Multi-level electoral competition - Regional elections and party systems in Spain

Regionalization in the form of the creation of Autonomous Communities (ACs) has played a significant role in shaping the Spanish party system since the transition to democracy in 1977. Parties are divided into statewide parties, operating at both national and regional levels, and non-statewide parties. The latter have been most important in the historic nations of Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia. We can generally see autonomous elections as second-order elections, with lower turnout than national elections and with results generally following the national pattern. In certain cases, the presence of non-statewide parties challenges this pattern and in Catalonia a distinct political arena exists with its own characteristics. The existence of autonomous parliaments and governments has also provided new opportunities for both statewide and non-statewide parties and served as a power base for political figures within the parties.