1987 Spanish local elections

Local elections were held in Spain on 10 June 1987^[b] to elect all 65,577 councillors in the 8,062 Spanish municipalities,^[1] all 1,181 provincial seats in 41 provinces (including 38 indirectly-elected provincial deputations and the three foral deputations in the Basque Country) and 196 seats in ten island councils (seven Canarian and three Balearic ones). They were held concurrently with regional elections in thirteen autonomous communities, as well as the 1987 European Parliament election.

Overview

Local government

Under the 1978 Constitution, the governance of municipalities in Spain 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.^[2] The mayor was indirectly elected by the local assembly, requiring an absolute majority; otherwise, the candidate from the most-voted party automatically became mayor (ties were resolved by drawing lots).^[3] The concejo abierto system (English: open council), under which voters directly elected the local mayor by plurality voting, was reserved for municipalities under 100 inhabitants and some minor local entities.^[4]

Provincial deputations were the governing bodies of provinces in Spain—except for single-province autonomous communities—having an administration role of municipal activities and composed of a provincial president, an administrative body, and a plenary.^[5] For insular provinces, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands, deputations were replaced by island councils in each of the islands or group of islands. For Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, El Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma, this figure was referred to in Spanish as cabildo insular, whereas for Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza–Formentera, its name was consejo insular (Catalan: consell insular).^[6][g] The three Basque provinces had foral deputations instead (called General Assemblies, or Juntas Generales).^[7]

Date

The term of local assemblies in Spain expired four years after the date of their previous election. The election decree was required to be issued no later than 25 days prior to the scheduled expiration date of the assemblies and published on the following day in the Official State Gazette (BOE), with election day taking place between 54 and 60 days after the decree's publication.^[8] The previous local elections were held on 8 May 1983, which meant that the chambers' terms would have expired on 8 May 1987. The election decree was required to be published in the BOE no later than 14 April 1987, setting the latest possible date for election day on 13 June 1987.

Local assemblies could not be dissolved before the expiration 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—decide to call a by-election.^[9]

Elections to the assemblies of local entities were officially called on 14 April 1987 with the publication of the corresponding decree in the BOE, setting election day for 10 June.^[10] Subsequent by-elections were called on 15 September, for 8 November.^[11]

Electoral system

Voting for local assemblies and Canarian island councils was based on universal suffrage, comprising all Spanish nationals over 18 years of age, registered and residing in the municipality or council 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), as well as resident non-nationals whose country of origin allowed reciprocal voting by virtue of a treaty.^[12]

Local councillors were elected using the D'Hondt method and closed-list proportional voting, with a five percent-threshold of valid votes (including blank ballots) in each constituency.^[13] Each municipality or council was a multi-member constituency, with a number of seats based on the following scale:^[14]

Councillors in municipalities between 100 and 250 inhabitants were elected using open-list partial block voting, with voters choosing up to four candidates.^[15]

Most provincial deputations were indirectly elected by applying the D'Hondt method and a three percent-threshold of valid votes to municipal results—excluding candidacies not electing any councillor—in each judicial district. Seats were allocated to provincial deputations based on the following scale (with each judicial district being assigned an initial minimum of one seat and a maximum of three-fifths of the total number of provincial seats, with the remaining ones distributed in proportion to population):^[16]

The General Assemblies of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa were directly elected by voters under their own, specific electoral regulations.^[17]

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.^[18]

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 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 a determined amount of the electors registered in the municipality for which they sought election, disallowing electors from signing for more than one list:^[19]

• At least one percent of the electors in municipalities with a population below 5,000 inhabitants, provided that the number of signers was more than double that of councillors at stake.
• At least 100 signatures in municipalities with a population between 5,001 and 10,000.
• At least 500 signatures in municipalities with a population between 10,001 and 50,000.
• At least 1,500 signatures in municipalities with a population between 50,001 and 150,000.
• At least 3,000 signatures in municipalities with a population between 150,001 and 300,000.
• At least 5,000 signatures in municipalities with a population between 300,001 and 1,000,000.
• At least 8,000 signatures in municipalities with a population over 1,000,001.

Results

Municipal

Overall

City control

The following table lists party control in provincial capitals (highlighted in bold), as well as in municipalities above 75,000.^[22] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.

Provincial and island

Summary

Indirectly-elected

The following table lists party control in the indirectly-elected provincial deputations.^[23] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.

Island councils

The following table lists party control in the island councils.^[24][25] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.

Foral deputations

The following table lists party control in the foral deputations.^[27] Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.

Notes

1. ^ Including: *1,028 seats in 38 provincial deputations; *153 seats in 3 Basque foral deputations; *137 seats in 7 Canarian island cabildos; *59 seats in 3 Balearic island councils.
2. ^ By-elections were held on 8 November 1987 in those constituencies where results were annulled by a final sentence following an electoral petition, or where elections were not held due to a lack of candidates.^[11]
3. ^ Results for AP–PDP–UL in the 1983 elections.
4. ^ Results for CDS (1.8%, 658 c. and 18 p.) and AGI (0.0%, 26 c. and 5 p.) in the 1983 elections.
5. ^ Results for PCE–PSUC (8.0%, 2,495 c. and 39 p.), PCC (0.4%, 61 c. and 0 p.), UPV (0.2%, 35 c. and 0 p.), PASOC (0.0%, 3 c. and 0 p.) and PSM (0.0%, 7 c. and 2 p.) in the 1983 elections.
6. ^ Results for PG–CIGA in the 1983 elections.
7. ^ For the Balearic Islands, regional lawmakers served as island councillors.^[28]
8. ^ Renamed from La Coruña in February 1985.^[29]
9. ^ Renamed from Baracaldo in June 1986.^[29]
10. ^ Renamed from Cornellá in April 1984.^[29]
11. ^ Renamed from El Ferrol del Caudillo in February 1985.^[29]
12. ^ Renamed from Gerona in April 1984.^[29]
13. ^ Renamed from Hospitalet in April 1984.^[29]
14. ^ Renamed from Lérida in April 1984.^[29]
15. ^ Reached 75,000 in 1987.^[30]
16. ^ Renamed from Orense in October 1984.^[29]
17. ^ Renamed from Santa Coloma de Gramanet in April 1984.^[29]
18. ^ Reached 75,000 in 1987.^[31]
19. ^ Renamed from Tarrasa in April 1984.^[29]

References

1. ^ "Elecciones Municipales en España 1979-2011" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. December 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
2. ^ (Constitution 1978, art. 140); (LBRL 1985, art. 19).
3. ^ (LBRL 1985, art. 19); (LOREG 1985, art. 196).
4. ^ (LBRL 1985, art. 29); (LOREG 1985, pp. arts. 179 & 199–200).
5. ^ (Constitution 1978, art. 141); (LBRL 1985, pp. arts. 31–32 & 40).
6. ^ (Constitution 1978, art. 141); (LBRL 1985, art. 41).
   * Canary Islands: (EAC 1982, arts. 7 & 22); (LRJAPC 1986, arts. 3 & 38). * Balearic Islands: (EAIB 1983, pp. arts. 5, 18 & 37).
7. ^ (Constitution 1978, repeal. prov.); (Law 27/1983 1983, pp. arts. 1 & 6–8); (LBRL 1985, art. 39).
8. ^ (LOREG 1985, pp. arts. 42, 194 & 201).
9. ^ (LBRL 1985, art. 61); (LOREG 1985, art. 183).
10. ^ (Royal Decree 508/1987 1987, pp. arts. 1–2).
11. ^ (Royal Decree 1121/1987 1987, pp. arts. 1–2).
12. ^ (Constitution 1978, art. 13); (LBRL 1985, art. 19); (LOREG 1985, pp. arts. 2–3, 176 & 201).
13. ^ (LOREG 1985, pp. arts. 163, 180 & 201).
14. ^ (LOREG 1985, pp. arts. 179–180 & 201).
15. ^ (LOREG 1985, art. 184).
16. ^ (LOREG 1985, pp. arts. 163 & 204–205).
17. ^ (Law 1/1987 1987, pp. arts. 1–4 & 7–9).
18. ^ (LOREG 1985, pp. arts. 46, 48, 182 & 208).
19. ^ (LOREG 1985, arts. 44 & 187).
20. ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones Municipales (resultados 1979-2011)" (in Spanish). Historia Electoral.com. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
21. ^ "Elecciones celebradas. Resultados electorales" (in Spanish). Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
22. ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones Municipales (alcaldes de ciudades por partido)" (in Spanish). Historia Electoral.com. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
23. ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones a Diputaciones Provinciales (desde 1979)" (in Spanish). Historia Electoral.com. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
24. ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones a Cabildos insulares (desde 1979)" (in Spanish). Historia Electoral.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
25. ^ Lozano, Carles. "Eleccions als Consells Insulars (des de 1979)" (in Catalan). Historia Electoral.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
26. ^ "Poblaciones de derecho desde 1986 hasta 1995. Cifras de las rectificaciones y renovaciones padronales. Balears (Illes) (1986)" (in Spanish). National Statistics Institute. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
27. ^ Lozano, Carles. "Elecciones a las Juntas Generales (desde 1979)" (in Spanish). Historia Electoral.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
28. ^ (EAIB 1983, art. 38) (suppl. by (LEIB 1986, art. 12)).
29. ^ "Variaciones de los municipios de España desde 1842" (in Spanish). Ministry of Public Administrations. October 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
30. ^ "Demografia de Marbella (Málaga)" (in Spanish). Foro-Ciudad.com. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
31. ^ "Demografia de Telde (Las Palmas)" (in Spanish). Foro-Ciudad.com. Retrieved 18 April 2026.

Bibliography

• "Constitución Española" (Constitution) (in Spanish). 27 December 1978. BOE-A-1978-31229. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
• "Ley Orgánica 10/1982, de 10 de agosto, de Estatuto de Autonomía de Canarias" (Organic Law) (in Spanish). No. 10/1982. 10 August 1982. BOE-A-1982-20821. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
• "Ley Orgánica 2/1983, de 25 de febrero, de Estatuto de Autonomía para las islas Baleares" (Organic Law) (in Spanish). No. 2/1983. 1 March 1983. BOE-A-1983-6316. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
• "Ley 27/1983, de 25 de noviembre, de Relaciones entre las Instituciones Comunes de la Comunidad Autónoma y los Órganos Forales de sus Territorios Históricos" (Law) (in Spanish). No. 27/1983. 25 November 1983. BOE-A-2012-5193. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
• "Ley 7/1985, de 2 de abril, Reguladora de las Bases del Régimen Local" (Law) (in Spanish). No. 7/1985. 2 April 1985. BOE-A-1985-5392. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
• "Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General" (Organic Law) (in Spanish). No. 5/1985. 19 June 1985. BOE-A-1985-11672. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
• "Ley 8/1986, de 18 de noviembre, de Régimen Jurídico de las Administraciones Públicas de Canarias" (Law) (in Spanish). No. 8/1986. 18 November 1986. BOE-A-1986-33111. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
• "Ley 8/1986, de 26 de noviembre, Electoral de la Comunidad Autónoma de las Islas Baleares" (Law) (in Spanish). No. 8/1986. 26 November 1986. BOE-A-1987-2903. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
• "Ley 1/1987, de 27 de marzo, de Elecciones para las Juntas Generales de los Territorios Históricos de Araba, Bizkaia y Gipuzkoa" (Law) (in Spanish). No. 1/1987. 27 March 1987. BOE-A-2012-3948. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
• "Real Decreto 508/1987, de 13 de abril, de convocatoria de elecciones locales" (Royal Decree) (in Spanish). No. 508/1987. 13 April 1987. BOE-A-1987-9222. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
• "Real Decreto 1121/1987, de 11 de septiembre, por el que se convocan elecciones locales parciales" (Royal Decree) (in Spanish). No. 1121/1987. 11 September 1987. BOE-A-1987-21393. Retrieved 13 April 2026.