2003 Spanish local elections

Under the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|1978 Constitution]], the governance of [[municipalities in Spain]] was centered on the figure of [[Ayuntamiento (Spain)|city councils]] ({{langx|es|ayuntamientos}}), local corporations with independent [[legal person]]ality composed of a [[mayor]], a [[Local government|government council]] and an elected [[Municipal council|legislative assembly]].{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 140}}; {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=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 (decision making)|drawing lots]]).{{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 19}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=art. 196}}. The ''[[concejo abierto]]'' system ({{langx|en|open council|link=no}}), under which electors would directly vote for the local mayor, was reserved for municipalities under 100 inhabitants and some [[Minor local entity|minor local entities]].{{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 29}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 179 & 199–200}}.

Under the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|1978 Constitution]], the governance of [[municipalities in Spain]] was centered on the figure of [[Ayuntamiento (Spain)|city councils]] ({{langx|es|ayuntamientos}}), local corporations with independent [[legal person]]ality composed of a [[mayor]], a [[Local government|government council]] and an elected [[Municipal council|legislative assembly]].{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 140}}; {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=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 (decision making)|drawing lots]]).{{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 19}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=art. 196}}. The ''[[concejo abierto]]'' system ({{langx|en|open council|link=no}}), under which electors would directly vote for the local mayor, was reserved for municipalities under 100 inhabitants and some [[Minor local entity|minor local entities]].{{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 29}}; {{harvp|LOREG|1985|loc=arts. 179 & 199–200}}.

[[Provincial deputation (Spain)|Provincial deputations]] were the governing bodies of [[Provinces of Spain|provinces in Spain]]—except for single-province [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]]—having an administration role of municipal activities and composed of a provincial president, an administrative body, and a plenary.{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 141}}; {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=arts. 31–32 & 40}}. For insular provinces, such as the [[Balearic Islands|Balearic]] and [[Canary Islands]], deputations were replaced by island councils in each of the islands or group of islands. For [[Gran Canaria]], [[Tenerife]], [[Fuerteventura]], [[La Gomera]], [[El Hierro]], [[Lanzarote]] and [[La Palma]], this figure was referred to in Spanish as ''[[cabildo insular]]'', whereas for [[Mallorca]], [[Menorca]] and [[Ibiza]]–[[Formentera]], its name was ''consejo insular'' ({{langx|ca|consell insular}}).{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 141}}; {{harvp|EAC|1982|loc=arts. 8 & 23}}; {{harvp|EAIB|1983|loc=arts. 5, 18 & 37}}; {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 41}}.{{efn|name="Balearic"|For the [[Balearic Islands]], regional lawmakers served as island councillors.{{harvp|EAIB|1983|loc=art. 38}}.}} The three [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque provinces]] had [[Communities of chartered regime|foral deputations]] instead (called [[General Assemblies (Basque Country)|General Assemblies]], or ''Juntas Generales'').{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=repeal. prov.}}; {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 39}}.

[[Provincial deputation (Spain)|Provincial deputations]] were the governing bodies of [[Provinces of Spain|provinces in Spain]]—except for single-province [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]]—having an administration role of municipal activities and composed of a provincial president, an administrative body, and a plenary.{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 141}}; {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=arts. 31–32 & 40}}. For insular provinces, such as the [[Balearic Islands|Balearic]] and [[Canary Islands]], deputations were replaced by island councils in each of the islands or group of islands. For [[Gran Canaria]], [[Tenerife]], [[Fuerteventura]], [[La Gomera]], [[El Hierro]], [[Lanzarote]] and [[La Palma]], this figure was referred to in Spanish as ''[[cabildo insular]]'', whereas for [[Mallorca]], [[Menorca]] and [[Ibiza]]–[[Formentera]], its name was ''consejo insular'' ({{langx|ca|consell insular}}).{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=art. 141}}; {{harvp|EAC|1982|loc=arts. 8 & 23}}; {{harvp|EAIB|1983|loc=arts. 5, 18 & 36}} ({{abbr|am.|amended}} by {{harvp|EAIB|1999|loc=art. 1}}); {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 41}}.{{efn|name="Balearic"|For the [[Balearic Islands]], regional lawmakers served as island councillors.{{harvp|EAIB|1983|loc=art. 37}} ({{abbr|am.|amended}} by {{harvp|EAIB|1999|loc=art. 1}}).}} The three [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque provinces]] had [[Communities of chartered regime|foral deputations]] instead (called [[General Assemblies (Basque Country)|General Assemblies]], or ''Juntas Generales'').{{harvp|Constitution|1978|loc=repeal. prov.}}; {{harvp|LBRL|1985|loc=art. 39}}.

===Date===

===Date===

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General |type=Organic Law |number=5/1985 |date=19 June 1985 |orig-date=version as of 11 March 2003 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-1985-11672 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=20030311 |access-date=4 November 2025 |ref={{harvid|LOREG|1985}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General |type=Organic Law |number=5/1985 |date=19 June 1985 |orig-date=version as of 11 March 2003 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-1985-11672 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672&tn=1&p=20030311 |access-date=4 November 2025 |ref={{harvid|LOREG|1985}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Ley 1/1987, de 27 de marzo, de Elecciones para las Juntas Generales de los Territorios Históricos de Araba, Bizkaia y Gipuzkoa |type=Law |number=1/1987 |date=27 March 1987 |orig-date=version as of 10 April 1987 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-2012-3948 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2012-3948&tn=1&p=19870410 |access-date=13 April 2026 |ref={{harvid|Law 1/1987|1987}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Ley 1/1987, de 27 de marzo, de Elecciones para las Juntas Generales de los Territorios Históricos de Araba, Bizkaia y Gipuzkoa |type=Law |number=1/1987 |date=27 March 1987 |orig-date=version as of 10 April 1987 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-2012-3948 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2012-3948&tn=1&p=19870410 |access-date=13 April 2026 |ref={{harvid|Law 1/1987|1987}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Ley Orgánica 3/1999, de 8 de enero, de reforma de la Ley Orgánica 2/1983, de Estatuto de Autonomía de las Illes Balears |type=Organic Law |number=3/1999 |date=8 January 1999 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-1999-458 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1999-458 |access-date=19 April 2026 |ref={{harvid|EAIB|1999}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Real Decreto 374/2003, de 31 de marzo, por el que se convocan elecciones locales y a las Asambleas de Ceuta y Melilla |type=Royal Decree |number=374/2003 |date=31 March 2003 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-2003-6489 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2003-6489 |access-date=10 November 2025 |ref={{harvid|Royal Decree 374/2003|2003}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Real Decreto 374/2003, de 31 de marzo, por el que se convocan elecciones locales y a las Asambleas de Ceuta y Melilla |type=Royal Decree |number=374/2003 |date=31 March 2003 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-2003-6489 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2003-6489 |access-date=10 November 2025 |ref={{harvid|Royal Decree 374/2003|2003}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Real Decreto 1086/2003, de 1 de septiembre, por el que se convocan elecciones locales parciales |type=Royal Decree |number=1086/2003 |date=1 September 2003 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-2003-16974 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2003-16974 |access-date=15 April 2026 |ref={{harvid|Royal Decree 1086/2003|2003}}}}

*{{cite act |italics=y |title=Real Decreto 1086/2003, de 1 de septiembre, por el que se convocan elecciones locales parciales |type=Royal Decree |number=1086/2003 |date=1 September 2003 |reporter=[[Official State Gazette]] |id=BOE-A-2003-16974 |language=es |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2003-16974 |access-date=15 April 2026 |ref={{harvid|Royal Decree 1086/2003|2003}}}}