The Statute of Autonomy establishes in section 24.2 that the Regional Assembly will legislate for its number of members, which may not be lower than 45 nor higher than 55. Electoral Act 2/1987 of the Region of Murcia states that it consists of 45 regional members, elected in five constituencies –one for each constituency, and the rest in proportion to its corresponding population.

The first regional elections held on May 8th 1983 were governed according to the First Transitional Provision of the Statute of Autonomy. It established --as a special feature that is still prevalent in the following electoral legislation-- the division of the territory of the Region of Murcia into five constituencies on the basis of the territory of each town.

The regional elections will be called by the Chairman of the Autonomous Community pursuant to Electoral Act of the Region of Murcia so that they are held on the fourth Sunday of May every four years --without prejudice to what the Spanish Parliament may stipulate-- with the exclusive purpose of coordinating the calendar of the different electoral consultations.

Throughout its history, the Regional Assembly of Murcia has considerably varied the political ideology of its representation. However, it has always been characterised by a party holding an absolute majority.

During the Interim Period (1982-83), Legislature I (1983-1987), Legislature II (1987-1991) and Legislature III (1991-1995), the party holding the absolute majority was the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), so the regional governments were of this political ideology. In the following legislatures: Legislature IV (1995-1999), Legislature V (1999-20003), Legislature VI (2003-2007), Legislature VII (2007-2011), and the current Legislature VIII (2011-2015), the People's Party has been the one holding an absolute majority with a government of this political ideology.

Legislatures of the Regional Assembly of Murcia

Interim Period

The Interim Period barely lasted ten months from the creation of the Regional Assembly on July 15th 1982 to May 8th 1983, when the first elections to the Regional Assembly were held. The functioning of the Chamber was governed by the Provisional Regulations adopted by the Plenary on July 21st 1982.

During this period, several acts mainly aimed at developing the basic framework of the incipient regional administration and the regime on the incompatibilities of the positions holding responsibilities within its structure were passed.

Also, during this period the Regional Assembly consisted of 38 members, who previously held the position of members of the Regional Council of Murcia, pre-autonomous body with a representative nature. The Spanish Socialist Party achieved an absolute majority, thus the executive arising from this Chamber being of this political ideology.

Carlos Collado Mena was the chairman of the Regional Assembly, and on July 22nd 1982 Andrés Hernández Ros became the chairman of the Autonomous Community.

I Legislature (1983-1987)

The first elections to the Regional Assembly were held on May 8th 1983 by means of electing 43 members that were the first representatives elected by universal suffrage. The Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) gained 25 seats, thus achieving an absolute majority; the AP-PDP-UL Coalition (right-wing) gained 16 seats; and the Spanish Communist Party gained 1 seat.

The Chamber was created on May 28th, Carlos Collado Mena being elected as the chairman of the chamber and Andrés Hernández Ros being elected as the Chairman of the Autonomous Community. Nonetheless, an internal crisis within the Socialist Party led to his resignation. As a matter of fact, in the plenary session of March 28th 1984 Carlos Collado Mena was elected as the new Chairman of the Autonomous Community, and Manuel Tera Bueno accepted the position of head of the regional parliament.

During this legislature, acts mainly aimed at developing the statutory predictions were passed, thus providing the Autonomous Community with the necessary institutional and legal framework to comply with its functions.

The Regional Assembly, by exercising its self-governance principle –recognised by the Statute of Autonomy-- approved its first Regulations in the plenary session of April 22nd 1983, (Regional Assembly's Official Gazette –BOAR-- nº26, dated May 3rd 1983).

At the end of this legislature, the remodelling process of the Casa de la Cultura building – located in Cartagena-- to transform it into the headquarters of the Regional Assembly of Murcia took place. It was led by the architect Rafael Braquehais, who was the winner of a competition held for this purpose.

May 8th 1983 elections

II Legislature (1897-1991)

In the II Legislature the number of regional members of the Regional Assembly was 45 by virtue of the prediction enshrined in section 14 of the Electoral Act of the Region of Murcia. The elections held on June 10th 1987 provided the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) with an absolute majority with 25 seats, the Alianza Popular Party (AP) –right-wing-- being the opposition party with 16 seats. Moreover, the Democratic and Social Party (CDS) --which formed a parliamentary group with 3 members-- and the left-wing party Izquierda Unida (IU) --which gained one seat-- achieved parliamentary representation.

The Chamber chose Miguel Navarro Molina as its chairman, thus Carlos Collado Mena achieving the position of Chairman of the Autonomous Community. Both belonged to the Spanish Socialist Party.

Immediately a drafting of new Regulations of the Chamber was undertaken, being passed on April 14th 1988, published in the Regional Assembly's Official Gazette (BOAR) nº 44 dated April 19th 1998, and corrected in BOAR nº 64 dated June 14th. With the new regulations that substituted the provisional regulations, the speeding-up of the functioning of the chamber was intended in order to meet more rapidly to the citizens' demands. This made it possible to create a parliamentary group within the Democratic and Social Party by reducing down to three the minimum number of members required to form a parliamentary group.

Another purpose of this legislature was to strengthen collaborative ties with society by means of agreements with regional bodies with proven reputation such the University of Murcia, Alfonso X El Sabio Academy, the Ministry of Education, etc. The Regional Assembly received the visits of the King and Queen of Spain, who stayed at the regional Parliament on June 12th 1990, and the Prince of Asturias, who did so on June 18th 1998.

From a legislative point of view an intense activity emerged, leading to acts of undeniable importance for the development of the regional bodies and the administration of the Autonomous Community, local administration and cultural and historical heritage being passed.

This legislature was initiated with the inauguration of the final headquarters of the Regional Assembly of Murcia once the remodelling process was finished.

June 10th 1987 elections

III Legislature (1991-1995)

After the elections held on May 26th 1991, the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) maintained its absolute majority, gaining 24 seats compared to the 17 of the People's Party and the four of the left-wing party Izquiera Unida (IU) coalition.

The Chamber was initially led by Miguel Navarro Molina, who resigned on November 23rd 1993 to become the mayor of Lorca. Therefore, José Plana Plana was elected as the new chairman, who also belonged to the Socialist Party.

Carlos Collado Mena was newly elected as the Chairman of the Autonomous Community, resigning on April 19th 1993. In the session held by the Plenary of the Chamber on April 27 1993, Antonia Martínez García was elected as the Chairwoman of the Autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, thus becoming the first woman who holds this position.

On February 3rd 1992 one of the most terrible events in our history took place: the arson of the parliamentary headquarters as a result of the riots caused by the industrial crisis in Cartagena.

In this legislature the Pacto del Agua (Water pact) was approved. This was a document --drafted by the three political parties with parliamentary representation-- in which we can find the unity of the regional politicians in relation to the problems derived from the scarcity of water resources, completely necessary for our economy.

Highly important acts such as the ones on the heritage of the Autonomous Community, on the regional planning and on the creation of the Economic and Social Committee of the Region of Murcia were passed.

The second reform of the Statute of Autonomy of the Region of Murcia was introduced by the Spanish Parliament by means of Organic Act, dated March 24th 1994, with the pursuit of increasing the responsibilities and competences of the Autonomous Community. This reform was based on the agreements reached by the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and the People’s Party (PP) at a state level on February 28^th 1992.

May 28th 1995 elections

IV Legislature (1995-1999)

The electoral results from the autonomous elections held on May 28^th 1995 meant an enormous change on the political, regional map. The regions was going to be governed by the People’s Party (PP) since it had gained 26 seats at the Regional Assembly, compared to the 15 seats of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and the 4 seats of the IU-LV Coalition (left-wing parties).

Mr. Franciso Celdrán Vidal, member of the People’s Party, became the Chairman of the Regional Assembly. As a matter of fact, Mr. Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso became the Chairman of the Autonomous Community and the first chairman belonging to that political ideology.

As for the legislative work, it is worth mentioning the acts passed with regards to some matters like the creation of the Legal Committee of the Region of Murcia, the advisory body of the Autonomous Region, infrastructure, trade, the creation of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, of saving banks, university coordination, etc.

It is important to pinpoint the creation of the Technical Office on Budgetary Control, a body which specialised in assisting and advising bodies and members of the Chamber to this effect. Also, a special committee named “On Pact for Employment” was created, which increased some proposals aimed at their discussion between social partners and the Governing Council.

During this legislature, a new and ambitious reform of the Statute of Autonomy was dealt with. It was aimed at enhancing the self-governance capacity of the Autonomous Community.

The Spanish Parliament adopted the reform of the Statute of Autonomy by means of Organic Act, dated June 15^th 1998, introducing several changes on the organisation and functioning of the autonomous bodies and strengthening the role of the regional parliament.

May 26th 1991 elections

V Legislature (1999-2003)

On June 13th 1999, elections to the Regional Assembly were held. The People’s Party (PP) achieved an absolute majority again with 26 seats; the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) obtained 18 seats; and the left-wing party Izquierda Unida (IU) obtained one seat. The Plenary of the Chamber, in the constituent session held on June 30^th 1999, again elected Mr. Francisco Celdrán Vidal as the Chairman of the Regional Assembly. Likewise, Mr. Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso was elected as the Chairman of the Autonomous Community.

One of the most relevant facts at an internal level but also enormously important at an institutional level is the approval by the Plenary of the new Chamber’s Regulations (Regional Assembly’s Official Gazette –BOAR- no. 127, dated June 13^th 2002, and Official Region of Murcia’s Official Gazette –BORM- no. 155, dated July 6^th 2002). This document has meant a more complete and systematic organisation and regulation of the instruments for the Government control.

During this legislature important acts were passed. Amongst these we can find: the one on the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Institute of the Region of Murcia, the Training and Employment Service, the Water and Soil Sanitation Service of the Region of Murcia, and the authorities controlling the regional and public service and the statutory personnel of the Murcia Health Service.

If we were to think about a recurrent issue on which the parliamentary debate has focused, it would be the one on water as a determining factor of our regional development. The concerns of the Chamber about the water shortage from which our Cuenca del Segura is suffering and the necessary defence of the Tajo-Segura water transfer are constant.

Nonetheless, the unanimity amongst the different political parties with parliamentary representation, which demanded the approval of the National Hydrological Plan by the National Government, was over at the beginning of the legislature. This occurred as a consequence of it being approved only by the People’s Parliamentary Group, with majority in the Chamber, and with no presence of the members of the opposition, Socialists and Mixed.

June 13th 1999 elections

VI Legislature

The elections held on May 25th 2003 established the continuation of the previous regional, political scene, except for slight variations. The People’s Party (PP) achieved an absolute majority, despite gaining 28 members this time; the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) gained 16 seats; and the left-wing party Izquierda Unida (IU) gained one seat, highlighting the feminine presence with 13 members, as well as the presence of five mayors that fit together their local mandate with their parliamentary mandate. Likewise, the fact that none of the members of the Governing Council (except for the Chairman of the Community) is a member of the Chamber is worth mentioning.

In the constituent meeting of the Chamber, held on June 19^th 2003, Mr. Franciso Celdrán Vida was elected again as Chairman, and Mr. Ramón Luis Valcárcel was elected as Chairman of the Autonomous Community.

The legislative work was stressed in the creation of public bodies with relevant competences such as a new regulatory act of the Instituto de Fomento (Institute for Promotion), the creation of the Institute for Social Action and the Public Body of Water, etc. Furthermore, prolific legislative work was made in sectors such as ports, building quality, cooperatives, trade, etc. We have to pinpoint two acts with enormous legal importance: the regulatory act on the status of the President and the Governing Council, and the act on management and legal status of the regional administration.

It is worth stressing that during this legislature two committees of enormous political relevance were created: the one on the Study and Valuation of Reform of the Statute of Autonomy of the Region of Murcia, and the one on the Water Pact.

The Committee on Reform of the Statute of Autonomy was created on October 17^th 2005 with the aim of establishing the guidelines for the reform of our institutional basic norm. Moreover, with regards to previous statutory reforms, the opening of a hearing phase came as an innovation. It was aimed at important specialists and representatives of the regional bodies to know their opinion concerning the changes and improvements that should be introduced into the new Statute. After 28 summons, the work of this Committee was interrupted by the autonomous elections of May 2007.

The Water Pact Committee was created on June 29^th 2006 with the purpose of regaining the unanimity of the Water Pact of 1994 of all political ideologies with representation at the Regional Assembly. Also, experts on this issue were invited to attend this occasion, and after analysing the water shortage from which our Region is suffering, they ventured their opinions. The parliamentary groups did not reach an agreement and the decision of the Committee was finally approved with the votes of the members of the main people’s party.

May 25th 2003 elections

VII Legislature (2007)

The elections were held on May 27th 2007, confirming an absolute majority of the People’s Party (PP), which obtained 29 members. The Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) obtained 15 members and the IU-LV Coalition (left-wing) obtained one member. We can pinpoint the important renovation of the members of the Chamber --which reached 44% of the total--, as well as the presence of the 17 woman members: 40% out of the total of members.

Mr. Francisco Celdrán Vidal was re-elected as Chairman of the Chamber in the constitutive meeting held on June 18^th 2007. Mr. Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso was sworn in as Chairman of the Autonomous Community.

It is worth mentioning that during this legislature, certain committees were created. These were the Committee for the Reform of the Statute of Autonomy --which is still carrying out the work of the previous legislature--, the Committee on Security and Justice –before which several authorities and specialists have appeared--, the Committee on Equal Opportunities and Women’s Rights, the Committee on Employment –whose work has been reflected in the resolutions approved by the Plenary of the Chamber--, and the Committee on the Autonomous Funding –whose purpose concluded on June 30^th 2009 with motions for resolutions that also were submitted for debate in the Plenary of the Chamber.

May 27th 2007 elections

VIII Legislature (2011)