List of Spanish regional legislatures
Autonomous Communities
Table:
Community
Legislature name
Local names
Seat
Members

President
Last election
Fixed

Andalusia
Andalusian Parliament
Sp. Parlamento de Andalucía
Seville

109

Marta Bosquet

C's

2 December 2018
By President

Aragon
Aragonese Corts
Ara. Cortz d'Aragón
Sp. Cortes de Aragón
Zaragoza

67

Javier Sada

PSOE

26 May 2019
By law

Asturias
General Junta of the Principality of Asturias
Ast. Xunta Xeneral del Principáu d'Asturies
Sp. Junta General del Principado de Asturias
Oviedo

45

Marcelino Marcos

PSOE

26 May 2019
By law

Balearic Islands
Parliament of the Balearic Islands
Cat. Parlament de les Illes Balears
Sp. Parlamento de las Islas Baleares
Palma

59

Vicenç Thomàs

PSIB

26 May 2019
By law

Basque Country
Basque Parliament
Ba. Eusko Legebiltzarra
Sp. Parlamento Vasco
Vitoria-Gasteiz

75

Bakartxo Tejeria

PNV

25 September 2016
By President

Canary Islands
Canarian Parliament
Sp. Parlamento de Canarias
Santa Cruz de Tenerife

70

Gustavo Adolfo Matos

PSOE

26 May 2019
By law

Cantabria
Parliament of Cantabria
Sp. Parlamento de Cantabria
Santander

35

Joaquín Gómez

PSC-PSOE

26 May 2019
By law

Castile–La Mancha
Cortes of Castile-La Mancha
Sp. Cortes de Castilla-La Mancha
Toledo

33

Pablo Bellido

PSOE

26 May 2019
By law

Castile and Leon
Cortes of Castile and León
Sp. Cortes de Castilla y León
Valladolid

81

Luis Fuentes

C's

26 May 2019
By law

Catalonia
Parliament of Catalonia
Cat. Parlament de Catalunya
Oc. Parlament de Catalonha
Sp. Parlamento de Cataluña
Barcelona

135

Roger Torrent

ERC

21 December 2017
By Spanish Prime Minister

Extremadura
Extremaduran Assembly
Sp. Asamblea de Extremadura
Mérida

65

Blanca Martín

PSOE

26 May 2019
By law

Galicia
Parliament of Galicia
Gal. Parlamento de Galicia
Sp. Parlamento de Galicia
Santiago de Compostela

75

Miguel Ángel Santalices

PPdeG

25 September 2016
By President

La Rioja
Parliament of La Rioja
Sp. Parlamento de La Rioja
Logroño

33

Jesús María García

PSOE

26 May 2019
By law

Madrid
Madrid Assembly
Sp. Asamblea de Madrid
Madrid

132

Juan Trinidad

C's

26 May 2019
By law

Region of Murcia
Regional Assembly of Murcia
Sp. Asamblea Regional de Murcia
Cartagena

45

Alberto Castillo

C's

26 May 2019
By law

Navarre
Parliament of Navarre
Ba. Nafarroaku Parlamentua
Sp. Parlamento de Navarra
Pamplona-Iruña

50

Unai Hualde

GBai

26 May 2019
By law

Valencian Community
Valencian Corts
Val. Corts Valencianes
Sp. Cortes Valencianas
Valencia

99

Enric Morera

Compromís

28 April 2019
By President

From the following table and the supplementary paragraphs listed below.

Answer the following question: In what year was the modern form of the legislature whose seat was occupied by Arab Moors in 714 established ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

Andalusia region ( UK : /ˌændəˈluːsiə , -ziə/ , US : /-ʒ ( i ) ə , -ʃ ( i ) ə/ ; Spanish : Andalucía [ andaluˈθi.a ] ) is the southern autonomous community in Peninsular Spain . It is the most populous , and the second largest autonomous community in the country . The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a historical nationality . The territory is divided into eight provinces : Almería , Cádiz , Córdoba , Granada , Huelva , Jaén , Málaga and Seville . Its capital is the city of Seville . Andalusia is located in the south of the Iberian peninsula , in southwestern Europe , immediately south of the autonomous communities of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha ; west of the autonomous community of Murcia and the Mediterranean Sea ; east of Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean ; and north of the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar . Andalusia is the only European region with both Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines . The small British overseas territory of Gibraltar shares a three-quarter-mile land border with the Andalusian province of Cádiz at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar . The main mountain ranges of Andalusia are the Sierra Morena and the Baetic System , consisting of the Subbaetic and Penibaetic Mountains , separated by the Intrabaetic Basin . In the north , the Sierra Morena separates Andalusia from the plains of Extremadura and Castile-La Mancha on Spain 's Meseta Central . To the south the geographic subregion of Upper Andalusia lies mostly within the Baetic System , while Lower Andalusia is in the Baetic Depression of the valley of the Guadalquivir . The name Andalusia is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus ( الأندلس ) .
The Parliament of Andalusia is the legislature of the Spanish Autonomous Community of Andalusia instituted by the Andalusian Charter of Autonomy of 1981 . It is elected by the residents in Andalusia every four years .
Spanish ( /ˈspænɪʃ/ ( listen ) ; español ( help·info ) ) , or Castilian ( /kæˈstɪliən/ ( listen ) , castellano ( help·info ) ) , is a Romance language that originated in the Iberian Peninsula and today has over 483 million native speakers , mainly in Spain and the Americas . It is a global language , the world 's second-most spoken native language , after Mandarin Chinese , and the world 's fourth-most spoken language , after Mandarin Chinese , English and Hindi . Spanish is a part of the Ibero-Romance group of languages , which evolved from several dialects of Vulgar Latin in Iberia after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century . The oldest Latin texts with traces of Spanish come from mid-northern Iberia in the 9th century , and the first systematic written use of the language happened in Toledo , a prominent city of the Kingdom of Castile , in the 13th century . Beginning in 1492 , the Spanish language was taken to the viceroyalties of the Spanish Empire , most notably to the Americas , as well as territories in Africa , Oceania and the Philippines . A 1949 study by Italian-American linguist Mario Pei , analyzing the degree of difference from a language 's parent ( Latin , in the case of Romance languages ) by comparing phonology , inflection , syntax , vocabulary , and intonation , indicated the following percentages ( the higher the percentage , the greater the distance from Latin ) : In the case of Spanish , it is one of the closest Romance languages to Latin ( 20% distance ) , only behind Sardinian ( 8% distance ) and Italian ( 12% distance ) . Around 75% of modern Spanish vocabulary is derived from Latin , including Latin borrowings from Ancient Greek . Spanish vocabulary has been in contact with Arabic from an early date , having developed during the Al-Andalus era in the Iberian Peninsula . With around 8% of its vocabulary being Arabic in origin , this language makes up the second greatest vocabulary source after Latin itself . It has also been influenced by Basque , Iberian , Celtiberian , Visigothic , and by neighboring Ibero-Romance languages . Additionally , it has absorbed vocabulary from other languages , particularly other Romance languages - French , Italian , Andalusi Romance , Portuguese , Galician , Catalan , Occitan , and Sardinian - as well as from Quechua , Nahuatl , and other indigenous languages of the Americas . Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations .
Seville ( /səˈvɪl/ ; Spanish : Sevilla [ seˈβiʎa ] ( listen ) ) is a Spanish city , the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville . It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir , in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula . Seville has a municipal population of about 690,000 as of 2016 [ update ] , and a metropolitan population of about 1.5 million , making it the largest city in Andalusia , the fourth-largest city in Spain and the 30th most populous municipality in the European Union . Its old town , with an area of 4 square kilometres ( 2 sq mi ) , contains three UNESCO World Heritage Sites : the Alcázar palace complex , the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies . The Seville harbour , located about 80 kilometres ( 50 miles ) from the Atlantic Ocean , is the only river port in Spain [ citation needed ] . Seville experiences high temperatures in the Summer , with daily maximums routinely above 35 °C ( 95 °F ) in July and August . Seville was founded as the Roman city of Hispalis . It became known as Ishbiliyya after the Muslim conquest in 712 . During the Muslim rule in Spain , Seville came under the jurisdiction of the Caliphate of Córdoba before becoming the independent Taifa of Seville ; later it was ruled by the Muslim Almoravids and the Almohads until finally being incorporated into the Christian Kingdom of Castile under Ferdinand III in 1248 . After the discovery of the Americas , Seville became one of the economic centres of the Spanish Empire as its port monopolised the trans-oceanic trade and the Casa de Contratación ( House of Trade ) wielded its power , opening a Golden Age of arts and literature . In 1519 , Ferdinand Magellan departed from Seville for the first circumnavigation of the Earth . Coinciding with the Baroque period of European history , the 17th century in Seville represented the most brilliant flowering of the city 's culture ; then began a gradual economic and demographic decline as silting in the Guadalquivir forced the trade monopoly to relocate to the nearby port of Cádiz .
Citizens ( Spanish : Ciudadanos [ θjuðaˈðanos ] listen ( help·info ) ; Catalan : Ciutadans [ siwtəˈðans ] ; Basque : Hiritarrak ; Galician : Cidadáns ; shortened as Cs - C 's until January 2017 ) , officially Citizens-Party of the Citizenry ( Ciudadanos-Partido de la Ciudadanía ) , is a centre to centre-right political party in Spain . Founded in Catalonia in 2006 , the party received 25.4% of votes and 36 deputies in the December 2017 Catalan regional election , making it the largest single party in the Parliament of Catalonia . Nevertheless , it has never taken power so its actual political stance remains a source of debate between supporters and adversaries , beyond a strong opposition to Catalan nationalism and the Catalan independence movement . The party used the phrase Catalonia is my homeland , Spain is my country and Europe is our future to outline the ideology which the party self-describes as postnationalist . In spite of that , it has been deemed by a variety of sources to profess a populist Spanish nationalist ideology . Citizens used to present itself as a centre-left party that offered a mix of social-democratic and liberal-progressive positions on its platform , but it dropped any mention to social democracy from its principles in February 2017 and by 2018 was judged by some to have experienced a further swing to the right , as it began to compete with the PP , and later also with Vox , to become the leading right-of-centre party in the country . It has recently been described by media and CIS ( a Spanish public research institute ) as right-oriented .
The 2018 Andalusian regional election was held on Sunday , 2 December 2018 , to elect the 11th Parliament of the autonomous community of Andalusia . All 109 seats in the Parliament were up for election . As a result of the previous election , the Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party of Andalusia ( PSOE-A ) was able to retain power after obtaining confidence and supply support from Citizens ( Cs ) , with such alliance enduring President Susana Díaz 's defeat in the 2017 PSOE leadership election . The PSOE-Cs agreement broke up in September 2018 after Cs withdrew their support from Díaz 's government , prompting Díaz to announce the Parliament 's dissolution on 8 October and call a snap election for 2 December 2018 . Registered turnout was the second lowest in any Andalusian regional election , only behind that of 1990 . The PSOE-A remained the most voted party but suffered an unforeseen setback , dropping from 47 to 33 seats . A far-right party , Vox , gained parliamentary representation in a regional parliament in Spain for the first time since the country 's return to democracy , benefiting from a collapse in the People 's Party ( PP ) vote which saw it nearly tied in votes with Cs . For the first time in the electoral history of Andalusia , right-of-centre parties commanded an absolute majority of seats in the Parliament of Andalusia , allowing a non-Socialist government to take power in the region after 36 years of uninterrupted PSOE rule . Subsequently , PP and Cs formed a coalition government with Vox support , electing Juan Manuel Moreno as its president .
Aragon ( /ˈærəɡɒn/ or /ˈærəɡən/ , Spanish and Aragonese : Aragón [ aɾaˈɣon ] , Catalan : Aragó [ əɾəˈɣo ] ) is an autonomous community in Spain , coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon . Located in northeastern Spain , the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces ( from north to south ) : Huesca , Zaragoza , and Teruel . Its capital is Zaragoza ( also called Saragossa in English ) . The current Statute of Autonomy declares Aragon a historic nationality of Spain . Covering an area of 47720 km2 ( 18420 sq mi ) , the region 's terrain ranges diversely from permanent glaciers to verdant valleys , rich pasture lands and orchards , through to the arid steppe plains of the central lowlands . Aragon is home to many rivers - most notably , the river Ebro , Spain 's largest river in volume , which runs west-east across the entire region through the province of Zaragoza . It is also home to the highest mountains of the Pyrenees . As of January 2016 [ update ] , the population of Aragon was 1308563 , with over half of it living in its capital city , Zaragoza . During the same year , the economy of Aragon generated a GDP of €34687 million , which represents 3.1% of Spain 's national GDP , and is currently 6th in per capita production behind Madrid , Basque Country , Navarre , Catalonia and La Rioja . In addition to its three provinces , Aragon is subdivided into 33 comarcas or counties . All comarcas of Aragon have a rich geopolitical and cultural history from its pre-Roman , Celtic and Roman days , and four centuries of Islamic period as Marca Superior of Al-Andalus or kingdom ( or taifa ) of Saraqusta , and as lands that once belonged to the Frankish Marca Hispanica , counties that later formed the Kingdom of Aragon and eventually the Crown of Aragon .
The Aragonese Corts ( Spanish : Cortes de Aragón , Aragonese : Cortz d'Aragón , Catalan : Corts d'Aragó ) is the regional parliament for the Spanish autonomous community of Aragon . The Corts traces its history back to meetings summoned by the Kings of Aragon which began in 1162 . Abolished in 1707 , the Corts were revived in 1983 following the passing of a Statute of Autonomy .
Aragonese ( /ˌærəɡɒˈniːz/ ; aragonés [ aɾaɣoˈnes ] in Aragonese ) is a Romance language spoken in several dialects by 10,000 to 50,000 people in the Pyrenees valleys of Aragon , Spain , primarily in the comarcas of Somontano de Barbastro , Jacetania , Alto Gállego , Sobrarbe , and Ribagorza/Ribagorça . It is the only modern language which survived from medieval Navarro-Aragonese in a form distinctly different from Spanish . Informally known as fabla ( talk or speech ) , Aragonese is also commonly referred to by the names of its local dialects such as cheso ( from Valle de Hecho ) or patués ( from the Benasque Valley ) .
Zaragoza [ a ] ( also called Saragossa [ b ] in English ) is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and of the autonomous community of Aragon , Spain . It lies by the Ebro river and its tributaries , the Huerva and the Gállego , roughly in the center of both Aragon and the Ebro basin . On 1 January 2019 the population of the city of Zaragoza was 706,904 , within its administrative limits on a land area of 1,062.64 square kilometres ( 410.29 square miles ) , ranking fifth in Spain . It is the 32nd most populous municipality in the European Union . The population of the metropolitan area was estimated in 2006 at 783,763 inhabitants . The municipality is home to more than 50 percent of the Aragonese population . The city lies at an elevation of 199 metres ( 653 feet ) above sea level . Zaragoza hosted Expo 2008 in the summer of 2008 , a world 's fair on water and sustainable development . It was also a candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2012 . The city is famous for its folklore , local gastronomy , and landmarks such as the Basílica del Pilar , La Seo Cathedral and the Aljafería Palace . Together with La Seo and the Aljafería , several other buildings form part of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The Fiestas del Pilar are among the most celebrated festivals in Spain .
The Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party ( Spanish : Partido Socialista Obrero Español [ paɾˈtiðo soθjaˈlista oβɾeɾo espaˈɲol ] ( listen ) ; PSOE [ peˈsoe ] ( listen ) ) is a social-democratic political party in Spain . The PSOE has been in government for a longer time than any other political party in modern democratic Spain , namely from 1982 to 1996 under Felipe González ; from 2004 to 2011 under José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero ; and currently since 2018 under Pedro Sánchez . The PSOE was founded in 1879 , making it the oldest party currently active in Spain . The PSOE played a key role during the Second Spanish Republic , being part of coalition government from 1931 to 1933 and from 1936 to 1939 , when the Republic was defeated by Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War . Historically a Marxist party , it abandoned Marxism in 1979 . The PSOE has historically had strong ties with the General Union of Workers ( UGT ) , a Spanish trade union . For a couple of decades , UGT membership was a requirement for PSOE membership . However , since the 1980s UGT has frequently criticized the economic policies of PSOE , even calling for a general strike against the PSOE government on 14 December 1988 . The PSOE is a member of the Party of European Socialists , Progressive Alliance and the Socialist International . In the European Parliament , PSOE 's 20 Members of the European Parliament ( MEPs ) sit in the Socialists and Democrats ( S & D ) European parliamentary group .
The 2019 Spanish regional elections were held on Sunday , 26 May 2019 , to elect the regional parliaments of twelve 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 and Navarre - , not including Andalusia , the Basque Country , Catalonia and Galicia , which had separate electoral cycles . The Valencian Community had its election held one month earlier , on 28 April , concurrently with the April 2019 Spanish general election . 814 of 1,208 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 , as well as the 2019 European Parliament election .
Asturias ( /æˈstʊəriəs , ə-/ , Spanish : [ asˈtuɾjas ] ; Asturian : Asturies [ asˈtuɾjes ; -ɾjɪs ] ; Eonaviego : Asturias ) , officially the Principality of Asturias ( Spanish : Principado de Asturias ; Asturian : Principáu d'Asturies ) , is an autonomous community in north-west Spain . It is coextensive with the province of Asturias and contains some of the territory that was part of the larger Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages . Divided into eight comarcas ( counties ) , the autonomous community of Asturias is bordered by Cantabria to the east , by León ( Castile and León ) to the south , by Lugo ( Galicia ) to the west , and by the Bay of Biscay ( Cantanbric sea ) to the north . Asturias is situated in a mountainous setting with vast greenery and lush vegetation , making it part of Green Spain . The region has a maritime climate . It receives plenty of annual rainfall and little sunshine by Spanish standards and has very moderated seasons , most often averaging in the lower 20 's celsius . Heat waves are rare due to mountains blocking southerly winds . Winters are very mild for the latitude , especially near sea level . The most important cities are the communal capital , Oviedo ( Uviéu ) , the seaport and largest city Gijón ( Xixón ) , and the industrial town of Avilés . Other municipalities in Asturias include Cangas de Onís ( Cangues d'Onís ) , Cangas del Narcea , Gozón , Grado ( Grau or Grao ) , Langreo ( Llangréu ) , Llanera , Laviana ( Llaviana ) , Lena ( Ḷḷena ) , Llanes , Mieres , Siero , Valdés , Vegadeo ( A Veiga ) , and Villaviciosa ( see also List of municipalities and comarcas in Asturias ) . Asturias is also home of the Princess of Asturias Awards .
The General Junta of the Principality of Asturias ( in Spanish : Junta General del Principado de Asturias , in Asturian : Xunta Xeneral del Principáu d'Asturies ) is the parliament of Asturias , an autonomous community of Spain . Its Statute of Autonomy , the basic organic law of the community , defines it as the supreme institution of representation of the Asturian people . Established in 1982 , it has the name of an Asturian political institution that existed from the Middle Ages to the 19th century . The General Junta exercises the legislative power , approves the budgets of the community , and guides and controls the action of the Council of Government , the executive power , whose leader it elects as the President of the Principality of Asturias . It also exercises all competences conferred or devolved to the autonomous communities in the Constitution of Spain and assumed by the community itself in its Statute of Autonomy and any other relevant law . The General Junta is integrated by 45 members called deputies ( in Spanish : diputados ) for a period of four years unless it is dissolved by the President of the Principality , who then calls for new elections . The General Junta meets at the Regional Palace in Oviedo .
Asturian ( /æˈstjʊəriən/ ; asturianu [ astuˈɾjanʊ ] , formerly also known as bable [ ˈbaβlɪ ] ) is a West Iberian Romance language spoken in Principality of Asturias , Spain . Asturian is part of a wider linguistic group , the Astur-Leonese languages . The number of speakers is estimated at 100,000 ( native ) and 450,000 ( second language ) . There are three main variants in the Astur-Leonese language family : Western , Central , and Eastern . For historical and demographic reasons , the standard is based on Central Asturian . Asturian has a distinct grammar , dictionary , and orthography . It is regulated by the Academy of the Asturian Language . Although it is not an official language of Spain it is protected under the Statute of Autonomy and is an elective language in schools .
Oviedo ( UK : /ˌɒviˈeɪdoʊ/ , US : /ˌoʊvi- , oʊˈvjeɪdoʊ , -ˈvjɛ- , -ðoʊ/ , Spanish : [ oˈβjeðo ] ; Asturian : Uviéu [ uˈβjeʊ ] ) is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain and the administrative and commercial centre of the region . It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city . Oviedo is located approximately 24 km ( 15 mi ) southwest of Gijón and 23 km ( 14 mi ) south of Avilés , both of which lie on the shoreline of the Bay of Biscay . Its proximity to the ocean causes Oviedo to have a maritime climate , in spite of its not being located on the shoreline itself .
The Balearic Islands ( /ˌbæliˈærɪk/ BAL-ee-ARR-ik , also US : /ˌbɑːl-/ BAHL- , UK : /bəˈlɪərɪk/ bə-LEER-ik ; Catalan : Illes Balears [ ˈiʎəz bələˈas ] ; Spanish : Islas Baleares [ ˈizlaz βaleˈaɾes ] ) are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea , near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula . The four largest islands are Mallorca , Menorca , Ibiza , and Formentera . Many minor islands and islets are close to the larger islands , including Cabrera , Dragonera , and S'Espalmador . The islands have a Mediterranean climate , and the four major islands are all popular tourist destinations . Ibiza , in particular , is known as an international party destination , attracting many of the world 's most popular DJs to its nightclubs . The islands ' culture and cuisine are similar to those of the rest of Spain but have their own distinctive features . The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain , with Palma de Mallorca as the capital . The 2007 Statute of Autonomy declares the Balearic Islands as one nationality of Spain . The co-official languages in the Balearic Islands are Catalan and Spanish .
The Parliament of the Balearic Islands ( Catalan : Parlament de les Illes Balears ) is the unicameral autonomous parliament of the Balearic Islands , one of the autonomous communities of Spain . The Parliament , composed of 59 elected seats , is located in the city of Palma , on the island of Majorca .
Catalan ( /ˈkætəlæn , -ən , ˌkætəˈlæn/ ; autonym : català ; Eastern Catalan : [ kətəˈla ] ) is a Western Romance language derived from Vulgar Latin and named after the medieval Principality of Catalonia , in northeastern modern Spain . It is the only official language of Andorra , and a co-official language of the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia , the Balearic Islands and Valencia ( where the language is known as Valencian ) . It also has semi-official status in the Italian comune of Alghero . It is also spoken in the eastern strip of Aragon , in some villages of the region of Murcia called Carche and in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France . These territories are often called Països Catalans or Catalan Countries . Catalan evolved from Vulgar Latin in the Middle Ages around the eastern Pyrenees . 19th-century Spain saw a Catalan literary revival , culminating in the early 1900s .
Palma , fully known as Palma de Mallorca ( /ˈpɑːlmə/ or /ˈpɑːmə/ , Catalan : [ ˈpalmə ] , Spanish : [ ˈpalma ] ) , is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain . It is situated on the south coast of Mallorca on the Bay of Palma . The Cabrera Archipelago , though widely separated from Palma proper , is administratively considered part of the municipality . As of 2018 [ update ] , Palma Airport serves over 29 million passengers per year .
The Socialist Party of the Balearic Islands-PSOE ( Catalan : Partit Socialista de les Illes Balears-PSOE ) is the regional branch in the Balearic Islands of the Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party ( PSOE ) , main centre-left party in Spain since the 1970s .
The Basque Country ( /bæsk , bɑːsk/ ; Basque : Euskadi [ eus̺kadi ] ; Spanish : País Vasco [ paˈiz ˈβasko ] ) , officially the Basque Autonomous Community ( Basque : Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoa , EAE ; Spanish : Comunidad Autónoma Vasca , CAV ) is an autonomous community in northern Spain . It includes the Basque provinces of Álava , Biscay , and Gipuzkoa . The Basque Country or Basque Autonomous Community was granted the status of nationality within Spain , attributed by the Spanish Constitution of 1978 . The autonomous community is based on the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country , a foundational legal document providing the framework for the development of the Basque people on Spanish soil . Navarre , which had narrowly rejected a joint statute of autonomy with Gipuzkoa , Álava and Biscay in 1932 , was granted a separate statute in 1982 . Currently there is no official capital in the autonomous community , but the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz , in the province of Álava , is the de facto capital as the location of the Basque Parliament , the headquarters of the Basque Government , and the residence of the President of the Basque Autonomous Community ( the Palace of Ajuria Enea ) . The High Court of Justice of the Basque Country has its headquarters in the city of Bilbao . Whilst Vitoria-Gasteiz is the largest municipality in area , with 277 km2 ( 107 sq mi ) , Bilbao is the largest in population , with 353,187 people , located in the province of Biscay within a conurbation of 875,552 people . The term Basque Country may also refer to the larger cultural region ( Basque : Euskal Herria ) , the home of the Basque people , which includes the autonomous community .
The Basque Parliament ( Basque : Eusko Legebiltzarra , Spanish : Parlamento Vasco ) is the legislative body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain and the elected assembly to which the Basque Government is responsible . The Parliament meets in the Basque capital , Vitoria-Gasteiz , although the first session of the modern assembly , as constituted by the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country , was held in Guernica - the symbolic centre of Basque freedoms - on 31 March 1980 . Later in 1980 it started meeting at the premises of the Council of Álava . In 1982 , it got its own site in a former high school . The symbol of the Parliament is an oaken sculpture by Nestor Basterretxea representing a stylized tree , an allusion to the tradition of Basque political assemblies meeting under a tree , as in Guernica . It is composed of seventy-five deputies representing citizens from the three provinces of the Basque autonomous community . Each province ( Álava , Gipuzkoa and Biscay ) elects the same number of deputies , despite their having very different levels of population . This was chosen to earn support from Álava and Navarre , less populated territories in which Basque nationalism is less popular . Still , Navarre did not join the autonomous community . The elections are held using closed list proportional representation with seats allocated on a Provincial basis using the D'Hondt method of allocation . To qualify for seats in a particular province , electoral lists must receive at least 3% of the votes cast in that province , including votes en blanco for none of the above . From 1984 to 2001 , the election threshold was 5% in each province .
Basque ( /bæsk , bɑːsk/ ; euskara [ eus̺ˈkaɾa ] ) is a language spoken in the Basque Country , a region that straddles the westernmost Pyrenees in adjacent parts of northern Spain and southwestern France . Linguistically , Basque is unrelated to the other languages of Europe and is a language isolate in relation to any other known living language . The Basques are indigenous to , and primarily inhabit , the Basque Country . The Basque language is spoken by 28.4% ( 751,500 ) of Basques in all territories . Of these , 93.2% ( 700,300 ) are in the Spanish area of the Basque Country and the remaining 6.8% ( 51,200 ) are in the French portion . Native speakers live in a contiguous area that includes parts of four Spanish provinces and the three ancient provinces in France . Gipuzkoa , most of Biscay , a few municipalities of Álava , and the northern area of Navarre formed the core of the remaining Basque-speaking area before measures were introduced in the 1980s to strengthen the language . By contrast , most of Álava , the western part of Biscay and central and southern areas of Navarre are predominantly populated by native speakers of Spanish , either because Basque was replaced by Spanish over the centuries , in some areas ( most of Álava and central Navarre ) , or because it was possibly never spoken there , in other areas ( parts of the Enkarterri and southeastern Navarre ) . In Francoist Spain , Basque language use was affected by the repressive policies . In the Basque Country , Francoist repression was not only political , but also linguistic and cultural . The regime placed legal restrictions on the use of language , which was suppressed from official discourse , education , and publishing , making it illegal to register new-born babies under Basque names , and even requiring tombstone engravings in Basque to be removed . In some provinces , the public use of the language was suppressed , with people fined for speaking Basque .
Vitoria-Gasteiz ( /vɪˌtɔːriə ɡɑːˈsteɪs/ ; Spanish : [ biˈtoɾja ] ; Basque : [ ɡas̺teis̻ ] ) is the seat of government and the capital city of the Basque Country and of the province of Araba/Álava in southern Euskal Herria . It holds the autonomous community 's House of Parliament , the headquarters of the Government , and the Lehendakari 's ( Prime Minister 's ) official residency . The municipality - which comprises not only the city but also the mainly agricultural lands of 63 villages around - is the largest in the Basque Country , with a total area of 276.81 km2 ( 106.88 sq mi ) , and it has a population of 252,571 people ( May 2019 ) . The dwellers of Vitoria-Gasteiz are called vitorianos or gasteiztarrak , while traditionally they are dubbed babazorros ( Basque for 'bean sacks ' ) . Vitoria-Gasteiz is a multicultural city with strengths in healthcare , aeronautics , vehicle industry , and gastronomy . It is consistently ranked as one of the 5 best places to live in Spain , it is the first Spanish municipality to be awarded the title of European Green Capital ( in 2012 ) and it has been also recognized by the UN with the Global Green City Award ( in 2019 ) . The old town has some of the best preserved medieval streets and plazas in the region and it is one of very few cities with two Cathedrals . The city also holds well known festivals such as the Azkena rock festival , FesTVal , Vitoria-Gasteiz jazz festival , and the Virgen Blanca Festivities . Vitoria-Gasteiz 's vicinity is home to world-renowned wineries such as Ysios ( by Santiago Calatrava ) and the Marqués de Riscal Hotel ( by Frank Gehry ) ; relevant heritage sites including the Neolithic remains of Aizkomendi , Sorginetxe and La chabola de la Hechicera ; Iron Age remains such as the settlements of Lastra and Buradón ; antique remains such as the settlement of La Hoya and the salt valley of Añana ; and countless medieval fortresses such as the Tower of Mendoza and the Tower of Varona . Beethoven dedicated his Opus 91 , often called the Battle of Vitoria or Wellington 's Victory , to one of the most famous events of the Napoleonic Wars : the Battle of Vitoria , in which a Spanish , Portuguese and British army under the command of General the Marquess of Wellington broke the French army and nearly captured the puppet king Joseph Bonaparte . It was a pivotal point in the Peninsular War , and a precursor to the expulsion of the French from Spain . A memorial statue can be seen today in Virgen Blanca Square .
Bakartxo Tejeria Otermin ( born 28 March 1971 ) is a Spanish politician who currently serves as speaker ( President ) of the Basque Parliament .
The Basque Nationalist Party ( Basque : Euzko Alderdi Jeltzalea , EAJ ; Spanish : Partido Nacionalista Vasco , PNV ; French : Parti Nationaliste Basque , PNB ; EAJ-PNV ) , officially Basque National Party in English , [ a ] is a Basque nationalist , Christian-democratic and social-democratic regional political party . It operates in all the territories comprising the Basque Country : the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre in Spain , and in the French Basque Country . It also has delegations in dozens of foreign nations , specifically those with a major presence of Basque immigrants . EAJ-PNV was founded by Sabino Arana in 1895 , which makes it the second oldest party in Spain that remains active , after the Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party . It is the largest Basque nationalist party , having led the Basque Government uninterruptedly since 1979 , except for a brief period between 2009 and 2012 . In Navarre , it is part of the coalition Geroa Bai , which is currently the party in the Navarrese regional government . Currently a member of the European Democratic Party , EAJ-PNV was previously a member of the European Free Alliance from 1999 to 2004 . Earlier it had been affiliated with the European People 's Party and the Christian Democrat International ( from which it was ejected in 2000 ) . The current chairman of EAJ-PNV is Andoni Ortuzar . The party 's youth wing is Euzko Gaztedi . EAJ-PNV 's social offices are called batzokis , of which there are over 200 throughout the world . Since 1932 , the party celebrates Aberri Eguna ( Homeland Day ) on Easter .
The 2016 Basque regional election was held on Sunday , 25 September 2016 , to elect the 11th Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community . All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election . The election was held simultaneously with a regional election in Galicia . Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu announced that the election would be held one month ahead of schedule , on 25 September 2016 , based on the climate of ungovernability affecting national politics as a result of the ongoing Spanish government formation negotiations , intending to move the regional election as far away as possible from a possible new general election . This prompted Galician president Alberto Núñez Feijóo to hold the Galician regional election in the same date . Urkullu 's Basque Nationalist Party ( PNV ) emerged as the largest political force in the region with an increased plurality , but required from the support of other parties to govern . This was to be provided by the Socialist Party of the Basque Country-Basque Country Left ( PSE-EE ) , which despite scoring the worst result in its history after seeing its support almost halved - falling from 18.9% and 16 seats to 11.9% and 9 seats - would went on to form a coalition minority government with the PNV . EH Bildu was able to hold onto second place , albeit with a reduced support by going down from 21 to 17 seats , whereas the Elkarrekin Podemos alliance scored third , but below campaign expectations . The People 's Party ( PP ) continued on its long-term decline in the Basque Country , whereas Citizens ( Cs ) failed to win any seat . Urkullu was able to get re-elected as lehendakari with the support of both his party and the PSE-EE . The resulting coalition recovered an alliance which both the PNV and the PSE had already formed between 1987 and 1998 in the Basque government , and which had already been extended to city councils and the Juntas Generales following the 2015 local and foral elections .
The President of the Basque Government ( Basque : Eusko Jaurlaritzako lehendakaria , Spanish : presidente del Gobierno Vasco ) , usually known in the Basque language as the Lehendakari ( Basque : lehendakari , Spanish : lendakari ) , is the head of government of the Basque Autonomous Community . The lehendakari leads the executive branch of the regional government . The current lehendakari is Iñigo Urkullu , of the Basque Nationalist Party . The Basque noun lehendakari means president and can refer to the president of any country , club , association etc .
The Canary Islands ( /kəˈnɛəri/ ; Spanish : Islas Canarias , pronounced [ ˈizlas kaˈnaɾjas ] ) are a Spanish archipelago and the southernmost autonomous community of Spain located in the Atlantic Ocean , in a region known as Macaronesia , 100 kilometres ( 62 miles ) west of Morocco at the closest point . The Canary Islands , which are also known informally as the Canaries , are among the outermost regions ( OMR ) of the European Union proper . It is also one of eight regions with special consideration of historical nationality as recognized by the Spanish Government . The Canary Islands belong to the African Plate like the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla , the two on the African mainland . The eight main islands are ( from largest to smallest in area ) Tenerife , Fuerteventura , Gran Canaria , Lanzarote , La Palma , La Gomera , El Hierro and La Graciosa . The archipelago includes many smaller islands and islets : Alegranza , Isla de Lobos , Montaña Clara , Roque del Oeste and Roque del Este . It also includes a series of adjacent roques ( those of Salmor , Fasnia , Bonanza , Garachico and Anaga ) . In ancient times , the island chain was often referred to as the Fortunate Isles . The Canary Islands are the most southerly region of Spain and the largest and most populated archipelago of Macaronesia . Historically , the Canary Islands have been considered a bridge between four continents : Africa , North America , South America and Europe . The Canary Islands currently have a population of 2,127,685 inhabitants and a density of 283.08 inhabitants/km² , being the eighth most populous autonomous community . The population of the archipelago is mostly concentrated in the two capital islands , around 43% on the island of Tenerife and 40% on the island of Gran Canaria .
The Parliament of the Canary Islands is the regional legislature of the Canary Islands , an autonomous community of Spain . The Parliament has sixty members and members serve on four-year terms . The parliament is based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife , one of the Canaries ' two capitals .
Santa Cruz de Tenerife , commonly abbreviated as Santa Cruz ( /ˌsæntə ˈkruːz/ , Spanish : [ santa ˈkɾuθ ] ) , is a major city , capital of the island of Tenerife , Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife , and capital ( jointly with Las Palmas ) of the Canary Islands . Santa Cruz has a population of 206,593 ( 2013 ) within its administrative limits . The urban zone of Santa Cruz extends beyond the city limits with a population of 507,306 and 538,000 within urban area . It is the second largest city in the Canary Islands and the main city on the island of Tenerife , with nearly half of the island 's population living in or around it . Santa Cruz is located in the northeast quadrant of Tenerife , 210 kilometres ( 130 mi ) off the northwestern coast of Africa within the Atlantic Ocean . The distance to the nearest point of mainland Spain is 1,300 kilometres ( 810 mi ) . Between the 1833 territorial division of Spain and 1927 , Santa Cruz de Tenerife was the sole capital of the Canary Islands , until 1927 when a decree ordered that the capital of the Canary Islands be shared , as it remains at present . The port is of great importance and is the communications hub between Europe , Africa and Americas , with cruise ships arriving from many nations . The city is the focus for domestic and inter-island communications in the Canary Islands . The city is home to the Parliament of the Canary Islands , the Canarian Ministry of the Presidency ( shared on a four-year cycle with Las Palmas ) , one half of the Ministries and Boards of the Canarian Government , ( the other half being located in Gran Canaria ) , the Tenerife Provincial Courts and two courts of the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands . There are several faculties of the La Laguna University in Santa Cruz , including the Fine Arts School and the Naval Sciences Faculty . Its harbour is one of Spain 's busiest .
Cantabria ( /kænˈteɪbriə/ , also UK : /-ˈtæb-/ , Spanish : [ kanˈtaβɾja ] ) [ needs Cantabrian IPA ] is an autonomous community in northern Spain with Santander as its capital city . It is recognized as a historic community and is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community ( province of Biscay ) , on the south by Castile and León ( provinces of León , Palencia and Burgos ) , on the west by the Principality of Asturias , and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea ( Bay of Biscay ) . Cantabria belongs to Green Spain , the name given to the strip of land between the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Mountains , so called because of its particularly lush vegetation , due to the wet and moderate oceanic climate . The climate is strongly influenced by Atlantic Ocean winds trapped by the mountains ; the average annual precipitation is about 1,200 mm ( 47 inches ) . Cantabria has archaeological sites from the Upper Paleolithic period , although the first signs of human occupation date from the Lower Paleolithic . The most significant site for cave paintings is that in the cave of Altamira , dating from about 37,000 BC and declared , along with nine other Cantabrian caves , as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO . The modern Province of Cantabria was constituted on 28 July 1778 at Puente San Miguel , Reocín . The Organic Law of the Autonomy Statute of Cantabria was approved on 30 December 1981 , giving the region its own institutions of self-government .
The Parliament of Cantabria , is the unicameral legislature of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria . It consists of 35 members called deputies which are freely elected by the citizens of the region . The Parliament convenes at the Saint Raphael Hospital , an 18th century building in the City of Santander rehabilitated in the 1980s to house the Regional Assembly . Prior to 1998 , the Parliament was called Regional Assembly of Cantabria . The Regionalist Party of Cantabria is the largest party in parliament , with 14 of the 35 deputies , followed by the People 's Party with 9 and the Socialist Party with 7 . Other minor parties are Citizens with 3 deputies and Vox with 2 . The Regionalist Party governs currently the region in coalition with the Socialist Party .
Santander [ a ] is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain . It is a port city located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao with a population of 172,000 ( 2017 ) . It is believed to have been a port since ancient times , due to its favorable location , and is documented as far back as the 11th century . Much of the medieval city was lost in the Great Fire of 1941 . Today , its remaining old town , beach and other attractions are popular with tourists and other visitors and its economy is mainly service based . The port is still very active and a regular ferry service operates to the United Kingdom . Fish and seafood dominate the local cuisine . Santander notably houses the headquarters of multinational bank Banco Santander , which was founded there .
The Socialist Party of Cantabria-PSOE ( Spanish : Partido Socialista de Cantabria-PSOE , PSC-PSOE ) is the Cantabrian federation of the Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party ( PSOE ) , the main centre-left party in Spain since the 1970s .
Castilla-La Mancha ( UK : /kæˌstiːjə læ ˈmæntʃə/ , US : /- lɑː ˈmɑːntʃə/ , Spanish : [ kasˈtiʎa la ˈmantʃa ] ( listen ) ) , or Castile La Mancha , is an autonomous community of Spain . Comprised by the provinces of Albacete , Ciudad Real , Cuenca , Guadalajara and Toledo , it was created in 1982 . It is bordered by Castile and León , Madrid , Aragon , Valencia , Murcia , Andalusia , and Extremadura . It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain 's regions . Albacete is the largest and most populous city . The Government headquarters are in Toledo and the High Court headquarters are in Albacete . Castilla-La Mancha was formerly grouped with the province of Madrid into New Castile ( Castilla la Nueva ) , but with the advent of the modern Spanish system of autonomous communities ( Estado de las autonomías ) , it was separated due to great demographic disparity between the capital and the remaining New-Castilian provinces . Also , distinct from the former New Castile , Castilla-La Mancha added the province of Albacete , which had been part of Murcia ; adding Albacete placed all of the historic region of La Mancha within this single region . It is mostly in this region where the story of the famous Spanish novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is situated , due to which La Mancha is internationally well-known . Although La Mancha is a windswept , battered plateau , it remains a symbol of Spanish culture with its vineyards , sunflowers , mushrooms , olive plantations , windmills , Manchego cheese , and Don Quixote .
The Cortes of Castilla-La Mancha ( Spanish : Cortes de Castilla-La Mancha ) is the unicameral legislature of Castilla-La Mancha , an autonomous community of Spain . The Cortes consists of 33 elected deputies . The Cortes of Castilla-La Mancha represent the popular will through 33 deputies elected by universal adult suffrage through the secret ballot .
Toledo ( UK : /tɒˈleɪdoʊ/ , US : /toʊˈleɪðoʊ , -ˈlɛð- , təˈliːdoʊ/ , Spanish : [ toˈleðo ] ( listen ) ) is a city and municipality located in central Spain ; it is the capital of the province of Toledo in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha . Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage . Toledo is known as the Imperial City because it was the main venue of the court of Charles V , Holy Roman Emperor in Spain , and as the City of the Three Cultures for the cultural influences of Christians , Muslims and Jews reflected in its history . It was the capital from 542 to 725 AD of the ancient Visigothic kingdom , which followed the fall of the Roman Empire , and the location of historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo . The city has a grand Gothic Cathedral , the Catedral Primada de España ( The Primate Cathedral of Spain ) , and a long history in the production of bladed weapons , which are now common souvenirs of the city . People who were born or have lived in Toledo include Brunhilda of Austrasia , Al-Zarqali , Garcilaso de la Vega , Eleanor of Toledo , Alfonso X , Israeli ben Joseph , Halevi , and El Greco . As of 2015 [ update ] , the city had a population of 83,226 and an area of 232.1 km2 ( 89.6 sq mi ) .
Castile and León ( UK : /kæˈstiːl . leɪˈɒn/ , US : /-ˈoʊn/ ; Spanish : Castilla y León [ kasˈtiʎa i leˈon ] ( listen ) ) [ n. 1 ] is an autonomous community in north-western Spain . It was created in 1983 . Formed by the provinces of Ávila , Burgos , León , Palencia , Salamanca , Segovia , Soria , Valladolid and Zamora , it is the largest autonomous community in Spain in terms of area , covering 94,222 km2 . It is however sparsely populated , with a population density below 30/km2 . While a capital has not been explicitly declared , the seats of the executive and legislative powers are set in Valladolid by law and for all purposes that city ( also the most populated municipality ) serves as de facto regional capital . Castile and León is a landlocked region , bordered by Portugal as well as by the Spanish autonomous communities of Galicia , Asturias , Cantabria , the Basque Country , La Rioja , Aragon , Castilla-La Mancha , the Community of Madrid and Extremadura . Chiefly comprising the northern half of the Inner Plateau , it is surrounded by mountain barriers ( the Picos de Europa to the North , the Sistema Central to the South and the Sistema Ibérico to the East ) and it is drained by the Douro River , flowing west toward the Atlantic Ocean . The region contains eight World Heritage Sites . UNESCO recognizes the Cortes of León of 1188 as the cradle of worldwide parliamentarism .
The Cortes of Castile and León ( Spanish : Cortes de Castilla y León ) is the elected unicameral legislature of the Autonomous Community of Castile and León .
Valladolid ( /ˌvælədəˈliːd , -ˈlɪd , ˌbɑːjə-/ , Spanish : [ baʎaðoˈlið ] ( listen ) ) is a city in Spain and the de facto capital of the autonomous community of Castile and León . It has a population of 309,714 people ( 2013 est . ) , making it Spain 's 13th most populous municipality and northwestern Spain 's biggest city . Its metropolitan area ranks 20th in Spain with a population of 414,244 people in 23 municipalities . The city is situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers 15 km before they join the Duero , and located within five winegrowing regions : Ribera del Duero , Rueda , Toro , Tierra de León , and Cigales . Valladolid was originally settled in pre-Roman times by the Celtic Vaccaei people , and later the Romans themselves . It remained a small settlement until being re-established by King Alfonso VI of Castile as a Lordship for the Count Pedro Ansúrez in 1072 . It grew to prominence in the Middle Ages as the seat of the Court of Castile and being endowed with fairs and different institutions as a collegiate church , University ( 1241 ) , Royal Court and Chancery and the Royal Mint . The Catholic Monarchs , Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon , married in Valladolid in 1469 and established it as the capital of the Kingdom of Castile and later of united Spain . Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid in 1506 , while authors José Zorrilla , Miguel de Cervantes and Francisco de Quevedo lived and worked in the city . The city was briefly the capital of Habsburg Spain under Phillip III between 1601 and 1606 , before returning indefinitely to Madrid . The city then declined until the arrival of the railway in the 19th century , and with its industrialisation into the 20th century .
Catalonia ( /ˌkætəˈloʊniə/ ; Catalan : Catalunya [ kətəˈluɲə ] ; Aranese : Catalonha [ kataˈluɲɔ ] ; Spanish : Cataluña [ kataˈluɲa ] ) is an autonomous community on the northeastern corner of Spain , self-designated as a nationality by its Statute of Autonomy . [ c ] Catalonia consists of four provinces : Barcelona , Girona , Lleida , and Tarragona . The capital and largest city is Barcelona , the second-most populated municipality in Spain and the core of the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union . It comprises most of the territory of the former Principality of Catalonia ( with the remainder Roussillon now part of France 's Pyrénées-Orientales , Occitanie ) . It is bordered by France ( Occitanie ) and Andorra to the north , the Mediterranean Sea to the east , and the Spanish autonomous communities of Aragon to the west and Valencia to the south . The official languages are Catalan , Spanish , and the Aranese dialect of Occitan . In the late 8th century , the counties of the March of Gothia and the Hispanic March were established by the Frankish kingdom as feudal vassals across and near the eastern Pyrenees as a defensive barrier against Muslim invasions . The eastern counties of these marches were united under the rule of the Frankish vassal , the count of Barcelona . In the 10th century the County of Barcelona became independent de facto . In 1137 , Barcelona and the Kingdom of Aragon were united by marriage under the Crown of Aragon . The de jure end of Frankish rule was ratified by French and Aragonese monarchs in the Treaty of Corbeil in 1258 . The Principality of Catalonia developed its own institutional system , such as courts ( parliament ) , and constitutions , becoming the base for the Crown of Aragon 's naval power , trade and expansionism in the Mediterranean .
The Parliament of Catalonia ( Catalan : Parlament de Catalunya , IPA : [ pəɾləˈmen də kətəˈluɲə ] ; Spanish : Parlamento de Cataluña ; Occitan : Parlament de Catalonha ) is the unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Catalonia . It is formed by 135 deputies ( diputats/diputados ) , who are elected every four years or after extraordinary dissolution , chosen by universal suffrage in lists with four constituencies , the Catalan provinces . The Parliament building is located in Ciutadella park , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain . The most recent parliamentary elections were held on 21 December 2017 . Following the 2015 Catalan regional election and the disputed October 1st independence referendum results , the Parliament of Catalonia unilaterally declared independence from Spain on 27 October 2017 with a vote of 70-10 , and purported to form the Catalan Republic . The remaining 55 members abstained or boycotted the vote , disagreeing with the independence movement . In response , Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dissolved the Parliament and called for a snap regional election .
Occitan ( English : /ˈɒksɪtən , -tæn , -tɑːn/ , Occitan : [ utsiˈta ] , [ a ] French : [ ɔksitɑ̃ ] ) , also known as lenga d'òc ( Occitan : [ ˈleŋɡɔ ˈðɔ ( k ) ] ( listen ) ; French : langue d'oc ) by its native speakers , is a Romance language . It is spoken in Southern France , Italy 's Occitan Valleys , Monaco , as well as Spain 's Val d'Aran ; collectively , these regions are sometimes referred to as Occitania . Occitan is also spoken in the linguistic enclave of Guardia Piemontese ( Calabria , Italy ) . Some include Catalan in Occitan , as the distance between this language and some Occitan dialects ( such as the Gascon language ) is similar to the distance among different Occitan dialects . In fact , Catalan was considered an Occitan dialect until the end of the 19th century . Today , Occitan is an official language in Catalonia , where a subdialect of Gascon known as Aranese is spoken in the Val d'Aran . Occitan 's closest relative is Catalan . Since September 2010 , the Parliament of Catalonia has considered Aranese Occitan to be the officially preferred language for use in the Val d'Aran . Across history , the terms Limousin ( Lemosin ) , Languedocien ( Lengadocian ) , Gascon , and later Provençal ( Provençal , Provençau or Prouvençau ) have been used as synonyms for the whole of Occitan ; nowadays , Provençal is understood mainly as the Occitan dialect spoken in Provence , in southeast France . Unlike other Romance languages such as French or Spanish , there is no single written standard language called Occitan , and Occitan has no official status in France , home to most of Occitania . Instead , there are competing norms for writing Occitan , some of which attempt to be pan-dialectal , whereas others are based on particular dialects . These efforts are hindered by the rapidly declining use of Occitan as a spoken language in much of southern France , as well as by the significant differences in phonology and vocabulary among different Occitan dialects .
Barcelona ( /ˌbɑːrsəˈloʊnə/ BAR-sə-LOH-nə , Catalan : [ bəɾsəˈlonə ] , Spanish : [ baɾθeˈlona ] ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain . It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia , as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain . With a population of 1.6 million within city limits , its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people , making it the sixth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris , the Ruhr area , Madrid , and Milan . It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea , located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs , and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range , the tallest peak of which is 512 metres ( 1,680 feet ) high . Founded as a Roman city , in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona . After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon , Barcelona continued to be an important city in the Crown of Aragon as an economic and administrative centre of this Crown and the capital of the Principality of Catalonia . Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination . Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner , which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites . The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona . The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments . Barcelona is one of the world 's leading tourist , economic , trade fair and cultural centres , and its influence in commerce , education , entertainment , sports , media , fashion , science , and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the major global cities . It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe , 24th in the world ( before Zürich , after Frankfurt ) and a financial centre .
Roger Torrent i Ramió ( born 19 July 1979 ) is a Spanish politician and urban planner . A former mayor of the municipality of Sarrià de Ter in north-eastern Spain , Torrent has been President of the Parliament of Catalonia since January 2018 .
The Republican Left of Catalonia ( Catalan : Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya , ERC ; IPA : [ əsˈkɛrə rəpubːliˈkanə ðə kətəˈluɲə ] ) is a pro-Catalan independence , social-democratic political party in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia . It is also the main sponsor of the independence movement from France and Spain in the territories known as Catalan Countries . Its current president is Oriol Junqueras and its secretary-general is Marta Rovira . The party is a member of the European Free Alliance .
The 2017 Catalan regional election was held on Thursday , 21 December 2017 to elect the 12th Parliament of the autonomous community of Catalonia . All 135 seats in the Parliament were up for election . The election was called by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy after the invocation of Article 155 of the 1978 Spanish Constitution to enforce direct rule in Catalonia and the subsequent dismissal of the Catalan government under President Carles Puigdemont . The three pro-Catalan independence parties won a slim majority of parliamentary seats , claiming 70 out of 135 , but fell short of a majority in the popular vote by securing 47.6% of the share . Pro-Catalan independence parties maintained their parliamentary majority at the 2015 election , although then-President Artur Mas and his Junts pel Sí ( JxSí ) coalition - made up primarily by Democratic Convergence of Catalonia ( CDC ) and Republican Left of Catalonia ( ERC ) - required from the support from Popular Unity Candidacy ( CUP ) to govern . The CUP 's decision to vote against Mas 's led to his witdrawal and to the election of Carles Puigdemont , until then mayor of Girona , as leader of a CDC-ERC coalition government . Shortly thereafter , CDC was re-founded as Catalan European Democratic Party ( PDeCAT ) . On 27 October 2017 , following the controversial referendum on 1 October , the pro-independence majority in the Catalan parliament voted in favour of a unilateral declaration of independence , just hours before the Spanish Senate voted to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution . This allowed Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to sack the Catalan government and dissolve the Catalan parliament , calling a regional election for 21 December . With 36 seats , the main anti-independence party , Citizens ( Cs ) , emerged as the largest in the Parliament . The Socialists ' Party of Catalonia ( PSC ) performed well below expectations and increased its seat count by one , whereas Catalunya en Comú-Podem , a left-wing party in favor of self-governance for the region but not siding itself with either bloc , received 7.5% of the vote and 8 seats . Owing to the combined performance of Puigdemont 's Junts per Catalunya ( JuntsxCat ) and ERC , parties in support of independence maintained their majority in the election , meaning that it was mathematically possible for a pro-independence coalition government to return to power , despite their overall majority having been reduced by two seats .
Extremadura ( /ˌɛkstrɪməˈdjʊərə/ EK-strim-ə-DEWR-ə , Spanish : [ e ( ɣ ) stɾemaˈðuɾa ] ; Portuguese : Estremadura ) is an autonomous community of the western Iberian Peninsula whose capital city is Mérida , recognised by the Statute of Autonomy of Extremadura . It is made up of the two largest provinces of Spain : Cáceres and Badajoz . It is bordered by the provinces of Salamanca and Ávila ( Castile and León ) to the north ; by provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real ( Castile-La Mancha ) to the east , and by the provinces of Huelva , Seville , and Córdoba ( Andalusia ) to the south ; and by Portugal to the west . Its official language is Spanish . It is an important area for wildlife , particularly with the major reserve at Monfragüe , which was designated a National Park in 2007 , and the International Tagus River Natural Park ( Parque Natural Tajo Internacional ) . The government of Extremadura is called Gobierno de Extremadura . The Day of Extremadura is celebrated on 8 September . It coincides with the Catholic festivity of Our Lady of Guadalupe .
The Assembly of Extremadura ( Spanish : Asamblea de Extremadura ; also called Parlamento de Extremadura ) is the elected unicameral legislature of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura . The electoral period is four years . The Assembly of Extremadura is seated at the old Hospital of San Juan de Dios , in Mérida , the capital of the autonomous community . The session room features a 5th-century mosaic found in 1978 near the Roman Theatre .
Mérida ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈmeɾiða ] ) is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura , western central Spain . It is situated in to the north of the province of Badajoz . The population is 60,119 in 2017 . The Augusta Emerita has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993 . Merida is geographically located in the centre of the region of Extremadura , at an altitude of 217 meters . Crossed by the Guadiana and Albarregas rivers , it is , together with Badajoz , ecclesiastically the metropolitan seat of the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz . Merida was founded as a Roman colony in 25 AD under the order of the emperor Augustus to serve as a retreat for the veteran soldiers ( emeritus ) of the legions V Alaudae and X Gemina . The city , one of the most important in Roman Hispania , was endowed with all the comforts of a large Roman city and served as capital of the Roman province of Lusitania since its founding and as the capital of the entire Diocese of Hispania during the fourth century . Following invasions from the Visigoths , Merida remained an important city of the Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania in the 6th century . In the 713 , the city was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate , and remained under Muslim rule . The Mozarabic people of the island rebelled repeatedly against the Caliphate authorities in the 9th century and the city began a slow decline . Merida was reconquered by the Christian troops of Alfonso IX of León in 1230 .
Galicia ( /ɡəˈlɪʃ ( i ) ə/ ; Galician : Galicia [ ɡaˈliθjɐ ] , Galiza [ ɡaˈliθɐ ] ; [ a ] Spanish : Galicia ; Portuguese : Galiza ) is an autonomous community of Spain and historic nationality under Spanish law . Located in the northwest Iberian Peninsula , it includes the provinces of A Coruña , Lugo , Ourense and Pontevedra . Galicia is bordered by Portugal to the south , the Spanish autonomous communities of Castile and León and Asturias to the east , the Atlantic Ocean to the west , and the Cantabrian Sea to the north . It had a population of 2,701,743 in 2018 and a total area of 29,574 km2 ( 11,419 sq mi ) . Galicia has over 1,660 km ( 1,030 mi ) of coastline , including its offshore islands and islets , among them Cíes Islands , Ons , Sálvora , Cortegada , and the largest and most populated , A Illa de Arousa . The area now called Galicia was first inhabited by humans during the Middle Paleolithic period , and takes its name from the Gallaeci , the Celtic people living north of the Douro River during the last millennium BC . Galicia was incorporated into the Roman Empire at the end of the Cantabrian Wars in 19 BC , and was made a Roman province in the 3rd century AD . In 410 , the Germanic Suebi established a kingdom with its capital in Braga ( Portugal ) ; this kingdom was incorporated into that of the Visigoths in 585 . In 711 , the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate invaded the Iberian Peninsula conquering the Visigoth kingdom of Hispania by 718 , but soon Galicia was incorporated into the Christian kingdom of Asturias by 740 . During the Middle Ages , the kingdom of Galicia was occasionally ruled by its own kings , but most of the time it was leagued to the kingdom of Leon and later to that of Castile , while maintaining its own legal and customary practices and culture . From the 13th century on , the kings of Castile , as kings of Galicia , appointed an Adiantado-mór , whose attributions passed to the Governor and Captain General of the Kingdom of Galiza from the last years of the 15th century . The Governor also presided the Real Audiencia do Reino de Galicia , a royal tribunal and government body .
The Parliament of Galicia ( Galician : Parlamento de Galicia ) is the unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Galicia , Spain . It is formed by 75 deputies ( deputados ) . Deputies are elected every four years in ordinary period , or extraordinarily upon dissolution and call of elections by the President of the Xunta of Galicia , by universal suffrage in proportional lists with the four Galician provinces serving as constituencies .
Galician ( /ɡəˈlɪʃən/ , /ɡəˈlɪsiən/ ; galego ) is an Indo-European language of the Western Ibero-Romance branch . It is spoken by some 2.4 million people , mainly in Galicia , an autonomous community located in northwestern Spain , where it is official along with Spanish . The language is also spoken in some border zones of the neighboring Spanish regions of Asturias and Castile and León , as well as by Galician migrant communities in the rest of Spain , in Latin America including Puerto Rico , the United States , Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe . Modern Galician is part of the West Iberian languages group , a family of Romance languages that includes the Portuguese language , which developed locally from Vulgar Latin and evolved into what modern scholars have called Galician-Portuguese . Dialectal divergences are observable between the northern and southern forms of Galician-Portuguese in 13th-century texts but the two dialects were similar enough to maintain a high level of cultural unity until the middle of the 14th century , producing the medieval Galician-Portuguese lyric . The divergence has continued to this day , producing the modern languages of Galician and Portuguese . The lexicon of Galician is predominantly of Latin extraction , although it also contains a moderate number of words of Germanic and Celtic origin , among other substrates and adstrates , having also received , mainly via Spanish , a number of nouns from Andalusian Arabic . The language is officially regulated in Galicia by the Royal Galician Academy . Other organizations without institutional support , such as the Galician Association of Language and the Galician Academy of the Portuguese Language , include Galician as part of the Portuguese language .
Santiago de Compostela [ a ] ( or Saint James of Compostella in English ) is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia , in northwestern Spain . The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great , now the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela , as the destination of the Way of St. James , a leading Catholic pilgrimage route since the 9th century . In 1985 , the city 's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
The People 's Party of Galicia ( Galician/Spanish : Partido Popular de Galicia [ paɾˈtiðo popuˈlaɾ ðe ɣaˈliθja ] , PP or PPdeG [ peˈpe ðe ˈɣa ] ) is a conservative political party in Galicia , Spain . It is the Galician affiliate of the Spanish People 's Party . Prior to the 2005 Galician elections , the PPdeG had been in power for 15 years . In the election the party won one seat shy of an absolute majority . The other two parties with deputies ( Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party and Galician Nationalist Bloc ) were then able to form a governing coalition . The party returned to power in the 2009 Galician elections , and has been the governing party since .
The 2016 Galician regional election was held on Sunday , 25 September 2016 , to elect the 10th Parliament of the autonomous community of Galicia . All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election . The election was held simultaneously with a regional election in the Basque Country . Alberto Núñez Feijóo announced the election would be brought forward to September , after initially scheduling to held it throughout October , following Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu 's announcement of a Basque election for 25 September . Feijóo defended his decision in that it would make no sense to hold the election only weeks after the Basque poll , specially considering the state of political instability in Spain over the government formation process after the general election in June . The election took place in a situation in which the Spanish political landscape had undergone a major transformation within a short time , with a decrease in support for the People 's Party ( PP ) and the Spanish Socialist Workers ' Party ( PSOE ) nationally and the emergence of new parties such as Podemos and Citizens ( C 's ) . Feijóo 's PP , with 47.6% and 41 seats , went on to secure a third consecutive absolute majority , the only one at the time in Spain after the 2015 electoral cycle . The Podemos-supported En Marea list , which had already achieved major breakthroughs in the region at the 2015 and 2016 general elections , placed narrowly ahead of the Socialists ' Party of Galicia ( PSdeG-PSOE ) which scored the worst result of its history in a Galician regional election . Concurrently , the Galician Nationalist Bloc ( BNG ) saw a slight drop in support but was able to outperform opinion poll predictions of an electoral meltdown . Finally , with 3.4% , Cs fell well below their aspirations of entering parliament , failing to secure any seat .
La Rioja ( Spanish : [ la ˈrjoxa ] ) is an autonomous community and a province in Spain , located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula . Its capital is Logroño . Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra , Arnedo , Alfaro , Haro , Santo Domingo de la Calzada , and Nájera . It has an estimated population of 315,675 inhabitants ( INE 2018 ) , making it the least populated region of Spain . It covers part of the Ebro valley towards its north and the Iberian Range in the south . The community is a single province , so there is no County Council , and it is organized into 174 municipalities . It borders the Basque Country ( province of Álava ) to the north , Navarre to the northeast , Aragón to the southeast ( province of Zaragoza ) , and Castilla y León to the west and south ( provinces of Burgos and Soria ) . The area was once occupied by pre-Roman Berones , Pellendones and Vascones . After partial recapture from the Muslims in the early tenth century , the region became part of the Kingdom of Pamplona , later being incorporated into Castile after a century and a half of disputes . From the eighteenth century the Rioja region remained divided between the provinces of Burgos and Soria , until in 1833 the province of Logroño was created , changing the name of the province to La Rioja in 1980 as a prelude to its constitution under a single provincial autonomous community in 1982 . The name Rioja ( from Río Oja ) is first attested in 1099 . The region is well known for its wines under the brand Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja .
The Parliament of La Rioja ( Spanish : Parlamento de La Rioja ) is the unicameral autonomous parliament of La Rioja , one of the autonomous communities of Spain . The parliament , composed of 33 elected seats , is located the former Monastery of La Merced in Logroño , the capital city of La Rioja .
Logroño ( UK : /lɒˈɡrɒnjoʊ/ , US : /ləˈɡroʊnjoʊ , loʊˈ-/ , Spanish : [ loˈɣɾoɲo ] ( listen ) ) is a city in northern Spain , on the Ebro River . It is the capital of the province of La Rioja . The population of the city in 2008 was 153,736 while the metropolitan area included nearly 197,000 inhabitants . The city is a centre of the trade in Rioja wine , for which the area is noted , and produces wood , metal and textile products .
The Community of Madrid ( English : /məˈdrɪd/ ; Spanish : Comunidad de Madrid Spanish pronunciation : [ komuniˈðað ðe maˈðɾið ] ( listen ) ) is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain . It is located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula , and of the Central Plateau ( Meseta Central ) . Its capital is the city of Madrid , which is also the capital of the country . The Community of Madrid is bounded to the south and east by Castilla-La Mancha and to the north and west by Castile and León . It was formally created in 1983 , based on the limits of the province of Madrid , which was until then conventionally included in the historical region of New Castile . The Community of Madrid is the third most populous in Spain with 6,549,979 ( 2018 ) inhabitants mostly concentrated in the metropolitan area of Madrid . It is also the most densely populated autonomous community . In absolute terms , Madrid 's economy is , since December 2019 , slightly bigger in size to that of Catalonia . Madrid thus has the highest GDP per capita in the country . The region contains three World Heritage Sites : the Monastery and Royal Site of El Escorial , the University and historic centre of Alcalá de Henares , and the cultural landscape of Aranjuez . In addition , the Montejo Beech Forest [ es ] is part of the transnational Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe world heritage site .
The legislature is currently ( as of 2019 [ update ] ) made up of 132 deputies , elected all at once in closed party lists for terms of 4 years . Seats are allocated using the proportional D'Hondt method in one constituency , which makes the Madrid Assembly one of the biggest parliaments in the world with one only constituency . In 2007 , this fact moved President Esperanza Aguirre to propose splitting the Community of Madrid into twelve constituencies of 9 to 15 AMs each . The alleged benefit was increasing the contact between statesmen and their electors , but the reform was rejected by the rest of parties in the Assembly on the grounds that it was not a pressing matter , and it would alter the composition of the assembly in favour of the most voted party . Eventually , the proposal was abandoned even though President Aguirre had the majority to pass it through the Assembly , because it would be defeated in the Cortes Generales as it had to be done through a process of reform of the Charter of Autonomy . Parties that obtain more than 5AMs can form a parliamentary group , in order to organise and participate in the debates and committees of the assembly . Parties that do not reach that number of seats will be part of the mixed group . Currently the threshold for obtaining seats in the Madrid Assembly is 5% of the total votes cast including votes en blanco i.e . for none of the above , thus making it mathematically impossible for a party to obtain less than five seats .
Madrid ( /məˈdrɪd/ , Spanish : [ maˈðɾið ] ) [ n. 1 ] is the capital and most populous city of Spain . The city has almost 3.3 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.5 million . It is the second-largest city in the European Union ( EU ) , surpassed only by Berlin , and its monocentric metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU , smaller only than Paris . The municipality covers 604.3 km2 ( 233.3 sq mi ) . Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the centre of both the country and the Community of Madrid ( which comprises the city of Madrid , its conurbation and extended suburbs and villages ) ; this community is bordered by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha . As the capital city of Spain , seat of government , and residence of the Spanish monarch , Madrid is also the political , economic and cultural centre of the country . The current mayor is José Luis Martínez-Almeida from the People 's Party . The Madrid urban agglomeration has the third-largest GDP in the European Union and its influence in politics , education , entertainment , environment , media , fashion , science , culture , and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world 's major global cities . Madrid is home to two world-famous football clubs , Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid . Due to its economic output , high standard of living , and market size , Madrid is considered the major financial centre and the leading economic hub of the Iberian Peninsula and of Southern Europe . It hosts the head offices of the vast majority of major Spanish companies , such as Telefónica , IAG or Repsol . Madrid is also the 10th most liveable city in the world according to Monocle magazine , in its 2017 index .
The Region of Murcia ( /ˈmʊərsiə/ , also US : /ˈmɜːrʃ ( i ) ə/ ; Spanish : Región de Murcia [ reˈxjon de ˈmuɾθja ] ) , is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the state , bordered by Andalusia , Castilla-La Mancha and the Valencian Community , on the Mediterranean coast . The autonomous community consists of a single province , unlike most autonomous communities , which have several provinces within the same territory . Because of this , the autonomous community and the province are operated as one unit of government . The city of Murcia is the capital of the region and seat of government organs , except for the parliament , the Regional Assembly of Murcia , which is located in Cartagena . The autonomous community and province is subdivided into municipalities . The Region of Murcia is bordered by Andalusia ( the provinces of Almería and Granada ) , Castile-La Mancha ( the province of Albacete , which was historically connected to Murcia until 1980 ) , the Valencian Community ( province of Alicante ) , and the Mediterranean Sea . The community covers 11,313 km² in area and has a population of 1.4 million . About one-third of its population lives in the capital . The highest peak of the region is Los Obispos Peak , in the Massif of Revolcadores , with 2,014 m. altitude . Of its extensive heritage , it is worth mentioning the 72 cave rock art ensembles belonging to the rock art of the Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin declared World Heritage Site , as well as the Council of Wise Men of the plain of Murcia , declared Intangible world cultural heritage , in the same way as the Drums of Moratalla and Mula are Intangible world cultural heritage . in the region of Murcia is the town of Caravaca de la Cruz , place of reference for the worship of the Catholic Church by having the privilege of celebrating the Jubilee Year in perpetuity every seven years around the Vera Cruz de Caravaca . The region is one of the largest producers of fruits , vegetables , and flowers of Europe , with important vineyards in the municipalities of Jumilla , Bullas and Yecla , which produce wines with Denominación de origen .
The Regional Assembly of Murcia ( Spanish : Asamblea Regional de Murcia ) is the autonomous parliament of the Region of Murcia , one of the autonomous communities of Spain . The unicameral assembly , which contained 45 elected legislative seats , is located in the Murcian city of Cartagena , Spain . The People 's Party ( PP ) retained its majority in the 2011 Murcian Regional election with 33 seats out of 45 . It went on to lose its majority in 2015 , falling 1 seat short of a majority with 22 seats . It now relies on the support of C 's to stay in power .
Cartagena ( Spanish pronunciation : [ kaɾtaˈxena ] ; Latin : Carthago Nova ) is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia , by the Mediterranean coast , south-eastern Spain . As of January 2018 , it has a population of 213,943 inhabitants , being the Region 's second-largest municipality and the country 's sixth-largest non-provincial-capital city . The metropolitan area of Cartagena , known as Campo de Cartagena , has a population of 409,586 inhabitants . Cartagena has been inhabited for over two millennia , being founded around 227 BC by the Carthaginian Hasdrubal the Fair as Qart Hadasht ( Phoenician , meaning 'New Town ' ) , the same name as the original city of Carthage . The city had its heyday during the Roman Empire , when it was known as Carthago Nova ( the New Carthage ) and Carthago Spartaria , capital of the province of Carthaginensis . It was one of the important cities during the Umayyad invasion of Hispania , under its Arabic name of Qartayannat al-Halfa . Much of the historical weight of Cartagena in the past goes to its coveted defensive port , one of the most important in the western Mediterranean . Cartagena has been the capital of the Spanish Navy 's Maritime Department of the Mediterranean since the arrival of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century . As far back as the 16th century it was one of the most important naval ports in Spain , together with Ferrol in the North . It is still an important naval seaport , the main military haven of Spain , and is home to a large naval shipyard . The confluence of civilizations as well as its strategic harbour , together with the rise of the local mining industry is manifested by a unique artistic heritage , with a number of landmarks such as the Roman Theatre , the second largest of the Iberian Peninsula after the one in Mérida , an abundance of Phoenician , Roman , Byzantine and Moorish remains , and a plethora of Art Nouveau buildings , a result of the bourgeoisie from the early 20th century . Cartagena is now established as a major cruise ship destination in the Mediterranean and an emerging cultural focus .
Navarre ( English : /nəˈvɑːr/ ; Spanish : Navarra [ naˈβara ] ; Basque : Nafarroa [ nafaro.a ] ; Occitan : Navarra [ naˈbaʀɔ ] ) , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( Spanish : Comunidad Foral de Navarra [ komuniˈðað foˈɾal de naˈβara ] ; Basque : Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea [ nafaro.ako foɾu komunitate.a ] ) , is an autonomous community and province in northern Spain , bordering the Basque Autonomous Community , La Rioja , and Aragon in Spain and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France . The capital city is Pamplona ( or Iruñea in Basque ) . Navarre is in the transition between Green Spain and semi-arid interior areas , causing a vast difference of landscapes between various parts of the region . The transition also renders a highly variable climate , with cooler spells and heat waves mixing in summer . Winters are mild for the latitude . Navarre is one of the historic Basque districts , with its Basque features conspicuous in the north , while virtually absent on the southern fringes .
The Parliament of Navarre ( Spanish Parlamento de Navarra , Basque Nafarroako Parlamentua ) or also known as Cortes de Navarra is the Navarre autonomous unicameral parliament .
Pamplona ( Spanish : [ pamˈplona ] ; French : Pampelune , Basque : Iruña ; IPA : [ iɾuɲa ] or Iruñea ; IPA : [ iɾuɲea ] ) is the capital city of the Autonomous Community of Navarre , in Spain , and historically also of the former Kingdom of Navarre . Pamplona is also the second-largest city in the greater Basque cultural region , composed of two Spanish autonomous communities , Navarre and Basque Country , and the French Basque Country . Pamplona has a moderate climate being at 446 m ( 1,463 ft ) in elevation . In addition to its elevation , Pamplona being inland results in cool nights by Spanish standards . The city is famous worldwide for the running of the bulls during the San Fermín festival , which is held annually from 6 to 14 July . This festival was brought to literary renown with the 1926 publication of Ernest Hemingway 's novel The Sun Also Rises . It is also home to Osasuna , the only Navarrese football club to have ever played in the Spanish top division .
Unai Hualde Iglesias ( born 25 July 1976 ) is a Navarrese politician from the Basque National Party and a leading member of the coalition Geroa Bai . He is the president of the Basque National Party in Navarre , as well as a Member of the Parliament of Navarre since 2015 . He served as the First Vice-President of the Parliament of Navarre from 2015 to 2019 , during its 9th term . In 2019 he was elected as the President of the Parliament of Navarre for its 10th term .
Geroa Bai ( Basque : Yes to the Future ) is a regional political coalition in the Chartered Community of Navarre , created for the 2011 election to the Cortes Generales . It includes the Basque Nationalist Party ( EAJ-PNV ) , Atarrabia Taldea , and the Zabaltzen partnership . These groups had shared the former coalition Nafarroa Bai , along with Eusko Alkartasuna and Aralar ( which entered the coalition Amaiur ) , and Batzarre .
The Valencian Community [ a ] [ b ] is an autonomous community of Spain . It is the fourth most populous autonomous community after Andalusia , Catalonia and Madrid with more than five million inhabitants . Its homonymous capital Valencia is the third largest city and metropolitan area in Spain . It is located along the Mediterranean coast on the east side of the Iberian peninsula . It borders with Catalonia to the north , Aragon and Castilla-La Mancha to the west , and Murcia to the south . The Valencian Community consists of three provinces which are Castellón , Valencia and Alicante . According to its Statute of Autonomy , the Valencian people are a nationality . Their origins date back to the Aragonese reconquest of the Moorish Taifa of Valencia , which was taken by James I of Aragon in 1238 during the Reconquista . The newly founded Kingdom of Valencia was granted wide self-government under the Crown of Aragon . Valencia experienced its golden age in the 15th century , as it became the Crown 's economic capital . Self-government continued after the unification of the Spanish Kingdom , but was eventually suspended in 1707 by Phillip V of Spain as a result of the Spanish War of Succession . Valencian nationalism resurged towards the end of the 19th century , which led to the modern conception of the Valencian Country .
The Corts Valencianes ( Valencian pronunciation : [ ˈkoɾ ( d ) z valensiˈanes ] ) , commonly known as Les Corts ( [ les ˈkoɾ ( t ) s ] ) , are the main legislative body of the Generalitat Valenciana and therefore of the Valencian Country . The main location of the Corts is in the Palace of the Borgias in Valencia ; however it can meet at any location in the Valencian lands . The Corts has its origins in bodies established in the thirteenth century by King James I of Aragon . The modern institution was established in 1982 under the Valencian statute of autonomy of 1982 . The current Corts were elected in 2015 .
Valencian or Valencian language ( /vəˈlɛn ( t ) siən , -nʃən/ ; endonym valencià , llengua valenciana or idioma valencià [ valensiˈa , ba- ] ) [ note 1 ] is the historical , traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community ( Spain ) , and extra-officially in the El Carche comarca in Murcia ( Spain ) , to refer to the romance language also known as Catalan . [ note 2 ] [ note 3 ] The Valencian Community 's 1982 Statute of Autonomy and the Spanish Constitution officially recognise Valencian as the regional language . As a glottonym , it is used for referring either to the language as a whole [ note 2 ] [ note 3 ] or to the Valencian specific linguistic forms . [ note 2 ] [ note 4 ] According to philological studies , the varieties of this language spoken in the Valencian Community and El Carche can not be considered a dialect restricted to these borders : the several dialects of Valencian ( Alicante 's Valencian , Southern Valencian , Central Valencian or Apitxat , Castellón 's Valencian and transitional Valencian ) belong to the Western group of Catalan dialects . Valencian displays transitional features between Ibero-Romance languages and Gallo-Romance languages . Its similarity with Occitan has led many authors to group it under the Occitano-Romance languages . There is a political controversy within the Valencian Community regarding its status as a glottonym or as a language on its own , since official reports show that slightly more than half of the people in the Valencian Community consider it as a separate language , different from Catalan , although the same studies show that this percentage decreases dramatically among younger generations and people with higher studies . According to the 2006 Statute of Autonomy Valencian is regulated by the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua , by means of the Castelló rules , which adapt the Catalan orthography to the Valencian idiosyncrasies . Due to not having been officially recognised for a long time , the number of speakers has severely decreased , and the influence of Spanish has led to the adoption of a huge amount of loanwords . Some of the most important works of Valencian literature experienced a golden age during the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance . Important works include Joanot Martorell 's chivalric romance Tirant lo Blanch , and Ausiàs March 's poetry . The first book produced with movable type in the Iberian Peninsula was printed in the Valencian variety .
Valencia ( Spanish : [ baˈlenθja ] ) , officially València ( Valencian : [ vaˈlensia ] ) , is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona , with around 800,000 inhabitants in the administrative centre . Its urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 1.6 million people . Valencia is Spain 's third largest metropolitan area , with a population ranging from 1.7 to 2.5 million depending on how the metropolitan area is defined . The Port of Valencia is the 5th busiest container port in Europe and the busiest container port on the Mediterranean Sea . The city is ranked at Beta-global city in the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . Valencia was founded as a Roman colony by the consul Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus in 138 BC , and called Valentia Edetanorum . In 714 Moroccan and Arab Moors occupied the city , introducing their language , religion and customs ; they implemented improved irrigation systems and the cultivation of new crops as well . Valencia was the capital of the Taifa of Valencia . In 1238 the Christian king James I of Aragon conquered the city and divided the land among the nobles who helped him conquer it , as witnessed in the Llibre del Repartiment . He also created a new law for the city , the Furs of Valencia , which were extended to the rest of the Kingdom of Valencia . In the 18th century Philip V of Spain abolished the privileges as punishment to the kingdom of Valencia for aligning with the Habsburg side in the War of the Spanish Succession . Valencia was the capital of Spain when Joseph Bonaparte moved the Court there in the summer of 1812 .
Coalició Compromís ( Valencian pronunciation : [ koalisiˈo kompɾoˈmis ] ; English : Commitment Coalition or Compromise Coalition ) is a Valencianist political party , originally an electoral coalition , in the Valencian Community , Spain . The parties involved include the Valencian Nationalist Bloc , the left-wing Valencian People 's Initiative , and a group of environmentalist ( Greens Equo of the Valencian Country ) and independent parties . Together they defend Valencianist , progressive and ecological politics . Compromís was founded in January 2010 to participate in the 2011 elections to the Valencian parliament , and the 2011 local elections . Since the 2015 election year , Compromís has significantly increased its representation in many institutions . At present it has 722 councillors all over the Valencian Autonomous Community , 19 parliamentary representatives in the Valencian parliament ( Corts Valencianes ) , 4 representatives in the Congress of Deputies of Spain ( within 9 representatives of A la valenciana coalition ) , 2 in the Spanish Senate and 1 in the European parliament . It also has 6 representatives in the Deputation of Valencia ( València ) , 2 in Castellón ( Castelló ) , 3 in Alicante ( Alacant ) and 84 mayor 's offices , among them , the city of Valencia .