2015 Zaragoza municipal election

2015 Zaragoza municipal election
24 May 2015
All 31 seats in the City Council of Zaragoza
16 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered502,076 Increase 1.2%
Turnout328,920 (65.5%)
Increase 0.4 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Eloy Suárez Pedro Santisteve Carlos Pérez Anadón
Party PP ZGZ PSOE
Leader since 3 December 2010 1 March 2015 7 October 2014
Last election 15 seats, 41.3% 3 seats, 7.9%[a] 10 seats, 27.1%
Seats won 10 9 6
Seat change Decrease 5 Increase 6 Decrease 4
Popular vote 87,569 80,055 60,807
Percentage 26.9% 24.6% 18.7%
Swing Decrease 14.4 pp Increase 16.7 pp Decrease 8.4 pp
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Elena Martínez Ortín Juan Martín Expósito
Party C's CHA
Leader since 14 April 2015 18 December 2018
Last election Did not contest 3 seats, 9.2%
Seats won 4 2
Seat change Increase 4 Decrease 1
Popular vote 40,018 22,067
Percentage 12.3% 6.8%
Swing New party Decrease 2.4 pp
Mayor before election

Juan Alberto Belloch
PSOE

 Mayor after election

Pedro Santisteve
ZGZ

A municipal election was held in Zaragoza on 24 May 2015 to elect the 10th 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 22 May 2011, setting the date for election day on the fourth Sunday of May four years later, which was 24 May 2015.

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 31 March 2015 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 24 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:[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
PP
List
 Eloy Suárez Conservatism
Christian democracy		 41.3% 15 No [13]
PSOE Carlos Pérez Anadón Social democracy 27.1% 10 Yes [14]
[15]
CHA
List
 Juan Martín Expósito Aragonese nationalism
Eco-socialism		 9.2% 3 No
ZGZ
List
 Pedro Santisteve Localism
Left-wing populism
Participatory democracy
7.9%
[a]		 3 No [16]
[17]
[18]
PAR
List
 Xavier de Pedro Regionalism
Centrism		 4.5% 0 No [19]
UPyD Jesús López Floria Social liberalism
Radical centrism		 3.6% 0 No [20]
[21]
C's Elena Martínez Ortín Liberalism Did not contest No [22]

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.

Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls   Exit poll

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Results

← Summary of the 24 May 2015 City Council of Zaragoza election results →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
People's Party (PP) 87,56926.88−14.38 10−5
Zaragoza in Common (ZGZ)1 80,05524.57+16.65 9+6
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 60,80718.67−8.47 6−4
Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) 40,01812.28New 4+4
Aragonese Union (CHA) 22,0676.77−2.47 2−1
Aragonese Party (PAR) 9,1852.82−1.72 0±0
Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) 4,9281.51−2.07 0±0
Blank Seats (EB) 4,4261.36New 0±0
Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) 3,8491.18+0.85 0±0
Commitment with Aragon (CCA) 2,0880.64+0.31 0±0
The Greens–Green Group (LV–GV) 1,8180.56+0.09 0±0
Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) 9000.28+0.16 0±0
Republican Social Movement (MSR) 6290.19New 0±0
Aragonese Bloc (BAR) 4650.14New 0±0
Aragonese State (EAR) 4530.14New 0±0
Federation of Independents of Aragon (FIA) 3740.11−0.04 0±0
Blank ballots 6,1451.89−1.69
Total 325,776 31±0
Valid votes 325,77699.04+0.52
Invalid votes 3,1440.96−0.52
Votes cast / turnout 328,92065.51+0.38
Abstentions 173,15634.49−0.38
Registered voters 502,076
Sources[25][26][27]
Footnotes:
Popular vote
PP
 
 26.88%
ZGZ
 
 24.57%
PSOE
 
 18.67%
C's
 
 12.28%
CHA
 
 6.77%
PAR
 
 2.82%
UPyD
 
 1.51%
EB
 
 1.36%
PACMA
 
 1.18%
Others
 
 2.06%
Blank ballots
 
 1.89%
Seats
PP
 
 32.26%
ZGZ
 
 29.03%
PSOE
 
 19.35%
C's
 
 12.90%
CHA
 
 6.45%

Aftermath

Government formation

Investiture
Ballot → 13 June 2015
Required majority → 16 out of 31
17 / 31
 check
  • • PP (10)
10 / 31
 X mark
Elena Martínez Ortín (C's)
4 / 31
 X mark
Abstentions/Blank ballots
0 / 31
Absentees
0 / 31
Sources[28]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Results for IU in the 2011 election.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Within ZGZ.
  3. 1 2 Undecided and/or abstentionists excluded.
  4. 1 2 Within IU.
  5. 1 2 Within PP.
  6. 1 2 Does not include non-resident citizens.

References

Opinion poll sources

  1. ↑ "Los sondeos dan un vuelco en Zaragoza". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 24 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Ayto. de Zaragoza. TNS Demoscopia". Aragón TV (in Spanish). 24 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Encuestas y resultados - elecciones autonómicas y municipales del 24 de mayo de 2015". GAD3 (in Spanish). 28 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Encuestas electorales al Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza". SoydeZaragoza.es (in Spanish). 17 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "El PP depende de C's para gobernar en Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla y Málaga". Público (in Spanish). 15 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Ada Colau empata con Trias, Barberá se estrella en Valencia y Podemos tiene la llave en Sevilla". Público (in Spanish). 3 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Tracking de sondeos en las capitales: la derecha sólo puede esperar que Ciudadanos salve al PP". Público (in Spanish). 3 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Dos de cada diez antiguos votantes del PP se "fugan" a Ciudadanos". Público (in Spanish). 17 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "La pugna por el Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza tendría que decidirse mediante acuerdos". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 7 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Resultados en las municipales de Zaragoza". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 23 April 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas y municipales 2015. Municipio de Zaragoza (Estudio nº 3064. Marzo-Abril 2015)". CIS (in Spanish). 7 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "El PP se echa a la calle para recuperar a las clases medias". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 8 May 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Empate técnico entre Zaragoza en Común y Partido Popular. La campaña será decisiva". Zaragoza en Común (in Spanish). 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24.
  14. ↑ "ZARAGOZA, Marzo 2015. Sondeo interno Zaragoza en Común". Electográfica (in Spanish). 15 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "El PP ganaría las elecciones locales en Zaragoza por un estrecho margen". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 11 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "ZARAGOZA, Mayo 2014. AC Consultores / MyWord / Periódico de Aragón". Electográfica (in Spanish). 11 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "En Zaragoza: El PSOE, con dificultades para reeditar el acuerdo con CHA e IU". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 23 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "ZARAGOZA, Abril 2014. A+M / Heraldo de Aragón". Electográfica (in Spanish). 23 April 2014.
  19. 1 2 "El PSOE ganaría en Zaragoza por un ajustado margen sobre el PP". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 19 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "ZARAGOZA, Enero 2014. AC Consultores / El Periódico de Aragón". Electográfica (in Spanish). 19 January 2014.
  21. 1 2 "El PSOE ganaría las elecciones en Zaragoza y el PP se desplomaría". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 21 April 2013.

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 233/2015 (2015), 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. ↑ Morales, Jesús (14 February 2015). "El PP confirma la candidatura de Rudi "por su liderazgo indiscutible"". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  14. ↑ Montserrat, Concha (18 September 2014). "Belloch no optará a la reelección a la alcaldía de Zaragoza". El País (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "La Comisión de Garantías del PSOE proclama a Pérez Anadón candidato socialista a la Alcaldía". 20 minutos (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Europa Press. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "Ganemos Zaragoza presenta su hoja de ruta para las elecciones". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). 1 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  17. ↑ Gomar, Carlota (19 February 2015). "Ganemos se llamará Zaragoza en Común". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  18. ↑ Clavero, Javier (1 March 2015). "La candidatura de Pedro Santisteve gana las primarias de Ganemos en Zaragoza". Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Arturo Aliaga y Xavier De Pedro ganan las primarias del PAR". 20 minutos (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Europa Press. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  20. ↑ "Carlos Aparicio y Javier Puy, candidatos de UPyD a la Presidencia de Aragón y a la Alcaldía de Zaragoza". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Europa Press. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "José Luis Lajara, candidato de UPyD a la Presidencia de Aragón y Jesús López, a la Alcaldía de Zaragoza". 20 minutos (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Europa Press. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Elena Martínez Ortín, proclamada candidata de Ciudadanos (C's) a la Alcaldía". 20 minutos (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Europa Press. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "ARAGÓN (Capitales), Abril 2015. Sondeo A+M". Electográfica (in Spanish). 23 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "El reparto del poder territorial en España en 2015" (PDF). desarrollando-ideas.com (in Spanish). 31 October 2014.
  25. ↑ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones municipales en Zaragoza (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  27. ↑ "Acuerdo de 1 de julio de 2015, 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 233/2015, de 30 de marzo, y celebradas el 24 de mayo de 2015, según los datos que figuran en las actas de proclamación remitidas por cada una de las Juntas Electorales de Zona. Provincias: Valencia, Valladolid, Zamora, Zaragoza, Ceuta y Melilla" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish) (248): 96411–96655. 16 October 2015. ISSN 0212-033X. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  28. ↑ "Pedro Santisteve, elegido alcalde de Zaragoza con los votos de PSOE y CHA". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). EFE. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2025.

Bibliography

This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.