The City Council of San Sebastián ( eu, Donostiako Udala, es, Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián) is the institution that governs the Basque city of

San Sebastián San Sebastian, officially known as Donostia–San Sebastián (names in both local languages: ''Donostia'' () and ''San Sebastián'' ()) is a city and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the Basque Country (autonomous community), B ...

( Spain). Its premises are located in the former casino of the city next to the Bay of La Concha.

Building

The building was built up in 1887 at the Gardens of Alderdi-Eder of San Sebastián, next to the Nautical Royal Club, to house the main casino. The opening ceremony was attended by the Queen

Maria Christina of Austria Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria of Austria ( es, María Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorena; 21 July 1858 – 6 February 1929) was the second queen consort of Alfonso XII of Spain. She was queen regent during the vacancy of the ...

. However, it closed as a casino after the ban on gambling in 1924. On April 14, 1928, an agreement was reached to open in this building the Center of Attraction and Tourism, later this moving to a building next to the Hotel María Cristina. On January 20, 1945, the council moved to this building. The architects Alday and Arizmendi amended the initial project in 1943 and turned the former casino into council. Until then, the City Hall was located in the Constitution Square (Parte Vieja), now headquarters of the Municipal Library.

City administration

After the democratic restoration in 1977 and after a brief period in which a municipal manager, led first by Ramón Jáuregui and subsequently by Iñaki Alkiza, took over the city government, the first democratic elections were held in 1979. Although lacking absolute majority, candidate of the

Basque Nationalist Party The Basque Nationalist Party (, EAJ ; es, Partido Nacionalista Vasco, PNV; french: Parti Nationaliste Basque, PNB; EAJ-PNV), officially Basque National Party in English,) was rejected by party members in November 2011. Nonetheless, the party did ...

(PNV) Jesús María Alkain prevailed for Mayor. In the next term (1983–1987), Ramón Labayen took over his party fellow, also without absolute majority. However, San Sebastián became a stronghold of PNV's splinter party Eusko Alkartasuna, with its candidate making it to office at the next election (1987). They formed a minority coalition government with Euskadiko Ezkerra, which allowed it to remain as mayor during the term 1987–1991. In 1991, Odón Elorza ( PSE-EE/PSOE) became mayor, with the support of PP and PNV. With various covenants (with PNV and EA in 1995, with PP in 1999), he remained at the head of the council since then, and since 1999 with majority of votes and seats. After the 2007 elections, PSE-PSOE formed government with the municipal group Aralar- Alternatiba (formerly Aralar- Ezker Batua).http://www.elpais.com/articulo/pais/vasco/Alternatiba/desaira/EB/confirma/pacto/gobierno/Elorza/elpepiesppvs/20090722elpvas_7/Tes Alternatiba snubs to EB and confirms his covenant of government with Elorza], ''

El País ''El País'' (; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. ''El País'' is based in the capital city of Madrid and it is owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA. It is the second most circulated daily newspaper in Spain . ''El Pa ...

'', July 22 of 2009. In the May 2011 elections,

Bildu EH Bildu, short for Euskal Herria Bildu ( en, link=yes, Basque Country Gather or Basque Country Unite) is a left-wing, Basque nationalist, pro-independence political coalition active in the Spanish autonomous communities of Basque Country, Navar ...

's candidate Juan Carlos Izagirre won unexpectedly the elections, starting off a new period. These are the mayors who have governed the city council since the 1979 election: ; Composition of the city council of San Sebastián since the 1979 elections ; Current distribution of the city council

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:City council of San Sebastian San Sebastián City and town halls in Spain Local government in Spain San Sebastian 1887 establishments in Spain Buildings and structures completed in 1887