2024_Basque_regional_election

2024 Basque regional election

2024 Basque regional election

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The 2024 Basque regional election was held on Sunday, 21 April 2024, to elect the 13th Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

Quick Facts All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament 38 seats needed for a majority, Registered ...

This election was the first since 2009 not to see Iñigo Urkullu as the leading candidate of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), after the party chose to replace the incumbent Lehendakari by a low profile politician at the provincial level, Imanol Pradales, following 12 years of uninterrupted government. The main opposition, EH Bildu, also ran under a new candidate, Pello Otxandiano, amid speculation that long-time leader Arnaldo Otegi could have led the candidacy following the end of his disqualification to run for public office. All other parliamentary parties but Podemos and Vox also ran under new candidates: Eneko Andueza by the Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE), Javier de Andrés by the People's Party (PP)—which the PP+Cs alliance being discontinued and Citizens (CS) renounced to contest the election—and Alba García by Sumar.

The results showed a close race between the PNV and EH Bildu, with the former slightly outperforming opinion polls but with the latter securing a large increase of its popular support. The PSE–EE, which had been the junior partner to the PNV-led government since 2016, saw an unexpected increase in support to secure its best result since 2012. The PP increased its seat totals by one compared to the PP+Cs results in 2020, whereas the dissolution of the Elkarrekin Podemos alliance saw Sumar clinging on to one seat and Podemos losing all its representation. Vox was able to retain its seat for Álava.

Overview

Electoral system

The Basque Parliament was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of the Basque Country, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Basque Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a lehendakari.[2] Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Basque Country and in full enjoyment of their political rights. Amendments to the electoral law in 2022 abolished the "begged" or expat vote system (Spanish: Voto rogado), under which Spaniards abroad were required to apply for voting before being permitted to vote.[3] The expat vote system was attributed responsibility for a major decrease in the turnout of Spaniards abroad during the years it had been in force.[4]

The 75 members of the Basque Parliament were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, with each being allocated a fixed number of 25 seats in order to provide for an equal parliamentary representation of the three provinces, as required under the regional statute of autonomy.[2][5]

Election date

The term of the Basque Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The election decree was required to be issued no later than the twenty-fifth day prior to the date of expiry of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV), with election day taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication. The previous election was held on 12 July 2020, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 12 July 2024. The election decree was required to be published in the BOPV no later than 18 June 2024 with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 11 August 2024.[2][5]

The lehendakari had the prerogative to dissolve the Basque Parliament at any given time and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a lehendakari within a sixty-day period from the Parliament re-assembly, the Parliament was to be dissolved and a fresh election called.[6]

Following the announcement by Galician president Alfonso Rueda of a snap election in Galicia for 18 February 2024,[7] Urkullu was asked whether he would follow suit and make both elections be held simultaneously—as it had been the case since 2009.[8] To this, he simply stated that "the Basque Country is not Galicia", distancing himself from Rueda's decision.[9] Instead, it was expected that the Basque election would most likely be held in March or April 2024, to allow for more time to approve a final set of bills in the Basque Parliament as well as to avoid a simultaneous call with the European Parliament election on 9 June.[10][11]

The Basque Parliament was officially dissolved on 27 February 2024 after the publication of the dissolution decree in the BOPV, setting the election date for 21 April.[12]

Parliamentary composition

The table below shows the composition of the parliamentary groups in the Parliament at the time of dissolution.[13]

More information Groups, Parties ...

Parties and candidates

The electoral law allows for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election are required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors need to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they seek election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[5][17]

Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which will likely contest the election:

Timetable

The key dates are listed below (all times are CET):[5][17][28]

  • 26 February: The election decree is issued with the countersign of the Lehendakari after deliberation in the Council of Government.[12]
  • 27 February: Formal dissolution of the Basque Parliament and beginning of a suspension period of events for the inauguration of public works, services or projects.
  • 1 March: Initial constitution of historical territory and zone electoral commissions.
  • 8 March: Deadline for parties and federations intending to enter into a coalition to inform the relevant electoral commission.
  • 18 March: Deadline for parties, federations, coalitions, and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates to the relevant electoral commission.
  • 20 March: Submitted lists of candidates are provisionally published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV).
  • 23 March: Deadline for citizens entered in the Register of Absent Electors Residing Abroad (CERA) and for citizens temporarily absent from Spain to apply for voting.
  • 24 March: Deadline for parties, federations, coalitions, and groupings of electors to rectify irregularities in their lists.
  • 25 March: Official proclamation of valid submitted lists of candidates.
  • 26 March: Proclaimed lists are published in the BOPV.
  • 5 April: Official start of electoral campaigning.[12]
  • 11 April: Deadline to apply for postal voting.
  • 16 April: Official start of legal ban on electoral opinion polling publication, dissemination or reproduction and deadline for CERA citizens to vote by mail.
  • 17 April: Deadline for postal and temporarily absent voters to issue their votes.
  • 19 April: Last day of official electoral campaigning and deadline for CERA citizens to vote in a ballot box in the relevant consular office or division.[12]
  • 20 April: Official 24-hour ban on political campaigning prior to the general election (reflection day).
  • 21 April: Polling day (polling stations open at 9 am and close at 8 pm or once voters present in a queue at/outside the polling station at 8 pm have cast their vote). Provisional counting of votes starts immediately.
  • 26 April: General counting of votes, including the counting of CERA votes.
  • 30 April: Deadline for the general counting of votes to be carried out by the relevant electoral commission.
  • 11 May: Deadline for elected members to be proclaimed by the relevant electoral commission.
  • 18 May: Final deadline for definitive results to be published in the BOPV.

Campaign

Party slogans

More information Party or alliance, Original slogan ...

Election debates

More information Date, Organisers ...

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.

Graphical summary

Local regression trend line of poll results from 12 July 2020 to 21 April 2024, with each line corresponding to a political party.

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; 38 seats are required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament.

Color key:

  Poll conducted after legal ban on opinion polls

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...

Voting preferences

The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...

Victory preferences

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

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...

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.

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...

Preferred Lehendakari

The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become lehendakari.

More information Polling firm/Commissioner, Fieldwork date ...

Voter turnout

The table below shows registered vote turnout on election day without including voters from the Census of Absent-Residents (CERA). Compared to past elections, 2024 elections turnout data are to be gathered at 13:00 and 18:00 (instead of 12:00 and 17:00 at previous elections).[50]

More information Province, Time ...

Results

Overall

More information Parties and alliances, Popular vote ...
More information Popular vote ...
More information Seats ...

Distribution by constituency

More information Constituency, PNV ...

Aftermath

The results were announced after polls in the region closed, with PNV securing the most votes, but finished with a tie with EH Bildu at 27 seats.[53]

Notes

  1. Not including CERA votes. Turnout from voters residing in the Basque Country increased from 52.9% to 62.5%.
  2. Results for PP+Cs in the 2020 election.
  3. Within the Elkarrekin Podemos alliance in the 2020 election.
  4. Luis Gordillo, former Cs legislator, joined the PP in October 2021.[16]
  5. Results for Elkarrekin Podemos–IU (7.97%, 6 seats) and Equo Berdeak (1.30%, 0 seats) in the 2020 election.
  6. Denotes a main invitee attending the event.
  7. Denotes a main invitee not attending the event, sending a surrogate in their place.
  8. In the Basque Country, the debate was broadcast on La 1 (62,000; 10.6%) and 24 Horas (21,000; 3.6%). Nationwide, the debate was broadcast on 24 Horas (82,000; 0.7%).[34][35]
  9. Basque-spoken debate.
  10. Alternative projection based on raw CIS data.
  11. Within Sumar.
  12. Within PP+Cs.
  13. In 2020, turnout data were gathered at 12:00.
  14. In 2020, turnout data were gathered at 17:00.

References

Opinion poll sources
  1. "Empate técnico entre PNV y EH Bildu a 26-28 escaños con la formación jeltzale como más votada". EiTB (in Spanish). 21 April 2024.
  2. "EH Bildu ganaría por la mínima en votos y escaños al PNV". El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 14 April 2024.
  3. "Bildu roza el empate técnico con el PNV". La Razón (in Spanish). 8 April 2024.
  4. "Elecciones Autonómicas: previsión de voto (Marzo 2024)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 27 March 2024.
  5. "Informe preelectoral para las elecciones vascas. Marzo 2024" (PDF). El País (in Spanish). 25 March 2024.
  6. "Elecciones Autonómicas: previsión de voto (Febrero 2024)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 9 February 2024.
  7. "EiTB Focus. Enero 2024. Elecciones Autonómicas. CAV" (PDF). Gizaker (in Spanish). 2 February 2024.
  8. "Ajustada victoria del PNV con EH Bildu a dos escaños". El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 4 February 2024.
  9. "Elecciones Autonómicas: previsión de voto (Noviembre 2023)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 1 December 2023.
  10. "Elecciones Autonómicas: previsión de voto (Marzo 2022)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 4 March 2022.
  11. "Elecciones Autonómicas: previsión de voto (Diciembre 2021)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 16 December 2021.
  12. "Elecciones Autonómicas: previsión de voto (Octubre 2021)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 8 October 2021.
  13. "EuskoPanel (15S): Vox quedaría fuera del Parlamento Vasco". Electomanía (in Spanish). 15 September 2021.
  14. "Elecciones Autonómicas: previsión de voto (Mayo 2021)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 28 May 2021.
  15. "Análisis de microdatos de EITB Focus". EiTB (in Spanish). 15 April 2024.
Other
  1. Ley Orgánica 3/1979, de 18 de diciembre, de Estatuto de Autonomía para el País Vasco (Organic Law 3) (in Spanish). 18 December 1979. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  2. Reig Pellicer, Naiara (16 December 2015). "Spanish elections: Begging for the right to vote". cafebabel.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  3. Araque Conde, Pilar (8 June 2022). "El Congreso acaba con el voto rogado: diez años de trabas burocráticas para los residentes en el extranjero". Público (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  4. Ley 5/1990, de 15 de junio, de Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco (Law 5) (in Spanish). 15 June 1990. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  5. Ley 7/1981, de 30 de junio, sobre Ley de Gobierno (Law 7) (in Spanish). 30 June 1981. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  6. Salgado, Daniel; Muñoz, Beatriz (21 December 2023). "Alfonso Rueda convoca para el 18 de febrero las primeras elecciones en Galicia sin Feijóo en 14 años". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  7. "Rueda llama a Urkullu para comunicarle la fecha de las elecciones gallegas" (in Spanish). Bilbao: Europa Press. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  8. "Urkullu dice que "Euskadi no es Galicia" tras la convocatoria de las gallegas el 18 de febrero" (in Spanish). Vitoria: Europa Press. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  9. Lorente, Adolfo (25 November 2023). "La opción de marzo cobra fuerza para el adelanto electoral". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  10. Barriuso, Olatz (20 December 2023). "Urkullu busca exprimir su mayoría absoluta y las elecciones vascas apuntan ahora a abril". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  11. "Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco / Eusko Legebilitzarra (desde 1980)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  12. "Parliamentarians and bodies. Groups. Composition. 12th Legislature". www.legebiltzarra.eus (in Spanish). Basque Parliament. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  13. Izarra, Josean (7 October 2021). "Luis Gordillo, ex líder de Ciudadanos y parlamentario, ficha por el PP del País Vasco". El Mundo (in Spanish). Vitoria. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  14. Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General (Organic Law 5) (in Spanish). 19 June 1985. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  15. Rioja Andueza, Iker (24 November 2023). "El PNV prescinde de Urkullu y no será candidato en las elecciones vascas de 2024". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  16. Ormazabal, Mikel (27 January 2024). "El PNV proclama a Imanol Pradales como candidato a lehendakari para las próximas elecciones en el País Vasco". El País (in Spanish). San Sebatián. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  17. "Kortajarena asume la portavocía de EH Bildu en el Parlamento Vasco tras la marcha de Iriarte y Casanova". Noticias de Gipuzkoa (in Spanish). 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  18. Guadilla, David; Barriuso, Olatz (11 December 2023). "Pello Otxandiano será el candidato a lehendakari de EH Bildu". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  19. Rioja Andueza, Iker (30 October 2021). "Eneko Andueza arrasa con un 95% de los votos en las primarias y será el nuevo líder de los socialistas vascos". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  20. Cortizo, Gonzalo; Ortiz, Alberto; Rioja Andueza, Iker (30 November 2023). "Sumar y Podemos tantean un acuerdo electoral en Galicia y Euskadi en medio de su escalada de tensión". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  21. Villamediana, Miriam (2 February 2024). "Podemos proclama a su candidata en el País Vasco y lanza su campaña en solitario al margen de Sumar". ABC (in Spanish). Bilbao. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  22. Garmendia, Xabier (2 February 2024). "Podemos usará la marca Elkarrekin por separado y Sumar irá con IU y Equo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  23. Goyoaga, Ander (4 November 2023). "Javier de Andrés toma el mando del PP vasco con el objetivo de atraer a votantes del PNV". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  24. "La parlamentaria Amaia Martínez repite como candidata de Vox a lehendakari" (in Spanish). Bilbao. Europa Press. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  25. "Elecciones Parlamento Vasco 2024. Calendario general". www.euskadi.eus (in Spanish). Basque Government. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  26. "Los partidos vascos abren la campaña electoral" (in Spanish). Bilbao: Europa Press. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  27. "Feijóo pide el voto al PP como "única garantía" de que no gobierne EH Bildu y le exige que pida perdón en campaña". El Periódico de España (in Spanish). Bilbao. Europa Press. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  28. González, Miguel (9 April 2024). "Vox ilustra con datos manipulados su campaña electoral vasca bajo el lema "sabes que es verdad"". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  29. "Coordinadora de ONGD de Euskadi: Debate Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco 2024" (in Spanish). EITB. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  30. Cabanillas, Andrea (10 April 2024). "El debate electoral gana en audiencias en País Vasco, seguido de laSexta y 'Supervivientes'". El Plural (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  31. "EITB se vuelca con la campaña electoral del 21A" (in Spanish). EITB. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  32. Larreategi, Jon (12 April 2024). "El primer debate electoral de EITB apenas levanta interés". GasteizBerri (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  33. "Diálogo entre candidatas a las Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco del 21 de abril". AMPEA (in Spanish). 9 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  34. "El autogobierno, a debate en SER Euskadi" (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  35. "Los candidatos protagonizan en DV un debate encendido en materia de sanidad, Ertzaintza y memoria". El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 15 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  36. "El debate electoral de anoche en EITB se convierte en el más seguido de la campaña". GasteizBerri (in Spanish). 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  37. "Encuentro Electoral de la Juventud Vasca". EGK (in Spanish). 12 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  38. "Euskadiko Gazteen Hauteskunde Topaketa: Etorkizuna Eratzen". EGK (in Spanish). 17 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  39. "Los candidatos buscan el choque para convencer a los indecisos a 72 horas de las elecciones". El Correo (in Spanish). 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  40. "Un debate decisivo, sereno y constructivo, sin menciones a ETA" (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  41. "Diferencias CIS País Vasco recalculado - publicado". SocioMétrica (in Spanish). 2 April 2024.
  42. "Elecciones 2024. Avances de participación". Basque Government (in Spanish). 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  43. "Elecciones 2024. Resultados provisionales". Basque Government (in Spanish). 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.

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