Indirect second-degree elections and parties dynamics

Brakes to balanced presence in Spanish Provincial Governments

Abstract

Province has been a key part of territorial organization in Spain for two centuries and the study of its configuration is interesting. Spanish Constitution does not provide a detailed treatment of the province or of its autonomous governing body, provincial governments, their regulation being the task of the state legislator. In particular, the system for electing members of provincial corporations is regulated in electoral regulations which establish the rules of this procedure, to be carried out after the constitution of the town councils. Election of provincial deputies is a second-degree indirect election, which has raised doubts about representativeness of these representatives; and the control of political parties is almost absolute. Absence of a legal obligation to draw up candidacies incorporating the principle of balanced presence, unlike in other types of elections, leads to an under-representation of women in provincial governments.