1999 Seville municipal election
13 June 1999
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All 33 seats in the City Council of Seville 17 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Opinion polls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Registered | 586,032 4.8% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 331,068 (56.5%) 6.8 pp | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A municipal election was held in Seville on Sunday, 13 June 1999, to elect the 6th 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, as well as the 1999 European Parliament election.
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 (Spanish: ayuntamientos), local corporations with independent legal personality composed of a mayor, a government council and an elected legislative assembly.[1][2] In the case of Seville, the top-tier administrative and governing body was the City Council of Seville.[3]
Electoral system
Voting for local assemblies was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over 18 years of age, registered and residing in the municipality of Seville and in full enjoyment of their political rights (provided that they were not sentenced—by a final court ruling—to deprivation of the right to vote, nor being legally incapacitated), as well as resident non-national European citizens and those whose country of origin allowed Spanish nationals to vote in their own elections by virtue of a treaty.[2][4][5]
Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional voting system, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes (which included blank ballots) being applied in each municipality.[6] Each municipality constituted a multi-member constituency, entitled a number of seats based on the following scale:[7]
| 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 vacated seats; instead, any vacancies that occurred after the proclamation of candidates and into the legislative term were to be covered by the successive candidates in the list and, when required, by the designated substitutes.[8]
The mayor was indirectly elected by the local assembly.[2] A legal clause required candidates to earn the vote of an absolute majority of councillors, or else the candidate of the most-voted party was to be automatically appointed to the post. In the event of a tie, the appointee was to be determined by lot.[9]
Election date
The term of city councils 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 (as of 2025, this has been the year before a leap year), but a legal amendment introduced in 1998 allowed for local elections held in May 1995 to be held concurrently with European Parliament elections, provided that they were scheduled for within a four month-timespan. The election decree was required to be issued no later than the fifty-fifth day prior to the scheduled election date and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE).[10] The previous local elections were held on 28 May 1995, setting the date for election day concurrently with that year's European Parliament election on Sunday, 13 June 1999.
Local councils could not be dissolved before the expiry 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—agree to call a by-election.[11]
Elections to local councils were officially called on 20 April 1999 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 13 June.[12]
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 ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within ten 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 of candidates. In the case of Seville, as its population was between 300,001 and 1,000,000, at least 5,000 signatures were required.[13]
Below is a list of the main parties and electoral alliances which contested the election:
| Candidacy | Parties and alliances |
Leading candidate | Ideology | Previous result | Gov. | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote % | Seats | ||||||||
| PP | List
|
Soledad Becerril | Conservatism Christian democracy |
30.4% | 10 | ||||
| PSOE–A | List |
Alfredo Sánchez Monteseirín | Social democracy | 28.5% | 10 | [14] | |||
| PA | List
|
Alejandro Rojas-Marcos | Andalusian nationalism Social democracy |
26.4% [a] |
9 | ||||
| IULV–CA | List
|
Luis Pizarro | Socialism Communism |
12.9% | 4 | [15] [16] [17] | |||
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; 17 seats were required for an absolute majority in the City Council of Seville.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Turnout | IULV | Lead | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 municipal election | 13 Jun 1999 | — | 56.5 | 35.8 13 |
35.2 12 |
17.6 6 |
7.8 2 |
0.6 |
| Eco Consulting/ABC[p 1][p 2] | 24 May–2 Jun 1999 | 400 | ? | 31.2 10/11 |
28.8 9/10 |
27.2 9 |
11.4 3/4 |
2.4 |
| Demoscopia/El País[p 3] | 26 May–1 Jun 1999 | ? | ? | 36.2 12/13 |
32.3 11 |
19.7 6/7 |
10.1 3 |
3.9 |
| Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 4][p 5] | 22–26 May 1999 | 400 | ? | 29.7 10/11 |
32.2 10/11 |
24.3 8/9 |
11.6 3/4 |
2.5 |
| CIS[p 6][p 7] | 7–18 May 1999 | 559 | ? | 39.5 13/14 |
34.2 11/12 |
14.4 4/5 |
9.4 3 |
5.3 |
| ITEM/Tele 5[p 8] | 21–29 Apr 1999 | 600 | ? | 46.0 15/16 |
39.0 13 |
? 2/3 |
? 2 |
7.0 |
| 1996 regional election | 3 Mar 1996 | — | 77.6 | 37.0 (12) |
39.9 (14) |
9.4 (3) |
13.2 (4) |
2.9 |
| 1996 general election | 3 Mar 1996 | — | 77.7 | 38.9 (14) |
42.4 (15) |
4.0 (0) |
12.9 (4) |
3.5 |
| 1995 municipal election | 28 May 1995 | — | 63.3 | 30.4 10 |
28.5 10 |
26.2 9 |
12.9 4 |
1.9 |
Voting preferences
The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | IULV | Lead | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 municipal election | 13 Jun 1999 | — | 20.1 | 19.8 | 9.9 | 4.4 | — | 43.5 | 0.3 |
| CIS[p 9] | 7–18 May 1999 | 559 | 22.7 | 21.6 | 8.8 | 4.5 | 32.6 | 7.9 | 1.1 |
| 1996 regional election | 3 Mar 1996 | — | 28.3 | 30.5 | 7.2 | 10.1 | — | 22.4 | 2.2 |
| 1996 general election | 3 Mar 1996 | — | 30.1 | 32.8 | 3.1 | 10.0 | — | 22.3 | 2.7 |
| 1995 municipal election | 28 May 1995 | — | 19.2 | 18.0 | 16.5 | 8.1 | — | 36.7 | 1.2 |
Victory preferences
The table below lists opinion polling on the victory preferences for each party in the event of a municipal election taking place.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | IULV | Other/ None |
Lead | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS[p 9] | 7–18 May 1999 | 559 | 24.6 | 24.7 | 11.3 | 5.6 | 0.2 | 33.7 | 0.1 |
Victory likelihood
The table below lists opinion polling on the perceived likelihood of victory for each party in the event of a municipal election taking place.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | IULV | Other/ None |
Lead | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS[p 9] | 7–18 May 1999 | 559 | 46.2 | 12.7 | 4.3 | 0.7 | – | 36.2 | 33.5 |
Preferred Mayor
The table below lists opinion polling on leader preferences to become mayor of Seville.
| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | Other/ None/ Not care |
Lead | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becerril PP |
Borbolla PSOE–A |
Monteseirín PSOE–A |
R. Marcos PA |
Pizarro IULV | ||||||
| CIS[p 9] | 7–18 May 1999 | 559 | 31.4 | – | 17.4 | 15.6 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 30.3 | 14.0 |
| Demoscopia/El Correo[p 10] | 25 May–3 Jun 1998 | 800 | 26.8 | 13.7 | 1.8 | 18.1 | 1.8 | 37.8 | 8.7 | |
Results
| Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Seats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− | ||
| People's Party (PP) | 118,072 | 35.85 | +5.41 | 13 | +3 | |
| Spanish Socialist Workers' Party of Andalusia (PSOE–A) | 115,968 | 35.21 | +6.67 | 12 | +2 | |
| Andalusian Party (PA)1 | 58,093 | 17.64 | −8.75 | 6 | −3 | |
| United Left/The Greens–Assembly for Andalusia (IULV–CA) | 25,606 | 7.77 | −5.10 | 2 | −2 | |
| The Greens–Andalusian Left (LV–IA) | 2,594 | 0.79 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Democratic Party of the New Left–Andalusia (PDNI–A) | 608 | 0.18 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Voice of the Andalusian People (VDPA) | 279 | 0.08 | −0.08 | 0 | ±0 | |
| The Phalanx (FE) | 264 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS) | 235 | 0.07 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Humanist Party (PH) | 211 | 0.06 | −0.01 | 0 | ±0 | |
| Andalusia Assembly (A) | 138 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Independent Spanish Phalanx (FEI) | 130 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 | |
| Blank ballots | 7,170 | 2.18 | +0.81 | |||
| Total | 329,368 | 33 | ±0 | |||
| Valid votes | 329,368 | 99.49 | −0.12 | |||
| Invalid votes | 1,700 | 0.51 | +0.12 | |||
| Votes cast / turnout | 331,068 | 56.49 | −6.85 | |||
| Abstentions | 254,964 | 43.51 | +6.85 | |||
| Registered voters | 586,032 | |||||
| Sources[18][19][20] | ||||||
Footnotes:
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Aftermath
Government formation
| Investiture | |||
| Ballot → | 3 July 1999 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 17 out of 33 | ||
18 / 33
|
|||
|
13 / 33
|
||
2 / 33
|
|||
| Abstentions/Blank ballots | 0 / 33
| ||
| Absentees | 0 / 33
| ||
| Sources[21] | |||
Notes
References
- Opinion poll sources
- ^ "El PP avanza en Sevilla y podría repetir junto a los andalucistas en el Ayuntamiento". ABC (in Spanish). 5 June 1999.
- ^ "El PP, el PSOE, el PA e IU mantienen el número de concejales en Sevilla". ABC (in Spanish). 5 June 1999.
- ^ "El PP amplía su ventaja en Andalucía". El País (in Spanish). 6 June 1999.
- ^ "Sevilla: PSOE, PP y PA, al 'sprint'". El Mundo (in Spanish). 2 June 1999.
- ^ "ELECCIONES 13-J /BALANCE DE LAS ENCUESTAS". El Mundo (in Spanish). 6 June 1999.
- ^ "El PP conserva su poder municipal, autonómico y europeo, e IU se hunde". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 June 1999.
- ^ "Estudio CIS nº 2344. Ficha técnica". CIS (in Spanish). 4 June 1999.
- ^ "Una encuesta da al PP como claro vencedor en las ocho capitales". El País (in Spanish). 4 May 1999.
- ^ a b c d "Preelectoral elecciones municipales, 1999. Sevilla (Estudio nº 2344. Mayo 1999)". CIS (in Spanish). 4 June 1999.
- ^ "Becerril, preferida para la alcaldía de Sevilla, según una encuesta". El País (in Spanish). 19 June 1998.
- Other
- ^ Constitution (1978), art. 140.
- ^ a b c LBRL (1985), art. 19.
- ^ LBRL (1985), add. prov. 6.
- ^ Constitution (1978), art. 13.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 2–3 & 176.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 163 & 180.
- ^ LOREG (1985), art. 179.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 46, 48 & 182.
- ^ LOREG (1985), art. 196.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 42 & 194.
- ^ LBRL (1985), art. 61.
- ^ Real Decreto 606/1999, de 19 de abril, de convocatoria de elecciones Locales y a las Asambleas de Ceuta y Melilla (PDF) (Royal Decree 606/1999). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 19 April 1999. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ LOREG (1985), arts. 44 & 187.
- ^ Díez, Anabel (28 June 1998). "Los candidatos oficialistas ganan las primarias". El País (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ "Luis Pizarro resulta elegido por los afiliados de IU para la acaldía de Sevilla". El País (in Spanish). Seville. 24 October 1998. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ "Pizarro, candidato de IU a la alcaldía de Sevilla". El País (in Spanish). EFE. 8 November 1998. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ López Escudero, Ana (20 December 1998). "IU ratifica a 18 de sus candidatos a las 21 mayores ciudades andaluzas". El País (in Spanish). Málaga. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones municipales en Sevilla (desde 1979)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Acuerdo de 15 de julio de 1999, 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 606/1999, de 19 de abril, y celebradas el 13 de junio, 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) (178 (Supplement)): 1–1182. 27 July 1999. ISSN 0212-033X. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Constenla, Tereixa (4 July 1999). "Soledad Becerril reivindica el honor ante el viraje del PA que otorga la alcaldía de Sevilla al PSOE". El País (in Spanish). Seville. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
Bibliography
- Constitución Española (Constitution). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 27 December 1978 [version as of 28 August 1992]. BOE-A-1978-31229. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
- Ley 7/1985, de 2 de abril, Reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local (Law 7/1985). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 2 April 1985 [version as of 22 April 1999]. BOE-A-1985-5392. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General (Organic Law 5/1985). Official State Gazette (in Spanish). 19 June 1985 [version as of 22 April 1999]. BOE-A-1985-11672. Retrieved 4 November 2025.