Local government elections took place on 27 May 2006. At that time the total number of municipalities was 79, reduced from 105 in the previous elections of 2002. Nineteen municipalities, with 1.3% of the total number of voters, had direct voting, while 60 municipalities, with 98.7% of the voters, had proportional voting.

The number of voters on the electoral roll of the 2006 elections was 216,163, corresponding to 71.3 per cent of the population. Participation in the elections was 78.7%. Participation was higher for women than for men, or 79.4% against 78.1%. Of the 60 municipalities with proportional voting 172 candidate lists were presented for election, including two lists that were elected without a ballot as they were unopposed in the respective municipalities. There were 2,675 candidates on the 172 lists, 1,503 men (56.2%) and 1,172 women (43.8%).

A total of 529 representatives were elected to 79 local councils in 2006, 339 men or 64.1% and 190 women or 35.9%. The proportion of women had increased from 31.5% in 2002. The number of elected representatives with proportional voting was 436, 275 men and 161 women. Of these 227 were elected on behalf of political parties but 209 on behalf of other candidate lists. A total of 93 representatives were elected in municipalities with direct voting, 64 men and 29 women.

Local government elections 27 May 2006 - Statistical Series