en el que Maragall vence a Pujol por dos puntos". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 4 November 1998.
  35. ^ a b "Pujol se siente insatisfecho por el sondeo de CDC en el que vence a Maragall". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 November 1998.
  36. ^ "Pujol tiene un sondeo en el que repite resultados, a 14 escaños de Maragall". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 3 November 1998.
  37. ^ "Pujol aventaja en 11 puntos a Maragall". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 28 June 1998.
  38. ^ "CiU se atrinchera en su resultado del 95". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 28 June 1998.
  39. ^ "CiU retrocede mientras el PSC avanza". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 22 March 1998.
  40. ^ a b "Pujol obtendría un escaño más que en 1995". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 23 March 1998.
  41. ^ "Pujol roza de nuevo la mayoría absoluta". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 November 1997.
  42. ^ "CiU recupera el voto autonómico del 95". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 29 June 1997.
  43. ^ "CiU baja, pero Pujol sigue ganando". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 March 1997.
Other
  1. ^ a b c Ley Orgánica 4/1979, de 18 de diciembre, de Estatuto de Autonomía de Cataluña (Organic Law 4/1979). BOE (in Spanish). Vol. 306. Spain: Jefatura del Estado [Head of State] (published 22 December 1979). 18 December 1979. BOE-A-1979-30178.
  2. ^ Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). "Effective threshold in electoral systems". Trinity College, Dublin. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  3. ^ Ley 3/1982, de 25 de marzo, del Parlament, del Presidente y del Consell Executiu de la Generalitat (Law 3) (in Spanish). 25 March 1982. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  4. ^ Ley 8/1985, de 24 de mayo, de modificación de la Ley 3/1982, de 25 de marzo, del Parlamento, del Presidente y del Consejo Ejecutivo de la Generalidad de Cataluña (Law 8) (in Spanish). 24 May 1985. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  5. ^ Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General (Organic Law 5) (in Spanish). 19 June 1985. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Maragall, elegido candidato a la Generalitat con casi 60.000 votos". El País (in Spanish). 7 March 1999. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Lucchetti será el candidato anguitista a la Generalitat". El País (in Spanish). 7 November 1998. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Electoral results. Parliament of Catalonia election 1999". resultats.dadeselectorals.gencat.cat (in Catalan). Government of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d "Eleccions al Parlament de Catalunya (1980 - 2021)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1999. Barcelona". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1999. Girona". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1999. Lleida". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Election Results. Parliament of Catalonia Election 1999. Tarragona". gencat.cat (in Catalan). Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
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