2011 Barcelona City Council election

The 2011 Barcelona City Council election, also the 2011 Barcelona municipal election, was held on Sunday, 22 May 2011, to elect the 9th City Council of the municipality of Barcelona. All 41 seats in the City Council were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

2011 Barcelona City Council election

22 May 2011
All 41 seats in the City Council of Barcelona 21 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered	1,163,594 5.7%
Turnout	616,537 (53.0%) 3.4 pp
Leader Xavier Trias Jordi Hereu Alberto Fernández Díaz Party CiU PSC–PM PP Leader since 25 April 2002 8 September 2006 16 July 2002 Last election 12 seats, 25.5% 14 seats, 29.9% 7 seats, 15.6% Seats won 14 11 9 Seat change 2 3 2 Popular vote 174,122 134,193 104,475 Percentage 28.7% 22.1% 17.2% Swing 3.2 pp 7.8 pp 1.6 pp   Leader Ricard Gomà Jordi Portabella Party ICV–EUiA–E UpB–ERC–RI.cat–DCat Leader since 8 July 2010 1999 Last election 4 seats, 9.3% 4 seats, 8.8% Seats won 5 2 Seat change 1 2 Popular vote 62,979 33,900 Percentage 10.4% 5.6% Swing 1.1 pp 3.2 pp
Mayor before election Jordi Hereu PSC Elected Mayor Xavier Trias CiU

Electoral system

The City Council of Barcelona (Catalan: Ajuntament de Barcelona, Spanish: Ayuntamiento de Barcelona) was the top-tier administrative and governing body of the municipality of Barcelona, composed of the mayor, the government council and the elected plenary assembly.[1] Elections to the local councils in Spain were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years.[2]

Voting for the local assembly was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered and residing in the municipality of Barcelona and in full enjoyment of their political rights, 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. Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of five percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied in each local council. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution.[1][2] Councillors were allocated to municipal councils based on the following scale:

Population	Councillors
<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
>100,001	+1 per each 100,000 inhabitants or fraction +1 if total is an even number

The mayor was indirectly elected by the plenary assembly. A legal clause required that mayoral candidates earned the vote of an absolute majority of councillors, or else the candidate of the most-voted party in the assembly was to be automatically appointed to the post. In the event of a tie, a toss-up would determine the appointee.[1]

The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition 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 were seeking election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates. For the case of Barcelona, as its population was over 1,000,001, at least 8,000 signatures were required.[2]

Opinion polls

The table below lists voting intention estimates 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 given poll. When available, seat projections are also displayed below the voting estimates in a smaller font. 21 seats were required for an absolute majority in the City Council of Barcelona.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Polling firm/Commissioner	Fieldwork date	Sample size	Turnout							Lead
2011 municipal election	22 May 2011	N/A	53.0	22.1 11	28.7 14	17.2 9	10.4 5	5.6 2	1.9 0	6.6
Ipsos–Eco/FORTA[p 1][p 2]	22 May 2011	?	?	? 10/12	? 14/16	? 7/8	? 4/5	? 2/3	–	?
Ikerfel/Vocento[p 3][p 4]	14 May 2011	900	?	27.2 12	30.9 14	14.9 6/7	? 4	? 4/5	–	3.7
GESOP/El Periódico[p 5][p 6]	12–13 May 2011	800	?	23.5 12	29.0 14	15.9 7/8	9.4 4/5	6.0 2/3	2.7 0	5.5
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 5][p 7]	10–12 May 2011	400	?	26.2 12	32.1 14/15	17.1 7/8	8.6 4	7.8 3	–	5.9
Metroscopia/El País[p 8][p 9]	10–11 May 2011	1,000	55.0	24.7 12	29.4 15	15.4 7	9.4 4	6.7 3	–	4.7
GAD/COPE[p 10]	9 May 2011	?	?	24.5 12	30.2 14	18.1 8	8.5 4	7.9 3	–	5.7
TNS Demoscopia/Antena 3[p 11][p 12]	2–3 May 2011	750	?	24.9 11/12	32.3 15/16	16.1 7/8	10.2 4	6.9 3/4	3.7 0	7.4
GAPS/CiU[p 13][p 14]	26–29 Apr 2011	800	?	23.0– 24.6 11/12	33.4– 34.4 16/17	13.9– 14.9 6/7	8.7– 9.7 4	6.0– 7.0 2/3	–	9.8– 10.4
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 15]	25–27 Apr 2011	600	?	24.9 11/12	31.6 14/15	18.3 8	9.6 4	6.6 3	2.2 0	6.7
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 16]	15–18 Apr 2011	400	?	26.2 12	32.5 15/16	19.3 8/9	6.7 3	5.4 2	–	6.3
CIS[p 17][p 18]	17 Mar–17 Apr 2011	967	?	25.2 12	33.1 16	12.4 5	8.9 4	8.5 4	4.3 0	7.9
PSOE[p 19]	1–15 Mar 2011	800	?	? 13	? 16	? 6	? 3	? 3	–	?
GESOP/El Periódico[p 20]	21–22 Feb 2011	800	?	24.6 11/12	35.3 16/17	14.3 6/7	8.0 3/4	7.5 3	–	10.7
GESOP/El Periódico[p 21][p 22]	31 Jan–1 Feb 2011	400	?[lower-roman 1]	18.5 9	38.0 18/19	15.5 7	8.0 3/4	8.0 3/4	–	19.5
			?[lower-roman 2]	27.0 13	32.0 15	15.5 7	6.5 3	7.5 3	–	5.0
Feedback/La Vanguardia[p 23]	12–14 Jan 2011	600	60.0[lower-roman 1]	21.3 10	42.5 19	13.7 6	7.0 3	8.1 3	–	21.2
			60.0[lower-roman 2]	33.4 15	34.3 16	13.4 6	6.4 2	5.1 2	–	0.9
Ara[p 24][p 25]	8 Dec 2010	?	?	? 9/11	? 17/19	? 6	? 4/5	? 2/3	–	?
2010 regional election[3]	28 Nov 2010	N/A	62.3	17.8 9	36.3 18	14.2 7	9.3 4	6.5 3	4.1 0	18.5
Sigma Dos/El Mundo[p 26][p 27]	15–18 Nov 2010	400	?	25.5 11/12	31.5 14/15	17.1 8	10.1 4	6.7 3	3.5 0	6.0
GAPS/CiU[p 28][p 29]	25–31 May 2010	817	?	20.0– 21.0 10/11	36.7– 37.7 17/19	13.2– 14.2 6/7	6.8– 7.8 2/3	6.0– 7.0 3	–	16.7
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 30]	24–27 May 2010	1,000	?	24.7 11	39.6 17	14.9 6	9.5 4	6.7 3	1.9 0	14.9
GAPS/CiU[p 28][p 31]	28 Nov–10 Dec 2009	805	?	24.0– 25.0 11/12	32.7– 33.7 15/16	13.3– 14.3 6/7	9.2– 10.2 4/5	7.9– 8.9 3/4	1.8 0	8.7
Noxa/La Vanguardia[p 32]	18–23 Nov 2009	1,000	?	28.8 13	30.1 13	17.4 7/8	11.0 4/5	7.5 3	3.9 0	1.3
2009 EP election[4]	7 Jun 2009	N/A	40.5	32.7 15	21.7 10	20.7 9	8.0 3	8.4 4	0.4 0	11.0
GAPS/CiU[p 28][p 33][p 34]	10–23 Mar 2009	810	?	26.9 13	32.8 15	14.0 6	8.6 4	7.6 3	2.0 0	5.9
GESOP/El Periódico[p 35][p 36]	15 Dec 2008	?	?	27.7 13/14	27.9 13/14	15.1 7	8.0 3/4	8.0 3/4	–	0.2
GAPS/CiU[p 37]	21–30 May 2008	804	?	26.5– 27.5 12/13	28.2– 29.2 13/14	12.9– 13.9 5/7	8.7– 9.7 4/5	10.9– 11.9 4/6	1.5– 2.5 0	1.7
2008 general election[5]	9 Mar 2008	N/A	72.2	42.8 18	20.7 9	18.3 8	6.4 3	7.0 3	0.9 0	22.1
2007 municipal election	27 May 2007	N/A	49.6	29.9 14	25.5 12	15.6 7	9.3 4	8.8 4	3.9 0	4.4
Jordi Hereu as PSC candidate hypothesis. Montserrat Tura as PSC candidate hypothesis.

Results

← Summary of the 22 May 2011 City Council of Barcelona election results →

Parties and coalitions		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Total	+/−
	Convergence and Union (CiU)	174,122	28.73	+3.27	14	+2
	Socialists' Party of Catalonia–Municipal Progress (PSC–PM)	134,193	22.14	–7.77	11	–3
	People's Party (PP)	104,475	17.24	+1.63	9	+2
	Initiative for Catalonia Greens–EUiA–Agreement (ICV–EUiA–E)	62,979	10.39	+1.04	5	+1
	Unity for Barcelona–Republican Left–Rally (UpB–ERC–RI.cat–DCat)	33,900	5.59	–3.22	2	–2
	Popular Unity Candidacy–Alternative for Barcelona (CUP–AxB)	11,833	1.95	New	0	±0
	Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's)	11,742	1.94	–1.94	0	±0
	Blank Seats–Citizens for Blank Votes (EB–CenB)	10,115	1.67	+1.29	0	±0
	Catalan Solidarity for Independence (SI)	6,823	1.13	New	0	±0
	The Greens–European Green Group (EV–GVE)	6,128	1.01	New	0	±0
	Pirates of Catalonia (Pirata.cat)	4,675	0.77	New	0	±0
	Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA)	4,308	0.71	+0.21	0	±0
	Platform for Catalonia (PxC)	3,405	0.56	+0.50	0	±0
	For a Fairer World (PUM+J)	1,593	0.26	+0.14	0	±0
	Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD)	1,463	0.24	New	0	±0
	Pensioners in Action Party (PDLPEA)	1,382	0.23	New	0	±0
	The Barcelona of Neighborhoods (LBB)	1,189	0.20	New	0	±0
	Communist Party of the Catalan People (PCPC)	979	0.16	±0.00	0	±0
	Open Your Eyes Party (PATO)	954	0.16	New	0	±0
	Left Republican Party–Republican Left (PRE–IR)	710	0.12	–0.01	0	±0
	Humanist Party (PH)	624	0.10	+0.03	0	±0
	Family and Life Party (PFiV)	533	0.09	+0.01	0	±0
	Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS)	349	0.06	New	0	±0
	Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn)	246	0.04	+0.01	0	±0
	Communist Unification of Spain (UCE)	219	0.04	New	0	±0
Blank ballots		27,107	4.47	+0.37
Total		606,046			41	±0
Valid votes		606,046	98.30	–1.18
Invalid votes		10,491	1.70	+1.18
Votes cast / turnout		616,537	52.99	+3.37
Abstentions		547,057	47.01	–3.37
Registered voters		1,163,594
Sources[6][7][8][9]

Popular vote CiU   28.73% PSC–PM   22.14% PP   17.24% ICV–EUiA–E   10.39% UpB–ERC–RI.cat   5.59% CUP–AxB   1.95% C's   1.94% EB–CenB   1.67% SI   1.13% EV–GVE   1.01% Others   3.73% Blank ballots   4.47%

Seats CiU   34.15% PSC–PM   26.83% PP   21.95% ICV–EUiA–E   12.20% UpB–ERC–RI.cat   4.88%

References

Opinion poll sources

1. "Un sondeo da la victoria a CiU en Barcelona, donde obtendría entre 14 y 16 concejales". La Información (in Spanish). 22 May 2011.
2. "Las encuestas a pie de urna confirman el descalabro del PSOE y consolidan la mayoría absoluta en Madrid". ABC (in Spanish). 22 May 2011.
3. "Vuelco en Barcelona: el PP decide". ABC (in Spanish). 14 May 2011.
4. "Sondeos municipales (Grupo Vocento)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 14 May 2011.
5. "Ficha técnica de las encuestas". Ajuntament de Barcelona (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
6. "CiU se impondría al PSC por solo dos concejales en las municipales de BCN". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 15 May 2011.
7. "Estimación de resultados". Ajuntament de Barcelona (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
8. "CIU quita la supremacía al PSC en Barcelona después de 32 años". El País (in Spanish). 15 May 2011.
9. "Estimación de resultado electoral en Barcelona". El País (in Spanish). 15 May 2011.
10. "CiU supera por primera vez al PSC en Barcelona". COPE (in Spanish). 9 May 2011.
11. "Cambio de gobierno en Barcelona (Antena 3)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 9 May 2011.
12. "CiU ganaría en Barcelona y UPN debería pactar con el PP para poder gobernar en Navarra". Antena 3 (in Spanish). 10 May 2011.
13. "CiU augura que ganará en Barcelona por cinco concejales". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 May 2011.
14. "Sondejos". Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Retrieved 1 July 2020.
15. "Vuelco en Barcelona". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 3 May 2011.
16. "Perspectiva de cambio en el Ayuntamiento de Barcelona (El Mundo)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 30 April 2011.
17. "Preelectoral elecciones municipales 2011. Barcelona (Estudio nº 2866. Abril 2011)". CIS (in Spanish). May 2011.
18. "El vértigo de perder Barcelona". El País (in Spanish). 5 May 2011.
19. "Hereu sigue recortando distancias con Trias, según una encuesta del PSOE". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 7 April 2011.
20. "El PSC estrecha la distancia con CiU en Barcelona (El Periódico)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 25 February 2011.
21. "Trias voreja la majoria absoluta contra Hereu i gairebé empata contra Tura". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Catalan). 6 February 2011.
22. "Ficha técnica" (PDF). El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 6 February 2011.
23. "Tura reanima al PSC". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 17 January 2011.
24. "Trias arrasa a Barcelona i el PSC pot perdre Girona i Tarragona, tot i que es consolida a Lleida". Ara (in Catalan). 8 December 2010.
25. "Otra encuesta que da a Trias mayoría en el Ayuntamiento de Barcelona". La Voz de Barcelona (in Spanish). 9 December 2010.
26. "CiU ganaría en el Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, pero sin mayoría (El Mundo)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 23 November 2010.
27. "Trias camina firme hacia la alcaldía de Barcelona". La Voz de Barcelona (in Spanish). 23 November 2010.
28. "Enquesta CiU Barcelona Maig 2010". CiU (in Catalan). 16 June 2010.
29. "CiU roza la mayoría absoluta en Barcelona (sondeo propio)". Electómetro (in Spanish). 16 June 2010.
30. "CiU da el vuelco". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 30 May 2010.
31. "Enquesta Trias CiU Desembre 2009". CiU (in Catalan). 13 January 2010.
32. "Máxima igualdad". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 29 November 2009.
33. "Baròmetre Març 2009". CiU (in Catalan). 5 April 2009.
34. "Un sondeo de CiU otorga la Alcaldía de Barcelona a Trias". El Economista (in Spanish). 5 April 2009.
35. "CiU ganaría por primera vez en Barcelona". E-Notícies (in Spanish). 15 December 2008.
36. "CiU iguala las expectativas de voto del PSC para la alcaldía de Barcelona". 20 minutos (in Spanish). 15 December 2008.
37. "Enquesta Maig 2008". CiU (in Catalan). 3 July 2008.

Other

1. "Ley 7/1985, de 2 de abril, Reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local". Law No. 7 of 2 April 1985. Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2020.
2. "Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General". Organic Law No. 5 of 19 June 1985. Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 January 2020.
3. "Electoral results. Parliament of Catalonia election 2010. Barcelona (Municipality)". Government of Catalonia (in Catalan). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
4. "Electoral Results Consultation. European Parliament. June 2009. Barcelona Municipality". Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
5. "Electoral Results Consultation. Congress. March 2008. Barcelona Municipality". Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2020.
6. "Election Results. Municipal Elections 2011. Barcelona". Government of Catalonia (in Catalan). Retrieved 12 November 2017.
7. "Local election results, 22 May 2011, in Barcelona, Burgos, Cáceres, Cádiz, Cantabria, Castellón, Ciudad Real, Córdoba, A Coruña, Cuenca, Girona, Granada, Guadalajara, Gipuzkoa, Huelva, Huesca and Jaén provinces" (PDF). Central Electoral Commission (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2018.
8. "Electoral Results Consultation. Municipal. May 2011. Barcelona Municipality". Ministry of the Interior (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 November 2017.
9. "Eleccions municipals a Barcelona (1979 - 2015)". Historia Electoral.com (in Catalan). Retrieved 30 September 2017.