Asturian-American Migration Forum

In my conversations with Asturian friends, I found it very interesting that (as I recall) when you vote you vote for a ticket: Socialist, Social Democrat, Communist, Partido Popular, or whatever. But you don't vote for individual politicians. So when the votes are counted, if a party has won ten seats in a legislature, the top ten from that party will get a seat. I suppose the party leaders decide the ranking (who's #1, #2, etc.).

The people I talked to seemed to indicate that the parties were often dominated by big fish and not terribly democratic. ("You don't like my policies? You're out!") I may have misunderstood....

I did sense that there was fairly widespread disappointment with the parties, much like here in the US.

Is my memory accurate?

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En mis conversaciones con amigos asturianos, lo encontré muy interesante que (como recuerdo) cuando se vota, se vota a favor de un programa [lista? i.e. para el partido]: Demócrata Socialista, Socialista, Comunista, Partido Popular, o algo así. Pero no se vota a favor de políticos individuales. Entonces cuando los votos son contados, si un partido ha ganado diez asientos(escaños?) en un legislatura, los diez primeros de aquel partido conseguirán un asiento(escaño?). Supongo que los líderes de partido deciden la clasificación (quien es *1, *2, etc.).

La gente a quien hablé pareció indicar que los peces gordos a menudo dominaban los partidos y no son terriblemente democráticos. ("¿No le gusta mi política? ¡Fuera, tonto!") Es posible que había entendido mal....

A mi me parece que había una desilusión extendida con los partidos, mucho como aquí en los EU.

¿Recuerdo correctamente?

Art,
Yes, you are right. Although I'm sure that Carlos could explain you it much better than me, I'll tell you that it's a subject that many people in Spain critisize. It's the "closed lists" subject: you vote a party but not individual members of its. Each party propose a list of people who will be deputies if the party wins. Citizens vote this list. The people who are at the top of the list have more chance of getting a seat than those who are at the low. And it's the leaders of the party who decide who are in that list, and who it's at the top of it. And usually, who don't like the policy of the leaders, who don't is docile, who dont' obey them, who have his own ideas, isn't in the list. For exemple, Rajoy is said have been elected Aznar's heir as President of the Popular Party for this reason.
Have I explained this subject clearly, Art?

Miguel Ángel,

Muy lúcido. Gracias.

Very clear (at least to me). Thanks.

Bob Martinez

Thanks, Miguel Angel. That helps! That really is different from here. We vote for individuals more than there. But we can't vote for a vice president. The VP comes with the president.

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Gracias, Miguel Angel. Lo explicas bien. Realmente es distinta de aquí. Votamos para personas individuales más que allí. Pero no podemos votar para un vicepresidente. Él o ella viene con el presidente.