Cantabrian regional election, 2011

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22 May 2011

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All 39 seats in the Parliament of Cantabria
20 seats needed for a majority

Registered

494,955

1.9%

Turnout

345,439 (69.8%)

2.2 pp

President before election

Miguel Ángel Revilla
PRC

Elected President

Ignacio Diego
PP

The 2011 Cantabrian regional election was held on Sunday, 22 May 2011, to elect the 8th Parliament of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria. All 39 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in 12 other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.

The Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) had formed the government of the region since the 2003 election. However, the election was won by the People's Party (PP) which gained three seats from the PSOE. This was the first absolute majority of seats won by the PP, although its predecessor, the People's Alliance achieved the same feat at the 1983 election under the banner of the People's Coalition.

The Parliament of Cantabria was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of Cantabria, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Cantabrian Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to grant or revoke confidence from a President of the Autonomous Community. Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, with all nationals over eighteen, registered in Cantabria and in full enjoyment of all political rights entitled to vote. Amendments to the electoral law in 2011 required for Cantabrians abroad to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado).