2009 Portuguese local elections

2009 Portuguese local elections

11 October 2009
All 308 Portuguese municipalities and 4,260 Portuguese Parishes All 2,078 local government councils
Turnout	59.0% 1.9 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader Manuela Ferreira Leite José Sócrates Jerónimo de Sousa Party PSD PS PCP Alliance CDU Last election 158 mayors, 39.9% 109 mayors, 35.9% 32 mayors, 10.9% Popular vote 2,146,587 2,087,831 537,329 Percentage 38.8% 37.7% 9.7% Swing 1.1 pp 1.8 pp 1.2 pp Mayors 139 132 28 Mayors +/– 19 23 4 Councillors 873 921 174 Councillors +/– 38 68 29

The Portuguese local elections of 2009 took place on 11 October. The elections consisted of three separate elections in the 308 Portuguese municipalities, the election for the Municipal Chambers, whose winner is elected mayor, another election for the Municipal Assembly and a last one for the lower-level Parish Assembly, whose winner is elected parish president. This last was held separately in the more than 4,000 parishes around the country.

The elections resulted almost in a tie between the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party, in which the Social Democrats lost almost 20 municipalities and also lost a considerable number of councilors. The Socialists, despite losing in number of municipal chambers, were the party that most councilors elected, a situation that has not happened since 1993 when in these elections the PSD elected more councilors than the PS but the PS elected more mayors than the PSD. The Socialists won also a decisive victory in Lisbon where the incumbent mayor, António Costa, defeated the former mayor and Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes by a considerable margin.

The Social Democratic Party lost some municipalities to the Socialists, but they did hold on municipalities like Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Sintra and Coimbra. The People's Party won only one municipality, Ponte de Lima, continuing its decline in comparison, for example, with the 36 mayors achieved in 1976.

On the left, the Democratic Unitarian Coalition, led by the Communist Party, obtained their worst result in history, winning less than 10% of the vote and losing 4 municipalities including Beja and Évora. The Left Bloc kept the presidency of its single municipality, Salvaterra de Magos.

The election was again marked by several victories of independent candidates, most of them former Socialist, Social Democratic candidates who were expelled or given no confidence by their respective parties and, even so, became mayors. The best known were Valentim Loureiro in Gondomar and Isaltino Morais in Oeiras. Fátima Felgueiras, independent candidate in Felgueiras, suffered a surprised defeat by the Social Democratic candidate after winning the election in 2005 with more than 47% of the vote.

Turnout in these election was the lowest in local election, as only 59% of the electorate cast a ballot, although the number of ballots cast in the election was the highest ever in local elections.

Parties

The main political forces involved in the election were:

• Left Bloc (BE)
• People's Party (CDS–PP) (only in some municipalities)¹
• Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU)
• Socialist Party (PS)
• Social Democratic Party (PSD) (only in some municipalities)¹

¹ The PSD and the CDS–PP will also form coalitions in several municipalities with the Earth Party (MPT) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM).

National summary of votes and seats

Municipal Councils

Most voted parties or coalitions in each Municipality. Municipalities won by:
■ - PSD: 117
■ - PS: 132
■ - CDU: 28
■ - BE: 1
■ - CDS–PP: 1
■ - PSD coalitions: 22
■ - Independents: 7

style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF66FF;" data-sort-value="Socialist Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF9900;" data-sort-value="Social Democratic Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF0000;" data-sort-value="Democratic Unity Coalition" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #0093DD;" data-sort-value="CDS – People's Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #8B0000;" data-sort-value="Left Bloc" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #CC0000;" data-sort-value="Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #013220;" data-sort-value="Earth Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #1F468B;" data-sort-value="New Democracy Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: lightgreen;" data-sort-value="Hope for Portugal Movement" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #2A5392;" data-sort-value="People's Monarchist Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #00B4C8;" data-sort-value="Merit and Society Movement" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #002147;" data-sort-value="National Renovator Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #CC0033;" data-sort-value="Portuguese Labour Party" |

 Summary of the 11 October 2009 Municipal Councils elections results

Parties		Votes	%	±pp swing	Candidacies	Councillors		Mayors
						#	±	#	±
Socialist	2,087,831	37.72	1.8		921	29	132	23
Social Democratic	1,271,410	22.97	5.3		666	76	117	21
	Social Democratic / People's	540,053	9.76	1.2		157	21	19	1
Democratic Unity Coalition	537,329	9.71	1.2		174	29	28	4
	Independents	222,494	4.02	1.6		67	31	7	0
People's	170,772	3.09	0.0		31	1	1	0
Left Bloc	164,396	2.97	0.0		9	2	1	0
	PSD / CDS–PP / MPT / PPM	163,966	2.96	—		22	—	1	—
	PSD / CDS–PP / PPM	99,811	1.80	0.1		17	2	1	0
	PSD / CDS–PP / PPM / MPT	69,638	1.26	0.1		9	2	1	0
Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat	14,242	0.26	0.0		0	0	0	0
Earth	11,196	0.20	0.2		2	2	0	0
New Democracy	6,882	0.12	0.1		1	0.1	0	0
Hope for Portugal Movement	1,953	0.04	—		0	—	0	—
	PSD / CDS–PP / MPT	1,709	0.03	0.0		2	0	0	0
PPM	1,466	0.03	0.0		0	0	0	0
Merit and Society Movement	1,437	0.03	—		0	—	0	—
National Renovator	1,204	0.02	0.0		0	0	0	0
Labour	758	0.01	—		0	—	0	—
	People's / Earth	165	0.00	—		0	—	0	—
	People's / People's Monarchist	156	0.00	—		0	—	0	—
Total valid		5,371,842	97.05	1.3	—	2,078	32	308	0
Blank ballots		94,862	1.71	0.9
Invalid ballots		68,400	1.24	0.5
Total (turnout 59.03%)		5,535,104	100.00	1.9
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições, Autárquicas 2009 Resultados Oficiais

Municipal Assemblies

style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF66FF;" data-sort-value="Socialist Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF9900;" data-sort-value="Social Democratic Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF0000;" data-sort-value="Democratic Unity Coalition" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #8B0000;" data-sort-value="Left Bloc" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #0093DD;" data-sort-value="CDS – People's Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #CC0000;" data-sort-value="Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #1F468B;" data-sort-value="New Democracy Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: lightgreen;" data-sort-value="Hope for Portugal Movement" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #002147;" data-sort-value="National Renovator Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #00B4C8;" data-sort-value="Merit and Society Movement" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #2A5392;" data-sort-value="People's Monarchist Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #CC0033;" data-sort-value="Portuguese Labour Party" |

 Summary of the 11 October 2009 Municipal Assemblies elections results

Parties		Votes	%	±pp swing	Candidacies	Mandates
						#	±
Socialist	2,031,783	36.70	1.0		2,855	61
Social Democratic	1,226,358	22.15	4.8		2,124	292
Democratic Unity Coalition	586,118	10.59	1.1		651	71
	Social Democratic / People's	518,198	9.61	1.1		522	115
Left Bloc	229,414	4.14	0.2		139	25
	Independents	215,794	3.90	1.8		224	103
People's	195,823	3.54	0.2		253	63
	PSD / CDS–PP / MPT / PPM	162,092	2.93	—		65	—
	PSD / CDS–PP / PPM	98,349	1.78	0.1		60	13
	PSD / CDS–PP / PPM / MPT	63,584	1.15	0.1		22	5
Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat	7,432	0.13	0.1		0	1
New Democracy	7,347	0.13	0.1		5	4
Hope for Portugal Movement	4,906	0.09	—		0	—
National Renovator	1,741	0.03	—		0	—
	PSD / CDS–PP / MPT	1,627	0.03	0.0		6	0
Merit and Society Movement	1,591	0.03	—		0	—
PPM	1,300	0.02	0.0		5	0
Labour	828	0.01	—		0	—
	People's / Earth	257	0.00	—		0	—
	People's / People's Monarchist	205	0.00	—		1	—
Total valid		5,354,747	96.73	1.3	—	6,946	60
Blank ballots		110,888	2.00	0.9
Invalid ballots		70,047	1.27	0.4
Total (turnout 59.04%)		5,535,682	100.00	1.9
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições, Autárquicas 2009 Resultados Oficiais

Parish Assemblies

style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF66FF;" data-sort-value="Socialist Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF9900;" data-sort-value="Social Democratic Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #FF0000;" data-sort-value="Democratic Unity Coalition" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #8B0000;" data-sort-value="Left Bloc" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #0093DD;" data-sort-value="CDS – People's Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #013220;" data-sort-value="Earth Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #CC0000;" data-sort-value="Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #00B4C8;" data-sort-value="Merit and Society Movement" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #1F468B;" data-sort-value="New Democracy Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #2A5392;" data-sort-value="People's Monarchist Party (Portugal)" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #CC0033;" data-sort-value="Portuguese Labour Party" | style="width: 2px; color:inherit; background-color: #002147;" data-sort-value="National Renovator Party" |

 Summary of the 11 October 2009 Parish Assemblies elections results

Parties		Votes	%	±pp swing	Candidacies	Mandates		Presidents
						#	±	#	±
Socialist	2,003,533	36.27	0.8		13,736	253	1,577	59
Social Democratic	1,238,620	22.43	4.2		11,113	1,338	1,530	193
Democratic Unity Coalition	606,136	10.97	1.1		2,266	289	213	31
	Social Democratic / People's	508,043	9.20	1.6		2,911	847	312	93
	Independents	338,003	6.12	1.6		2,673	473	332	40
Left Bloc	163,423	2.96	0.3		235	6	4	1
	PSD / CDS–PP / MPT / PPM	161,398	2.92	—		384	—	31	—
People's	128,443	2.33	0.4		693	129	53	12
	PSD / CDS–PP / PPM	96,936	1.76	0.2		405	0	36	2
	PSD / CDS–PP / PPM / MPT	62,228	1.13	0.7		168	48	15	4
Earth	8,400	0.15	0.1		47	24	2	1
Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat	3,368	0.06	0.0		0	0	0	0
Merit and Society Movement	1,803	0.03	—		0	—	0	—
New Democracy	1,658	0.03	0.1		3	3	0	0
	PSD / CDS–PP / MPT	1,532	0.03	0.0		29	3	2	0
PPM	716	0.01	0.1		3	3	0	0
	People's / Earth	542	0.01	—		3	—	0	—
Labour	336	0.01	—		0	—	0	—
National Renovator	280	0.00	0.0		0	0	0	0
	People's / People's Monarchist	152	0.00	—		3	—	0	—
Total valid		5,325,550	96.41	1.1	—	34,672	—	4,107	—
Blank ballots		116,243	2.10	0.7
Invalid ballots		81,523	1.48	0.4
Total (turnout 59.00%)		5,523,316	100.00	1.9
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições, Autárquicas 2009 Resultados Oficiais

See also

• Politics of Portugal
• List of political parties in Portugal
• Elections in Portugal

External links

• Official site Autárquicas 2009
• Official results site, Portuguese Justice Ministry
• Portuguese Electoral Commission