View source for Regionalist Unity of Castile and León

{{Infobox political party
|name               = Regionalist Unity of Castile and León
|native_name        = Unidad Regionalista de Castilla y León
|logo               =
|colorcode          = {{party color|Regionalist Unity of Castile and León}}
|leader             =
|president          = Ignacio Moratinos
|chairman           =
|general_secretary  =
|first_secretary    =
|secretary_general  =
|presidium          =
|secretary          =
|spokesperson       =
|foundation         = 1992<!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
|ideology           = [[Progressivism]]<br>Castillian-Leonese [[regionalism (politics)|regionalism]]
|merger             = Democracia Regionalista de Castilla y León<br />Unidad Palentina<br /> Acción Popular Burgalesa<br />Agrupación Independiente de Benavente<br />Partido Regionalista de Castilla y León de Salamanca<br />sectors from [[Centro Democrático y Social|CDS]]<br />sectors from the Partido Nacionalista de Castilla y León and sectors from<br><small>Unidad Comunera Castellana</small>
|headquarters       = [[Valladolid]]
|international      =
|website            = [http://www.unidadregionalista.es/ www.unidadregionalista.es]
|country            = Spain
}}
The '''Regionalist Unity of Castile and León''' ({{Langx|es|Unidad Regionalista de Castilla y León}}, URCL) is a "[[Regionalism (politics)|regionalist]], [[democracy|democratic]], modern and innovative [[political party]] that, focusing on the principles of freedom, justice and solidarity, assumes the uncompromising defense of the legitimate interests of [[Castile and León]]."<ref name="Manifesto">{{Cite web |url=http://www.unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=4 |title=Manifiesto Regionalista de URCL |date=5 September 2006 |accessdate=1 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531043239/http://www.unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=4 |archivedate=31 May 2013 }}</ref>
It grew out of the union of several parties from [[Salamanca]], [[Palencia]], [[Burgos]], [[Province of Zamora|Zamora]] and [[Valladolid]], such as the ''Democracia Regionalista'' (Regionalist Democracy) of Castile and León or the ''Unidad Palentina'' (Palentine Unit).<ref name="Francia">{{Cite news |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/ESPANA/CASTILLA_Y_LEON/UNIDAD_REGIONALISTA_DE_CASTILLA_Y_LEON/PARTIDO_NACIONALISTA_DE_CASTILLA_Y_LEON/grupos/politicos/fusionan/partido/regionalista/Castilla/Leon/elpepiesp/19920427elpepinac_6/Tes |title=Seis grupos políticos se fusionan en un partido regionalista en Castilla y León |last=Francia |first=Ignacio |publisher=El Pais |date=27 April 1992 |accessdate=1 June 2013}}</ref> 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 [[Centrism|centrist]], "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 area|autonomous]] 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.portalsalamanca.com/noticias_ficha.php?codigo=23 |title=Constitución de una plataforma ciudadana para pedir la autovía Salamanca-Madrid |date=19 November 2005 |accessdate=1 June 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Europa">{{Cite web |url=http://noticias.interbusca.com/cultura/archivo.--alrededor-de-4.000-personas-secundan-la-concentracion-en-defensa-de-la-unidad-del-archivo-20060103165150.html |title=Alrededor de 4.000 personas secundan la concentración en defensa de la unidad del Archivo |date=3 January 2006 |publisher=Europa Press |accessdate=1 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="Polemica">{{Cite web |url=http://www.tribunasalamanca.com/noticias/la-urcl-exige-la-devolucion-de-gran-parte-de-la-documentacion-transferida-desde-el-archivo-de-salamanca/1352813979 |title=La URCL exige la devolución de gran parte de la documentación transferida desde el Archivo de Salamanca |date=22 September 2012 |publisher=Triubuna Salamanca |accessdate=1 June 2013}}</ref> URCL was in favor of the Duero Highway,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=124 |title=Una vez más la Autovía del Duero |accessdate=1 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611231922/http://unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=124 |archivedate=11 June 2013 }}</ref> and the Toro de la Vega.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diputaciondevalladolid.es/si/documentos/2009/septiembre/28/000J2EVM.pdf |title=En defensa del Toro Vega |date=28 September 2009 |publisher=El Dia de Valladolid |accessdate=1 June 2013 }}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The party opposed the placement of nuclear waste (ATC) in Castile and León,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=155 |title=Contra la instalación del cementerio nuclear (ATC) en Castilla y León |accessdate=1 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614102826/http://unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=155 |archivedate=14 June 2013 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=176 |title=URCL valora positivamente la reunión convocada por IU para partidos determinantes en el gobierno de Valladolid y los municipios del alfoz |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619033105/http://unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=176 |archivedate=2013-06-19 }}</ref>
==Election results==
===Autonomous elections===
* 2011 Castile and León autonomous elections: 1,428 votes (0.10%) with three candidatures presented by the [[Palencia (province)|Palencia province]] (0.34%), Valladolid (0.24%) and Salamanca (0.18%).
* 2007 Castile and León autonomous elections: 914 votes (0.06%);<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://elecciones2007.jcyl.es/auto/FTOP08.htm |title=Resultados de las elecciones autonómicas de Castilla y León de 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601064126/http://elecciones2007.jcyl.es/auto/FTOP08.htm |archivedate=2007-06-01 }}</ref> Only attending and presenting candidature in Valladolid (0.30%).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=55 |title=Unidad Regionalista en Salamanca irá a las elecciones en solitario |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612165004/http://unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=55 |archivedate=2013-06-12 }}</ref>
* 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.locales2007.mir.es/muni/FTOP.htm |title=Resultados de las elecciones locales de 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605213749/http://www.locales2007.mir.es/muni/FTOP.htm |archivedate=2007-06-05 }}</ref> As a result of the elections, they held the mayoralties of [[Membrillar]] in Palencia, [[Bernuy-Zapardiel]] in Ávila<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=122 |title=Alcaldía de Bernuy-Zapardiel |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611231919/http://unidadregionalista.es/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=122 |archivedate=2013-06-11 }}</ref> 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]], [[Aldeamayor de San Martín]] and [[Bustillo de Chaves]] 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]], [[Mayorga, Spain|Mayorga]], [[Ituero de Azaba]], [[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.<ref name="BOE">{{Cite web |url=http://boe.es/boe/dias/2008/04/17/pdfs/A20322-20377.pdf |title=BOE 17/04/2008}}</ref>
* 2004: The candidacies were withdrawn at the last minute because of the [[2004 Madrid train bombings|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.<ref name="BOE"/>
* 2004: The candidacies were withdrawn at the last minute because of the [[2004 Madrid train bombings|March 11 terrorist attacks]].
* 2000: 14,362 votes with candidacies in Ávila, Burgos, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==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==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130528211318/http://www.unidadregionalista.es/ Official page of the Unidad Regionalista de Castilla y León]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Unidad Regionalista de Castilla y Leon}}
[[Category:Regionalist parties in Spain]]
[[Category:Political parties in Castile and León]]