# 2003 Spanish regional elections

The 2003 Spanish regional elections were held on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect the regional parliaments of thirteen of the seventeen autonomous communities—Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile and León, Castilla–La Mancha, Extremadura, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre and the Valencian Community—, not including Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia, which had separate electoral cycles. 792 of 1,186 seats in the regional parliaments were up for election, as well as the 50 seats in the regional assemblies of Ceuta and Melilla. The elections were held simultaneously with local elections all throughout Spain.

## Election date

Determination of election day varied depending on the autonomous community, with each one having competency to establish its own regulations. Typically, thirteen out of the seventeen autonomous communities—all but Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia—had their elections fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years, to be held together with nationwide local elections.
In some cases, regional presidents had the prerogative to dissolve the regional parliament and call for extra elections at a different time, but newly elected assemblies were restricted to serving out what remained of their previous four year-terms without altering the period to their next ordinary election.

## Campaign

Parties campaigned for votes in both these elections and the local elections held at the same time. Some key issues that kept coming up for parties were:
* The Prestige oil spill: This occurred in November 2002 and caused an oil spill affecting the coast of Galicia and parts of Cantabria. Parties reported this was affecting voter habits in the north of the country.
* The National Hydrological Plan (Spanish: Plan Hidrológico Nacional): This was a multi-million-euro water management project causing rifts between governments of communities affected, transferring some of the water from the Ebro to the driest areas of Murcia and Valencia. Whilst both of these regions supported the proposal, Aragon and Catalonia did not.
* Terrorism: In 2003 there had been only three deaths from terrorist attacks in Spain, unusually low. However, political discussions between Madrid and the Basque Government did not cease during the previous Parliament. Certain parties accused the PP of using this to their political advantage.

## Regional governments

The following table lists party control in autonomous communities. Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.
| Region | Previous control | New control |
| Autonomous communities |||||
| Aragon | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) |
| Asturias | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) |
| Balearic Islands | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | People's Party (PP) |
| Canary Islands | Canarian Coalition (CC) | Canarian Coalition (CC) |
| Cantabria | People's Party (PP) | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) |
| Castile and León | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) |
| Castilla–La Mancha | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) |
| Extremadura | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) |
| La Rioja | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) |
| Madrid | People's Party (PP) | Inconclusive (PP after snap election in Oct. 2003) |
| Murcia | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) |
| Navarre | Navarrese People's Union (UPN) | Navarrese People's Union (UPN) |
| Valencian Community | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) |
| Autonomous cities |||||
| Ceuta | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) |
| Melilla | People's Party (PP) | People's Party (PP) |

## Overall results

← Summary of the 25 May 2003 regional election results in Spain → :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ACm. | ACt. | Total |
| | People's Party (PP) | 5,482,311 | 42.98 | 347 | 34 | 381 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 4,833,389 | 37.89 | 312 | 5 | 317 |
| | United Left (IU) | 724,070 | 5.68 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| | Canarian Coalition (CC) | 304,413 | 2.39 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| | Navarrese People's Union (UPN) | 127,460 | 1.00 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| | Aragonese Union (CHA) | 97,763 | 0.77 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| | Aragonese Party (PAR) | 79,670 | 0.62 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | 66,480 | 0.52 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| | Leonese People's Union (UPL) | 60,331 | 0.47 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | Canarian Nationalist Federation (FNC) | 44,703 | 0.35 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | PSM–Nationalist Agreement (PSM–EN) | 33,920 | 0.27 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | Majorcan Union (UM) | 31,781 | 0.25 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| | Aralar (Aralar) | 24,068 | 0.19 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | Convergence of Democrats of Navarre (CDN) | 23,516 | 0.18 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | Basque Solidarity–Basque Nationalist Party (EA–PNV) | 22,824 | 0.18 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| | Progressive Pact+Coalition of Progressive Organizations (Pacte+COP) | 16,811 | 0.13 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| | Riojan Party (PR) | 11,842 | 0.09 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| | Coalition for Melilla (CpM) | 7,392 | 0.06 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| | Ceutan Democratic Union (UDCE) | 3,589 | 0.03 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| | Democratic and Social Party of Ceuta (PDSC) | 1,722 | 0.01 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Independent Popular Council of Formentera (AIPF) | 1,647 | 0.01 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | Others | 533,750 | 4.18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 222,089 | 1.74 | | | |
| Total | Total | 12,755,541 | | 792 | 50 | 842 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 12,755,541 | 99.21 | | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 101,361 | 0.79 | | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 12,856,902 | 68.68 | | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 18,719,976 | | | | |
Popular vote
PP
42.98%
PSOE
37.89%
IU
5.68%
CC
2.39%
UPN
1.00%
CHA
0.77%
PAR
0.62%
PRC
0.52%
Others
6.41%
Blank ballots
1.74% :

## Summary by region
### Aragon

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PSOE | 270,468 | 37.94 | +7.13 | 27 | +4 |
| | PP | 219,058 | 30.73 | –7.48 | 22 | –6 |
| | CHA | 97,763 | 13.71 | +2.67 | 9 | +4 |
| | PAR | 79,670 | 11.18 | –2.07 | 8 | –2 |
| | IU | 21,795 | 3.06 | –0.80 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Others | 9,216 | 1.29 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 14,874 | 2.09 | +0.01 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 712,844 | 99.36 | +0.07 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 4,613 | 0.64 | –0.07 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 717,457 | 70.36 | +5.76 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 1,019,644 | | | | |

### Asturias

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PSOE | 250,474 | 40.48 | –5.52 | 22 | –2 |
| | PP | 242,396 | 39.18 | +6.87 | 19 | +4 |
| | IU–BA | 68,360 | 11.05 | +2.05 | 4 | +1 |
| | URAS | 17,552 | 2.84 | –4.30 | 0 | –3 |
| | PAS | 11,376 | 1.84 | –0.74 | 0 | ±0 |
| | LV–IVA | 6,561 | 1.06 | +0.52 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 7,854 | 1.27 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 14,143 | 2.29 | +0.72 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 618,716 | 99.29 | –0.11 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 4,433 | 0.71 | +0.11 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 623,149 | 63.84 | +0.22 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 976,104 | | | | |

### Balearic Islands

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 190,562 | 44.70 | +0.69 | 29 | +1 |
| | PSIB–PSOE | 104,614 | 24.54 | +2.52 | 15 | +2 |
| | PSM–EN | 33,920 | 7.95 | –3.77 | 4 | –1 |
| | UM | 31,781 | 7.45 | +0.14 | 3 | ±0 |
| | EU–EV | 20,797 | 4.88 | –0.55 | 2 | –1 |
| | Pacte+COP | 16,811 | 3.94 | –0.91 | 5 | –2 |
| | ASI | 6,707 | 1.57 | +0.92 | 0 | ±0 |
| | AIPF | 1,647 | 0.39 | +0.07 | 1 | +1 |
| | Others | 12,408 | 2.91 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 7,093 | 1.66 | –0.20 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 426,340 | 99.35 | +0.13 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 2,795 | 0.65 | –0.13 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 429,135 | 62.84 | +5.34 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 682,857 | | | | |

### Canary Islands

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | CC | 304,413 | 32.90 | –4.36 | 23 | –3 |
| | PP | 283,186 | 30.61 | +3.48 | 17 | +2 |
| | PSOE | 235,234 | 25.42 | +1.39 | 17 | –2 |
| | FNC | 44,703 | 4.83 | +0.02 | 3 | +3 |
| | LVC | 18,340 | 1.98 | +0.52 | 0 | ±0 |
| | IUC | 12,128 | 1.31 | –1.43 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 15,438 | 1.67 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 11,806 | 1.28 | –0.23 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 925,248 | 99.44 | +0.02 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 5,201 | 0.56 | –0.02 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 930,449 | 64.62 | +1.88 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 1,439,784 | | | | |

### Cantabria

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 146,796 | 42.49 | –0.01 | 18 | –1 |
| | PSOE | 103,608 | 29.99 | –3.09 | 13 | –1 |
| | PRC | 66,480 | 19.24 | +5.73 | 8 | +2 |
| | IUC | 12,770 | 3.70 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | UCn | 5,515 | 1.60 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 3,147 | 0.91 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 7,202 | 2.08 | –0.35 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 345,518 | 99.18 | –0.03 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 2,859 | 0.82 | +0.03 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 348,377 | 73.05 | +4.27 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 476,924 | | | | |

### Castile and León

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 760,510 | 48.49 | –1.96 | 48 | ±0 |
| | PSOE | 576,769 | 36.77 | +3.71 | 32 | +2 |
| | UPL | 60,331 | 3.85 | +0.15 | 2 | –1 |
| | IUCyL | 54,085 | 3.45 | –1.98 | 0 | –1 |
| | TC–PNC | 18,595 | 1.19 | –0.20 | 0 | –1 |
| | Others | 62,109 | 3.96 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 36,027 | 2.30 | –0.37 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,568,426 | 99.14 | +0.09 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 13,557 | 0.86 | –0.09 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 1,581,983 | 72.66 | +5.08 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 2,177,222 | | | | |

### Castilla–La Mancha

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PSOE | 634,132 | 57.83 | +4.41 | 29 | +3 |
| | PP | 402,047 | 36.66 | –3.74 | 18 | –3 |
| | IU–ICAM | 33,413 | 3.05 | –0.36 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 12,438 | 1.13 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 14,554 | 1.33 | –0.09 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,096,584 | 99.32 | ±0.00 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 7,534 | 0.68 | ±0.00 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 1,104,118 | 76.24 | +1.39 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 1,448,289 | | | | |

### Extremadura

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PSOE–p | 341,522 | 51.66 | +2.03 | 36 | +2 |
| | PP | 255,808 | 38.70 | –1.31 | 26 | –2 |
| | IU–SIEx | 41,448 | 6.27 | –0.74 | 3 | ±0 |
| | EU | 12,171 | 1.84 | +0.17 | 0 | ±0 |
| | PH | 1,082 | 0.16 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 9,033 | 1.37 | +0.22 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 661,064 | 99.19 | –0.19 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 5,404 | 0.81 | +0.19 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 666,468 | 75.63 | +2.19 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 881,228 | | | | |

### La Rioja

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 84,533 | 48.60 | –2.66 | 17 | –1 |
| | PSOE | 66,410 | 38.18 | +2.90 | 14 | +1 |
| | PR | 11,842 | 6.81 | +1.05 | 2 | ±0 |
| | IU | 4,729 | 2.72 | –1.19 | 0 | ±0 |
| | LV | 2,858 | 1.64 | +0.38 | 0 | ±0 |
| | MASH | 269 | 0.15 | –0.12 | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 3,308 | 1.90 | –0.36 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 173,949 | 99.17 | +0.04 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 1,452 | 0.83 | –0.04 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 175,401 | 75.10 | +6.44 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 233,553 | | | | |

### Madrid
#### May

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 1,429,890 | 46.67 | –4.40 | 55 | ±0 |
| | PSOE | 1,225,390 | 39.99 | +3.56 | 47 | +8 |
| | IUCM | 235,428 | 7.68 | –0.01 | 9 | +1 |
| | LV | 42,322 | 1.38 | +0.69 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 70,108 | 2.29 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 60,942 | 1.99 | –0.11 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 3,064,080 | 99.55 | +0.04 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 13,972 | 0.45 | –0.04 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 3,078,052 | 69.27 | +8.39 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 4,443,533 | | | | |

#### October

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 1,346,588 | 48.48 | +1.81 | 57 | +2 |
| | PSOE | 1,083,205 | 39.00 | –0.99 | 45 | –2 |
| | IUCM | 236,013 | 8.50 | +0.82 | 9 | ±0 |
| | Others | 63,383 | 2.28 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 48,433 | 1.74 | –0.25 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,777,622 | 99.61 | +0.06 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 10,873 | 0.39 | –0.06 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 2,788,495 | 62.58 | –6.69 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 4,455,706 | | | | |

### Murcia

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 367,710 | 56.66 | +3.82 | 28 | +2 |
| | PSOE | 221,392 | 34.11 | –1.80 | 16 | –2 |
| | IURM | 36,754 | 5.66 | –1.34 | 1 | ±0 |
| | LVRM | 10,208 | 1.57 | +0.64 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 3,024 | 0.47 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 9,941 | 1.53 | +0.09 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 649,029 | 99.20 | –0.10 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 5,224 | 0.80 | +0.10 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 654,253 | 69.98 | +2.32 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 934,896 | | | | |

### Navarre

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | UPN | 127,460 | 41.48 | +0.11 | 23 | +1 |
| | PSN–PSOE | 65,003 | 21.15 | +0.87 | 11 | ±0 |
| | IUN/NEB | 26,962 | 8.77 | +1.89 | 4 | +1 |
| | Aralar | 24,068 | 7.83 | New | 4 | +4 |
| | CDN | 23,516 | 7.65 | +0.79 | 4 | +1 |
| | EA–PNV | 22,824 | 7.43 | +1.99 | 4 | +1 |
| | Batzarre | 7,873 | 2.56 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | EH | n/a | n/a | –15.58 | 0 | –8 |
| | Others | 2,307 | 0.75 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 7,304 | 2.38 | +0.03 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 307,317 | 93.52 | –5.65 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 21,292 | 6.48 | +5.65 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 328,609 | 70.70 | +4.45 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 464,826 | | | | |

### Valencian Community

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 1,146,780 | 47.17 | –0.71 | 48 | –1 |
| | PSPV–PSOE | 874,288 | 35.96 | +2.05 | 35 | ±0 |
| | Entesa | 154,494 | 6.35 | +0.30 | 6 | +1 |
| | Bloc–EV | 114,011 | 4.69 | +0.16 | 0 | ±0 |
| | UV | 72,557 | 2.98 | –1.70 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 31,468 | 1.29 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 37,805 | 1.55 | ±0.00 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,431,403 | 99.35 | –0.06 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 15,821 | 0.65 | +0.06 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 2,447,224 | 71.49 | +3.68 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 3,423,098 | | | | |

### Autonomous cities
#### Ceuta

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP | 20,897 | 62.55 | +34.56 | 19 | +11 |
| | UDCE | 3,589 | 10.74 | New | 3 | +3 |
| | PSOE | 2,905 | 8.70 | +1.26 | 2 | ±0 |
| | PDSC | 1,722 | 5.15 | –4.87 | 1 | –2 |
| | PSPC | 1,402 | 4.20 | –0.20 | 0 | ±0 |
| | PIL | 922 | 2.76 | –35.39 | 0 | –12 |
| | FC | 696 | 2.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | UPCE | 573 | 1.72 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Others | 451 | 1.35 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 251 | 0.75 | –0.45 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 33,408 | 99.56 | +0.05 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 147 | 0.44 | –0.05 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 33,555 | 59.23 | –2.12 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 56,656 | | | | |

#### Melilla

| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Seats | +/− |
| | PP–UPM | 15,440 | 55.00 | +24.89 | 15 | +7 |
| | CpM | 7,392 | 26.33 | +5.89 | 7 | +2 |
| | PSOE | 3,365 | 11.99 | +2.62 | 3 | +1 |
| | PIM | 739 | 2.63 | –7.67 | 0 | –3 |
| | CDS | 417 | 1.49 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | GIL | n/a | n/a | –25.93 | 0 | –7 |
| | Others | 405 | 1.44 | | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 315 | 1.12 | +0.08 | | |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 28,073 | 99.45 | –0.22 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 156 | 0.55 | +0.22 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 28,229 | 57.39 | –3.05 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 49,189 | | | | |