The Regionalist Unity of Castile and León (, URCL) is a "
regionalist,
democratic, modern and innovative
political party
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...
that, focusing on the principles of freedom, justice and solidarity, assumes the uncompromising defense of the legitimate interests of
Castile and León
Castile and León is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwestern Spain. Castile and León is the largest autonomous community in Spain by area, covering 94,222 km2. It is, however, sparsely populated, with a pop ...
."
It grew out of the union of several parties from
Salamanca
Salamanca () is a Municipality of Spain, municipality and city in Spain, capital of the Province of Salamanca, province of the same name, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is located in the Campo Charro comarca, in the ...
,
Palencia
Palencia () is a city of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the province of Palencia.
Located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in the northern half of ...
,
Burgos
Burgos () is a city in Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populous municipality of the province of Burgos.
Burgos is situated in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, on the confluence of th ...
,
Zamora and
Valladolid
Valladolid ( ; ) is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in Spain and the primary seat of government and ''de facto'' capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile and León. It is also the capital of the pr ...
, such as the ''Democracia Regionalista'' (Regionalist Democracy) of Castile and León or the ''Unidad Palentina'' (Palentine Unit).
The first local and regional elections in which it took part was in 1995, participating, since then, in all municipal, regional and national elections held, except in 2004.
Castile and Leon regionalism
The URCL defines itself as a
centrist
Centrism is the range of political ideologies that exist between left-wing politics and right-wing politics on the left–right political spectrum. It is associated with moderate politics, including people who strongly support moderate policie ...
, "regionalist, democratic, modern and innovative" constitutional political party that is founded on the principles of freedom, justice and solidarity. Its interest is in the protection of the legitimate interests that affect Castile and León.
The party rejects federalism and independence, but demands
autonomous
In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be defi ...
status with the same powers as the so-called historical communities, and decentralization of these powers to county councils and regions.
Political involvement
Since its founding in 1992, the URCL goes to
Villalar de los Comuneros annually on April 23 to celebrate
Castile and León Day. It has also participated in other events, rallies and conferences. It was in favor of the Salamanca - Madrid Highway. It participated in the First Debate Forum on "The Future of Castilianism", held in Burgos in October 2003. It was in favor of the Civil War Archive unit in Salamanca.
URCL was in favor of the Duero Highway, and the Toro de la Vega. The party opposed the placement of nuclear waste (ATC) in Castile and León, and drafted a shared program of urgent action in certain matters affecting Valladolid and surrounding municipalities, convened meetings convened for influential parties in the Government of Valladolid and Alfoz.
Election results
Autonomous elections
* 2011 Castile and León autonomous elections: 1,428 votes (0.10%) with three candidatures presented by the
Palencia province (0.34%), Valladolid (0.24%) and Salamanca (0.18%).
* 2007 Castile and León autonomous elections: 914 votes (0.06%); Only attending and presenting candidature in Valladolid (0.30%).
* 2003 Castile and León autonomous elections: 5,387 votes (0.35%);
* 1999 Castile and León autonomous elections: 10,985 votes (0.76%);
* 1995 Castile and León autonomous elections: 6,308 votes (0.41%).
Municipal elections
* 2011 Municipal elections: 1,655 votes (0.11%), with 12 councilors, governing in
Cevico de la Torre and
Castromonte, in the final pact with the PSOE ruling for two years; representation in
Bernuy de Zapardiel,
Aldeamayor de San Martín,
Brahojos de Medina,
Membrillar and
Ataquines.
* 2007 Municipal elections: 1,772 votes (0.12%), with 18 councilors. As a result of the elections, they held the mayoralties of
Membrillar in Palencia,
Bernuy-Zapardiel in Ávila
and from September 2009 the mayoralty of
Aldeamayor de San Martín in Valladolid. The deputies were spread throughout the provinces of Ávila, Palencia, Salamanca and Valladolid.
* 2003 Municipal elections: 7,452 votes (0.48%), 55 councilors and the mayoralties of
Alcazarén
Alcazarén is a town and municipality in the Province of Valladolid, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. with a population of 702 (as of January 1, 2004 census). Its name originates from the Arab "al-qasrayn" which means ...
,
Aldeamayor de San Martín and
Bustillo de Chaves
Bustillo de Chaves is a municipality located in the Valladolid (province), province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain), INE), the municipality has a population of 102 ...
in Valladolid,
Villota del Páramo in Palencia and
Horcajo Medianero,
Palaciosrubios and
San Pelayo de Guareña in Salamanca. The rest of the deputies were spread throughout the provinces of Salamanca, Valladolid, Palencia and Ávila:
Santa Marta de Tormes,
Cigales,
Guijuelo
Guijuelo () is a municipality located in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. As of 2016 the municipality has a population of 5630 inhabitants.
See also
*CD Guijuelo
Club Deportivo Guijuelo is a Spanish football team based in ...
,
Mayorga,
Ituero de Azaba
Ituero de Azaba is a village and Municipalities of Spain, municipality in the province of Salamanca (province), Salamanca, western Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. It is located from the provincial Capital (political), cap ...
,
Fuente el Sol,
Brahojos de Medina,
Villarino de los Aires,
Bernuy de Zapardiel,
Santibáñez de Béjar... As a summary of the 2003 municipal elections, the party obtained a deputy in the province of Ávila, two in Palencia, 41 in Salamanca and 17 in Valladolid.
* 1999 Municipal elections: 13,041 votes (0.90%) and 124 councilors.
* 1995 Municipal elections: 10,004 votes (0.65%) and 98 councilors.
Congress of Deputies elections
* 2011: 709 votes with candidacies for Valladolid and Palencia.
* 2008: 423 votes with only one candidacy for Valladolid.
* 2004: The candidacies were withdrawn at the last minute because of the
March 11 terrorist attacks.
* 2000: 5,537 votes (0.02%).
* 1996: 4,061 votes (0.02%).
* 1993: 2,715 votes (0.01%).
Senate elections
* 2011: 3,612 votes with candidacies in Palencia and Valladolid.
* 2008: 2,563 votes with candidacies in Salamanca, Palencia and Valladolid.
* 2004: The candidacies were withdrawn at the last minute because of the
March 11 terrorist attacks.
* 2000: 14,362 votes with candidacies in Ávila, Burgos, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora.
References
Bibliography
* "Regionalismo y autonomía en Castilla y León". Junta de Castilla y León (2004). J.A. Blanco Rguez. (Coord.).
* "Castilla y León en democracia. Partidos, elecciones y personal político 1977-2007". Junta de Castilla y León (2007). M. González, J.V. Pelaz y P. Pérez.
External links
Official page of the Unidad Regionalista de Castilla y León
{{DEFAULTSORT:Unidad Regionalista de Castilla y Leon
Regionalist parties in Spain
Political parties in Castile and León