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1998 Basque regional election

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1998 Basque regional election
← 1994
25 October 1998
2001 →
All 75 seats in the Basque Parliament
38 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Registered1,821,608 Increase 4.1%
Turnout1,275,008 (70.0%)
Increase 10.3 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Juan José Ibarretxe Carlos Iturgaiz Arnaldo Otegi
Party EAJ/PNV PP EH
Leader since 31 January 1998 5 October 1996 14 February 1998
Leader's seat Álava Biscay Guipúzcoa
Last election 22 seats, 29.3% 11 seats, 14.2% 11 seats, 16.0%[a]
Seats won 21 16 14
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 5 Increase 3
Popular vote 350,322 251,743 224,001
Percentage 27.6% 19.9% 17.7%
Swing Decrease 1.7 pp Increase 5.7 pp Increase 1.7 pp
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Nicolás Redondo Carlos Garaikoetxea Javier Madrazo
Party PSE–EE (PSOE) EA IU/EB
Leader since 20 October 1997 4 September 1986 14 May 1994
Leader's seat Biscay Guipúzcoa Biscay
Last election 12 seats, 16.8% 8 seats, 10.1% 6 seats, 9.0%
Seats won 14 6 2
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2 Decrease 4
Popular vote 220,052 108,635 71,064
Percentage 17.4% 8.6% 5.6%
Swing Increase 0.6 pp Decrease 1.5 pp Decrease 3.4 pp
Lehendakari before election

José Antonio Ardanza
EAJ/PNV

Elected Lehendakari

Juan José Ibarretxe
EAJ/PNV

A regional election was held in the Basque Country on 25 October 1998 to elect the 6th Parliament of the autonomous community. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election.

The Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) won 21 seats, the People's Party (PP) came second for the first time with 16 seats, the Basque Citizens (EH) coalition and the Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE) won 14 seats each.

Overview

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Under the 1979 Statute of Autonomy, the Basque Parliament was the unicameral legislature of the Basque Autonomous Community, having legislative power in devolved matters, as well as the ability to grant or withdraw confidence from a lehendakari.[1] The electoral and procedural rules were supplemented by national law provisions.[2]

Date

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The term of the Basque Parliament expired four years after the date of its previous election, unless it was dissolved earlier. The election decree was required to be issued no later than 25 days before the scheduled expiration date of parliament and published on the following day in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV), with election day taking place 54 days after the decree's publication.[3] The previous election was held on 23 October 1994, which meant that the chamber's term would have expired on 23 October 1998. The election decree was required to be published in the BOPV no later than 29 September 1998, setting the latest possible date for election day on 22 November 1998.

The lehendakari had the prerogative to dissolve the Basque Parliament at any given time and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process.[4] In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a lehendakari within a 60-day period from the Parliament's reconvening, the chamber was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called.[5]

The Basque Parliament was officially dissolved on 1 September 1998 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOPV, setting election day for 25 October.[6]

Electoral system

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Voting for the Parliament was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered in the Basque Country and with full political rights, provided that they had not been deprived of the right to vote by a final sentence, nor were legally incapacitated.[7]

The Basque Parliament had 75 seats. All were elected in three multi-member constituencies—corresponding to the provinces of Álava, Biscay and Guipúzcoa, each of which was assigned a fixed number of 25 seats to provide for an equal parliamentary representation of the three provinces—using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a five percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency.[8]

The law did not provide for by-elections to fill vacant seats; instead, any vacancies arising after the proclamation of candidates and during the legislative term were filled by the next candidates on the party lists or, when required, by designated substitutes.[9]

Parties and candidates

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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 were required to inform the relevant electoral commission within 10 days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list.[10]

Below is a list of the main parties and alliances which contested the election:

Candidacy Parties and
alliances 		Leading candidate Ideology Previous result Gov. Ref.
Vote % Seats
EAJ/PNV
List
 Juan José Ibarretxe Basque nationalism
Christian democracy
Conservative liberalism 		29.3% 22 Yes
PSE–EE
(PSOE)
List
 Nicolás Redondo Social democracy 16.8% 12 No
EH
List
 Arnaldo Otegi Basque independence
Abertzale left
Revolutionary socialism
16.0%
[a] 		11 No
PP
List
 Carlos Iturgaiz Conservatism
Christian democracy 		14.2% 11 No
EA
List
 Carlos Garaikoetxea Basque nationalism
Social democracy 		10.1% 8 Yes
IU/EB
List
 Javier Madrazo Socialism
Communism 		9.0% 6 No
UA
List
 Pablo Mosquera Alavese regionalism
Christian democracy 		2.7% 5 No

Opinion polls

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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

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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; 38 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Basque Parliament.

Color key:

  Exit poll

Voting preferences

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The table below lists raw, unweighted voting preferences.

Results

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Overall

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← Summary of the 25 October 1998 Basque Parliament election results →
Parties and alliances Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Total +/−
Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ/PNV) 350,322 27.62 −1.70 21 −1
People's Party (PP) 251,743 19.85 +5.69 16 +5
Basque Citizens (EH)1 224,001 17.66 +1.65 14 +3
Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (PSE–EE (PSOE)) 220,052 17.35 +0.52 14 +2
Basque Solidarity (EA) 108,635 8.57 −1.56 6 −2
United Left (IU/EB) 71,064 5.60 −3.39 2 −4
Alavese Unity (UA) 15,738 1.24 −1.44 2 −3
Natural Law Party (PLN/LNA) 4,858 0.38 New 0 ±0
Humanist Party (PH) 3,288 0.26 New 0 ±0
Basque Country Greens (EHB) 864 0.07 New 0 ±0
Blank ballots 17,641 1.39 −0.35
Total 1,268,206 75 ±0
Valid votes 1,268,206 99.47 +0.06
Invalid votes 6,802 0.53 −0.06
Votes cast / turnout 1,275,008 69.99 +10.30
Abstentions 546,600 30.01 −10.30
Registered voters 1,821,608
Sources[11][12][13]
Footnotes:
Popular vote
EAJ/PNV
 
 27.62%
PP
 
 19.85%
EH
 
 17.66%
PSE–EE (PSOE)
 
 17.35%
EA
 
 8.57%
IU/EB
 
 5.60%
UA
 
 1.24%
Others
 
 0.71%
Blank ballots
 
 1.39%
Seats
EAJ/PNV
 
 28.00%
PP
 
 21.33%
EH
 
 18.67%
PSE–EE (PSOE)
 
 18.67%
EA
 
 8.00%
IU/EB
 
 2.67%
UA
 
 2.67%

Distribution by constituency

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Constituency PNV PP EH PSE–EE EA IU/EB UA
% S % S % S % S % S % S % S
Álava 21.6 6 26.7 7 12.1 3 16.8 5 6.3 1 5.6 1 8.4 2
Biscay 32.6 9 20.2 5 14.6 4 18.3 5 6.0 1 6.2 1 0.1 –
Guipúzcoa 21.7 6 16.4 4 25.2 7 16.0 4 13.9 4 4.6 – 0.1 –
Total 27.6 21 19.9 16 17.7 14 17.4 14 8.6 6 5.6 2 1.2 2
Sources[11][12][13]

Aftermath

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Government formation

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Investiture
Ballot → 29 December 1998
Required majority → 38 out of 75
  • • PNV (21)
  • • EH (13)
  • • EA (6)
40 / 75
 checkY
  • • PP (16)
  • • UA (2)
18 / 75
 ☒N
Abstentions/Blank ballots
15 / 75
Absentees
2 / 75
Sources[11]

2000 motions of no confidence

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Results for HB in the 1994 election.
  2. ^ a b c Does not include non-resident citizens.

References

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Opinion poll sources

  1. ^ a b c "Primeros sondeos tras el cierre de los colegios electorales". El Mundo (in Spanish). 25 October 1998.
  2. ^ a b c "Gran disparidad en los sondeos". El País (in Spanish). 26 October 1998.
  3. ^ "El 44% de los vascos oculta su voto". El País (in Spanish). 18 October 1998.
  4. ^ a b "Los sondeos hablan de un incremento de las fuerzas no nacionalistas en los comicios vascos". El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 October 1998.
  5. ^ "PP y EH se disputan el segundo puesto en las elecciones vascas". El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 October 1998. Archived from the original on 13 January 2001.
  6. ^ a b "El PP y el PSOE acarician su objetivo". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 19 October 1998.
  7. ^ "Estancamiento de los nacionalistas de PNV, EH y EA, que obtendrían los mismos escaños que en 1994". ABC (in Spanish). 18 October 1998.
  8. ^ "Los no nacionalistas ganan posiciones". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 17 October 1998.
  9. ^ "Un PNV en retroceso vuelve a ganar frente al ascenso de PP y socialistas". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 17 October 1998.
  10. ^ "PSE y PP aumentan su expectativa de voto y bajan PNV, EA y UA". El Correo (in Spanish). 18 October 1998.
  11. ^ a b "Duelo nacionalistas-no nacionalistas". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 9 October 1998.
  12. ^ "Últimas previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas-98 (Octubre 1998)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 16 October 1998.
  13. ^ "Una nueva encuesta del Gobierno vasco otorga el segundo puesto a EH". El País (in Spanish). 17 October 1998.
  14. ^ a b "Preelectoral del País Vasco. Elecciones Autonómicas 1998 (Estudio nº 2304. Septiembre-Octubre 1998)". CIS (in Spanish). 16 October 1998.
  15. ^ "Estudio CIS nº 2304. Ficha técnica". CIS (in Spanish). 16 October 1998.
  16. ^ "Un debate electoral sobre política social y empleo reúne por primera vez a PP y EH". ABC (in Spanish). 10 October 1998.
  17. ^ "Encuestas, patatas fritas y rosas rojas". El País (in Spanish). 10 October 1998.
  18. ^ "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas-98 (Octubre 1998)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 8 October 1998.
  19. ^ "Una encuesta del Gobierno vasco en vísperas de la campaña deja a EH como segunda fuerza tras el PNV". El País (in Spanish). 9 October 1998.
  20. ^ "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas-98 (Septiembre 1998)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 25 September 1998.
  21. ^ "Un sondeo del Gobierno vasco sitúa al PP como segundo partido de Euskadi". El País (in Spanish). 26 September 1998.
  22. ^ "El PP se perfila por escaso margen como segunda fuerza del País Vasco". El Mundo (in Spanish). 9 September 1998.
  23. ^ "El incremento del voto beneficia a los partidos no nacionalistas, pero se mantiene el empate técnico". El País (in Spanish). 12 September 1998.
  24. ^ "La Universidad vasca prevé ascensos de PP y PSE y un retroceso de los nacionalistas". ABC (in Spanish). 12 September 1998.
  25. ^ "PSE y PP consolidan su avance". El Correo (in Spanish). 21 June 1998.
  26. ^ "Un nuevo sondeo electoral confima el ascenso de PP y PSOE en el País Vasco". ABC (in Spanish). 22 June 1998.
  27. ^ "Un nuevo sondeo electoral confirma el ascenso de PP y PSOE en el País Vasco". ABC Sevilla (in Spanish). 22 June 1998.
  28. ^ a b "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas (Junio 1998)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 23 June 1998.
  29. ^ "El nacionalismo aguantará el ascenso del PSE y PP, según un sondeo oficial". El País (in Spanish). 24 June 1998.
  30. ^ "El PNV mantiene la primacía pese al alza de PP y PSOE en el País Vasco". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 May 1998.
  31. ^ "Estudio CIS nº 2282. Ficha técnica" (PDF). CIS (in Spanish). 19 May 1998.
  32. ^ "PP y PSE refuerzan su apoyo electoral". El Correo (in Spanish). 29 March 1998.
  33. ^ "El voto no nacionalista podrían imponerse por primera vez en unas elecciones vascas". ABC (in Spanish). 29 March 1998.
  34. ^ "El voto no nacionalista podría imponerse por primera vez en unas elecciones vascas". ABC Sevilla (in Spanish). 29 March 1998.
  35. ^ "PNV y EA, molestos por el sondeo que prevé la subida de los no nacionalistas". ABC (in Spanish). 30 March 1998.
  36. ^ "Previsiones de voto para Elecciones Autonómicas-98 (Marzo 1998)" (PDF). Basque Government (in Spanish). 3 March 1998.
  37. ^ "Una encuesta del Gobierno vasco da al PP el segundo puesto el 25-0". El País (in Spanish). 4 March 1998.
  38. ^ "Virtual empate entre partidos estatales y nacionalistas ante las elecciones vascas". ABC (in Spanish). 10 November 1997.
  39. ^ "Un sondeo vaticina una fuerte subida del PP y PSOE vasco en las autonómicas de 1998". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 10 November 1997.
  40. ^ "Un sondeo indica que los nacionalistas pierden votos en Euskadi". El País (in Spanish). 10 November 1997.
  41. ^ "Un sondeo coloca al PP vasco como segunda fuerza". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 15 October 1997.
  42. ^ "El PP será la segunda fuerza en Euskadi, según un sondeo del Gobierno vasco". El País (in Spanish). 15 October 1997.
  43. ^ "Encuesta del Gobierno vasco". ABC (in Spanish). 15 October 1997.
  44. ^ "El PP pasaría a ser el segundo partido más votado de Euskadi". El Mundo (in Spanish). 20 July 1997. Archived from the original on 22 November 2001.
  45. ^ "Un sondeo electoral del Gobierno vasco sitúa al PP como la segunda fuerza en la Comunidad". ABC Sevilla (in Spanish). 26 March 1997.

Other

  1. ^ Statute (1979), arts. 25 & 27–28.
  2. ^ LEPV (1990), final prov. 1.
  3. ^ Statute (1979), art. 26; LEPV (1990), art. 46.
  4. ^ LGV (1981), arts. 7 & 50–51.
  5. ^ LGV (1981), art. 6.
  6. ^ Decree 14/1998 (1998), art. 1.
  7. ^ Statute (1979), art. 26; LEPV (1990), arts. 2–3 (suppl. by LOREG (1985), art. 42).
  8. ^ Statute (1979), art. 26; LEPV (1990), arts. 9–12; Decree 14/1998 (1998), art. 2.
  9. ^ LEPV (1990), arts. 12 & 65 (suppl. by LOREG (1985), arts. 46 & 48).
  10. ^ LEPV (1990), art. 53 (suppl. by LOREG (1985), art. 44).
  11. ^ a b c d e Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco / Eusko Legebilitzarra (desde 1980)". Historia Electoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Resultados Electorales" (in Spanish). Basque Government. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Acuerdo de 9 de noviembre de 1998, de la Junta Electoral de la Comunidad Autónoma, por el que se dispone la publicación de los resultados correspondientes al escrutinio general de las Elecciones al Parlamento Vasco del 25 de octubre de 1998" (PDF). Official Gazette of the Basque Country (in Spanish) (220): 21336–21339. 18 November 1998. ISSN 2483-5366. Retrieved 12 March 2026.

Bibliography

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