2005 Basque regional election 2005 Basque regional election Opinion polls Registered 1,799,523 0.8% Turnout 1,223,634 (68.0%) 11.0 pp
First party
Second party
Third party
Leader
Juan José Ibarretxe
Patxi López
María San Gil
Party
PNV–EA
PSE–EE (PSOE)
PP
Leader since
31 January 1998
23 March 2002
6 November 2004
Leader's seat
Álava
Biscay
Guipúzcoa
Last election
33 seats, 42.4%
13 seats, 17.8%
19 seats, 22.9%
Seats won
29
18
15
Seat change
4
5
4
Popular vote
468,117
274,546
210,614
Percentage
38.4%
22.5%
17.3%
Swing
4.0 pp
4.7 pp
5.6 pp
Fourth party
Fifth party
Sixth party
Leader
Maite Aranburu
Javier Madrazo
Aintzane Ezenarro
Party
PCTV/EHAK
EB–B
Aralar
Leader since
2005
14 May 1994
14 November 2004
Leader's seat
Biscay
Biscay
Guipúzcoa
Last election
7 seats, 10.0%[ a]
3 seats, 5.5%[ b]
Did not contest
Seats won
9
3
1
Seat change
2
0
1
Popular vote
150,644
65,023
28,180
Percentage
12.4%
5.3%
2.3%
Swing
2.4 pp
0.2 pp
New party
Vote winner strength by constituency
Election result by constituency
The 2005 Basque regional election was held on Sunday, 17 April 2005, to elect the 8th Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community . All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.
The electoral coalition Basque Nationalist Party –Basque Solidarity (PNV–EA) won 29 seats, the Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE) came second with 18 seats, the People's Party (PP) came in third with 15 seats. The controversial Communist Party of the Basque Homelands (PCTV/EHAK) won 9 seats, having been endorsed by the banned Batasuna party.
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 .[ 1] 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.
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 Guipúzcoa , 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.[ 1] [ 2]
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 13 May 2001, which meant that the legislature's term would have expired on 13 May 2005. The election decree was required to be published in the BOPV no later than 19 April 2005, with the election taking place on the fifty-fourth day from publication, setting the latest possible election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 12 June 2005.[ 1] [ 2]
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.[ 3]
Parties and candidates
The electoral law allowed 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 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 at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.[ 2] [ 4]
Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:
Opinion polls
The table below lists voting intention estimates 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. When available, seat projections determined by the polling organisations are displayed below (or in place of) the percentages in a smaller font; 38 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament .
Color key:
Exit poll
Polling firm/Commissioner
Fieldwork date
Sample size
Turnout
PNV
Lead
2005 regional election
17 Apr 2005
—
68.0
38.4 29
17.315
22.518
–
5.33
[ d]
0.30
2.31
12.49
15.9
TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[ i] [ p 1] [ p 2]
17 Apr 2005
?
?
?28/30
?14/15
?18
–
?3
[ d]
–
?1
?9/10
?
Ipsos–Eco/EiTB[ i] [ p 3] [ p 4]
17 Apr 2005
65,000
?
?29/31
?13/14
?18
–
?3
[ d]
–
?1
?9/10
?
Ipsos–Eco/RTVE[ p 1] [ p 3] [ p 5]
17 Apr 2005
?
?
40.3 30/33
16.213/15
22.518/19
–
6.03/4
[ d]
–
2.30/1
11.07/8
17.8
TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[ p 1] [ p 3] [ p 5]
17 Apr 2005
?
?
39.9 31/33
18.014/16
18.215/17
–
6.13/4
[ d]
–
3.11
11.37/8
21.7
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 3] [ p 5]
17 Apr 2005
?
?
42.0 31/33
16.014/15
21.517/18
–
?4/5
[ d]
–
?0/1
7.05/6
20.5
Opina/El País[ p 6] [ p 7]
10 Apr 2005
?
?
42.7 34/35
15.114/15
21.618/19
–
7.63/4
[ d]
–
2.31
4.32/4
21.1
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 8] [ p 9]
10 Apr 2005
?
?
42.7 34
15.113/14
21.618/19
(3.4)
7.64/5
[ d]
–
2.31
4.32/3
21.1
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 10] [ p 11]
9 Apr 2005
?
?
44.3 35/36
14.513
23.218/20
(2.9)
6.64
[ d]
–
2.61
3.72/3
21.1
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 12]
8 Apr 2005
?
?
45.7 38/39
14.513
23.519/20
(3.3)
6.34
[ d]
–
1.90
2.70
22.2
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 12]
7 Apr 2005
?
?
43.5 37/38
15.613
24.520/21
(3.3)
6.44
[ d]
0.20
1.60
2.50
22.2
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[ p 13] [ p 14]
5–7 Apr 2005
1,000
?
45.6 35/37
18.315/16
20.815/18
–
5.53
[ d]
–
1.90/1
6.64
24.8
Noxa/La Vanguardia[ p 15]
4–7 Apr 2005
900
?
46.5 34/36
19.716
23.219
–
6.93/5
[ d]
?0/1
?0/1
–
23.3
?
42.9 32/34
18.215
21.417/19
–
6.43/4
[ d]
0.60/1
2.10/1
8.45
21.5
Ikertalde/GPS[ p 16] [ p 17]
1–7 Apr 2005
2,002
72.5
42.7 34
15.813
21.318
–
6.73
[ d]
0.20
2.61
9.76
21.4
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 18] [ p 19]
6 Apr 2005
?
?
45.7 37/39
15.413
21.419/20
(4.6)
6.85
[ d]
0.20
2.00
1.20
24.3
LKS/Diario de Noticias[ p 20]
30 Mar–6 Apr 2005
1,500
75
?33/35
?16/17
?15/17
–
?3/4
[ d]
–
?0/1
?5
?
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 21]
5 Apr 2005
?
?
45.5 36/38
15.313
20.618/20
(6.4)
6.75
[ d]
0.20
2.31
0.20
24.9
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 21]
4 Apr 2005
?
?
45.5 37/39
16.012
21.519/20
–
6.54/5
[ d]
–
3.51
–
24.0
CIS[ p 22] [ p 23] [ p 24]
29 Mar–4 Apr 2005
1,495
?
42.5 34/35
17.816/17
22.219
–
6.24
[ d]
–
2.71
–
20.3
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 21]
3 Apr 2005
?
?
45.0 38/40
16.012
21.518/19
–
7.04/5
[ d]
–
3.51
–
23.5
Bergareche/Vocento[ p 25] [ p 26]
1–3 Apr 2005
3,100
?
40.4 32/35
20.816/19
18.315/17
(6.9)
7.44/6
[ d]
0.30
3.71/2
–
19.6
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 21] [ p 27]
1 Apr 2005
?
?
44.8 38/39
16.012
21.019
–
7.04/5
[ d]
–
3.50/1
–
23.8
Celeste-Tel/La Razón[ p 28]
29 Mar–1 Apr 2005
801
?
42.9 34/37
18.915/18
22.918/21
–
6.03/4
[ d]
–
1.61
–
20.0
Opina/Cadena SER[ p 21] [ p 29]
31 Mar 2005
?
?
44.8 38/39
16.613/14
20.617/18
–
7.04/5
[ d]
–
3.50/1
–
24.2
CIS[ p 30] [ p 31] [ p 32]
22 Feb–16 Mar 2005
1,499
?
42.8 35/37
19.117
22.218/19
–
6.23/4
[ d]
0.50
1.20
–
20.6
PSE[ p 33]
1–11 Mar 2005
?
?
41.2 33/35
?15/16
23.721/22
–
?3
[ d]
–
?1
–
17.5
Bergareche/Vocento[ p 34]
1–8 Mar 2005
3,100
?
43.3 35/36
19.916/18
20.417/20
(5.3)
6.23/5
[ d]
–
3.21/3
–
22.9
Opina/El País[ p 35]
24–25 Feb 2005
1,500
?
45.5 36/37
19.517
22.018
–
6.53/4
[ d]
–
–
–
23.5
Ikertalde/GPS[ p 36]
18 Jan–2 Feb 2005
2,874
75.0
41.1 32
15.813
22.319
9.47
6.73
[ d]
0.30
2.91
–
18.8
CPS/EHU[ p 37] [ p 38] [ p 39]
8–26 Nov 2004
1,200
76
42.4 33/35
18.115/16
23.621/22
–
5.83
[ d]
–
3.11
–
18.8
2004 EP election
13 Jun 2004
—
44.6
35.3 26
21.017
28.224
–
4.23
7.85
–
1.30
–
7.1
CPS/EHU[ p 40] [ p 41] [ p 42]
3–28 May 2004
1,800
75
43.7 32/34
17.514/15
25.622/23
–
6.13
[ d]
[ e]
4.32
–
18.1
2004 general election
14 Mar 2004
—
75.0
33.7 25
18.916
27.222
–
8.26
6.55
–
3.11
–
6.5
CPS/EHU[ p 43] [ p 44] [ p 45]
3–21 Nov 2003
1,800
70
44.3 33
24.121
19.016/17
–
6.73/4
[ d]
[ e]
?1
–
20.2
2003 foral elections
25 May 2003
—
70.0
45.3 35
19.616
21.617
–
8.15
[ d]
0.61
3.21
–
23.7
2003 local elections
25 May 2003
—
69.9
43.9
18.7
22.1
0.9
8.0
[ d]
0.5
1.5
–
21.8
CPS/EHU[ p 40] [ p 46]
1–20 Nov 2002
1,200
?
42.1 31
21.318
19.016
9.36
6.74
[ d]
[ e]
–
–
20.8
CIS[ p 47] [ p 48] [ p 49]
9 Sep–9 Oct 2002
579
74.2
38.8
21.1
19.1
7.9
5.6
5.6
–
–
–
17.7
CPS/EHU[ p 40]
15–30 May 2001
?
?
43.6 33
20.819
18.014
9.86
6.33
[ d]
[ e]
–
–
22.8
CPS/EHU[ p 40]
2–21 Nov 2001
?
?
43.5 33
21.019
18.113
9.87
6.13
[ d]
[ e]
–
–
22.5
2001 regional election
13 May 2001
—
79.0
42.4 33
22.919
17.813
10.07
5.53
[ d]
[ e]
–
–
19.5
Results
Overall
← Summary of the 17 April 2005 Basque Parliament election results →
Parties and alliances
Popular vote
Seats
Votes
%
±pp
Total
+/−
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNV –EA )
468,117
38.38
–4.00
29
–4
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE))
274,546
22.51
+4.75
18
+5
People's Party (PP)
210,614
17.27
–5.66
15
–4
Communist Party of the Basque Homelands (PCTV/EHAK)1
150,644
12.35
+2.31
9
+2
United Left–Greens (EB–B)2
65,023
5.33
–0.20
3
±0
Aralar (Aralar)
28,180
2.31
New
1
+1
Alavese Unity (UA)
4,117
0.34
New
0
±0
Greens –Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (B–PACMA)
4,049
0.33
New
0
±0
Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI)
2,354
0.19
New
0
±0
Humanist Party (PH)
1,514
0.12
–0.14
0
±0
For a Fairer World (PUM+J)
1,261
0.10
New
0
±0
Carlist Party of the Basque Country–Carlist Party (EKA–PC)
179
0.01
–0.03
0
±0
Blank ballots
9,001
0.74
–0.07
Total
1,219,599
75
±0
Valid votes
1,219,599
99.67
+0.10
Invalid votes
4,035
0.33
–0.10
Votes cast / turnout
1,223,634
68.00
–10.97
Abstentions
575,889
32.00
+10.97
Registered voters
1,799,523
Sources[ 10] [ 11]
Distribution by constituency
Constituency
PNV–EA
PSE–EE
PP
EHAK
EB–B
Aralar
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
%
S
Álava
30.4
8
25.3
7
25.8
7
13.2
2
4.9
1
1.5
–
Biscay
40.7
11
23.2
6
17.5
5
10.0
2
5.5
1
1.6
–
Guipúzcoa
38.0
10
20.1
5
13.2
3
18.1
5
5.2
1
3.9
1
Total
38.4
29
22.5
18
17.3
15
12.4
9
5.3
3
2.3
1
Sources[ 10] [ 11]
Aftermath
Investiture
Ballot →
22 June 2005[ f]
23 June 2005[ f]
Required majority →
38 out of 75
Simple
N
Y
N
N
Absentees
Sources[ 10]
Notes
References
Opinion poll sources
^ a b c "SONDEOS Y MUESTREOS: Baja el PNV, sube ETA y el PSE se coloca como segunda fuerza" . Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 17 April 2005.
^ "La jornada electoral, al minuto" . El Mundo (in Spanish). 17 April 2005.
^ a b c d "Ibarretxe gana las elecciones pero no logra una mayoría clara para llevar adelante su plan" . La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 17 April 2005.
^ "El PSOE y el PP se consolidan por delante del tripartito" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 17 April 2005. Archived from the original on 18 April 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ a b c "PNV-EA ganaría elecciones vascas sin mayoría absoluta-sondeos" . 20 minutos (in Spanish). 17 April 2005.
^ "La irrupción del voto radical dificulta la mayoría absoluta del tripartito vasco" . El País (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "El voto a los radicales de EHAK pone en peligro la mayoría absoluta del actual Gobierno vasco" . El País (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "El PNV afronta la recta final de la campaña a cuatro escaños de la mayoría absoluta" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 11 April 2005.
^ "Intención de voto elecciones autonómicas 2005. Total País Vasco (Pulsómetro 11/04/2005)" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 11 April 2005. Archived from the original on 11 April 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "El Partido Comunista de las Tierras Vascas, heredero del voto de Batasuna, aleja al PNV de la mayoría absoluta" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "Intención de voto elecciones autonómicas 2005. Total País Vasco (Pulsómetro 10/04/2005)" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 10 April 2005. Archived from the original on 11 April 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ a b "Intención de voto elecciones autonómicas 2005. Total País Vasco (Pulsómetro 09/04/2005)" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 9 April 2005. Archived from the original on 11 April 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "El tripartito obtendrá mayoría absoluta en las elecciones vascas y el PCTV logrará cuatro escaños" . El Mundo (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "Intención de voto en el País Vasco" . El Mundo (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "El PNV repite victoria pero apenas avanza" . La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "Elecciones Autonómicas 2005. Previsiones de voto (Abril 2005)" (PDF) . Basque Government (in Spanish). 8 April 2005.
^ "Vitoria tampoco da mayoría a PNV-EA" . La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 April 2005.
^ "Ibarretxe asegura que "el clamor de la sociedad vasca" forzará la negociación entre Euskadi y Madrid" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 7 April 2005.
^ "Intención de voto elecciones autonómicas 2005. Total País Vasco (Pulsómetro 07/04/2005)" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 7 April 2005. Archived from the original on 7 April 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "Dos sondeos quitan la mayoría absoluta al tripartito y otorgan entre cinco y seis escaños al PCTV" . Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 9 April 2005.
^ a b c d e "Intención de voto elecciones autonómicas 2005. Total País Vasco (Pulsómetro 06/04/2005)" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 6 April 2005. Archived from the original on 8 April 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "Preelectoral del País Vasco. Elecciones autonómicas 2005 (Estudio nº 2598. Marzo-Abril 2005)" (PDF) . CIS (in Spanish). 8 April 2005.
^ "Estudio CIS nº 2598. Ficha técnica" (PDF) . CIS (in Spanish). 8 April 2005.
^ "PNV-EA ganaría pero necesitaría a EB para obtener la mayoría, según una encuesta del CIS" . El Mundo (in Spanish). 8 April 2005.
^ "El tripartito PNV-EA-EB consolida su mayoría a la espera del "efecto EHAK" " . ABC (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "Intención de voto" . ABC (in Spanish). 10 April 2005.
^ "Segundo Pulsómetro: PNV-EA sigue manteniendo la mayoría absoluta" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 2 April 2005.
^ "LA RAZÓN. 2005eko apirilak 3" . Celeste-Tel (in Basque). 3 April 2005. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "La coalición PNV-EA lograría mayoría absoluta en el Parlamento Vasco" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 1 April 2005.
^ "Situación política y social del País Vasco, XIV (Estudio nº 2593. Febrero-Marzo 2005)" . CIS (in Spanish). 30 March 2005.
^ "Estudio CIS nº 2593. Ficha técnica" (PDF) . CIS (in Spanish). 30 March 2005.
^ "El PNV roza la mayoría absoluta o se la asegura con IU, según el CIS" . La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 31 March 2005.
^ "La última encuesta socialista" . ABC (in Spanish). 21 March 2005.
^ "PNV-EA-EB alcanzan la mayoría absoluta" . ABC (in Spanish). 20 March 2005.
^ "El tripartito vasco alcanza la mayoría absoluta" . El País (in Spanish). 27 February 2005.
^ "Elecciones Autonómicas 2005. Previsiones de voto (Febrero 2005)" (PDF) . Basque Government (in Spanish). February 2005.
^ "Estimaciones Electorales del Euskobarómetro al Parlamento Vasco (Noviembre 2004)" . EHU (in Spanish). 20 January 2005. Archived from the original on 22 January 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "PNV-EA ganaría elecciones Euskadi, sin mayoría absoluta -sondeo" . 20 minutos (in Spanish). 20 January 2005.
^ Bidaurrazaga, Aitor Guenaga (21 January 2005). "La coalición PNV-EA ganaría los comicios vascos sin mayoría absoluta" . El País (in Spanish).
^ a b c d "Estimaciones Electorales del Euskobarómetro al Parlamento Vasco (Mayo 2004)" . EHU (in Spanish). 16 July 2004. Archived from the original on 11 August 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "El Euskobarómetro no concede mayoría absoluta al tripartito vasco" . Cadena SER (in Spanish). 16 July 2004.
^ Bidaurrazaga, Aitor Guenaga (17 July 2004). "El Gobierno tripartito vasco no lograría hoy la mayoría absoluta" . El País (in Spanish).
^ "Estimaciones Electorales del Euskobarómetro al Parlamento Vasco (Noviembre 2003)" . EHU (in Spanish). 16 January 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "La mayoría absoluta en el Parlamento vasco dependería del escaño que disputan PSE e IU" . ABC (in Spanish). 17 January 2004.
^ "El PNV y EA no consiguen mayoría absoluta, pese a la ausencia de Batasuna" . El País (in Spanish). 17 January 2004.
^ "Encuesta Euskobarómetro (Noviembre de 2002)" . EHU (in Spanish). 20 November 2002. Archived from the original on 3 March 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2021 .
^ "Instituciones y autonomías, II. CA del País Vasco (Estudio nº 2455. Septiembre-Octubre 2002)" . CIS (in Spanish). 19 November 2002.
^ "El PP, partido más votado en diez Comunidades Autónomas" (PDF) . El Mundo (in Spanish). 19 November 2002.
^ "El PP ganaría las autonómicas en diez Comunidades y el PSOE en cuatro, según el CIS" . ABC (in Spanish). 20 November 2002.
Other