Portugal

Assembly of the Republic

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 04 Oct 2015
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 22 Oct 2015
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake: 230
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: 20
Total number of candidates: 3,456
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.: Yes

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 9,682,553
Voters: 5,408,805
Voter turnout: 55.9%

Results

About the election: The centre-right coalition Forward Portugal, comprising the Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD led by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho) and the Democratic and Social Centre - People's Party (CDS-PP, of Mr. Paulo Portas), failed to win a majority in the 230-member Assembly of the Republic. It remained the largest single political force, taking 107 seats in all, down from 132 in 2011. Meanwhile, three leftist parties - the Socialist Party (PS), the Left Bloc (BE) and the Communist Party - Green Coalition (PCP-PEV) - increased their share and together took 122 seats in all.

The 2015 elections were the first since the country received a 78 billion-euro bailout from the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2011. In May 2014, the strengthening economy enabled Portugal to leave the bailout program. During the election campaign, the major parties focused on austerity measures and the reduction of the budget deficit.

On 6 October, President Anibal Cavaco Silva (PPD/PSD) tasked Mr. Coelho with forming a new government. Mr. Coelho's efforts to obtain backing from the PS did not bear fruit, and the PS instead started negotiating a coalition agreement with the BE and the PCP-PEV. On 27 October, the President accepted the formation of a minority government comprising the PPD/PSD and the CDS-PP. On 10 November, the opposition parties in parliament joined forces to reject the programme proposed by Prime Minister Coelho, forcing the government to resign.

On 24 November, the President tasked PS leader Antonio Costa with forming a new government. Mr. Costa's coalition government, comprising the PS -, the BE and the PCP-PEV, - was sworn in on 30 November, ending weeks of political uncertainty.
Number of parties winning seats: 6
Percentage of parties winning seats: 30.0%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 44.3%
Alternation of power after elections: Yes
Number of parties in government: 3
Names of parties in government: Socialist Party (PS), the Left Bloc (BE) and the Communist Party - Green Coalition (PCP-PEV)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total	Portugal	Members abroad
Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) - Democratic and Social Centre - People's Party (CDS-PP)	102	99	3
Socialist Party (PS)	86	85	1
Left Bloc (BE)	19	19	0
Communist Party - Green Coalition (PCP-PEV)	17	17	0
Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD)	5	5	0
Party for People, Animals and Nature (PAN)	1	1	0

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 158
Number of women elected: 72

Notes: 72 women were elected in the October 2015 elections. The number of women was increased to 80 after the formation of the second Government on 27 November 2015
Percentage of women elected: 31.3%
Women Directly Elected: 72
Other notes on the elections: Timing of election: Upon normal expiry. In cases of early dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic, the newly elected legislature completes the remaining period of the last session in progress of the outgoing legislature in addition to its statutory four-year term. The term of the Assembly of the Republic elected in June 2011 will thus last until 15 September 2015, in lieu of June 2015. General elections are held between 14 September and 14 October in the year in which the legislature ends.
Sources: Assembly of the Republic (15.10.2015, 28.10.2015, 12.11.2015, 03.12.2015)

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 158
Total number of women after the election: 72
Percentage of women after the election: 31.3%
First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available
Date of the first session: 23 Oct 2015

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues (Male)
Date of birth: 1949
Political party: Socialist Party (PS)
Date of election: 23 Oct 2015