Regional elections were held in Spain during 2003 to elect the regional parliaments of fourteen of the seventeen autonomous communities: Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile and León, CastillaâÂÂLa Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, the Valencian Community; and the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. 927 of 1,186 seats in the regional parliaments were up for election, as well as the 50 seats in the regional assemblies of the autonomous cities. The elections were held on 25 May for most regions (concurrently with local elections all across the country), on 26 October for a repeat election in Madrid, and on 16 November in Catalonia.
Determination of election day varied depending on the autonomous community, with each one having competency to establish its own regulations. Typically, thirteen out of the seventeen autonomous communitiesâÂÂall but Andalusia, the Basque Country, Catalonia and GaliciaâÂÂhad their elections fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years, to be held together with nationwide local elections.
In some cases, regional presidents had the prerogative to dissolve the regional parliament and call for extra elections at a different time, but newly elected assemblies were restricted to serving out what remained of their previous four year-terms without altering the period to their next ordinary election.
The following table lists party control in autonomous communities and cities. Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.