Turnout in Basque Autonomous Region tops 48.29; 59.65 in Navarre

The turnout in the Basque Autonomous Region at 6:00pm local time was of the 48.29 percent, 7.29 points lower that in 2003 election, when the turnout was of 55.58 percent at this time of the day, according to data from the Interior Ministry.

The turnout gap if compared to 2003 election has been increasing throughout the day, since at 2:00pm it was only a 2.09 percent lower, while the gap has toped 7.29 at 6:00pm.

The turnout was similar in all territories. In Bizkaia the turnout was of 48.11 percent, in contrast to 55.47 four years ago; while in Gipuzkoa it was of 48.31, 55.55 in 2003; and Alava of 48.81, 55.05 in 2003.

In Navarre turnout was 3.29 points higher that in 2003. At 6:00pm, the 59.65 of citizens had cast their ballot.

Opening

Voting booths opened at the expected time, at 9:00am, without registering important incidents. Nevertheless, as the day advanced, in the Basque region and neighbouring Navarre police reported protests by people angry over court rulings that barred most of the candidates endorsed by leftwing nationalism. One man was arrested in Bilbao for harassing a Socialist leader casting his ballot.

A total of 2,263,788 people are eligible to vote Sunday in the Basque Autonomous Region and Navarre to elect their representatives in the town halls, the General Assemblies of Araba, Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia and the Parliament of Navarre.

Spanish State

In all, over 35 million people are eligible to vote in the whole Spanish State to elect local representatives. Furthermore, the Parliament in all autonomous regions but the Basque Country, Andalucia, Galicia and Catalonia, is at stake, but little changes are expected in general.

The keys

According to pre-election polls, the territory in which the institutional panorama could change is the Basque Autonomous Region, both at mayor's offices and General Assemblies, especially following Supreme Court's decision to bar all the lists of candidates of Union of Socialist Nationalists and most of Basque Nationalist Action.

EA's decision is still causing expectancy, as it is running on its own for the first time (it usually went in coalition with Basque Nationalist Party, PNV). EA has absolute majority in many towns of Gipuzkoa alongside PNV, and its decision could change governing teams.

In Navarre, polls point to a victory by conservative UPN, although NaBai could prompt a government change and Pamplona/Iruña's City Council. Post-election agreements will define the real scenario.

Basque Nationalist Action's results will also cause expectancy in those towns in which the lists of candidates were not barred.