2011 Zaragoza municipal election

2011 Zaragoza municipal election
22 May 2011
All 31 seats in the City Council of Zaragoza
16 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered496,062 Decrease 2.5%
Turnout323,083 (65.1%)
Increase 5.0 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Eloy Suárez Juan Alberto Belloch Juan Martín Expósito
Party PP PSOE CHA
Leader since 3 December 2010 27 June 1998 2011
Last election 12 seats, 33.9% 13 seats, 38.1% 3 seats, 9.6%
Seats won 15 10 3
Seat change Increase 3 Decrease 3 Steady 0
Popular vote 131,350 86,395 29,402
Percentage 41.3% 27.1% 9.2%
Swing Increase 7.4 pp Decrease 11.0 pp Decrease 0.4 pp
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader José Miguel Alonso Rosa Santos
Party IU PAR
Leader since 2 December 2006 13 March 2011
Last election 1 seat, 5.3% 2 seats, 8.4%
Seats won 3 0
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Popular vote 25,197 14,455
Percentage 7.9% 4.5%
Swing Increase 2.6 pp Decrease 3.9 pp
Mayor before election

Juan Alberto Belloch
PSOE

 Mayor after election

Juan Alberto Belloch
PSOE

A municipal election was held in Zaragoza on 22 May 2011 to elect the 9th City Council of the municipality. All 31 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.

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 Zaragoza, the top-tier administrative and governing body was the City Council of Zaragoza.[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 Zaragoza, as its population was between 300,001 and 1,000,000, at least 5,000 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
PSOE Juan Alberto Belloch Social democracy 38.1% 13 Yes [13]
[14]
PP
List
 Eloy Suárez Conservatism
Christian democracy		 33.9% 12 No [15]
CHA
List
 Juan Martín Expósito Aragonese nationalism
Eco-socialism		 9.6% 3 No [16]
PAR
List
 Rosa Santos Regionalism
Centrism		 8.4% 2 Yes [17]
IU José Miguel Alonso Socialism
Communism		 5.3% 1 No [18]
UPyD Javier Puy 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; 16 seats were required for an absolute majority in the City Council of Zaragoza.

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 Zaragoza.

Results

← Summary of the 22 May 2011 City Council of Zaragoza election results →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
People's Party (PP) 131,35041.26+7.32 15+3
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 86,39527.14−10.92 10−3
Aragonese Union (CHA) 29,4029.24−0.37 3±0
United Left of Aragon (IU) 25,1977.92+2.61 3+2
Aragonese Party (PAR) 14,4554.54−3.82 0−2
Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 11,4013.58New 0±0
Greens–Ecolo (V–Ecolo)1 1,5770.50−0.18 0±0
The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 1,5050.47New 0±0
Commitment with Aragon (CCA) 1,0580.33New 0±0
Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 1,0510.33+0.03 0±0
For a Fairer World (PUM+J) 5870.18+0.01 0±0
Aragonese Land (TA) 4990.16New 0±0
Federation of Independents of Aragon (FIA) 4660.15New 0±0
Aragon United Citizens Party (pCUA) 4650.15−0.24 0±0
Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 3840.12New 0±0
Family and Life Party (PFyV) 3010.09−0.06 0±0
Humanist Party (PH) 2710.09+0.01 0±0
Spanish Alternative (AES) 2350.07New 0±0
Liberal Democratic Centre (CDL) 1780.06−0.11 0±0
The Independent Voice of Aragon (L'VIA) 1580.05New 0±0
Blank ballots 11,3803.58+0.81
Total 318,315 31±0
Valid votes 318,31598.52−0.93
Invalid votes 4,7681.48+0.93
Votes cast / turnout 323,08365.13+5.02
Abstentions 172,97934.87−5.02
Registered voters 496,062
Sources[20][21][22]
Footnotes:
  • 1 Greens–Ecolo results are compared to The Greens–Federation of Independents of Aragon totals in the 2007 election.
Popular vote
PP
 
 41.26%
PSOE
 
 27.14%
CHA
 
 9.24%
IU
 
 7.92%
PAR
 
 4.54%
UPyD
 
 3.58%
Others
 
 2.74%
Blank ballots
 
 3.58%
Seats
PP
 
 48.39%
PSOE
 
 32.26%
CHA
 
 9.68%
IU
 
 9.68%

Aftermath

Government formation

Investiture
Ballot → 11 June 2011
Required majority → 16 out of 31
16 / 31
 check
  • • PP (15)
15 / 31
 X mark
Abstentions/Blank ballots
0 / 31
Absentees
0 / 31
Sources[23][24]

Notes

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

References

Opinion poll sources

  1. ↑ "Sondeos municipales (Grupo Vocento)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Para gobernar, Belloch no tiene otra salida que ir a un tripartito". Electómetro (in Spanish). 14 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "El PP sería el partido más votado en Zaragoza". Antena 3 (in Spanish). 10 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "El PP ganaría en Zaragoza, pero no lograría gobernar". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 7 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "PP ganaría las elecciones municipales pero no conseguiría desbancar a Belloch de la Alcaldía, según una encuesta". 20 minutos (in Spanish). 7 May 2011.
  6. ↑ "El PP ganaría en Zaragoza pero no gobernaría (Heraldo de Aragón)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ↑ "El PP ganaría al PSOE, pero Belloch podría seguir si pacta con CHA e IU". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 24 April 2011.
  8. ↑ "Mayoría absoluta reñida en Zaragoza (El Mundo)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. 1 2 3 "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas y municipales, 2011. Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón y Ciudad de Zaragoza (Estudio nº 2870. Marzo-Abril 2011)". CIS (in Spanish). 5 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "Rajoy se vuelca a por su billete a la Moncloa". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 6 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "Sondeo elecciones 2011 en Aragón". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 10 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ↑ "El PSOE vence por dos centésimas al PP en Zaragoza (Heraldo de Aragón)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 7 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ "Belloch podría elegir socio para ser alcalde". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 13 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "El PSOE mantiene su hegemonía en Zaragoza (Heraldo de Aragón)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ↑ "Belloch podría repetir y mantener su juego de pactos". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 24 April 2010.
  16. ↑ "El PSOE mantiene 6 puntos de ventaja al PP en Zaragoza según un sondeo publicado en el Heraldo de Aragón". Electómetro (in Spanish). 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  17. ↑ "Belloch ganaría de nuevo las elecciones, mientras que el PP perdería un concejal, según una encuesta". Europa Press (in Spanish). 11 April 2010.
  18. ↑ "El PSOE sería el partido más votado en el Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza, según un estudio de Noxa Consulting". Electómetro (in Spanish). 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ↑ "Belloch podría repetir y optar por un pacto con PAR o CHA". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 6 December 2009.
  20. ↑ "Belloch tendría problemas en Zaragoza, Ferrer en Teruel y Elboj aguantaría por los pelos la Alcaldía de Huesca". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 23 April 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. ↑ "Belloch asegura que repetirá como candidato a la Alcaldía de Zaragoza en 2011 si lo decide su partido". Aragón Digital (in Spanish). Zaragoza. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Belloch es ratificado candidato a la alcaldía de Zaragoza por unanimidad". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 5 October 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "Eloy Suárez, candidato del PP en Zaragoza". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 3 December 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "Ibeas, cabeza de lista de CHA a las Cortes por Zaragoza en 2011, y Juan Martín, al Ayuntamiento de la capital" (in Spanish). Zaragoza: Europa Press. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "Rosa Santos desplaza a Manuel Blasco y será la nueva candidata en Zaragoza". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 13 March 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  18. ↑ Matute Escribano, Adrián (24 June 2010). "Adolfo Barrena y José Manuel Alonso presentan sus candidaturas para encabezar a IU en Zaragoza y las Cortes". Aragón Digital (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "UPyD Aragón presenta a los candidatos para las elecciones autonómicas y municipales de 2011" (in Spanish). Zaragoza: Europa Press. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones municipales en Zaragoza (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "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: Salamanca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Segovia, Sevilla, Soria, Tarragona, Teruel, Toledo, Valencia, Valladolid, Vizcaya, Zamora, Zaragoza, Ceuta y Melilla" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish) (181): 86078–86708. 29 July 2011. ISSN 0212-033X. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Belloch será reelegido alcalde, por tercera legislatura, con el apoyo de CHA e IU" (in Spanish). Zaragoza: Europa Press. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  24. ↑ "Belloch es elegido alcalde con el apoyo de CHA e IU". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 11 June 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2025.

Bibliography

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