Results breakdown of the 2003 Spanish local elections (Basque Country)

This is the results breakdown of the local elections held in the Basque Country on 25 May 2003. The following tables show detailed results in the autonomous community's most populous municipalities, sorted alphabetically.[1][2]

City control

The following table lists party control in the most populous municipalities, including provincial capitals (shown in bold).[1] Gains for a party are displayed with the cell's background shaded in that party's colour.

Municipality Population Previous control New control
Barakaldo 95,515 Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE)) Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE))
Basauri 45,482 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Bilbao 353,950 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Donostia-San Sebastián 181,700 Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE)) Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE))
Errenteria 38,697 Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE)) Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE))
Getxo 84,024 Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV)
Irun 57,618 Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE)) Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE))
Portugalete 51,553 Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE)) Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE))
Santurtzi 47,460 Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE)) Socialist Party of the Basque Country (PSE–EE (PSOE))
Vitoria-Gasteiz 221,270 People's Party (PP) People's Party (PP)

Municipalities

Barakaldo

Population: 95,515
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Barakaldo election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 17,448 34.04 +0.69 9 ±0
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 15,474 30.19 +7.59 8 +2
People's Party (PP) 11,108 21.67 +0.98 5 ±0
United Left (EB/IU) 6,401 12.49 +4.37 3 +1
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −12.79 0 −3
Blank ballots 825 1.61 +0.06
Total 51,256 25 ±0
Valid votes 51,256 94.51 −4.82
Invalid votes 2,976 5.49 +4.82
Votes cast / turnout 54,232 64.53 +5.87
Abstentions 29,816 35.47 −5.87
Registered voters 84,048
Sources[1][3][4][5]

Basauri

Population: 45,482
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Basauri election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 11,045 43.92 +9.58 10 +3
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 7,170 28.51 +0.67 6 ±0
People's Party (PP) 4,309 17.13 −0.53 4 ±0
United Left (EB/IU) 2,145 8.53 +3.31 1 ±0
Humanist Party (PH) 152 0.60 +0.10 0 ±0
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −13.09 0 −3
Blank ballots 329 1.31 −0.05
Total 25,150 21 ±0
Valid votes 25,150 93.78 −5.54
Invalid votes 1,668 6.22 +5.54
Votes cast / turnout 26,818 67.74 +6.93
Abstentions 12,770 32.26 −6.93
Registered voters 39,588
Sources[1][4][5]

Bilbao

Population: 353,950
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Bilbao election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 82,176 41.33 +10.24 13 +4
People's Party (PP) 51,499 25.90 +0.88 8 ±0
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 37,206 18.71 +2.21 5 ±0
United Left (EB/IU) 20,308 10.21 +4.93 3 +2
Aralar (Aralar) 2,701 1.36 New 0 ±0
Party of the Democratic Karma (PKD) 1,285 0.65 New 0 ±0
Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA/ZAAAA) 484 0.24 New 0 ±0
Humanist Party (PH) 456 0.23 +0.10 0 ±0
Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) 315 0.16 New 0 ±0
Spanish Front (Frente) 85 0.04 New 0 ±0
Carlist Party (EKA/PC) 66 0.03 New 0 ±0
Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000 (FEI–FE 2000) 61 0.03 New 0 ±0
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −12.56 0 −4
Basque Citizen Initiative (ICV/EHE) n/a n/a −7.60 0 −2
Blank ballots 2,207 1.11 −0.19
Total 198,849 29 ±0
Valid votes 198,849 94.75 −4.59
Invalid votes 11,018 5.25 +4.59
Votes cast / turnout 209,867 68.32 +7.65
Abstentions 97,331 31.68 −7.65
Registered voters 307,198
Sources[1][4][5][6]

Donostia-San Sebastián

Population: 181,700
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Donostia-San Sebastián election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 33,349 35.60 +5.55 10 +1
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA)1 27,855 29.73 +6.23 9 +2
People's Party (PP) 22,260 23.76 +2.76 7 +1
United Left (EB/IU) 4,895 5.23 +2.10 1 +1
Aralar (Aralar) 3,214 3.43 New 0 ±0
We, the Women of the Plaza (Plazandreok) 611 0.65 ±0.00 0 ±0
Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000 (FEI–FE 2000) 66 0.07 New 0 ±0
Spanish Front (Frente) 26 0.03 New 0 ±0
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −19.62 0 −5
Blank ballots 1,402 1.50 +0.21
Total 93,678 27 ±0
Valid votes 93,678 89.78 −9.70
Invalid votes 10,665 10.22 +9.70
Votes cast / turnout 104,343 66.46 +2.90
Abstentions 52,663 33.54 −2.90
Registered voters 157,006
Sources[1][4][5]
Footnotes:

Errenteria

Population: 38,697
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Errenteria election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 7,512 43.32 +9.52 10 +2
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 5,456 31.47 +13.14 7 +3
People's Party (PP) 2,110 12.17 +0.66 2 ±0
United Left (EB/IU) 1,938 11.18 +5.18 2 +1
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −28.86 0 −6
Blank ballots 323 1.86 +0.35
Total 17,339 21 ±0
Valid votes 17,339 82.97 −16.32
Invalid votes 3,560 17.03 +16.32
Votes cast / turnout 20,899 62.70 +2.37
Abstentions 12,432 37.30 −2.37
Registered voters 33,331
Sources[1][4][5]

Getxo

Population: 84,024
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Getxo election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 20,923 42.66 +5.40 11 ±0
People's Party (PP) 16,106 32.84 −0.28 9 ±0
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 6,355 12.96 +3.10 3 +1
United Left (EB/IU) 3,538 7.21 +3.07 2 +2
Aralar (Aralar) 1,294 2.64 New 0 ±0
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −13.10 0 −3
Blank ballots 832 1.70 −0.19
Total 49,048 25 ±0
Valid votes 49,048 94.30 −5.18
Invalid votes 2,966 5.70 +5.18
Votes cast / turnout 52,014 74.97 +7.09
Abstentions 17,367 25.03 −7.09
Registered voters 69,381
Sources[1][4][5]

Irun

Population: 57,618
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Irun election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 11,101 34.43 +3.87 9 +1
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 9,663 29.97 +0.07 8 ±0
People's Party (PP) 6,042 18.74 −2.31 5 −1
Irun People–Meeting Point for Self-Determination (IH)1 2,497 7.75 −4.26 2 −1
United Left (EB/IU) 2,400 7.44 +2.75 1 +1
Blank ballots 535 1.66 −0.13
Total 32,238 25 ±0
Valid votes 32,238 99.13 −0.06
Invalid votes 284 0.87 +0.06
Votes cast / turnout 32,522 65.31 +3.89
Abstentions 17,273 34.69 −3.89
Registered voters 49,795
Sources[1][4][5]
Footnotes:
  • 1 Irun People–Meeting Point for Self-Determination results are compared to Basque Citizens totals in the 1999 election.

Portugalete

Population: 51,553
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Portugalete election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 9,689 33.54 +5.90 9 +2
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 9,336 32.32 +3.09 8 ±0
People's Party (PP) 5,678 19.65 −0.90 5 ±0
United Left (EB/IU) 3,386 11.72 +1.97 3 +1
Aralar (Aralar) 381 1.32 New 0 ±0
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −10.98 0 −3
Blank ballots 420 1.45 −0.40
Total 28,890 25 ±0
Valid votes 28,890 94.94 −4.16
Invalid votes 1,541 5.06 +4.16
Votes cast / turnout 30,431 67.86 +6.44
Abstentions 14,412 32.14 −6.44
Registered voters 44,843
Sources[1][4][5]

Santurtzi

Population: 47,460
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Santurtzi election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 9,640 38.12 +11.43 8 +2
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 8,641 34.17 −0.20 8 ±0
People's Party (PP) 3,883 15.36 +0.10 3 ±0
United Left (EB/IU) 2,707 10.70 +3.04 2 +1
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −14.56 0 −3
Blank ballots 417 1.65 +0.19
Total 25,288 21 ±0
Valid votes 25,288 92.56 −6.78
Invalid votes 2,034 7.44 +6.78
Votes cast / turnout 27,322 66.56 +6.07
Abstentions 13,725 33.44 −6.07
Registered voters 41,047
Sources[1][4][5]

Vitoria-Gasteiz

Population: 221,270
Summary of the 25 May 2003 City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz election results
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
People's Party (PP) 38,222 30.47 −0.33 9 ±0
Basque Nationalist Party–Basque Solidarity (PNVEA) 36,855 29.38 +4.84 9 +2
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 30,033 23.94 +5.32 7 +2
United Left (EB/IU) 10,058 8.02 +2.89 2 +1
Alavese Unity (UA) 5,667 4.52 −2.98 0 −2
Aralar (Aralar) 2,283 1.82 New 0 ±0
Humanist Party (PH) 553 0.44 +0.05 0 ±0
Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000 (FEI–FE 2000) 54 0.04 New 0 ±0
Spanish Front (Frente) 49 0.04 New 0 ±0
Basque Citizens (EH) n/a n/a −11.57 0 −3
Blank ballots 1,687 1.34 −0.10
Total 125,461 27 ±0
Valid votes 125,461 95.22 −3.86
Invalid votes 6,298 4.78 +3.86
Votes cast / turnout 131,759 70.89 +8.99
Abstentions 54,094 29.11 −8.99
Registered voters 185,853
Sources[1][4][5]

General Assemblies

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones Municipales en Euskadi y Navarra (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Elecciones Municipales. 25 de mayo de 2003. Euskadi". eldiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Resultados Electorales" (in Spanish). Basque Government. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "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 23 December 2025.
  6. ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones municipales en Bilbao (Bilbo) (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2025.