The comarcal council (Catalan: consell comarcal, Galician: consello comarcal, Aragonese: concello comarcal, Spanish: consejo comarcal), also somewhat misleadingly referred to as county council, is a local administration and government body in the comarcas of some parts of Spain, mostly in the autonomous communities of Catalonia, Aragon and the Basque Country.
The comarcal council is normally constituted by representatives of the municipalities within the comarcal demarcation, who are elected according to law-regulated mechanisms.
In Aragon
Membership of the councils Council membership of a comarca is allocated according to its population using the following table: Population Council seats Up to 10,000 19 From 10,001 to 25,000 25 From 25,001 to 50,000 35 From 50,001 onwards 39
In the Basque Country
Only in the province of Álava comarcas have administrative status, known as kuadrilla in Basque and cuadrilla in Spanish. There are Añana, Ayala/Aiara, Gorbeialdea, Plain of Alava, Riojan Alava, Alava Mountains and Vitoria. Their comarcal councils bear the name kuadrillako batzarra in Basque or junta de cuadrilla in Spanish (county assembly in English).
Out of all 7 Alavan cuadrillas, only the Vitoria cuadrilla does not have any cuadrilla institutions, thus only keeping the name symbolically for the natural comarca, since all governance is assumed by the city council of the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the only municipality that makes up that cuadrilla.
In Catalonia
Comarques of Catalonia In Catalonia, the councilors of each of the comarcal councils are elected indirectly every four years from the results of the municipal elections of each of the municipalities that make up the comarca. They are elected under a mixed system of party-list proportional representation using the D'Hondt method, where both the number of votes obtained for each candidacy and the number of city councilors are taken into account.
Formally created in 1987, there are currently 41 comarcal councils in Catalonia. They establish the lowest system of government after the city council itself, with its organization comprising a collegial body, the plenary session, and a unipersonal body, the President. The plenary session is composed of councilors from each of the city councils of the municipalities that make up the comarca.
The plenary session chooses the President. They also have a manager fully integrated into the administration, akin to a city manager, who is fully dedicated to executing the tasks of the regional government and administration.
The Barcelonès comarcal council was formally abolished in 2019, rendering it the only comarca without one. Currently, due to its recent inception, it is only scheduled for the Lluçanès comarca to form its first comarcal council after the 2027 local elections.
Membership of the councils Council membership of a comarca is allocated according to its population using the following table: Population Council seats Up to 50,000 19 From 50,001 to 100,000 25 From 100,001 to 500,000 33 From 500,001 onwards 39
Comarcal Council of Alt Penedès Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Alt Penedès since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 1 10 14Joan Raventós Pujadó (CiU)1991 1 10 14 Pere Parera Cartró (CiU)1995 2 9 1 12 1 Joan Amat Solé (CiU) Raimon Gusi Amigó (CiU) 1999 2 10 1 11 1Angèlica Rodríguez Herrera (CiU)2003 3 11 10 1Lluís Valls Comas (PSC) Ramon Xena Pareta (ERC) 2007 1 3 10 10 1 Francesc Olivella (CiU) Jordi Girona Alaiza (PSC) 2011 1 1 3 12 14 2 Francesc Olivella (CiU)2015 3 2 6 9 12 1 Francesc Olivella (PDeCAT) Xavier Lluch (PDeCAT) 2019 3 1 10 7 12 Xavier Lluch (PDeCAT)2023 2 10 9 11 1 Xavier Lluch (Impulsem-Junts)
Comarcal Council of Alt Urgell Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Alt Urgell since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 3 4 11 1Maria Dolors Majoral Moliné (CiU)1991 3 4 11 11995 1 3 3 11 11999 3 5 10 1Ventura Roca Martí (CiU)2003 4 6 8 12007 3 6 9 1Jesús Fierro Rugall (CiU)2011 2 6 10 12015 5 3 112019 6 4 9 Miquel Sala Muntada (JxCat) Josefina Lladós Torrent (Junts) Martí Riera Rovira (ERC) 2023 1 4 5 9 Josefina Lladós Torrent (Junts)
Comarcal Council of Alta Ribagorça Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Alta Ribagorça since 1988 Election DistributionPresident1987 8 2 9Alejandro Rivera (PSC) Nadal Badia (CiU) 1991 8 2 9Josefina Ribé (CiU)1995 8 2 2 6 1Maria Àngels Pons (CiU)1999 1 5 2 10 1Joan Perelada (CiU)2003 2 4 132007 1 9 1 8Joan Perelada (PSC)2011 8 1 9 1José Antonio Troguet (CiU)2015 3 5 10 1Josep Lluís Farrero (CiU)2019 3 3 2 11Maria José Erta (JxCat)2023 6 4 3 6Albert Palacín (ERC)
Comarcal Council of Anoia Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Anoia since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 1 8 4 12 Manuel Miserachs (CiU)1991 9 4 12 Antoni de Solà (Independent)1995 1 1 1 1 8 13 Ramon Ferri (CiU)1999 2 10 13 Ramon Ferri (CiU) Josep Miserachs (CiU) 2003 1 4 10 9 1 Joan Vich (PSC)2007 1 7 13 111 Xavier Boquete (CiU) Marc Castells (CiU) 2011 1 7 9 13 2 1 Xavier Boquete (CiU)2015 1 1 11 7 12 12019 2 11 1 8 10 1 Xavier Boquete (JxCat)2023 2 10 1 9 10 1 Jordi Parcerisas (Junts)
Comarcal Council of Bages Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Bages since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 8 3 3 19 Francesc Iglesias i Sala (CiU)1991 10 1 4 181995 1 3 3 10 15 1 Jaume Rabeya Casellas (CiU)1999 1 2 5 11 14 Josep Joan Redó (ERC) Ignasi Perramon (ERC) 2003 2 7 11 12 1 Ezequiel Martínez (PSC) Josep Balasch (CiU) 2007 2 7 10 13 1 Cristòfol Gimeno (PSC) Josep Candàliga (ERC) 2011 1 1 8 7 14 1 1 Adriana Delgado (ERC) Mercè Cardona (PSC) 2015 3 1 11 5 13 Agustí Comas (ERC)2019 3 1 13 6 9 1 Estefania Torrente (ERC) Eloi Hernàndez (ERC) 2023 2 1 14 6 1 8 1 Eloi Hernàndez (ERC)
Comarcal Council of Baix Camp Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Baix Camp since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 1 10 20 2 Enric Cardús i Llevat (CiU)1991 1 10 21 1 Robert Ortiga (CiU)1995 1 3 8 19 21999 4 8 1 18 22003 1 5 11 1 12 32007 1 5 11 1 12 3 Xavier Llauradó (ERC) Josep Masdeu (PSC) 2011 4 10 15 4 Quim Calatayud (CiU)2015 3 8 5 1 12 2 22019 2 11 6 1 10 2 1 Quim Calatayud (JxCat) Rosa Maria Abelló (ERC) 2023 1 10 7 1 9 1 2 2 Ernest Roigé (ERC) Joan Josep Garcia (Junts)
Comarcal Council of Baix Ebre Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Baix Ebre since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 1 8 1 1 10 4 Marià Curto i Forés (CiU)1991 8 1 12 41995 1 5 1 1 12 5 Ramon Cardús (CiU)1999 7 12 6 Joan Bertomeu (PP)2003 4 8 2 8 3 Ferran Bel (CiU)2007 6 8 10 1 Andreu Martí (CiU) Dani Andreu (ERC) 2011 6 6 11 2 Lluís Soler (CiU)2015 1 8 5 10 1 Dani Andreu (ERC) Enric Roig (PSC) Sandra Zaragoza (PDeCAT) 2019 2 11 3 8 1 Xavier Faura (ERC)2023 10 5 10 Antoni Gilabert (ERC)
Comarcal Council of Baix Empordà Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Baix Empordà since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 5 2 18 Albert Vancells (CiU) 1991 7 1 171995 1 1 2 6 151999 1 1 1 6 16 Josep Sala (CiU) 2003 4 3 1 9 15 1 Ricard Herrero (PSC) 2007 3 6 12 1 10 12011 2 6 10 1 13 1 Joan Català (CiU) 2015 2 1 11 6 1 11 1 Joan Català (CiU, JxCat) 2019 2 1 12 1 5 4 7 1 Joan Loureiro (ERC)2023 2 1 9 6 6 9 Glòria Marull (Junts) TBD (ERC)
Comarcal Council of Baix Llobregat Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Baix Llobregat since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 9 18 1 11José Montilla (PSC)1991 7 19 12 11995 9 1 16 9 4José Montilla (PSC) José Luis Morlanes (PSC) 1999 1 7 1 19 8 3José Luis Morlanes (PSC)2003 8 4 17 6 4Rosa Boladeras (PSC)2007 7 4 17 6 1 42011 8 2 14 8 6 1Joaquim Balsera (PSC) Lourdes Borrell (PSC) Josep Perpinyà (PSC) 2015 1 7 6 13 5 4 3Josep Perpinyà (PSC)2019 5 9 16 4 4 1Eva Martínez (PSC)2023 5 7 17 4 4 2
Comarcal Council of Baix Penedès Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Baix Penedès since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 9 10 Benet Jané (CiU)1991 7 2 101995 1 6 11 11999 1 11 12 12003 2 10 1 11 12007 1 2 9 1 10 1 1 Jordi Sánchez (PSC)2011 1 2 8 10 3 1 Joan Olivella (CiU)2015 2 1 1 5 9 10 2 2 1 Eva Serramià (CiU, JxCat)2019 1 1 7 12 8 3 1 Joan Sans (PSC)2023 1 7 12 5 4 2 2 Ramon Ferré (PSC)
Comarcal Council of Barcelonès Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Barcelonès between 1987 and 2019 Election DistributionPresident1987 7 22 9 1Joan Blanch (PSC)1991 6 21 10 21995 6 1 17 9 61999 2 1 23 7 6Maite Arqué (PSC)2003 5 3 18 7 6Joan Carles Mas (PSC)2007 4 2 17 9 72011 5 1 14 10 9Jesús María Canga (PSC) Francesc Josep Belver (PSC) 2015 4 8 4 8 6 4 5Francesc Josep Belver (PSC)
Comarcal Council of Berguedà Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Berguedà since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 4 3 12 Jaume Farguell i Sitges (CiU)1991 4 3 121995 1 2 1 3 121999 2 5 11 1 Montserrat Ribera (CiU)2003 3 6 102007 1 2 6 10 Montserrat Ribera (CiU) Sergi Roca (CiU) 2011 1 2 5 11 Sergi Roca (CiU)2015 2 6 2 9 David Font (CiU, JxCat) Josep Lara (JxCat) 2019 3 6 2 1 7 Josep Lara (JxCat, Junts)2023 3 6 1 2 2 5 Ramon Caballé (Junts) Moisès Masanas (ERC)
Comarcal Council of Cerdanya Councilors in the Comarcal Council of (Baixa) Cerdanya since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 1 2 15 1 Josep Tajà (CiU)1991 2 2 2 131995 2 3 2 12 Joan Pous (CiU)1999 5 3 1 10 Pere Moya (CiU) Joan Pous (CiU) 2003 1 7 1 10 Joan Pous (CiU)2007 8 2 9 Joan Pous (CiU) Esteve Maurell (PSC) 2011 1 4 2 12 Ramon Moliner (CiU)2015 3 3 132019 7 3 9 Roser Bombardó (ERC)2023 8 1 1 9 Isidre Chia (Junts)
Comarcal Council of Conca de Barberà Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Conca de Barberà since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 3 1 2 13 Antoni Llort Güell (CiU)1991 8 1 9 1 Eloi Pros (PP) Antoni Llort (CiU) 1995 1 1 6 11 Josep Maria Riba (CiU)1999 1 2 1 3 11 12003 4 3 1 2 9 Josep Maria Riba (CiU) David Rovira (CiU) 2007 4 4 3 8 David Rovira (CiU)2011 1 5 2 2 9 Ramon Borràs (CiU) Josep Amill (CiU) 2015 7 1 3 8 Josep Pijoan (FIC) Francesc Benet (ERC) 2019 8 1 2 8 Magí Trullols (FIC) Carme Pallàs (ERC) 2023 7 1 2 8 1 Joan Canela (Junts)
Comarcal Council of Garraf Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Garraf since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 1 11 2 2 1 8 Jaume Casanovas (PSC)1991 2 2 4 10 7 Francesc Xavier Robert (PSC)1995 2 9 7 3 Víctor Forgas (PSC)1999 5 1 10 7 2 Joaquim Mas (ICV)2003 3 2 14 1 1 8 4 Josep Antoni Blanco (PSC)2007 4 2 14 1 9 32011 3 4 11 10 5 Juan Luis Ruiz (PSC)2015 5 1 5 8 1 9 2 2 Gerard Martí Figueras (CiU) Glòria Garcia (JxCat) 2019 3 1 1 7 11 1 6 3 Abigail Garrido (PSC)2023 2 2 3 13 1 8 2 2 Mònica Gallardo (Junts) TBD (PSC)
Comarcal Council of Garrigues Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Garrigues since 1988 Election DistributionPresident1987 1 5 13 Josep Domènech (CiU)1991 1 4 14 Francesc Piñol (CiU)1995 3 2 13 11999 5 1 12 12003 5 4 10 Juli Muro (CiU)2007 6 4 9 Josep Lluís Balsells (CiU)2011 5 4 10 Juli Muro (CiU)2015 7 1 11 Antoni Villas (CiU)2019 8 1 10 Jaume Setó (JxCat)2023 1 1 7 1 9 Antoni Villas (Junts)
Comarcal Council of Garrotxa Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Garrotxa since 1987 Election DistributionPresident1987 3 3 13 Isabel Brussosa (CiU)1991 1 2 2 141995 1 4 1 131999 1 4 14 Miquel Noguer (CiU)2003 1 2 6 10 Miquel Noguer (CiU) Joan Espona (CiU) 2007 1 4 8 12 Joan Espona (CiU) 2011 3 5 172015 2 7 2 142019 1 9 1 14 Santi Reixach (JxCat, Junts) 2023 2 8 2 1 12
Comarcal Council of Gironès Councilors in the Comarcal Council of Gironès since 1988 Election DistributionPresident1987 11 22 Manel Nonó (CiU)1991 1 10 21 1 Josep Maria Dausà (CiU)1995 1 3 9 19 11999 3 9 2 18 1 Gabriel Casas (CiU) 2003 1 6 10 2 13 12007 2 7 10 13 1 Lluís Freixas (CiU) Cristina Alsina (ERC) 2011 2 1 6 6 16 2 Jaume Busquets (CiU)2015 4 1 9 3 14 1 12019 5 11 4 12 1 Joaquim Roca (JxCat, Junts)2023 6 10 5 11 1 Sònia Gràcia (Junts)
Comarcal Council of Lluçanès TBD
Comarcal Council of Maresme