With the reform of the procedure of voting of the census of Spanish residents abroad, the institutional participation in the local administration by the 2,406,611 Spanish citizens abroad is separated from the municipal elections and is channeled through its own mechanisms such as the Councils of Spanish Residents Abroad,Order AEC / 2172/2010, of July 13, which regulates the constitution, election and operation of the Councils of Spanish residents abroad. thus generating the challenge of incorporating these Councils as other local EntitiesArticle 1. of the Statutes of the FEMP: "The Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces is an Association constituted by Municipalities, Islands, Provinces and other Local Authorities that voluntarily decide it" as full members of the Federation or in the case of the General Council of Spanish Citizenship Abroad as an Honor partner.
