# 2011 Barcelona City Council election

The 2011 Barcelona City Council election, also the 2011 Barcelona municipal election, was held on Sunday, 22 May 2011, to elect the 9th City Council of the municipality of Barcelona. All 41 seats in the City Council were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

## Electoral system

The City Council of Barcelona (Catalan: Ajuntament de Barcelona, Spanish: Ayuntamiento de Barcelona) was the top-tier administrative and governing body of the municipality of Barcelona, composed of the mayor, the government council and the elected plenary assembly. Elections to the local councils in Spain were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. Voting for the local assembly was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered and residing in the municipality of Barcelona and in full enjoyment of their political rights, as well as resident non-national European citizens and those whose country of origin allowed Spanish nationals to vote in their own elections by virtue of a treaty.
Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each local council. Councillors were allocated to municipal councils based on the following scale:
| Population | Councillors |
| <100 | 3 |
| 101–250 | 5 |
| 251–1,000 | 7 |
| 1,001–2,000 | 9 |
| 2,001–5,000 | 11 |
| 5,001–10,000 | 13 |
| 10,001–20,000 | 17 |
| 20,001–50,000 | 21 |
| 50,001–100,000 | 25 |
| >100,001 | +1 per each 100,000 inhabitants or fraction +1 if total is an even number |
The mayor was indirectly elected by the plenary assembly. A legal clause required that mayoral candidates earned the vote of an absolute majority of councillors, or else the candidate of the most-voted party in the assembly was to be automatically appointed to the post. In the event of a tie, the appointee would be determined by lot.
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 a determined amount of the electors registered in the municipality for which they were seeking election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates. In the case of Barcelona, as its population was over 1,000,001, at least 8,000 signatures were required.

## Opinion polls

The table below lists voting intention estimates 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. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 21 seats were required for an absolute majority in the City Council of Barcelona.

### Color key

Exit poll
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout | | | | | | | Lead |
| 2011 municipal election | 22 May 2011 | — | 53.0 | 22.1 11 | 28.7 14 | 17.2 9 | 10.4 5 | 5.6 2 | 1.9 0 | 6.6 |
| Ipsos–Eco/FORTA | 22 May 2011 | ? | ? | ? 10/12 | ? 14/16 | ? 7/8 | ? 4/5 | ? 2/3 | – | ? |
| Ikerfel/Vocento | 14 May 2011 | 900 | ? | 27.2 12 | 30.9 14 | 14.9 6/7 | ? 4 | ? 4/5 | – | 3.7 |
| GESOP/El Periódico | 12–13 May 2011 | 800 | ? | 23.5 12 | 29.0 14 | 15.9 7/8 | 9.4 4/5 | 6.0 2/3 | 2.7 0 | 5.5 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo | 10–12 May 2011 | 400 | ? | 26.2 12 | 32.1 14/15 | 17.1 7/8 | 8.6 4 | 7.8 3 | – | 5.9 |
| Metroscopia/El País | 10–11 May 2011 | 1,000 | 55.0 | 24.7 12 | 29.4 15 | 15.4 7 | 9.4 4 | 6.7 3 | – | 4.7 |
| GAD/COPE | 9 May 2011 | ? | ? | 24.5 12 | 30.2 14 | 18.1 8 | 8.5 4 | 7.9 3 | – | 5.7 |
| TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3 | 2–3 May 2011 | 750 | ? | 24.9 11/12 | 32.3 15/16 | 16.1 7/8 | 10.2 4 | 6.9 3/4 | 3.7 0 | 7.4 |
| GAPS/CiU | 26–29 Apr 2011 | 800 | ? | 23.0– 24.6 11/12 | 33.4– 34.4 16/17 | 13.9– 14.9 6/7 | 8.7– 9.7 4 | 6.0– 7.0 2/3 | – | 9.8– 10.4 |
| Noxa/La Vanguardia | 25–27 Apr 2011 | 600 | ? | 24.9 11/12 | 31.6 14/15 | 18.3 8 | 9.6 4 | 6.6 3 | 2.2 0 | 6.7 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo | 15–18 Apr 2011 | 400 | ? | 26.2 12 | 32.5 15/16 | 19.3 8/9 | 6.7 3 | 5.4 2 | – | 6.3 |
| CIS | 17 Mar–17 Apr 2011 | 967 | ? | 25.2 12 | 33.1 16 | 12.4 5 | 8.9 4 | 8.5 4 | 4.3 0 | 7.9 |
| PSOE | 1–15 Mar 2011 | 800 | ? | ? 13 | ? 16 | ? 6 | ? 3 | ? 3 | – | ? |
| GESOP/El Periódico | 21–22 Feb 2011 | 800 | ? | 24.6 11/12 | 35.3 16/17 | 14.3 6/7 | 8.0 3/4 | 7.5 3 | – | 10.7 |
| GESOP/El Periódico | 31 Jan–1 Feb 2011 | 400 | ? | 18.5 9 | 38.0 18/19 | 15.5 7 | 8.0 3/4 | 8.0 3/4 | – | 19.5 |
| GESOP/El Periódico | 31 Jan–1 Feb 2011 | 400 | ? | 27.0 13 | 32.0 15 | 15.5 7 | 6.5 3 | 7.5 3 | – | 5.0 |
| Feedback/La Vanguardia | 12–14 Jan 2011 | 600 | 60.0 | 21.3 10 | 42.5 19 | 13.7 6 | 7.0 3 | 8.1 3 | – | 21.2 |
| Feedback/La Vanguardia | 12–14 Jan 2011 | 600 | 60.0 | 33.4 15 | 34.3 16 | 13.4 6 | 6.4 2 | 5.1 2 | – | 0.9 |
| Ara | 8 Dec 2010 | ? | ? | ? 9/11 | ? 17/19 | ? 6 | ? 4/5 | ? 2/3 | – | ? |
| 2010 regional election | 28 Nov 2010 | — | 62.3 | 17.8 (9) | 36.3 (18) | 14.2 (7) | 9.3 (4) | 6.5 (3) | 4.1 (0) | 18.5 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo | 15–18 Nov 2010 | 400 | ? | 25.5 11/12 | 31.5 14/15 | 17.1 8 | 10.1 4 | 6.7 3 | 3.5 0 | 6.0 |
| GAPS/CiU | 25–31 May 2010 | 817 | ? | 20.0– 21.0 10/11 | 36.7– 37.7 17/19 | 13.2– 14.2 6/7 | 6.8– 7.8 2/3 | 6.0– 7.0 3 | – | 16.7 |
| Noxa/La Vanguardia | 24–27 May 2010 | 1,000 | ? | 24.7 11 | 39.6 17 | 14.9 6 | 9.5 4 | 6.7 3 | 1.9 0 | 14.9 |
| GAPS/CiU | 28 Nov–10 Dec 2009 | 805 | ? | 24.0– 25.0 11/12 | 32.7– 33.7 15/16 | 13.3– 14.3 6/7 | 9.2– 10.2 4/5 | 7.9– 8.9 3/4 | 1.8 0 | 8.7 |
| Noxa/La Vanguardia | 18–23 Nov 2009 | 1,000 | ? | 28.8 13 | 30.1 13 | 17.4 7/8 | 11.0 4/5 | 7.5 3 | 3.9 0 | 1.3 |
| 2009 EP election | 7 Jun 2009 | — | 40.5 | 32.7 (15) | 21.7 (10) | 20.7 (9) | 8.0 (3) | 8.4 (4) | 0.4 (0) | 11.0 |
| GAPS/CiU | 10–23 Mar 2009 | 810 | ? | 26.9 13 | 32.8 15 | 14.0 6 | 8.6 4 | 7.6 3 | 2.0 0 | 5.9 |
| GESOP/El Periódico | 15 Dec 2008 | ? | ? | 27.7 13/14 | 27.9 13/14 | 15.1 7 | 8.0 3/4 | 8.0 3/4 | – | 0.2 |
| GAPS/CiU | 21–30 May 2008 | 804 | ? | 26.5– 27.5 12/13 | 28.2– 29.2 13/14 | 12.9– 13.9 5/7 | 8.7– 9.7 4/5 | 10.9– 11.9 4/6 | 1.5– 2.5 0 | 1.7 |
| 2008 general election | 9 Mar 2008 | — | 72.2 | 42.8 (18) | 20.7 (9) | 18.3 (8) | 6.4 (3) | 7.0 (3) | 0.9 (0) | 22.1 |
| 2007 municipal election | 27 May 2007 | — | 49.6 | 29.9 14 | 25.5 12 | 15.6 7 | 9.3 4 | 8.8 4 | 3.9 0 | 4.4 |
| 1 2 Jordi Hereu as PSC candidate hypothesis. 1 2 Montserrat Tura as PSC candidate hypothesis. |||||||||||

## Results

← Summary of the 22 May 2011 City Council of Barcelona election results → :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Convergence and Union (CiU) | 174,122 | 28.73 | +3.27 | 14 | +2 |
| | Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Municipal Progress (PSC–PM) | 134,193 | 22.14 | –7.77 | 11 | –3 |
| | People's Party (PP) | 104,475 | 17.24 | +1.63 | 9 | +2 |
| | Initiative for Catalonia Greens–EUiA–Agreement (ICV–EUiA–E) | 62,979 | 10.39 | +1.04 | 5 | +1 |
| | Unity for Barcelona–Republican Left–Rally (UpB–ERC–RI.cat–DCat) | 33,900 | 5.59 | –3.22 | 2 | –2 |
| | Popular Unity Candidacy–Alternative for Barcelona (CUP–AxB) | 11,833 | 1.95 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) | 11,742 | 1.94 | –1.94 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Blank Seats–Citizens for Blank Votes (EB–CenB) | 10,115 | 1.67 | +1.29 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Catalan Solidarity for Independence (SI) | 6,823 | 1.13 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens–European Green Group (EV–GVE) | 6,128 | 1.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Pirates of Catalonia (Pirata.cat) | 4,675 | 0.77 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 4,308 | 0.71 | +0.21 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Platform for Catalonia (PxC) | 3,405 | 0.56 | +0.50 | 0 | ±0 |
| | For a Fairer World (PUM+J) | 1,593 | 0.26 | +0.14 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 1,463 | 0.24 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA) | 1,382 | 0.23 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Barcelona of Neighborhoods (LBB) | 1,189 | 0.20 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Catalan People (PCPC) | 979 | 0.16 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Open Your Eyes Party (PATO) | 954 | 0.16 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Left Republican Party–Republican Left (PRE–IR) | 710 | 0.12 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 624 | 0.10 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Family and Life Party (PFiV) | 533 | 0.09 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) | 349 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 246 | 0.04 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) | 219 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 27,107 | 4.47 | +0.37 | | |
| Total | Total | 606,046 | | | 41 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 606,046 | 98.30 | –1.18 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 10,491 | 1.70 | +1.18 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 616,537 | 52.99 | +3.37 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 547,057 | 47.01 | –3.37 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 1,163,594 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
Popular vote
CiU
28.73%
PSC–PM
22.14%
PP
17.24%
ICV–EUiA–E
10.39%
UpB–ERC–RI.cat
5.59%
CUP–AxB
1.95%
C's
1.94%
EB–CenB
1.67%
SI
1.13%
EV–GVE
1.01%
Others
3.73%
Blank ballots
4.47% :
Seats
CiU
34.15%
PSC–PM
26.83%
PP
21.95%
ICV–EUiA–E
12.20%
UpB–ERC–RI.cat
4.88% :