2011 Madrid municipal election

2011 Madrid municipal election
22 May 2011
All 57 seats in the City Council of Madrid
29 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered2,308,360 Decrease 4.0%
Turnout1,551,613 (67.2%)
Increase 1.3 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jaime Lissavetzky Ángel Pérez
Party PP PSOE IUCM–LV
Leader since 18 July 2002 12 August 2010 26 January 2007
Last election 34 seats, 55.6% 18 seats, 30.9% 5 seats, 8.7%
Seats won 31 15 6
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 3 Increase 1
Popular vote 756,952 364,600 163,706
Percentage 49.7% 23.9% 10.7%
Swing Decrease 5.9 pp Decrease 7.0 pp Increase 2.0 pp
  Fourth party
 
Leader David Ortega
Party UPyD
Leader since 23 October 2010
Last election Did not contest
Seats won 5
Seat change Increase 5
Popular vote 119,601
Percentage 7.9%
Swing New party
Mayor before election

Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón
PP

 Mayor after election

Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón
PP

A municipal election was held in Madrid on 22 May 2011 to elect the 9th City Council of the municipality. All 57 seats in the City Council were up for election. It was held concurrently with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities and local elections all across Spain.

The People's Party (PP) won its 6th consecutive absolute majority of seats in the City Council, albeit with a diminished voter base, suffering its worst loss of support in the city up until that time (120,000 votes, 6 percentage points and 3 seats were lost from 2007). Only the collapse of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) vote, which obtained the worst result of its history as a result of the criticised José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's premiership in the national government, was larger. United Left (IU) benefitted from the PSOE debacle, while newly founded Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) attracted votes from sectors disenchanted with both PSOE and PP and entered the City Council in the first election in which they stood.

Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, who was re-elected for a third term in office, left the mayoralty in late 2011 to become Justice Minister, after his party won the 2011 Spanish general election and Mariano Rajoy was elected Prime Minister. He was succeeded as mayor by Ana Botella.

Overview

Under the 1978 Constitution, the governance of municipalities in Spain—part of the country's local government system—was centered on the figure of city councils (Spanish: ayuntamientos), local corporations with independent legal personality composed of a mayor, a government council and an elected legislative assembly.[1] The mayor was indirectly elected by the local assembly, requiring an absolute majority; otherwise, the candidate from the most-voted party automatically became mayor (ties were resolved by drawing lots).[2] In the case of Madrid, the top-tier administrative and governing body was the City Council of Madrid.[3]

Date

The term of local assemblies in Spain expired four years after the date of their previous 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 54 days before the scheduled election date and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE).[4] The previous local elections were held on 27 May 2007, setting the date for election day on the fourth Sunday of May four years later, which was 22 May 2011.

Local assemblies could not be dissolved before the expiration of their term, except in cases of mismanagement that seriously harmed the public interest and implied a breach of constitutional obligations, in which case the Council of Ministers could—optionally—decide to call a by-election.[5]

Elections to the assemblies of local entities were officially called on 29 March 2011 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 22 May.[6]

Electoral system

Voting for local assemblies was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered and residing in the municipality 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), as well as resident non-national European citizens, and those whose country of origin allowed reciprocal voting by virtue of a treaty.[7]

Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a five percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each municipality.[8] Each municipality was a multi-member constituency, with a number of seats based on the following scale (amended for smaller municipalities in 2011):[9]

Population Councillors
<100 3
101–250 5
251–1,000 7
1,001–2,000 9
2,001–5,000 11
5,001–10,000 13
10,001–20,000 17
20,001–50,000 21
50,001–100,000 25
>100,001 +1 per each 100,000 inhabitants or fraction
+1 if total is an even number

The 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.[10]

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 a determined amount of the electors registered in the municipality for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list. In the case of Madrid, as its population was over 1,000,001, at least 8,000 signatures were required.[11] Additionally, a balanced composition of men and women was required in the electoral lists, so that candidates of either sex made up at least 40 percent of the total composition.[12]

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
 Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Conservatism
Christian democracy		 55.6% 34 Yes [13]
[14]
[15]
PSOE Jaime Lissavetzky Social democracy 30.9% 18 No [16]
[17]
IUCM–LV Ángel Pérez Socialism
Communism		 8.7% 5 No [18]
UPyD David Ortega Social liberalism
Radical centrism		 Did not contest No [19]

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; 29 seats were required for an absolute majority in the City Council of Madrid.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Preferred Mayor

The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become mayor of Madrid.

Results

← Summary of the 22 May 2011 City Council of Madrid election results →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
People's Party (PP) 756,95249.69−5.96 31−3
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 364,60023.93−7.01 15−3
United Left of the Community of Madrid–The Greens (IUCM–LV) 163,70610.75+2.07 6+1
Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 119,6017.85New 5+5
Ecolo–Greens (Ecolo)1 13,4250.88−0.01 0±0
Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB) 10,7950.71New 0±0
Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 7,0710.46+0.26 0±0
For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 6,4560.42+0.26 0±0
Spanish Alternative (AES) 4,7640.31−0.08 0±0
Pirate Party (Pirata) 4,6310.30New 0±0
Regeneration (REG) 4,1000.27New 0±0
Spanish Smokers' Party (PARFE) 3,0310.20New 0±0
Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 2,8660.19New 0±0
The Phalanx (FE) 2,6080.17+0.08 0±0
Family and Life Party (PFyV) 2,3810.16+0.07 0±0
Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 2,1190.14+0.06 0±0
Humanist Party (PH) 2,0470.13+0.01 0±0
Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE de las JONS) 2,0260.13+0.01 0±0
Party of the Elderly and the Self-employed (PdMA) 1,6710.11New 0±0
Union for Leganés (ULEG) 1,0150.07+0.06 0±0
Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 9990.07New 0±0
Authentic Phalanx (FA) 9120.06+0.03 0±0
Centre and Democracy Forum (CyD) 8910.06New 0±0
Castilian Party (PCAS)2 8880.06+0.01 0±0
Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) 5270.03New 0±0
Blank ballots 43,2922.84+0.81
Total 1,523,374 57±0
Valid votes 1,523,37498.18−1.29
Invalid votes 28,2391.82+1.29
Votes cast / turnout 1,551,61367.22+1.31
Abstentions 756,74732.78−1.31
Registered voters 2,308,360
Sources[20][21][22][23]
Footnotes:
  • 1 Ecolo–Greens results are compared to The Greens totals in the 2007 election.
  • 2 Castilian Party results are compared to Commoners' Land totals in the 2007 election.
Popular vote
PP
 
 49.69%
PSOE
 
 23.93%
IUCM–LV
 
 10.75%
UPyD
 
 7.85%
Others
 
 4.94%
Blank ballots
 
 2.84%
Seats
PP
 
 54.39%
PSOE
 
 26.32%
IUCM–LV
 
 10.53%
UPyD
 
 8.77%

Aftermath

Government formation

Investiture
Ballot → 11 June 2011
Required majority → 29 out of 57
31 / 57
 check
15 / 57
 X mark
6 / 57
 X mark
5 / 57
 X mark
Abstentions/Blank ballots
0 / 57
Absentees
0 / 57
Sources[20][24]

December 2011 investiture

Investiture
Ballot → 27 December 2011
Required majority → 29 out of 57
  • • PP (31)
31 / 57
 check
15 / 57
 X mark
6 / 57
 X mark
5 / 57
 X mark
Abstentions/Blank ballots
0 / 57
Absentees
0 / 57
Sources[20][25]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Does not include non-resident citizens.

References

Opinion poll sources

  1. ↑ "Mayoría absoluta del PP en Comunidad y Ayuntamiento y UPyD accede a las instituciones". Telemadrid (in Spanish). 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Ruiz-Gallardón repetirá como alcalde". ABC (in Spanish). 15 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Sondeo municipales II (Grupo Vocento)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "María Dolores de Cospedal sería la primera presidenta de Castilla La Mancha". Antena 3 (in Spanish). 14 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Gallardón repite triunfo y Lissavetzky mejora a Sebastián". El País (in Spanish). 15 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "Estimación de resultado electoral en Madrid". El País (in Spanish). 15 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Quinta mayoría para Gallardón". La Razón (in Spanish). 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "UPyD entraría en el Ayuntamiento de Madrid (La Razón)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  9. 1 2 "El escándalo del 'caso Gürtel' no pasa factura electoral a Aguirre". Público (in Spanish). 2 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ↑ "Ruiz-Gallardón repetiría mayoría en el Ayuntamiento de Madrid (El Mundo)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas y municipales, 2011. Comunidad de Madrid y Ciudad de Madrid (Estudio nº 2871. Marzo-Abril 2011)". CIS (in Spanish). 5 May 2011.
  12. ↑ "Rajoy se vuelca a por su billete a la Moncloa". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 6 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "El PSOE madrileño cosecharía el peor resultado de su historia". Intereconomía (in Spanish). 8 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ↑ "Gallardón conserva una holgada mayoría absoluta". El País (in Spanish). 15 May 2010.
  15. ↑ "Madrid: mayoría absoluta de Gallardón. UPyD roba 2 concejales a PP y 1 al PSOE (El País)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Gallardón amplía aún más su mayoría absoluta". El País (in Spanish). 15 May 2009.

Other

  1. ↑ Constitution (1978), art. 140; LBRL (1985), art. 19.
  2. ↑ LBRL (1985), art. 19; LOREG (1985), art. 196.
  3. ↑ LBRL (1985), arts. 121–132.
  4. ↑ LOREG (1985), arts. 42 & 194.
  5. ↑ LBRL (1985), art. 61.
  6. ↑ Royal Decree 424/2011 (2011), art. 1.
  7. ↑ Constitution (1978), art. 13; LBRL (1985), art. 19; LOREG (1985), arts. 2–3 & 176.
  8. ↑ LOREG (1985), arts. 163 & 180.
  9. ↑ LOREG (1985), art. 179.
  10. ↑ LOREG (1985), arts. 46, 48 & 182.
  11. ↑ LOREG (1985), arts. 44 & 187.
  12. ↑ LOREG (1985), art. 44 bis.
  13. ↑ "Gallardón anuncia que volverá a ser candidato del PP a la Alcaldía en 2011" (in Spanish). Madrid: Europa Press. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Gallardón reitera que será candidato del PP a la Alcaldía y dice que nada podría compararse a ese "inmenso regalo"" (in Spanish). Madrid: Europa Press. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "El PP aprueba la candidatura de Ruiz-Gallardón a la alcaldía de Madrid". El Economista (in Spanish). Madrid. EFE. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  16. ↑ Díez, Anabel (11 August 2010). "Zapatero lanza ya a Lissavetzky ante el riesgo de otras primarias". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Lissavetzky se presenta a la alcaldía de Madrid". Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 August 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  18. ↑ Serna, C. (11 December 2009). "Gordo y Pérez, ratificados como los candidatos de IU". El Mundo (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Luis de Velasco y David Ortega, candidatos de UPyD a la presidencia de la Comunidad de Madrid y a la alcaldía" (in Spanish). Madrid: Europa Press. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones Municipales en Madrid (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Resultados generales de las Elecciones al Ayuntamiento de Madrid y Asamblea de Madrid de 22 de mayo de 2011" (PDF) (in Spanish). City Council of Madrid. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Acuerdo de 30 de junio de 2011, de la Junta Electoral Central, por el que se procede a la publicación del resumen de los resultados de las elecciones locales convocadas por Real Decreto 424/2011, de 28 de marzo, y celebradas el 22 de mayo de 2011, según los datos que figuran en las actas de proclamación remitidas por cada una de las Juntas Electorales de Zona. Provincias: León, Lleida, Lugo, Madrid, Málaga, Murcia, Navarra, Ourense, Palencia, Las Palmas, Pontevedra y La Rioja" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish) (179): 84644–85317. 27 July 2011. ISSN 0212-033X. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  24. ↑ M., S. (11 June 2011). "Gallardón, reelegido alcalde de Madrid". ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  25. ↑ García Gallo, Bruno; Sevillano, Elena (11 June 2011). "Botella asume la alcaldía de Madrid con Aznar como "referencia política"". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 9 November 2025.

Bibliography

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