Barcelona City Council election, 2015
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The 2015 Barcelona City Council election was held on Sunday, 24 May 2015, to elect the 10th Barcelona City Council, the unicameral local legislature of the municipality of Barcelona. At stake were all 41 seats in the City Council, determining the Mayor of Barcelona. It was part of the 2015 Spanish municipal elections.
The election was won by the Barcelona in Common (BC) citizen platform, supported by Podemos, Initiative for Catalonia Greens-United and Alternative Left (ICV-EUiA) and Constituent Process (PC), and led by known activist and former PAH spokeswoman Ada Colau. Colau then went on to become the first female Mayor of Barcelona in history.
Incumbent Xavier Trias, who had campaigned for re-election for a second consecutive term in office, failed to do so and his party, Convergence and Union (CiU) was reduced to 10 out of 41 seats in the City Council, from the 14 it had obtained in the previous election. Citizens (C's) became the third largest political force in the city, while Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) obtained its second best historical result.
On the other hand, both the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) and the People's Party of Catalonia (PPC) were severely mauled. The PSC, which had won every municipal election in Barcelona and had controlled the local government up until 2011, fell to 5th place and below 10% of the vote, while the PP achieved its worst result since AP result in the 1987 election. The Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) also entered the City Council for the first time in history, winning 3 seats and 7.4% of the share.
Electoral system
The number of seats in the Barcelona City Council was determined by the population count. According to the municipal electoral law, the population-seat relationship on each municipality was to be established on the following scale:
Inhabitants | Seats |
---|---|
<100 | 3 |
101–250 | 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 |
Additionally, for populations greater than 100,000, 1 seat was to be added per each 100,000 inhabitants or fraction, according to the most updated census data, and adding 1 more seat if the resulting seat count gives an even number. As the updated population census for the 2015 election is around 1,600,000, the Barcelona City Council size was set to 41 seats.
All City Council members were elected in a single multi-member district, consisting of the Barcelona municipality, using the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation system. Voting was on the basis of universal suffrage in a secret ballot. Only lists polling above 5% of valid votes in all of the municipality (which include blank ballots—for none of the above) were entitled to enter the seat distribution.
The Spanish municipal electoral law established a clause stating that, if no candidate was to gather an absolute majority of votes to be elected as mayor of a municipality, the candidate of the most-voted party would be automatically elected to the post.[1]
Opinion polls
Vote
Poll results are listed in the table below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the leading party's colour. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded. The lead column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the two parties with the highest figures. Poll results use the date the survey's fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. However, if such date is unknown, the date of publication will be given instead.
Date | Polling Firm/Source | CiU | PSC | PPC | ICV | ERC | CUP | C's | P | BC | Oth. | Lead |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 May 2015 | Municipal Election | 22.7 | 9.6 | 8.7 | w.BC | 11.0 | 7.4 | 11.0 | w.BC | 25.2 | 4.3 | 2.5 |
24 May | TNS-Demoscopia | 21.3 | 11.0 | 10.1 | w.BC | 9.6 | 8.8 | 10.2 | w.BC | 23.6 | 5.4 | 2.3 |
Exit polls | ||||||||||||
21–23 May | GESOP | 24.4 | 12.3 | 10.4 | w.BC | 9.0 | 6.2 | 9.9 | w.BC | 24.0 | 3.8 | 0.4 |
20–22 May | GESOP | 24.6 | 11.9 | 11.5 | w.BC | 9.1 | 6.2 | 8.6 | w.BC | 23.5 | 4.6 | 1.1 |
20–21 May | GESOP | 24.5 | 11.9 | 11.5 | w.BC | 9.5 | 6.2 | 9.5 | w.BC | 22.0 | 4.9 | 2.5 |
19–20 May | GESOP | 24.5 | 11.2 | 11.5 | w.BC | 10.0 | 5.6 | 10.3 | w.BC | 21.4 | 5.5 | 3.1 |
18–19 May | GESOP | 23.7 | 11.7 | 11.9 | w.BC | 10.3 | 5.6 | 10.9 | w.BC | 20.5 | 5.4 | 3.2 |
17–18 May | GESOP | 23.0 | 11.7 | 11.9 | w.BC | 10.5 | 5.0 | 11.5 | w.BC | 21.0 | 5.4 | 2.0 |
8–13 May | Metroscopia | 22.0 | 8.2 | 5.1 | w.BC | 12.0 | 8.3 | 13.9 | w.BC | 27.0 | 3.5 | 5.0 |
6–13 May | My Word | 22.3 | 11.0 | 8.4 | w.BC | 10.7 | 7.0 | 13.3 | w.BC | 20.3 | 7.0 | 2.0 |
1–12 May | Encuestamos | 21.3 | 12.8 | 9.9 | w.BC | 12.0 | 14.7 | w.BC | 24.1 | 5.2 | 2.7 | |
8–11 May | Sigma-2 | 22.7 | 13.0 | 10.6 | w.BC | 9.8 | 5.1 | 13.6 | w.BC | 20.6 | 4.6 | 2.1 |
7–8 May | GESOP | 22.6 | 14.6 | 12.5 | w.BC | 10.2 | 5.0 | 12.1 | w.BC | 18.9 | 4.1 | 3.7 |
20 Apr–4 May | GAD3 | 23.9 | 11.1 | 10.2 | w.BC | 11.5 | 4.3 | 15.3 | w.BC | 17.5 | 6.2 | 6.4 |
3 May | JM&A | 21.7 | 11.5 | 9.8 | w.BC | 10.2 | 5.4 | 13.6 | w.BC | 21.1 | 6.7 | 0.6 |
24–28 Apr | Feedback | 24.2 | 13.5 | 11.1 | w.BC | 11.4 | 5.4 | 14.2 | w.BC | 17.1 | 3.1 | 7.1 |
23 Mar–19 Apr | CIS | 18.5 | 11.6 | 9.1 | w.BC | 10.1 | 7.1 | 13.8 | w.BC | 25.9 | 3.9 | 7.4 |
24–25 Mar | Sigma-2 | 21.4 | 13.2 | 10.3 | w.BC | 12.5 | 2.7 | 14.6 | w.BC | 22.3 | 3.0 | 0.9 |
6 Mar | M2015 | 20.5 | 13.4 | 13.2 | w.BC | 16.1 | 5.8 | 7.8 | w.BC | 18.1 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
21 Feb | 8TV | 23.2 | 19.0 | 10.6 | w.BC | 8.4 | 2.1 | 6.3 | w.BC | 19.0 | 11.4 | 4.2 |
16–19 Feb | Feedback | 25.3 | 10.7 | 13.7 | w.BC | 10.3 | 4.2 | 8.1 | w.BC | 21.4 | 6.3 | 3.9 |
2015 | ||||||||||||
15–18 Jul | GESOP | 22.3 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 7.9 | 14.2 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 14.7 | 8.1 | ||
25 May 2014 | EP Election | 20.9 | 12.2 | 12.0 | 12.6 | 21.8 | N/A | 7.0 | 4.7 | 8.8 | 0.9 | |
2014 | ||||||||||||
14–17 Oct | Feedback | 24.9 | 12.9 | 14.7 | 13.3 | 14.8 | 5.8 | 8.5 | 5.1 | 10.1 | ||
13–15 May | GESOP | 24.1 | 14.2 | 12.0 | 14.2 | 10.2 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 7.1 | 9.9 | ||
2013 | ||||||||||||
25 Nov 2012 | Regional Election | 29.4 | 12.2 | 14.9 | 12.0 | 13.1 | 4.0 | 8.2 | 6.2 | 14.5 | ||
4–7 Jun | GESOP | 27.5 | 20.0 | 13.3 | 12.2 | 8.0 | 19.0 | 7.5 | ||||
2012 | ||||||||||||
20 Nov 2011 | General Election | 27.7 | 25.7 | 21.3 | 10.0 | 7.2 | N/A | N/A | 8.1 | 2.0 | ||
22 May 2011 | Municipal Election | 28.7 | 22.1 | 17.2 | 10.4 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 12.1 | 6.6 |
Seat projections
Opinion polls showing seat projections are displayed in the table below. The highest seat figures in each polling survey have their background shaded in the leading party's colour. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded. 21 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Barcelona City Council.
Date | Polling Firm/Source | CiU | PSC | PPC | ICV | ERC | CUP | C's | P | BC | Others |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 May 2015 | Municipal Election | 10 | 4 | 3 | w.BC | 5 | 3 | 5 | w.BC | 11 | 0 |
24 May | TNS-Demoscopia | 9−11 | 4−5 | 4−5 | w.BC | 3−4 | 3−4 | 4−5 | w.BC | 10−12 | 0 |
24 May | GAD3 | 11−12 | 5−6 | 4−5 | w.BC | 3−4 | 2 | 3−4 | w.BC | 10−11 | 0 |
Exit polls | |||||||||||
21–23 May | GESOP | 10−11 | 5 | 4−5 | w.BC | 4 | 2−3 | 4 | w.BC | 10−11 | 0 |
20–22 May | GESOP | 10−11 | 5 | 5 | w.BC | 4 | 2−3 | 3−4 | w.BC | 10−11 | 0 |
20–21 May | GESOP | 10−11 | 5 | 5 | w.BC | 4 | 2−3 | 4 | w.BC | 9−10 | 0 |
19–20 May | GESOP | 11 | 5 | 5 | w.BC | 4−5 | 2 | 4−5 | w.BC | 9−10 | 0 |
18–19 May | GESOP | 11 | 5 | 5 | w.BC | 4−5 | 2 | 4−5 | w.BC | 9−10 | 0 |
17–18 May | GESOP | 10−11 | 5−6 | 5−6 | w.BC | 4−5 | 0−2 | 5−6 | w.BC | 9−10 | 0 |
8–13 May | Metroscopia | 10 | 3 | 2 | w.BC | 5 | 3 | 6 | w.BC | 12 | 0 |
6–13 May | My Word | 10−11 | 5 | 4 | w.BC | 4−5 | 3 | 6 | w.BC | 9−10 | 0 |
12 May | JM&A | 10 | 5 | 4 | w.BC | 5 | 2 | 7 | w.BC | 8 | 0 |
1–12 May | Encuestamos | 9−10 | 5−6 | 3−4 | w.BC | 4−5 | 0 | 6−7 | w.BC | 11−12 | 0 |
8–11 May | Sigma-2 | 10−11 | 6 | 4−5 | w.BC | 4 | 0−2 | 6 | w.BC | 9 | 0 |
7–8 May | GESOP | 10−11 | 6−7 | 5−6 | w.BC | 4−5 | 0−2 | 5−6 | w.BC | 8−9 | 0 |
20 Apr–4 May | GAD3 | 11−12 | 5−6 | 4−5 | w.BC | 5−6 | 0 | 6−7 | w.BC | 8−9 | 0 |
3 May | JM&A | 10 | 5 | 4 | w.BC | 4 | 2 | 6 | w.BC | 10 | 0 |
24–28 Apr | Feedback | 10−11 | 5−6 | 4−5 | w.BC | 5 | 2 | 6 | w.BC | 7 | 0 |
23 Mar–19 Apr | CIS | 8 | 5 | 4 | w.BC | 4 | 3 | 6 | w.BC | 11 | 0 |
24–25 Mar | Sigma-2 | 9−10 | 5−6 | 4 | w.BC | 5−6 | 0 | 6−7 | w.BC | 10 | 0 |
6 Mar | M2015 | 9 | 6 | 6 | w.BC | 7 | 2 | 3 | w.BC | 8 | 0 |
21 Feb | 8TV | 11 | 9 | 5 | w.BC | 4 | 0 | 3 | w.BC | 9 | 0 |
16–19 Feb | Feedback | 11−12 | 5 | 6 | w.BC | 4−5 | 0−2 | 3 | w.BC | 10 | 0 |
2015 | |||||||||||
15–18 Jul | GESOP | 10−11 | 6 | 6−7 | 3−4 | 7−8 | 0 | 2−3 | 0 | 3−4 | 0 |
25 May 2014 | EP Election | (10) | (6) | (6) | (6) | (10) | N/A | (3) | (0) | (0) | |
2014 | |||||||||||
14–17 Oct | Feedback | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | ||
13–15 May | GESOP | 11−12 | 6−7 | 5−6 | 6−7 | 4−5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||
2013 | |||||||||||
25 Nov 2012 | Regional Election | (14) | (5) | (7) | (5) | (6) | (0) | (4) | (0) | ||
4–7 Jun | GESOP | 14 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2012 | |||||||||||
20 Nov 2011 | General Election | (12) | (12) | (10) | (4) | (3) | N/A | N/A | (0) | ||
22 May 2011 | Municipal Election | 14 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Results
Party | Vote | Seats | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | ±pp | Won | +/− | ||
Barcelona in Common-Agreement (BC-E)[lower-alpha 1] | 176,612 | 25.21 | 14.82 | 11 | 6 | |
Convergence and Union (CiU) | 159,393 | 22.75 | 5.98 | 10 | 4 | |
Citizens-Party of the Citizenry (C's) | 77,272 | 11.03 | 9.09 | 5 | 5 | |
Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC-MES-BcnCO-Avancem-CatSí-AM) | 77,120 | 11.01 | 5.42 | 5 | 3 | |
Socialists' Party of Catalonia-Progress Candidature (PSC-CP) | 67,489 | 9.63 | 12.51 | 4 | 7 | |
People's Party of Catalonia (PPC) | 61,004 | 8.71 | 8.53 | 3 | 6 | |
Popular Unity Candidacy-Active People (CUP Capgirem Bcn-PA) | 51,945 | 7.42 | 5.47 | 3 | 3 | |
Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 5,720 | 0.82 | 0.11 | 0 | ±0 | |
The Greens-The Ecologist Alternative (EV-AE) | 5,684 | 0.81 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
Better Barcelona (RI.cat-SI) | 2,626 | 0.37 | 0.76 | 0 | ±0 | |
Blank Seats (Eb) | 1,957 | 0.28 | 1.39 | 0 | ±0 | |
Platform for Catalonia (PxC) | 1,617 | 0.23 | 0.33 | 0 | ±0 | |
Vox-Family and Life Party (VOX-PFyV) | 1,520 | 0.22 | 0.13 | 0 | ±0 | |
United Free Citizens (CILUS) | 989 | 0.14 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 811 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0 | ±0 |
Parties with less than 0.1% of the vote | 2,374 | 0.34 | – | 0 | ±0 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 656 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 0 | ±0 | |
Spanish Falange of the JONS (FE-JONS) | 455 | 0.07 | 0.01 | 0 | ±0 | |
Humanist Party (PH) | 439 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0 | ±0 | |
United for Declaring Catalan Independence (UPDIC) | 286 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
Libertarian Party (P-LIB) | 273 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 166 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0 | ±0 | |
The National Coalition (LCN) | 99 | 0.01 | New | 0 | ±0 |
Blank ballots | 6,363 | 0.91 | 3.56 | |||
Total | 700,496 | 100.00 | 41 | ±0 | ||
Valid votes | 700,496 | 99.56 | 1.26 | |||
Invalid votes | 3,094 | 0.44 | 1.26 | |||
Votes cast / turnout | 703,590 | 60.59 | 7.60 | |||
Abstentions | 457,550 | 39.41 | 7.60 | |||
Registered voters | 1,161,140 | |||||
Source: Ministry of the Interior |
Notes
- 1 2 Compared to the Initiative for Catalonia Greens-United and Alternative Left results in the 2011 election.