2003 Zaragoza municipal election
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25 May 2003
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All 31 seats in the City Council of Zaragoza 16 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Opinion polls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registered | 515,232  0.9% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 341,039 (66.2%) 7.7 pp | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A municipal election was held in Zaragoza on Sunday, 25 May 2003, to elect the 7th City Council of the municipality. All 33 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][2] In the case of Zaragoza, the top-tier administrative and governing body was the City Council of Zaragoza.
Electoral system
Voting for local assemblies was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered and residing in the municipality of Zaragoza and in full enjoyment of their political rights (provided that they were not sentenced—by a final court ruling—to deprivation of the right to vote, nor being legally incapacitated), as well as resident non-national European citizens and those whose country of origin allowed Spanish nationals to vote in their own elections by virtue of a treaty.[2][3][4]
Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional voting system, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes (which included blank ballots) being applied in each municipality.[5] Each municipality constituted a multi-member constituency, entitled a number of seats based on the following scale:[6]
| Population | Councillors |
|---|---|
| <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 vacated seats; instead, any vacancies that occurred after the proclamation of candidates and into the legislative term were to be covered by the successive candidates in the list and, when required, by the designated substitutes.[7]
The mayor was indirectly elected by the local assembly.[2] A legal clause required candidates to earn the vote of an absolute majority of councillors, or else the candidate of the most-voted party was to be automatically appointed to the post. In the event of a tie, the appointee was to be determined by lot.[8]
Election date
The term of city councils 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 (as of 2026, this has been the year before a leap year). The election decree was required to be issued no later than the fifty-fifth day prior to the scheduled election date and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE).[9] The previous local elections were held on 13 June 1999, setting the date for election day on the fourth Sunday of May four years later, which was 25 May 2003.
Local councils could not be dissolved before the expiry 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—agree to call a by-election.[10]
Elections to local councils were officially called on 1 April 2003 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 25 May.[11]
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 ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within ten 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 of candidates. In the case of Zaragoza, as its population was between 300,001 and 1,000,000, at least 5,000 signatures were required.[12]
Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:
| Candidacy | Parties and alliances |
Leading candidate | Ideology | Previous result | Gov. | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote % | Seats | ||||||||
| PP | List
|
|
José Atarés | Conservatism Christian democracy |
42.3% | 15 | 
|
[13] [14] [15] [16] | |
| PSOE | List |
.jpg)
|
Juan Alberto Belloch | Social democracy | 29.8% | 10 | 
|
[17] [18] [19] | |
| CHA | List
|
|
Antonio Gaspar | Aragonese nationalism Eco-socialism |
13.6% | 4 |
|
[20] | |
| PAR | List
|
|
Manuel Lorenzo Blasco | Regionalism Centrism |
7.7% | 2 |
|
[21] | |
| IU | List
|
|
Jesús Lacasa | Socialism Communism |
4.4% | 0 |
|
||
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:
Exit poll
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout | 
|
|
|
|
|
Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 municipal election | 25 May 2003 | N/a | 66.2 | 32.7 11 |
33.9 12 |
18.3 6 |
7.0 2 |
4.0 0 |
1.2 |
| Sigma Dos/Antena 3[p 1][p 2] | 25 May 2003 | ? | ? | ? 9/10 |
? 10/11 |
? 6/7 |
? 2 |
? 2 |
? |
| Ipsos–Eco/RTVE[p 3] | 25 May 2003 | ? | ? | ? 10/11 |
? 10/11 |
? 5/6 |
? 2 |
? 2 |
Tie |
| C&J/El Periódico[p 4] | 12–15 May 2003 | ? | ? | 33.4 10/11 |
35.0 12/13 |
18.0 5/6 |
7.9 2 |
3.6 0/1 |
1.6 |
| Opina/El País[p 5][p 6][p 7] | 11–12 May 2003 | 800 | ? | 35.0 11/12 |
32.0 10/11 |
18.0 6 |
? 2 |
? 1 |
3.0 |
| CIS[p 8][p 9] | 22 Mar–28 Apr 2003 | 472 | 66.0 | 31.2 10 |
34.7 11 |
17.6 6 |
9.8 3 |
5.5 1 |
3.5 |
| C&J/El Periódico[p 4][p 10] | 10–16 Apr 2003 | ? | ? | 28.9 9/10 |
37.7 12/13 |
16.3 5/6 |
9.9 2/3 |
? 0/1 |
8.8 |
| 2000 general election | 12 Mar 2000 | N/a | 71.2 | 48.1 (17) |
26.6 (9) |
15.1 (5) |
3.4 (0) |
4.2 (0) |
21.5 |
| 1999 municipal election | 13 Jun 1999 | N/a | 58.5 | 42.3 15 |
29.8 10 |
13.6 4 |
7.7 2 |
4.4 0 |
12.5 |
Voting preferences
The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 municipal election | 25 May 2003 | N/a | 21.5 | 22.3 | 12.1 | 4.6 | 2.6 | N/a | 33.8 | 0.8 |
| C&J/El Periódico[p 4] | 12–15 May 2003 | ? | 17.8 | 19.2 | – | 4.2 | 1.9 | 33.1 | 1.4 | |
| CIS[p 8][p 10] | 22 Mar–28 Apr 2003 | 472 | 14.0 | 19.7 | 8.3 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 39.9 | 8.7 | 5.7 |
| C&J/El Periódico[p 4] | 10–16 Apr 2003 | ? | 17.0 | 22.2 | – | 5.8 | – | – | – | 5.2 |
| 2000 general election | 12 Mar 2000 | N/a | 34.0 | 18.9 | 10.7 | 2.4 | 3.0 | N/a | 28.8 | 15.1 |
| 1999 municipal election | 13 Jun 1999 | N/a | 24.6 | 17.3 | 7.9 | 4.5 | 2.5 | N/a | 41.5 | 7.3 |
Results
 | ||||||
| Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Seats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− | ||
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 114,952 | 33.90 | +4.12 | 12 | +2 | |
| People's Party (PP) | 110,747 | 32.66 | −9.64 | 11 | −4 | |
| Aragonese Union (CHA) | 62,211 | 18.34 | +4.77 | 6 | +2 | |
| Aragonese Party (PAR) | 23,690 | 6.99 | −0.75 | 2 | ±0 | |
| United Left of Aragon (IU) | 13,474 | 3.97 | −0.38 | 0 | ±0 | |
| The Greens–SOS Nature (LV–SOS) | 2,413 | 0.71 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Aragonese Initiative (INAR) | 1,110 | 0.33 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Family and Life Party (PFyV) | 748 | 0.22 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 636 | 0.19 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Republican Left (IR) | 356 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Humanist Party (PH) | 225 | 0.07 | −0.18 | 0 | ±0 | |
| Blank ballots | 8,560 | 2.52 | +0.51 | |||
| Total | 339,122 | 31 | ±0 | |||
| Valid votes | 339,122 | 99.44 | −0.06 | |||
| Invalid votes | 1,917 | 0.56 | +0.06 | |||
| Votes cast / turnout | 341,039 | 66.19 | +7.73 | |||
| Abstentions | 174,193 | 33.81 | −7.73 | |||
| Registered voters | 515,232 | |||||
| Sources[22][23][24] | ||||||
Aftermath
Government formation
| Investiture | |||
| Ballot → | 14 June 2003 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 16 out of 31 | ||
14 / 31
|
| ||
|
11 / 31
|
| |
6 / 31
|
| ||
| Abstentions/Blank ballots | 0 / 31
| ||
| Absentees | 0 / 31
| ||
| Sources[25][26] | |||
References
- Opinion poll sources
- ^ "El sondeo de Sigma Dos determina una lucha codo a codo entre populares y socialistas en Madrid". ABC (in Spanish). 25 May 2003. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ "El PP retiene la mayoría en Madrid, Valencia, Málaga y Valladolid, pero pierde Zaragoza". ABC (in Spanish). 25 May 2003.
- ^ "Sondeo a pie de urna de Ipsos Eco Consulting para TVE". ABC (in Spanish). 25 May 2003. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Belloch deberá pactar con Chunta para gobernar con mayoría absoluta". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 17 May 2003.
- ^ "El PSOE logrará la alcaldía de Zaragoza si le apoya la Chunta". El País (in Spanish). 18 May 2003.
- ^ "El PP sería la fuerza más votada en Zaragoza". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 19 May 2003.
- ^ "PP y PSOE rozan la mayoría absoluta en Bilbao, única capital vasca gobernada por el PNV". Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 19 May 2003.
- ^ a b "Preelectoral elecciones autonómicas, 2003. CA de Aragón (Estudio nº 2484. Marzo-Abril 2003)". CIS (in Spanish). 17 May 2003.
- ^ "La guerra pasa factura electoral al PP". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 18 May 2003.
- ^ a b "Belloch domina, Atarés cae, el PAR recupera y CHA sigue fuerte". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 26 April 2003.
- Other
- ^ Constitution (1978), art. 140.
- ^ a b c LBRL (1985), art. 19.
- ^ Constitution (1978), art. 13.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 2–3 & 176.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 163 & 180.
- ^ LOREG (1985), art. 179.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 46, 48 & 182.
- ^ LOREG (1985), art. 196.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 42 & 194.
- ^ LBRL (1985), art. 61.
- ^ Real Decreto 374/2003, de 31 de marzo, por el que se convocan elecciones locales y a las Asambleas de Ceuta y Melilla (PDF) (Royal Decree 374/2003). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 31 March 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 44 & 187.
- ^ Montserrat, Concha (1 April 2000). "El PP aragonés propondrá a Atarés para suceder a Rudi en Zaragoza". El País (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "El PP designa a Atarés como sustituto de Rudi en la alcaldía de Zaragoza". El País (in Spanish). Zaragoza. 5 April 2000. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Atarés, elegido nuevo alcalde de Zaragoza". El Mundo (in Spanish). Zaragoza. EFE. 8 April 2000. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "El PP se prepara para diseñar todo su banquillo electoral". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 14 December 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Díez, Anabel; Casqueiro, Javier (11 February 2002). "El PSOE cambiará a ocho candidatos para las elecciones autonómicas". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ^ Montserrat, Concha (23 April 2002). "El rival de Belloch renuncia a las primarias para la alcaldía de Zaragoza". El País (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Notario, Pilar (10 July 2002). "El PSOE arropa a Belloch". Aragón Digital (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Chunta se postula como opción decisiva de gobierno". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 24 October 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Guillén, Nieves (28 December 2002). "Atarés y Belloch asisten a la proclamación de Blasco". Aragón Digital (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones municipales en Zaragoza (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Acuerdo de 20 de junio de 2003, 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 374/2003, de 31 de marzo, y celebradas el 25 de mayo, según los datos que figuran en las actas de proclamación remitidas por cada una de las Juntas Electorales de Zona" (PDF). Official State Gazette (in Spanish) (158 (Supplement)): 1–700. 3 July 2003. ISSN 0212-033X. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ Montserrat, Concha (13 June 2003). "Belloch gobernará Zaragoza con la Chunta y dejando fuera al Par". El País (in Spanish). Zaragoza. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ^ "Belloch toma la vara de mando en minoría y no descarta pactar con CHA". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 15 June 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
Bibliography
- Constitución Española (Constitution). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 27 December 1978 [version as of 28 August 1992]. BOE-A-1978-31229. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
- Ley 7/1985, de 2 de abril, Reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local (Law 7/1985). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 2 April 1985 [version as of 11 March 2003]. BOE-A-1985-5392. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General (Organic Law 5/1985). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 19 June 1985 [version as of 11 March 2003]. BOE-A-1985-11672. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
