2003 Zaragoza municipal election

Election in the Spanish municipality of Zaragoza 2003 Zaragoza municipal election Zaragoza parliamentary no 1999 Zaragoza municipal election 1999 2007 Zaragoza municipal election 2007 All 31 seats in the City Council of Zaragoza 16 #Opinion polls 515,232 10px 0.9% 341,039 (66.2%)10px 7.7 pp 25 May 2003 170x170px Juan Alberto Belloch Socialists' Party of Aragon 27 June 1998 10 seats, 29.8% 12 10px 2 114,952 33.9% 10px 4.1 pp 170x170px José Atarés People's Party of Aragon 4 April 2000 15 seats, 42.3% 11 10px 4 110,747 32.7% 10px 9.6 pp 170x170px Antonio Gaspar Chunta Aragonesista 1995 4 seats, 13.6% 6 10px 2 62,211 18.3% 10px 4.7 pp 170x170px Manuel Lorenzo Blasco Aragonese Party 22 October 2002 2 seats, 7.7% 2 10px 0 23,690 7.0% 10px 0.7 pp Mayor Mayor after election José Atarés People's Party of Aragon Juan Alberto Belloch Socialists' Party of Aragon A municipal election was held in Zaragoza on 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 (es ayuntamientos), local corporations with independent legal personality composed of a mayor, a government council and an elected legislative assembly.Constitution 1978 art. 140; LBRL 1985 art. 19. 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).LBRL 1985 art. 19; LOREG 1985 art. 196. In the case of Zaragoza, the top-tier administrative and governing body was the City Council of Zaragoza. 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).LOREG 1985 arts. 42 & 194. 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 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.LBRL 1985 art. 61. Elections to the assemblies of local entities were officially called on 1 April 2003 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 25 May.Royal Decree 374/2003 2003 art. 1. 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.Constitution 1978 art. 13; LBRL 1985 art. 19; LOREG 1985 arts. 2–3 & 176. 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.LOREG 1985 arts. 163 & 180. Each municipality was a multi-member constituency, with a number of seats based on the following scale:LOREG 1985 art. 179. 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 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.LOREG 1985 arts. 46, 48 & 182. 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.LOREG 1985 arts. 44 & 187. Below is a list of the main parties and alliances which contested the election: Candidacy Parties andalliances Leading candidate Ideology Previous result Gov. Government Ref. References Vote % Seats PP List on People's Party (PP) 50px José Atarés ConservatismChristian democracy 42.3% 15 Montserrat Concha 1 April 2000 El PP aragonés propondrá a Atarés para suceder a Rudi en Zaragoza https://elpais.com/diario/2000/04/01/espana/954540016_850215.html es El País Zaragoza 22 November 20255 April 2000 El PP designa a Atarés como sustituto de Rudi en la alcaldía de Zaragoza https://elpais.com/diario/2000/04/05/espana/954885619_850215.html es El País Zaragoza 29 November 2025EFE 8 April 2000 Atarés, elegido nuevo alcalde de Zaragoza https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2000/04/8/espana/955203376.html es El Mundo Zaragoza 22 November 202514 December 2002 El PP se prepara para diseñar todo su banquillo electoral https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/aragon/2002/12/14/pp-prepara-disenar-banquillo-electoral-48349666.html es El Periódico de Aragón 22 November 2025 PSOE List on Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 50px Juan Alberto Belloch Social democracy 29.8% 10 Díez Anabel Casqueiro Javier 11 February 2002 El PSOE cambiará a ocho candidatos para las elecciones autonómicas https://elpais.com/diario/2002/02/11/espana/1013382011_850215.html es El País Madrid 1 December 2025Montserrat Concha 23 April 2002 El rival de Belloch renuncia a las primarias para la alcaldía de Zaragoza https://elpais.com/diario/2002/04/23/espana/1019512809_850215.html es El País Zaragoza 22 November 2025Notario Pilar 10 July 2002 El PSOE arropa a Belloch https://www.aragondigital.es/articulo/politica/psoe-arropa-belloch/20020710150000627539.html es Aragón Digital Zaragoza 22 November 2025 CHA List on Aragonese Union (CHA) 50px Antonio Gaspar Aragonese nationalismEco-socialism 13.6% 4 24 October 2002 Chunta se postula como opción decisiva de gobierno https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/aragon/2002/10/24/chunta-postula-opcion-decisiva-gobierno-48359640.html es El Periódico de Aragón 22 November 2025 PAR List on Aragonese Party (PAR) 50px Manuel Lorenzo Blasco RegionalismCentrism 7.7% 2 Guillén Nieves 28 December 2002 Atarés y Belloch asisten a la proclamación de Blasco https://www.aragondigital.es/articulo/politica/atares-belloch-asisten-proclamacion-blasco/20021228205900651157.html es Aragón Digital Zaragoza 22 November 2025 IU List on United Left of Aragon (IU)– Communist Party of Aragon (PCE–A)– Revolutionary Workers' Party (POR)– Workers' Revolutionary Party–Revolutionary Left (PRT–IR) 50px Jesús Lacasa SocialismCommunism 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: #EAFFEA Exit poll 1px solid #AAAAAA Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size Turnout 33px|link=People's Party of Aragon|PP 25px|link=Socialists' Party of Aragon|PSOE 32px|link=Chunta Aragonesista|CHA 20px|link=Aragonese Party|PAR 27px|link=United Left of Aragon|IU Lead 2003 municipal election 25 May 2003 66.2 32.775% Verdana 11 33.975% Verdana 12 18.375% Verdana 6 7.075% Verdana 2 4.075% Verdana 0 1.2 Sigma Dos/Antena 3El sondeo de Sigma Dos determina una lucha codo a codo entre populares y socialistas en Madrid http://sevilla.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-25-05-2003/sevilla/Ultima/el-sondeo-de-sigma-dos-determina-una-lucha-codo-a-codo-entre-populares-y-socialistas-en-madrid_158365.html es ABC 25 May 2003 19 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190525154445/https://sevilla.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-25-05-2003/sevilla/Ultima/el-sondeo-de-sigma-dos-determina-una-lucha-codo-a-codo-entre-populares-y-socialistas-en-madrid_158365.html 25 May 2019 dead El PP retiene la mayoría en Madrid, Valencia, Málaga y Valladolid, pero pierde Zaragoza https://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-25-05-2003/abc/Nacional/el-pp-retiene-la-mayoria-en-madrid-valencia-malaga-y-valladolid-pero-pierde-zaragoza_183422.html es ABC 25 May 2003 25 May 2003???75% Verdana 9/10?75% Verdana 10/11?75% Verdana 6/7?75% Verdana 2?75% Verdana 2? Ipsos–Eco/RTVESondeo a pie de urna de Ipsos Eco Consulting para TVE http://sevilla.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-25-05-2003/sevilla/Ultima/sondeo-a-pie-de-urna-de-ipsos-eco-consulting-para-tve_158366.html es ABC 25 May 2003 11 December 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171207192640/http://sevilla.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-25-05-2003/sevilla/Ultima/sondeo-a-pie-de-urna-de-ipsos-eco-consulting-para-tve_158366.html 7 December 2017 dead 25 May 2003???75% Verdana 10/11?75% Verdana 10/11?75% Verdana 5/6?75% Verdana 2?75% Verdana 2 Tie C&J/El PeriódicoBelloch deberá pactar con Chunta para gobernar con mayoría absoluta https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/lo-ultimo/2003/05/17/belloch-debera-pactar-chunta-gobernar-48318365.html es El Periódico de Aragón 17 May 2003 12–15 May 2003?? 33.475% Verdana 10/11 35.075% Verdana 12/13 18.075% Verdana 5/6 7.975% Verdana 2 3.675% Verdana 0/1 1.6 Opina/El PaísEl PSOE logrará la alcaldía de Zaragoza si le apoya la Chunta https://elpais.com/diario/2003/05/19/espana/1053295212_850215.html es El País 18 May 2003El PP sería la fuerza más votada en Zaragoza https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/lo-ultimo/2003/05/19/pp-seria-fuerza-votada-zaragoza-48317581.html es El Periódico de Aragón 19 May 2003PP y PSOE rozan la mayoría absoluta en Bilbao, única capital vasca gobernada por el PNV https://www.libertaddigital.com/nacional/pp-y-psoe-rozan-la-mayoria-absoluta-en-bilbao-unica-capital-vasca-gobernada-por-el-pnv-1275760216/ es Libertad Digital 19 May 2003 11–12 May 2003 800? 35.075% Verdana 11/12 32.075% Verdana 10/11 18.075% Verdana 6?75% Verdana 2?75% Verdana 1 3.0 CISPreelectoral elecciones autonómicas, 2003. CA de Aragón (Estudio nº 2484. Marzo-Abril 2003) https://www.cis.es/documents/d/cis/es2484marpdf es CIS 17 May 2003La guerra pasa factura electoral al PP http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/2003/05/18/pagina-22/34011230/pdf.html es La Vanguardia 18 May 2003 22 Mar–28 Apr 2003 472 66.0 31.275% Verdana 10 34.775% Verdana 11 17.675% Verdana 6 9.875% Verdana 3 5.575% Verdana 1 3.5 C&J/El PeriódicoBelloch domina, Atarés cae, el PAR recupera y CHA sigue fuerte https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/lo-ultimo/2003/04/26/belloch-domina-atares-cae-par-48322658.html es El Periódico de Aragón 26 April 2003 10–16 Apr 2003?? 28.975% Verdana 9/10 37.775% Verdana 12/13 16.375% Verdana 5/6 9.975% Verdana 2/3?75% Verdana 0/1 8.8 2000 general election 12 Mar 2000 71.2 48.175% Verdana (17) 26.675% Verdana (9) 15.175% Verdana (5) 3.475% Verdana (0) 4.275% Verdana (0) 21.5 1999 municipal election 13 Jun 1999 58.5 42.375% Verdana 15 29.875% Verdana 10 13.675% Verdana 4 7.775% Verdana 2 4.475% Verdana 0 12.5 Voting preferences The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences. Polling firm/Commissioner Fieldwork date Sample size 33px|link=People's Party of Aragon|PP 25px|link=Socialists' Party of Aragon|PSOE 32px|link=Chunta Aragonesista|CHA 20px|link=Aragonese Party|PAR 27px|link=United Left of Aragon|IU Lead 2003 municipal election 25 May 2003 21.5 22.3 12.1 4.6 2.6 33.8 0.8 C&J/El Periódico 12–15 May 2003? 17.8 19.2 – 4.2 1.9 33.1 1.4 CIS 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 10–16 Apr 2003? 17.0 22.2 – 5.8 – – – 5.2 2000 general electionDoes not include non-resident citizens. 12 Mar 2000 34.0 18.9 10.7 2.4 3.0 28.8 15.1 1999 municipal election 13 Jun 1999 24.6 17.3 7.9 4.5 2.5 41.5 7.3 Results + ← Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Zaragoza election results → center|315px 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 SourcesLozano Carles https://www.historiaelectoral.com/mzaragoza.html Elecciones municipales en Zaragoza (desde 1979) es Historia Electoral.com 4 November 2025https://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales es Ministry of the Interior 5 November 2025 5 August 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240805154842/https://infoelectoral.interior.gob.es/es/elecciones-celebradas/resultados-electorales/ dead Official State Gazette 158 (Supplement) 3 July 2003 es 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 https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2003/07/03/pdfs/C00001-00700.pdf 0212-033X 1–700 6 November 2025 Popular vote #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Socialists' Party of Aragon 33.90 PP People's Party of Aragon 32.66 CHA Chunta Aragonesista 18.34 PAR Aragonese Party 6.99 IU United Left of Aragon 3.97 Others #777777 1.62 Blank ballots #DDDDDD 2.52 Seats #ddd 550px 500px PSOE Socialists' Party of Aragon 38.71 PP People's Party of Aragon 35.48 CHA Chunta Aragonesista 19.35 PAR Aragonese Party 6.45 Aftermath Government formation Investiture Ballot → 14 June 2003 Required majority → 16 out of 31 Juan Alberto Belloch (PSOE) • PSOE (12) • PAR (2) 14 31 Socialists' Party of Aragon 125px yellow 15 José Atarés (PP) • PP (11) 11 31 People's Party of Aragon 125px 15 Antonio Gaspar (CHA) • CHA (6) 6 31 Chunta Aragonesista 125px 15 Abstentions/Blank ballots 0 31 gray 125px Absentees 0 31 black 125px SourcesMontserrat Concha 13 June 2003 Belloch gobernará Zaragoza con la Chunta y dejando fuera al Par https://elpais.com/diario/2003/06/13/espana/1055455220_850215.html es El País Zaragoza 30 November 202515 June 2003 Belloch toma la vara de mando en minoría y no descarta pactar con CHA https://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/lo-ultimo/2003/06/15/belloch-toma-vara-mando-minoria-48311963.html es El Periódico de Aragón 30 November 2025 Notes References Opinion poll sources "p" Other Bibliography y Constitución Española Constitution 27 December 1978 version as of 28 August 1992 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1978-31229 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229&tn=1&p=19920828 27 December 2016 Constitution 1978 y Ley 7/1985, de 2 de abril, Reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local Law 7/1985 2 April 1985 version as of 11 March 2003 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-5392 es https://boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-5392&tn=1&p=20030311 4 November 2025 LBRL 1985 y Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General Organic Law 5/1985 19 June 1985 version as of 11 March 2003 Official State Gazette BOE-A-1985-11672 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=20030311 4 November 2025 LOREG 1985 y Real Decreto 374/2003, de 31 de marzo, por el que se convocan elecciones locales y a las Asambleas de Ceuta y Melilla Royal Decree 374/2003 31 March 2003 Official State Gazette BOE-A-2003-6489 es https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2003-6489 10 November 2025 Royal Decree 374/2003 2003 Municipal election Zaragoza Category:Elections in Zaragoza Zaragoza