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| Cortes Valencianas | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cortes Valencianas |
| House type | unicameral |
| Foundation | 1982 |
| Leader1 type | President |
| Members | 99 |
| Voting system | proportional representation |
Cortes Valencianas are the unicameral legislative institution of the Valencian Community established under the 1978 Spanish constitutional framework and the 1982 Statute of Autonomy. They legislate within competencies devolved by the Constitution of Spain and interact with institutions such as the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, the Generalitat Valenciana, the Audiencia Nacional, and the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Comunidad Valenciana. The body traces institutional antecedents to medieval Cortes in the Kingdom of Valencia, the Bourbon reforms, the Spanish Constitution of 1812, the restoration period, and the democratic transition culminating in the Statute of Autonomy for the Valencian Community.
The origin of regional assemblies in the territory dates to the medieval Cortes of Valencia convened under the Crown of Aragon and monarchs like King James I of Aragon and Ferdinand II of Aragon, followed by reforms under the Bourbon Reforms and suppression after the War of the Spanish Succession and the Nueva Planta decrees. During the 19th century, institutions reappeared in discourses tied to the Liberal Triennium, the Spanish Constitution of 1812, and provincial deputations created after the Provincial Deputation reforms under Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies. The 20th century saw regionalist movements linked to figures such as Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and organizations like the Lliga Regionalista and the Acción Nacionalista Valenciana. Under the Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War, local assemblies and municipal councils clashed with national institutions; the Francoist Spain period centralized power until the Transition to democracy in Spain reopened possibilities for autonomy by way of the 1978 Spanish Constitution and the 1982 Statute of Autonomy approved in the Cortes Generales. The modern Cortes Valencianas first convened following the first autonomous elections, reflecting party dynamics among PSOE, Partido Popular, Unió Valenciana, and later formations like Compromís, Ciudadanos, and Vox.
The Cortes operate under the Statute of Autonomy of the Valencian Community and the Constitution of Spain, sharing competences with state institutions such as the Cortes Generales, the Congreso de los Diputados, and the Senate of Spain within the constitutional distribution. Their competencies intersect with sectors regulated by state laws like budgetary norms, public order linked to the Ministerio del Interior (Spain), and participation in EU matters involving the European Parliament through coordination mechanisms. They enact regional legislation compliant with precedents set by the Tribunal Constitucional, and their statutes are subject to review by the Tribunal Supremo and the European Court of Justice when EU law issues arise. The Cortes can grant investiture to the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, approve autonomous budgets referencing the Ministry of Finance, and call for regional referendums in coordination with the Government of Spain.
Composed of 99 deputies elected from the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia under a closed-list proportional representation system using the D'Hondt method and electoral thresholds regulated by the Ley Orgánica del Régimen Electoral General. Electoral cycles align with regional statutes and can be affected by decisions involving the Junta Electoral Central and disputes adjudicated by the Audiencia Nacional. Parties contesting include national and regional formations such as Partido Socialista Obrero Español, Partido Popular, Esquerra Republicana, Bloco Nacionalista Galego, regional coalitions like Compromís, and emergent groups including Podemos, Más País, and Vox. The electoral map recalls provincial representation debates from the Constitutional Court of Spain jurisprudence and electoral reforms discussed in the Cortes Generales.
Internally, the Cortes establish standing bodies comparable to parliamentary practices in the Cortes Generales: a President (Speaker), Bureau (Mesa), and parliamentary groups representing parties and coalitions recognized under rules referencing precedents from the Congress of Deputies and the Senate of Spain. Committees follow models from the European Parliament and national assemblies, including committees on Finance, Health, Education, and Justice, with oversight powers interacting with agencies like the Consell Valencià de Cultura and the Sindicat de Cuentas. Administrative services mirror those in regional parliaments such as the Parliament of Catalonia and the Basque Parliament.
Political groups in the chamber form around party organizations like Partido Popular, PSOE, Compromís, and Ciudadanos, with leadership roles occupied by deputies who may also be municipal figures from cities such as Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón de la Plana. Coalition arrangements recall national agreements seen between formations like PSOE and regional partners, and regional leadership interacts with the President of the Generalitat Valenciana as well as municipal leaders from city councils and provincial deputations such as the Diputación de Valencia.
Plenary sessions follow rules comparable to those in the Cortes Generales with agendas set by the Bureau and provisions for question times to the President of the Generalitat Valenciana and regional ministers. Legislative initiatives originate from the President, parliamentary groups, local entities like city councils of Valencia and Alicante, or through popular initiatives regulated similarly to mechanisms in the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia and other autonomous statutes. Bills pass through committee stages, amendments, and plenary votes subject to voting rules and possible judicial review by the Tribunal Constitucional.
The Cortes meet in the historic Palacio de las Cortes or designated parliamentary headquarters in Valencia, situated amid buildings like the Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana and near civic landmarks such as the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the Mercado Central. The complex includes session chambers, committee rooms, archives, and public galleries similar to those in the Palacio del Parlamento de Andalucía and the Parlament de Catalunya facilities, hosting official ceremonies tied to the Falles festival and regional commemorations.
Category:Politics of the Valencian Community Category:Legislatures of Spain