# 2011 Canarian regional election

The 2011 Canarian regional election was held on Sunday, 22 May 2011, to elect the 8th Parliament of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. All 60 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

## Overview
### Electoral system

The Parliament of the Canary Islands was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of the Canary Islands, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Canarian Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a regional president. Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Canary Islands and in full enjoyment of their political rights. Amendments to the electoral law in 2011 required for Canarians abroad to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).
The 60 members of the Parliament of the Canary Islands were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of 30 percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Alternatively, parties could also enter the seat distribution as long as they reached six percent regionally. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the islands of El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, Lanzarote and Tenerife, with each being allocated a fixed number of seats:
| Seats | Constituencies |
| 15 | Gran Canaria, Tenerife |
| 8 | La Palma, Lanzarote |
| 7 | Fuerteventura |
| 4 | La Gomera |
| 3 | El Hierro |

### Election date

The term of the Parliament of the Canary Islands expired four years after the date of its previous election, with elections to the Parliament being fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The previous election was held on 27 May 2007, setting the election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 22 May 2011.
The Parliament of the Canary Islands could not be dissolved before the date of expiry of parliament except in the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional president within a two-month period from the first ballot. In such a case, the Parliament was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called, with elected deputies merely serving out what remained of their four-year terms.

## Parties and candidates

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.
Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:
| Candidacy | Candidacy | Parties and alliances | Candidate | Candidate | Ideology | Previous result | Previous result | Gov. | Ref. |
| Candidacy | Candidacy | Parties and alliances | Candidate | Candidate | Ideology | Votes (%) | Seats | Gov. | Ref. |
| | PSOE | List Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | | José Miguel Pérez García | Social democracy | 34.51% | 26 | N | |
| | CC–PNC | List Canarian Coalition (CC) Canarian Nationalist Party (PNC) Independent Herrenian Group (AHI) Canarian Centre (CCN) | | Paulino Rivero | Regionalism Canarian nationalism Centrism | 28.10% | 19 | Y | |
| | PP | List People's Party (PP) | | José Manuel Soria | Conservatism Christian democracy | 24.04% | 15 | N | |
| | NCa | List New Canaries (NCa) Lanzarote Independents Party (PIL) Municipal Assemblies of Fuerteventura (AMF) New Fuerteventura (NF) Nationalist Party of Lanzarote (PNL) New Gran Canaria (NGC) Socialists for La Gomera (SxLG) New Gomera (NG) Socialists for Tenerife (SxTf) Initiative for La Palma (ILP) | | Román Rodríguez | Canarian nationalism Social democracy | 6.47% | 0 | N | |

## 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; 31 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of the Canary Islands.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout | | | | | CCN | PIL | | | Lead |
| 2011 regional election | 22 May 2011 | — | 58.9 | 21.0 15 | 24.9 21 | 31.9 21 | 9.1 3 | | | 0.8 0 | 1.0 0 | 7.0 |
| Demométrica/ACN Press | 2–12 May 2011 | 2,820 | ? | 26.9 17/19 | 25.8 17/19 | 30.4 16/19 | 11.6 6 | | | – | – | 3.5 |
| NC Report/La Razón | 3–10 May 2011 | ? | ? | 25.9 17/18 | 27.5 20/21 | 27.9 19/20 | ? 2/3 | | | – | – | 0.4 |
| Ikerfel/Vocento | 9 May 2011 | ? | ? | 28.8 19/21 | 25.7 18/19 | 22.9 15/16 | 12.9 6 | | | – | – | 3.1 |
| TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3 | 9 May 2011 | 1,500 | ? | 26.7 19/21 | 28.4 18/20 | 27.7 18/20 | 6.0 0/3 | – | | – | – | 0.7 |
| Celeste-Tel/Terra | 13–20 Apr 2011 | 700 | ? | 23.2 16 | 25.1 20 | 30.3 21 | 8.5 2 | – | | – | – | 5.2 |
| OPMC Consultores | 5–17 Apr 2011 | 2,400 | ? | 27.7 20/21 | 27.1 19/21 | 30.6 16/18 | 9.2 3 | – | | – | – | 2.9 |
| CIS | 17 Mar–17 Apr 2011 | 1,797 | ? | 30.2 23 | 23.9 19/20 | 27.3 16/17 | 5.1 0/2 | – | | 1.7 0 | 0.8 0 | 2.9 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo | 7–12 Apr 2011 | 1,200 | ? | 27.3 17/18 | 25.6 17/22 | 33.6 19/23 | 6.0 1/3 | – | | – | – | 6.3 |
| Demométrica/ACN Press | 22 Feb–17 Mar 2011 | 2,806 | ? | 26.9 17/19 | 24.6 16/19 | 30.7 17/19 | 11.0 6 | – | | – | – | 3.8 |
| Sigma Dos/PP | 15–18 Feb 2011 | 3,600 | ? | 28.0 16/21 | 25.7 19/20 | 33.1 20/24 | – | – | – | – | – | 5.1 |
| Perfiles/Canarias7 | 1–9 Feb 2011 | 2,400 | ? | 22.0– 23.0 17 | 30.0– 31.0 22/24 | 29.0– 30.0 17/20 | 7.0– 8.0 1/3 | – | | – | – | 1.0 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo | 21–27 Dec 2010 | 1,200 | ? | 27.6 17/18 | 25.2 18/22 | 37.0 21/24 | – | – | – | – | – | 9.4 |
| OPMC Consultores | 12–24 Jul 2010 | 3,600 | 60.1 | 31.7 23 | 20.5 14 | 28.4 14 | | 15.8 9 | | – | – | 3.3 |
| OPMC Consultores | 12–24 Jul 2010 | 3,600 | 60.1 | 33.1 23/25 | 22.7 18/19 | 29.6 15/16 | 6.7 0/2 | 5.2 0/2 | 0.8 0 | – | – | 3.5 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo | 19–24 May 2010 | 1,200 | ? | 30.7 20/23 | 22.0 14/17 | 35.3 22/24 | – | – | – | – | – | 4.6 |
| 2009 EP election | 7 Jun 2009 | — | 39.2 | 36.0 (23) | 15.8 (12) | 40.8 (25) | – | – | – | 1.6 (0) | 1.2 (0) | 4.8 |
| KDK Creativa | 1 Jun 2009 | 2,550 | 60.5 | 33.6 22 | 23.1 16/17 | 27.4 14 | 9.8 5/6 | 6.9 1/3 | 0.8 0 | – | – | 6.2 |
| 2008 general election | 9 Mar 2008 | — | 65.9 | 39.6 (27) | 17.5 (10) | 35.0 (23) | 3.8 (0) | | | 1.2 (0) | 0.4 (0) | 4.6 |
| 2007 regional election | 27 May 2007 | — | 61.3 | 34.5 26 | 24.2 19 | 24.0 15 | 5.4 0 | 4.0 0 | 1.0 0 | 0.7 0 | – | 10.3 |

## Results
### Overall

← Summary of the 22 May 2011 Parliament of the Canary Islands 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 | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 289,381 | 31.94 | +7.90 | 21 | +6 |
| | Canarian Coalition–Nationalist Party–Canarian Centre (CC–PNC–CCN)$^1$ | 225,948 | 24.94 | –3.16 | 21 | +2 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 190,028 | 20.98 | –13.53 | 15 | –11 |
| | New Canaries (NCa)$^2$ | 82,148 | 9.07 | +2.60 | 3 | +3 |
| | Yes We Can Citizens' Alternative (ACSSP)$^3$ | 19,020 | 2.10 | +1.58 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens (Verdes) | 18,831 | 2.08 | +0.18 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 9,069 | 1.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Commitment to Gran Canaria (CGCa) | 7,382 | 0.81 | –0.10 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Canarian United Left (IUC) | 6,818 | 0.75 | +0.05 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Canarian Nationalist Alternative (ANC) | 6,494 | 0.72 | +0.45 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Common Sense in the Canaries (SCC) | 4,761 | 0.53 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Majorero Progressive Party (PPMAJO) | 4,334 | 0.48 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Canarian Patriotic Movement (MPC) | 2,750 | 0.30 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 2,715 | 0.30 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Canarian People (PCPC) | 2,368 | 0.26 | +0.12 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party for Services and Public Employed (PSyEP) | 1,993 | 0.22 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | For a Fairer World (PUM+J) | 1,442 | 0.16 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Movement for the Unity of the Canarian People (MUPC) | 1,268 | 0.14 | +0.05 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 1,246 | 0.14 | +0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Unity of the People (UP) | 1,133 | 0.13 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) | 1,018 | 0.11 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Canarian Social Democratic Centre (CSDC) | 361 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | National Democracy (DN) | 314 | 0.03 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) | 120 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 25,017 | 2.76 | +1.34 | | |
| Total | Total | 905,959 | | | 60 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 905,959 | 97.31 | –2.12 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 25,051 | 2.69 | +2.12 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 931,010 | 58.91 | –2.36 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 649,349 | 41.09 | +2.36 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 1,580,359 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Canarian Coalition–Nationalist Party–Canarian Centre results are compared to the combined totals of Canarian Coalition–Canarian Nationalist Party and Canarian Centre in the 2007 election, not including Canarian Centre results in Lanzarote.$^2$ New Canaries results are compared to the combined totals of New Canaries and Canarian Centre in Lanzarote in the 2007 election.$^3$ Yes We Can Citizens' Alternative results are compared to Canarian Popular Alternative–25 May Citizens' Alternative totals in the 2007 election. |||||||
Popular vote
PP
31.94%
CC–PNC–CCN
24.94%
PSOE
20.98%
NCa
9.07%
ACSSP
2.10%
Verdes
2.08%
UPyD
1.00%
Others
5.13%
Blank ballots
2.76% :
Seats
PP
35.00%
CC–PNC–CCN
35.00%
PSOE
25.00%
NCa
5.00% :

### Distribution by constituency

| Constituency | PP | PP | CC–PNC | CC–PNC | PSOE | PSOE | NCa | NCa |
| Constituency | % | S | % | S | % | S | % | S |
| El Hierro | 25.3 | 1 | 35.7 | 1 | 33.9 | 1 | | |
| Fuerteventura | 20.4 | 2 | 33.7 | 3 | 17.3 | 2 | 8.6 | − |
| Gran Canaria | 41.4 | 8 | 9.2 | 1 | 21.1 | 4 | 14.3 | 2 |
| La Gomera | 24.7 | 1 | 20.9 | 1 | 44.9 | 2 | 4.2 | − |
| La Palma | 28.1 | 2 | 39.5 | 4 | 24.9 | 2 | 1.8 | − |
| Lanzarote | 22.4 | 2 | 34.8 | 4 | 17.2 | 1 | 13.6 | 1 |
| Tenerife | 25.6 | 5 | 36.6 | 7 | 20.2 | 3 | 4.7 | − |
| Total | 31.9 | 21 | 24.9 | 21 | 21.0 | 15 | 9.1 | 3 |