2007 Castilian-Leonese regional election

2007 Castilian-Leonese regional election
27 May 2007
All 83 seats in the Cortes of Castile and León
42 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered2,171,192 Decrease 0.3%
Turnout1,535,096 (70.7%)
Decrease 2.0 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Juan Vicente Herrera Ángel Villalba Joaquín Otero
Party PP PSOE UPL–ZU
Leader since 16 March 2001 22 October 2000 13 September 1997
Leader's seat Burgos León León
Last election 48 seats, 48.5% 32 seats, 36.8% 2 seats, 4.0%[a]
Seats won 48 33 2
Seat change Steady 0 Increase 1 Steady 0
Popular vote 748,746 574,596 41,519
Percentage 49.2% 37.7% 2.7%
Swing Increase 0.7 pp Increase 0.9 pp Decrease 1.3 pp
Constituency results map for the Cortes of Castile and León
President before election

Juan Vicente Herrera
PP

 President after election

Juan Vicente Herrera
PP

A regional election was held in Castile and León on 27 May 2007 to elect the 7th Cortes of the autonomous community. All 83 seats in the Cortes were up for election. It was held concurrently with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

Overview

Under the 1999 Statute of Autonomy, the Cortes of Castile and León was the unicameral legislature of the homonymous autonomous community, having legislative power in devolved matters, as well as the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a regional president.[1] The electoral and procedural rules were supplemented by national law provisions.[2]

Date

The term of the Cortes of Castile and León expired four years after the date of its previous ordinary election, with election day being fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The election decree was required to be issued no later than 25 days before the scheduled expiration date of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of Castile and León (BOCYL).[3] The previous election was held on 25 May 2003, setting the date for election day on the fourth Sunday of May four years later, which was 27 May 2007.

The regional president had the prerogative to dissolve the Cortes of Castile and León at any given time and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no nationwide election had been called and that dissolution did not occur either during the first legislative session or during the last year of parliament before its planned expiration, nor before one year after a previous one.[4] In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional president within a two-month period from the first ballot, the Cortes were to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called, except if it happened in the final year before the expiry of the legislative term.[5] Any snap election held as a result of these circumstances would not alter the period to the next ordinary election, with elected lawmakers serving the remainder of its original four-year term.[6]

The election to the Cortes of Castile and León was officially called on 3 April 2007 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOCYL, setting election day for 27 May and scheduling for the chamber to reconvene on 19 June.[7]

Electoral system

Voting for the Cortes was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered in Castile and León and with full political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.[8]

The Cortes of Castile and León had three seats per each multi-member constituency—corresponding to the provinces of Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora—plus one additional seat per 45,000 inhabitants or fraction above 22,500. All were elected using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a three percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency.[9] The use of this electoral method resulted in a higher effective threshold depending on district magnitude and vote distribution.[10]

As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each Cortes constituency was entitled the following seats:[11]

Seats Constituencies
15 Valladolid(+1)
14 León
11 Burgos, Salamanca
7 Ávila, Palencia, Zamora
6 Segovia
5 Soria

The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacant seats; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.[12]

Outgoing parliament

The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the chamber at the time of the election call.[13][14]

Parliamentary composition in April 2007
Groups Parties Legislators
Seats Total
People's Parliamentary Group PP 48 48
Socialist Parliamentary Group PSOE 32 32
Mixed Parliamentary Group UPL 2 2

Parties and candidates

The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, alliances and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form an alliance were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list.[15] Amendments earlier in 2007 required a balanced composition of men and women in the electoral lists, so that candidates of either sex made up at least 40 percent of the total composition.[16]

Below is a list of the main parties and alliances which contested the election:

Candidacy Parties and
alliances		 Leading candidate Ideology Previous result Gov. Ref.
Vote % Seats
PP
List
 Juan Vicente Herrera Conservatism
Christian democracy		 48.5% 48 Yes [17]
[18]
PSOE Ángel Villalba Social democracy 36.8% 32 No [19]
[20]
UPL–ZU
List
 Joaquín Otero Leonesism
Regionalism
Autonomism
4.0%
[a]		 2 No
IU–LV–CyL José María González Socialism
Communism		 3.4% 0 No

Opinion polls

The tables below list opinion polling results in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a poll.

Voting intention estimates

The table below lists weighted voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 42 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Cortes of Castile and León.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Victory preferences

The table below lists opinion polling on the victory preferences for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

Victory likelihood

The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a regional election taking place.

Preferred President

The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become president of the Regional Government of Castile and León.

Results

Overall

← Summary of the 27 May 2007 Cortes of Castile and León election results →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
People's Party (PP) 748,74649.17+0.68 48±0
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 574,59637.73+0.96 33+1
United Left–The Greens–Commitment for Castile and León (IU–LV–CyL) 46,8783.08−0.37 0±0
Leonese People's Union–United Zamora (UPL–ZU)1 41,5192.73−1.28 2±0
Alternative for Castile and León (ACAL) 17,4961.15−0.19 0±0
Commoners' Land–Alternative for Castile and León (TC–ACAL) 16,0691.06−0.13 0±0
Party of El Bierzo–Alternative for Castile and León (PB–ACAL) 1,4270.09−0.06 0±0
Independent Candidacy–The Party of Castile and León (CI–PCL) 16,4351.08+0.37 0±0
Union of the Salamancan People (UPSa) 7,9650.52+0.10 0±0
The Greens (LV) 5,5620.37−0.10 0±0
The Greens of Europe (LVE) 5,4810.36New 0±0
Leonese Autonomist Party–Leonesist Unity (PAL–UL) 4,9720.33New 0±0
Initiative for the Development of Soria (IDES) 3,7600.25+0.13 0±0
Zamoran Independent Electors–Zamoran People's Union (ADEIZA–UPZ) 3,2410.21+0.08 0±0
Republican Left (IR) 2,9410.19+0.04 0±0
Regionalist Party of the Leonese Country (PREPAL) 1,7130.11−0.01 0±0
National Democracy (DN) 1,5220.10New 0±0
Independent Segovian Alternative (ASí) 1,2140.08±0.00 0±0
Citizens of Burgos (CiBu) 1,1480.08New 0±0
Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS)2 1,1470.08+0.04 0±0
Communist Party of the Castilian People (PCPC) 1,1210.07New 0±0
Regionalist Party of El Bierzo (PRB) 1,0280.07±0.00 0±0
Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (URCL) 9140.06−0.28 0±0
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 7130.05−0.14 0±0
The Phalanx (FE) 5590.04−0.04 0±0
Citizens' Group (AGRUCI) 5230.03New 0±0
Humanist Party (PH) 4620.03−0.10 0±0
Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) 3300.02New 0±0
Liberal Centrist Union (UCL) 3150.02−0.02 0±0
Authentic Phalanx (FA) 2900.02±0.00 0±0
Blank ballots 30,2001.98−0.32
Total 1,522,791 83+1
Valid votes 1,522,79199.20+0.06
Invalid votes 12,3050.80−0.06
Votes cast / turnout 1,535,09670.70−1.96
Abstentions 636,09629.30+1.96
Registered voters 2,171,192
Sources[13][21][22]
Footnotes:
Popular vote
PP
 
 49.17%
PSOE
 
 37.73%
IU–LV–CyL
 
 3.08%
UPL
 
 2.73%
ACAL
 
 1.15%
CI–PCL
 
 1.08%
Others
 
 3.08%
Blank ballots
 
 1.98%
Seats
PP
 
 57.83%
PSOE
 
 39.76%
UPL
 
 2.41%

Distribution by constituency

Constituency PP PSOE UPL
% S % S % S
Ávila 58.9 5 32.3 2
Burgos 51.6 7 35.3 4
León 39.6 6 39.7 6 13.4 2
Palencia 49.2 4 40.2 3
Salamanca 53.0 7 37.6 4
Segovia 52.9 4 37.5 2
Soria 50.4 3 36.7 2
Valladolid 48.8 8 38.9 7
Zamora 51.2 4 37.3 3 0.6 −
Total 49.2 48 37.7 33 2.7 2
Sources[13][21][22]

Aftermath

Government formation

Investiture
Nomination of Juan Vicente Herrera (PP)
Ballot → 27 June 2007
Required majority → 42 out of 83 check
Yes
  • • PP (48)
48 / 83
No
35 / 83
Abstentions
0 / 83
Absentees
0 / 83
Sources[13]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Results for UPL (3.8%, 2 seats) and ZU (0.2%, 0 seats) in the 2003 election.
  2. 1 2 Undecided and/or abstentionists excluded.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Does not include non-resident citizens.

References

Opinion poll sources

  1. ↑ "Sólo Navarra y Baleares podrían cambiar de gobierno, según el sondeo de RTVE y FORTA". Europa Press (in Spanish). 27 May 2007.
  2. ↑ "Vuelco electoral en Navarra, Baleares y Canarias y aplastante victoria del PP en Madrid". Terra (in Spanish). 17 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 May 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Encuestas autonómicas". Celeste-Tel (in Spanish). 17 May 2007. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "El PP mantiene intacta su hegemonía en la región a una semana de las elecciones". El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 19 May 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2007.
  5. ↑ "Sondeo de Sigma Dos: El PP renovaría siete autonomías y podría perder dos". El Mundo (in Spanish). 12 May 2007.
  6. ↑ "Herrera suma otra victoria". El Mundo (in Spanish). 12 May 2007.
  7. ↑ "Comunidades en las que ganaría el PP". El Mundo (in Spanish). 12 May 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas, 2007. CA de Castilla y León (Estudio nº 2693. Abril-Mayo 2007)". CIS (in Spanish). 11 May 2007.
  9. ↑ "La aritmética juega en contra del PSOE sólo en las islas Canarias". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 12 May 2007.
  10. ↑ "El PP y el PSOE mantendrán sus gobiernos autonómicos, aunque los socialistas bajan". El Mundo (in Spanish). 27 November 2006.
  11. ↑ "Herrera se mantiene pero pierde votos". El Mundo (in Spanish). 27 November 2006. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011.
  12. ↑ "El voto en las comunidades. Elecciones autonómicas 2007" (PDF). El Mundo (in Spanish). 27 November 2006.
  13. ↑ "El PP volvería a repetir mayoría absoluta si hubiera elecciones autonómicas ahora". El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 12 November 2006. Archived from the original on 5 May 2007.
  14. ↑ "Herrera aumenta su ventaja sobre el PSOE en la carrera por la Junta de Castilla y León". Periodista Digital (in Spanish). 12 November 2006. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "El PP volvería a lograr mayoría absoluta si hubiera elecciones autonómicas ahora". El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). 3 June 2006.

Other

  1. ↑ Statute (1983), arts. 10 & 15–16 (am. by Statute (1999), single art.).
  2. ↑ LECyL (1987), final prov. 1.
  3. ↑ Statute (1983), art. 12 (am. by Statute (1999), single art.); LECyL (1987), arts. 16–17 (suppl. by LOREG (1985), art. 42).
  4. ↑ Statute (1983), art. 23 (am. by Statute (1999), single art.); LPGCyL (2001), art. 6.
  5. ↑ Statute (1983), art. 17 (am. by Statute (1999), single art.).
  6. ↑ Statute (1983), art. 23 (am. by Statute (1999), single art.).
  7. ↑ Decree 1/2007 (2007), arts. 1 & 4.
  8. ↑ Statute (1983), art. 11 (am. by Statute (1999), single art.; LECyL (1987), art. 2 (suppl. by LOREG (1985), arts. 2–3).
  9. ↑ Statute (1983), art. 11 (am. by Statute (1999), single art.; LECyL (1987), arts. 18–20.
  10. ↑ Gallagher, Michael (30 July 2012). "Effective threshold in electoral systems". Dublin: Trinity College Dublin. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  11. ↑ Decree 1/2007 (2007), art. 2.
  12. ↑ LECyL (1987), arts. 21 & 26 (suppl. by LOREG (1985), arts. 46 & 48).
  13. 1 2 3 4 Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones a Cortes de Castilla y León (desde 1983)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "El Parlamento. Legislaturas anteriores. VI Legislatura" (in Spanish). Cortes of Castile and León. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  15. ↑ LECyL (1987), arts. 25–26 (suppl. by LOREG (1985), art. 44).
  16. ↑ LOREG (1985), art. 44 bis.
  17. ↑ "El PP regional propondrá mañana a Herrera como candidato a la Presidencia de la Junta". ABC (in Spanish). 19 May 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "El PP ratifica su lista de candidatos para las elecciones autonómicas de 2007". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. 29 May 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  19. ↑ Forjas, Francisco (22 October 2000). "El PSOE espera evitar la expulsión del alcalde de A Coruña". El País (in Spanish). Soria. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Villalba será designado candidato a la Junta mañana con el respaldo de todo el PSOE regional". El Norte de Castilla (in Spanish). Valladolid. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  21. 1 2 "Procesos electorales a las Cortes de Castilla y León" (in Spanish). Regional Government of Castile and León. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  22. 1 2 "Resolución de 26 de julio de 2007, de la Junta Electoral de Castilla y León, por la que se publican los resultados de las Elecciones a las Cortes de Castilla y León, celebradas el 27 de mayo de 2007" (PDF). Official Gazette of Castile and León (in Spanish) (147): 15726–15727. 30 July 2007. ISSN 1989-8959. Retrieved 18 January 2026.

Bibliography

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