1983 Valencian regional election

Election in the Spanish region of the Valencian Community 1983 Valencian regional election Valencian Community parliamentary no 1987 Valencian regional election 1987 All 89 seats in the ca Corts Valencianes no 45 #Opinion polls 2,654,967 1,931,142 (72.7%) 8 May 1983 170x170px Joan Lerma Socialist Party of the Valencian Country 31 July 1979 Valencia 51 982,567 51.4% 170x170px Manuel Giner AP–PDP–UL–UV December 1981 Valencia 32 609,519 31.9% 170x170px José Galán PCE–PCPV 23 September 1980 Alicante 6 142,570 7.5% x325px Vote winner strength by constituency x325px Election results by constituency President President after election Joan Lerma PSOE Joan Lerma PSOE A regional election was held in the Valencian Community on 8 May 1983 to elect the 1st ca Corts no of the autonomous community. All 89 seats in the ca Corts no were up for election. It was held concurrently with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all across Spain. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) won the election with an absolute majority of 51 out of 89 seats and almost one million votes (51.4% of the vote). The People's Coalition, composed in the Valencian Community by the People's Alliance (AP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Liberal Union and the Valencian Union (UV), became the second political force and the main opposition party in the ca Corts Valencianes no with 32 seats. The Communist Party of Spain (PCE) managed to surpass the 5% regional threshold and entered the ca Corts no with 6 seats, seeing a slight recovery from its results in the October 1982 general election.Muñoz Manuel 10 May 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/05/10/espana/421365624_850215.html Apreciable recuperación de los comunistas es El País Valencia 6 March 2026Millas Jaime 12 May 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/05/12/espana/421538402_850215.html Lerma mantendrá los actuales consejeros en el Gobierno de la Generalitat valenciana es El País Valencia 6 March 2026 As a result of the election, regional PSOE leader Joan Lerma became the first democratically elected president of the Valencian Government. Overview Under the 1982 Statute of Autonomy, the ca Corts Valencianes no were the unicameral legislature of the Valencian Community, having legislative power in devolved matters, as well as the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a regional president.Statute 1982 arts. 10–11. The electoral and procedural rules were supplemented by national law provisions (which were those used in the 1977 general election).Statute 1982 trans. prov. 7; Decree 29/1983 1983 art. 4. Date The Council of the Valencian Country, in agreement with the Government of Spain and with the prior favorable vote of the ca Corts Valencianes no during their transitional period, was required to call an election to the ca Corts no within from 1 February to 31 May 1983.Statute 1982 trans. prov. 7. The ca Corts Valencianes no could not be dissolved before the expiration date of parliament.Statute 1982 art. 12. The ca Corts Valencianes no were officially dissolved on 10 March 1983 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the DOGV, setting election day for 8 May and scheduling for the chamber to reconvene on 7 June.Decree 29/1983 1983 arts. 1–2 & 8. Electoral system Voting for the ca Corts no was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Valencian Community and with full political rights.Statute 1982 art. 12} (suppl. supplemented by Royal Decree-Law 20/1977 1977 art. 2). The ca Corts Valencianes no had 89 seats in their first election. All members were elected in three multi-member constituencies—corresponding to the provinces of Alicante, Castellón and Valencia, each of which was assigned a fixed number of seats—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a five percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) regionally.Statute 1982 trans. prov. 7 (suppl. supplemented by Royal Decree-Law 20/1977 1977 art. 20); Decree 29/1983 1983 art. 5. As a result of the aforementioned allocation, each ca Corts no constituency was entitled the following seats:Statute 1982 trans. prov. 7; Decree 29/1983 1983 art. 3. Seats Constituencies 35 Valencia 29 Alicante 25 Castellón 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.Royal Decree-Law 20/1977 1977 art. 20. 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 fifteen days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one permille—and, in any case, 500 signatures—of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list.Royal Decree-Law 20/1977 1977 arts. 30–31 & 34. Below is a list of the main parties and alliances which contested the election: Candidacy Parties andalliances Leading candidate Ideology Gov. Government Ref. References PSOE List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 50px Joan Lerma Social democracy AP–PDP–UL–UV List on People's Alliance (AP) People's Democratic Party (PDP) Liberal Union (UL) Valencian Union (UV) 50px Manuel Giner ConservatismChristian democracy PCE–PCPV List on Communist Party of the Valencian Country (PCE–PCPV) 50px José Galán Eurocommunism The electoral disaster of the Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) in the October 1982 general election and the outcome of its extraordinary congress held in December, in which the party's leadership chose to transform the UCD into a christian democratic political force,Jáuregui Fernando 13 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/13/espana/408582002_850215.html Los democristianos ganan la batalla a los 'azules' en el congreso de UCD y mantienen a Lavilla en la presidencia es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 brought the party to a process of virtual disintegration as many of its remaining members either switched party allegiances, split into new, independent candidacies or left politics altogether.Jáuregui Fernando 14 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/14/espana/408668408_850215.html Ex ministros y 'notables' de UCD inician la fuga del partido es El País Madrid 16 January 202616 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/16/espana/408841216_850215.html El proceso de desintegración de UCD se acelera con peticiones de bajas en numerosas regiones es El País 16 January 2026 Subsequent attempts to seek electoral allies ahead of the incoming 1983 local and regional elections, mainly the conservative People's Alliance (AP) and the christian democratic People's Democratic Party (PDP),Jáuregui Fernando 21 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/21/espana/409273214_850215.html Sigue en el aire la posibilidad de pacto electoral entre AP-UCD es El País Madrid 16 January 2026Angulo Javier 30 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/30/espana/410050822_850215.html UCD, a favor de seguir negociando con AP para llegar a un pacto de cara a las municipales es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 had limited success due to concerns from both AP and UCD over such alliance policy:Jáuregui Fernando Prades Joaquina 18 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/18/espana/409014002_850215.html Fraga se muestra reticente sobre la conveniencia de llegar a un pacto electoral con UCD es El País Madrid 16 January 2026Jáuregui Fernando 22 December 1982 https://elpais.com/diario/1982/12/22/espana/409359611_850215.html División en UCD sobre la conveniencia de un pacto electoral con Alianza Popular es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 AP strongly rejected any agreement that implied any sort of global coalition with UCD due to the party's ongoing decomposition,Prades Joaquina 4 January 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/01/04/espana/410482807_850215.html Aumentan los obstáculos para un acuerdo electoral entre UCD y AP es El País Madrid 16 January 2026EFE 18 January 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/01/18/espana/411692423_850215.html UCD negociará pactos locales para los próximos comicios es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 and prospects about a possible PDP–UCD merger did not come into fruition because of the latter's reluctance to dilute its brand within another party.9 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/09/espana/413593213_850215.html Lavilla desmiente su dimisión y asegura que "aun existen muchas incógnitas por decidir" en UCD es El País 16 January 2026Jáuregui Fernando Prades Joaquina 17 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/17/espana/414284406_850215.html El mantenimiento de las siglas, máximo obstáculo para el acercamiento de UCD al Partido Demócrata Popular es El País Madrid 16 January 2026Prades Joaquina Jáuregui Fernando 18 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/18/espana/414370813_850215.html La mayoría de los parlamentarios de UCD se opone a las negociaciones para una integración en el PDP es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 By the time the UCD's executive had voted for the liquidation of the party's mounting debts and its subsequent dissolution on 18 February 1983,Prades Joaquina Jáuregui Fernando 19 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/19/espana/414457204_850215.html La crisis de UCD culmina con la decisión de disolverse como partido político es El País Madrid 16 January 202619 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/19/espana/414457217_850215.html Éxito y fracaso sin precedentes en la historia de las democracias es El País Madrid 16 January 202621 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/21/espana/414630013_850215.html Disolución formal del partido centrista en Salamanca, donde llegó a tener 256 alcaldes es El País 16 January 2026 electoral alliances with the AP–PDP coalition had only been agreed in some provinces of the Basque Country and Galicia.Prades Joaquina 8 January 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/01/08/espana/410828403_850215.html Acuerdo entre UCD y AP, para concurrir juntos, a las municipales en algunas provincias es El País Madrid 16 January 202631 January 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/01/31/espana/412815617_850215.html UCD adoptará esta semana una decisión sobre las municipales es El País 16 January 202611 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/11/espana/413766011_850215.html UCD y AP-PDP sólo irán en coalición a las municipales en el País Vasco es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 Together with AP, the PDP had agreed to maintain their general election alliance—now rebranded as the People's Coalition—for the May local and regional elections,3 March 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/03/03/espana/415494019_850215.html Formado un comité coordinador de los partidos coaligados con AP es El País Madrid 16 January 2026Angulo Javier 13 March 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/03/13/espana/416358011_850215.html El Partido Demócrata Popular considera "correctas, pero muy difíciles", las negociaciones con AP para las próximas elecciones es El País Madrid 16 January 202622 March 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/03/22/espana/417135617_850215.html Formalizada la coalición AP-PDP-UL en todas las provincias es El País 16 January 2026 with the inclusion of the Liberal Union (UL), a political party created in January 1983 out of independents from the AP–PDP coalition in an attempt to appeal to former UCD liberal voters.Jáuregui Fernando 19 January 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/01/19/espana/411778830_850215.html Dos nuevos grupos se unen a la 'operación liberal' de Fraga es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 The Coalition had seen its numbers soar from late February as a result of many former members from the UCD's christian democratic wing joining the PDP.8 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/08/espana/413506814_850215.html El partido de Oscar Alzaga trata de forzar una próxima 'fuga' de militantes de UCD es El País 16 January 2026Jáuregui Fernando 20 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/20/espana/414543604_850215.html Centenares de militantes democristianos de UCD se integrarán hoy en el partido de Oscar Alzaga es El País Madrid 16 January 2026Jáuregui Fernando 21 February 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/02/21/espana/414630014_850215.html 19 dirigentes democristianos de UCD se integran en el consejo político del PDP es El País Madrid 16 January 2026 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; 45 seats were required for an absolute majority in the ca Corts Valencianes no. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Turnout 17px|link=Socialist Party of the Valencian Country|PSOE 35px|link=People's Coalition (Spain)|AP–PDP–UL–UV 30px|link=Communist Party of the Valencian Country|PCE–PCPV 27px|link=Democratic and Social Centre (Spain)|CDS Lead 1983 regional election 8 May 1983 72.7 51.475% Verdana 51 31.975% Verdana 32 7.575% Verdana 6 1.975% Verdana 0 19.5 Sofemasa/El PaísLos socialistas pueden alcanzar los dos tercios del Parlamento autónomo http://elpais.com/diario/1983/05/01/espana/420588012_850215.html es El País 1 May 1983Ficha técnica de los sondeos http://elpais.com/diario/1983/05/01/espana/420588007_850215.html es El País 1 May 1983 23–26 Apr 1983???75% Verdana 62/67?75% Verdana 23/26 – –? 1982 general election 28 Oct 1982 84.0 53.175% Verdana (54) 29.175% Verdana (29) 4.675% Verdana (0) 2.575% Verdana (0) 24.0 Results Overall + Summary of the 8 May 1983 ca Corts Valencianes no election results → center|335px Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats Votes % ±pp Total +/− Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 982,567 51.41 n/a 51 n/a People's Coalition–Valencian Union (AP–PDP–UL–UV) 609,519 31.89 n/a 32 n/a Communist Party of the Valencian Country (PCE–PCPV) 142,570 7.46 n/a 6 n/a Valencian People's Union (UPV) 58,712 3.07 n/a 0 n/a Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 36,015 1.88 n/a 0 n/a Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) 29,788 1.56 n/a 0 n/a Valencian Independent Organization (OIV) 12,585 0.66 n/a 0 n/a Workers' Socialist Party (PST) 10,156 0.53 n/a 0 n/a Valencian Nationalist Left (ENV–URV) 7,623 0.40 n/a 0 n/a Spanish Communist Workers' Party (PCOE) 5,945 0.31 n/a 0 n/a Popular Struggle Coalition (CLP) 2,586 0.14 n/a 0 n/a Blank ballots 13,180 0.69 n/a Total 1,911,246 89 n/a Valid votes 1,911,246 98.97 n/a Invalid votes 19,896 1.03 n/a Votes cast / turnout 1,931,142 72.74 n/a Abstentions 723,825 27.26 n/a Registered voters 2,654,967 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/avalencia.html Eleccions a les Corts Valencianes (des de 1983) ca Historia Electoral.com 1 November 2025https://www.cortsvalencianes.es/es/composicion/resultados/datos-electorales-elecciones-autonomicas-1983 Resultados electorales. Datos electorales - Elecciones autonómicas: 1983 es Corts Valencianes 10 November 2025 Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Socialist Party of the Valencian Country 51.41 AP–PDP–UL–UV People's Coalition (Spain) 31.89 PCE–PCPV Communist Party of the Valencian Country 7.46 UPV Valencian People's Union 3.07 CDS Democratic and Social Centre (Spain) 1.88 PDL Liberal Democratic Party (Spain, 1982) 1.56 Others #777777 2.04 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 0.69 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Socialist Party of the Valencian Country 57.30 AP–PDP–UL–UV People's Coalition (Spain) 35.96 PCE–PCPV Communist Party of the Valencian Country 6.74 Distribution by constituency Constituency PSOE CP–UV PCE–PV % S % S % S Alicante 54.7 17 31.1 10 6.6 2 Castellón 49.1 14 34.1 10 5.6 1 Valencia 50.2 20 31.8 12 8.3 3 Total 51.4 51 31.9 32 7.5 6 Sources Aftermath Government formation Investiture Candidate Ballot → 6 June 1983 Required majority → 45 out of 89 Joan Lerma (PSOE) Yes • PSOE (51) 51 89 green 125px 15 No • AP–PDP–UL–UV (32) 32 89 red 125px Abstentions • PCPV (6) 6 89 gray 125px Absentees 0 89 black 125px José Galán (PCPV) Yes • PCPV (6) 6 89 green 125px 15 No • PSOE (51) • AP–PDP–UL–UV (32) 83 89 red 125px Abstentions 0 89 gray 125px Absentees 0 89 black 125px SourcesMillas Jaime 23 June 1983 https://elpais.com/diario/1983/06/23/economia/425167210_850215.html Joan Lerma, investido presidente de la Generalitat valenciana es El País Valencia 6 March 2026 References Opinion poll sources "p" Other Bibliography y Real Decreto-ley 20/1977, de 18 de marzo, sobre Normas Electorales Royal Decree-Law 20/1977 18 March 1977 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1977-7445 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1977-7445 27 December 2016 Royal Decree-Law 20/1977 1977 y Ley Orgánica 5/1982, de 1 de julio, de Estatuto de Autonomía de la Comunidad Valenciana Organic Law 1/1982 1 July 1982 version as of 10 July 1982 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1982-17235 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1982-17235&tn=1&p=19820710 30 October 2025 Statute 1982 y Decreto 29/1983, del Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana por el que se convocan elecciones a las Cortes Valencianas Decree 29/1983 9 March 1983 Official Journal of the Valencian Government es https://dogv.gva.es/datos/1983/03/10/pdf/1983_802146.pdf 6 March 2026 Decree 29/1983 1983 Regional election Valencian Community Category:Regional elections in the Valencian Community Valencian Community