Regional elections were held in Spain during 2007 to elect the regional parliaments of thirteen of the seventeen autonomous communities: Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile and León, CastillaâÂÂLa Mancha, Extremadura, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre and the Valencian Community; and the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. 812 of 1,206 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 27 May (concurrently with local elections all across the country).
The results saw few changes overall, with most incumbent governments remaining in power. The only exception was the People's Party (PP) government in the Balearic Islands, which was replaced by a coalition led by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).
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. In other casesâÂÂnamely, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Castile and León and the Valencian CommunityâÂÂthe law granted presidents the power to call a snap election resulting in a fresh four year-parliamentary term. By the time of the 2007 regional elections, however, this prerogative had not yet been exercised by any of these communities.
The following table lists party control in autonomous communities and cities. Gains for a party are highlighted in that party's colour.