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2013 Portuguese local elections

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2013 Portuguese local elections
← 2009
29 September 2013
2017 →
All 308 Portuguese municipalities and 3,092[1] Portuguese Parishes
All 2,086 local government councils
Opinion polls
Turnout52.6% Decrease 6.4 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader António José Seguro Pedro Passos Coelho Jerónimo de Sousa
Party PS PSD PCP
Alliance CDU
Last election 132 mayors, 37.7% 139 mayors, 38.7% 28 mayors, 9.8%
Popular vote 1,835,288[2] 1,570,601[3] 552,690
Percentage 36.7% 31.4% 11.1%
Swing Decrease 1.0 pp Decrease 7.3 pp Increase 1.3 pp
Mayors 150[4] 106[5] 34
Mayors +/– Increase 18 Decrease 33 Increase 6
Councillors 929[6] 770[7] 213
Councillors +/– Increase 8 Decrease 103[8] Increase 39

Local elections were held in Portugal on 29 September 2013. The elections consisted of three types of elections in the 308 Portuguese municipalities, namely the elections for the Municipal Chambers, the elections for the Municipal Assemblies, as well as the elections for the lower-level Parish Assemblies, whose winners are elected parish presidents. The latter were held separately in the more than 3,000 parishes around the country. The number of parishes had been reduced by over 1000 due to a local government reform undertaken by the Government led by Pedro Passos Coelho.

The process of submitting candidacies for these elections was marked by differences in the interpretation of the pertinent electoral law. This law prohibits a candidate, after having served for three terms, to run for Mayor, Municipal Assemblies or Parish Assemblies. But the law did not explicitly state whether it prohibits reelection only for the same municipality or parish, or for the same position in any municipality or parish. Candidates affected by this issue included Luís Filipe Menezes (PSD), running in Porto, and Fernando Seara (PSD/CDS–PP), who was standing in Lisbon.

This controversy ended on 5 September 2013 with the decision of the Constitutional Court allowing mayoral candidates that had already served three consecutive mandates to run for election in a different municipality.[9] With the term limit law, 52 percent of incumbent mayors, 160 to be precise, were barred from running for another term.[10]

The Socialist Party (PS) won the largest number of mayors in its history, surpassing its previous best result from just four years earlier. It also won the largest number of mayorships of any party in the history of Portugal till that date.[11] The PS also reconquered Coimbra and won in two large strongholds of the Social Democratic Party, Vila Real and Funchal.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) was the biggest loser of these elections, as it lost almost a third of the municipalities that it had held. However, the PSD did gain some traditionally Socialist bastions like Braga and Guarda. The communist Democratic Unity Coalition won in the cities of Loures, Beja and Évora.

The election was also marked by the strong electoral performances of various independent groups, which won several chambers. The most significant was the victory of independent Rui Moreira in Porto, who was supported by CDS-PP. The Democratic Unity Coalition increased its number of municipal chambers as well as its number of councilors by winning several chambers previously held by the Socialists, including winning back their historical stronghold of Loures. However, despite increasing their overall number of mayors, they also lost three chambers they won in 2009 to the Socialists; Chamusca, Crato, and Nisa. In Chamusca they had held the mayorship since 1979.

The People's Party (CDS–PP) broke a cycle of decline in local elections and won five municipalities, four more than in 2009. The Left Bloc suffered a heavy defeat, losing the only chamber they had, and electing fewer councillors than in 2009.

The turnout in these elections was the lowest ever, with 52.6 percent of voters casting their ballot.

Background

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Electoral system

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All 308 municipalities are allocated a certain number of councilors to elect corresponding to the number of registered voters in a given municipality. Each party or coalition must present a list of candidates. The winner of the most voted list for the municipal council is automatically elected mayor, similar to first-past-the-post (FPTP). The lists are closed and the seats in each municipality are apportioned according to the D'Hondt method. Unlike in national legislative elections, independent lists are allowed to run.[12]

By-elections (2009–2013)

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During the normal four-year term of local governments, sixteen parishes held a by-election for parish assemblies. No municipal council by-elections were held.[13]

Parties

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Official logo of the election.

The main political forces that contested the election were:

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

Opinion polling

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Voter turnout

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The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day.

Turnout Time
12:00 16:00 19:00
2009 2013 ± 2009 2013 ± 2009 2013 ±
Total 21.23% 19.44% Decrease 1.79 pp 45.30% 43.43% Decrease 1.87 pp 59.03% 52.60% Decrease 6.43 pp
Sources[14][15]

Results

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Municipal Councils

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National summary of votes and seats

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Summary of the 29 September 2013 Municipal Councils elections results
Parties Votes % ±pp swing Candidacies Councillors Mayors
Total ± Total ±
Socialist 1,812,02936.26Decrease1.4302923Increase2149Increase17
Social Democratic 834,45516.70Decrease6.3201531Decrease13586Decrease31
Democratic Unity Coalition 552,69011.06Increase1.3298213Increase3934Increase6
Social Democratic / People's 379,1107.59Decrease2.172154Decrease316Decrease3
Independents 344,5316.89Increase2.880112Increase4513Increase6
People's 152,0733.04Decrease0.115047Increase165Increase4
Left Bloc 120,9822.42Decrease0.61128Decrease10Decrease1
PSD / CDS–PP / MPT 100,4372.01Increase2.0411Increase20Steady0
PSD / CDS–PP / PPM 94,0151.88Increase0.1521Increase62Increase1
PSD / PPM 65,1021.30—621—1—
PSD / PPM / MPT 43,3120.87—27—0—
PSD/ CDS–PP / MPT / PPM 23,5510.47Decrease2.5514Decrease71Steady0
Portuguese Workers' Communist 23,2760.47Increase0.3270Steady00Steady0
PS / BE / PND / MPT / PTP / PAN 21,1020.42—15—1—
PSD / MPT / PPM 19,8040.40—24—0—
Party for Animals and Nature 16,2330.32—120—0—
CDS–PP / MPT / PPM 9,2990.19—71—0—
PSD/ CDS–PP / PPM / MPT 8,9180.18Decrease1.114Decrease50Decrease1
Labour 8,5520.17—220—0—
Earth 6,6600.13Decrease0.182Steady00Steady0
People's / Social Democratic 4,6560.09—44—0—
PPM / PND / PPV 3,6340.07—30—0—
National Renovator 3,0020.06Increase0.160Steady00Steady0
People's / Earth 2,9310.06Increase0.130Steady00Steady0
PS / PTP / PND / BE 2,1570.04—11—0—
Social Democratic / Earth 1,8970.04—23—0—
New Democracy 1,2720.03Decrease0.110Decrease10Steady0
People's Monarchist / PPV 8560.02—10—0—
People's Monarchist 4550.01Decrease0.010Steady00Steady0
Portugal Pro-Life 3380.01—10—0—
Total valid 4,657,329 93.18 Decrease3.8 — 2,086 Increase8 308 Steady0
Blank ballots 193,4713.87Increase2.2
Invalid ballots 147,2052.95Increase1.7
Total 4,998,005 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 9,501,10352.60Decrease6.4
Source:[16][17]

Municipality map

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Most voted parties or coalitions in each Municipality.
Municipalities won by:
■ - PS: 150
■ - PSD: 86
■ - CDU: 34
■ - CDS–PP: 5
■ - PSD coalitions: 20
■ - Independents: 13

City control

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The following table lists party control in all district capitals, highlighted in bold, as well as in municipalities above 100,000 inhabitants. Population estimates from 2013.[18]

Municipality Population Previous control New control
Almada 170,756 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Amadora 175,354 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Aveiro 77,229 PSD / CDS–PP PSD / CDS–PP / PPM
Barcelos 119,563 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Beja 35,024 Socialist Party (PS) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Braga 181,847 Socialist Party (PS) PSD / CDS–PP / PPM
Bragança 34,681 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Cascais 208,514 PSD / CDS–PP PSD / CDS–PP
Castelo Branco 54,409 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Coimbra 136,964 PSD / CDS–PP / PPM Socialist Party (PS)
Évora 55,053 Socialist Party (PS) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Faro 61,749 PSD / CDS–PP / PPM / MPT PSD / CDS–PP / PPM / MPT
Funchal 108,053 Social Democratic Party (PSD) PS / BE / PND / MPT / PTP / PAN
Gondomar 167,525 Independent (IND) Socialist Party (PS)
Guarda 40,994 Socialist Party (PS) PSD / CDS–PP
Guimarães 156,310 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Leiria 125,977 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Lisbon (details) 516,815 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Loures 203,117 Socialist Party (PS) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Maia 135,924 PSD / CDS–PP PSD / CDS–PP
Matosinhos 174,690 Socialist Party (PS) Independent (IND)
Odivelas 151,012 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Oeiras 172,556 Independent (IND) Independent (IND)
Ponta Delgada 68,768 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Portalegre 23,915 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Independent (IND)
Porto (details) 222,252 PSD / CDS–PP Independent (IND)
Santarém 60,257 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Santa Maria da Feira 140,038 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Seixal 162,516 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Setúbal 118,689 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Sintra 379,756 PSD / CDS–PP / PPM / MPT Socialist Party (PS)
Viana do Castelo 87,243 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Vila Franca de Xira 139,110 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Vila Nova de Famalicão 133,711 PSD / CDS–PP PSD / CDS–PP
Vila Nova de Gaia 302,828 PSD / CDS–PP Socialist Party (PS)
Vila Real 51,009 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Socialist Party (PS)
Viseu 98,424 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)

Municipal Assemblies

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National summary of votes and seats

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Summary of the 29 September 2013 Municipal Assemblies elections results
Parties Votes % ±pp swing Candidacies Mandates
Total ±
Socialist 1,746,81934.95Decrease1.73022,659Decrease196
Social Democratic 813,83516.28Decrease5.92021,588Decrease536
Democratic Unity Coalition 599,02911.98Increase1.4301747Increase96
Social Democratic / People's 376,0567.52Decrease1.872493Decrease29
Independents 325,7246.52Increase2.874352Increase128
People's 159,9213.20Decrease0.3137224Decrease29
Left Bloc 157,6863.15Decrease1.0119100Decrease39
PSD / CDS–PP / MPT 106,7252.14Increase2.1442Increase36
PSD / CDS–PP / PPM 88,3931.77Decrease0.0572Increase12
PSD / PPM 60,8731.22—657—
PSD / PPM / MPT 41,3070.83—218—
Party for Animals and Nature 23,7760.48—135—
PSD/ CDS–PP / MPT / PPM 22,4200.45Decrease2.5537Decrease28
PS / BE / PND / MPT / PTP / PAN 20,8490.42—114—
PSD / MPT / PPM 19,8500.40—211—
Portuguese Workers' Communist 15,3930.31Increase0.2122Increase2
CDS–PP / MPT / PPM 9,9490.20—79—
PSD/ CDS–PP / PPM / MPT 8,8860.18Decrease1.0110Decrease12
Earth 5,5250.11Decrease0.1711Decrease3
People's / Social Democratic 4,6470.09—317—
PPM / PND / PPV 4,4510.09—30—
Labour 4,1020.08—123—
People's / Earth 3,3840.07Increase0.133Increase3
National Renovator 3,2470.06Increase0.160Steady0
PS / PTP / PND / BE 2,1010.04—13—
Social Democratic / Earth 2,0080.04—28—
New Democracy 1,5050.03Decrease0.110Decrease5
People's Monarchist / PPV 1,0460.02—10—
People's Monarchist 4450.01Decrease0.012Decrease3
Total valid 4,629,952 92.63 Decrease4.1 — 6,487 Decrease459
Blank ballots 215,4894.31Increase2.3
Invalid ballots 153,0683.06Increase1.8
Total 4,998,509 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 9,501,10352.61Decrease6.4
Source:[16][19]

Parish Assemblies

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National summary of votes and seats

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Summary of the 29 September 2013 Parish Assemblies elections results
Parties Votes % ±pp swing Candidacies Mandates Presidents
Total ± Total ±
Socialist 1,733,68734.69Decrease1.62,69510,838Decrease2,8981,282Decrease295
Social Democratic 815,08616.31Decrease6.11,7166,927Decrease4,186912Decrease618
Democratic Unity Coalition 596,32411.93Increase1.01,7351,973Decrease293170Decrease43
Independents 478,2739.57Increase3.58882,978Increase305342Increase10
Social Democratic / People's 363,1457.27Decrease1.95882,096Decrease815222Decrease90
People's 139,3042.79Increase0.5699725Increase3350Decrease3
Left Bloc 115,1912.30Decrease0.7364138Decrease970Decrease4
PSD / CDS–PP / MPT 111,5712.23Increase2.285322Increase29318Increase16
PSD / CDS–PP / PPM 81,0961.62Decrease0.2125453Increase4844Increase8
PSD / PPM 55,1861.10—68251—21—
PSD / PPM / MPT 44,6610.89—2591—6—
PSD / MPT / PPM 19,9080.40—1639—2—
PSD/ CDS–PP / MPT / PPM 19,3970.39Decrease2.53088Decrease2963Decrease28
PS / BE / PND / MPT / PTP / PAN 18,9670.38—1053—5—
CDS–PP / MPT / PPM 8,9660.18—3912—0—
PSD/ CDS–PP / PPM / MPT 8,3440.17Decrease0.91244Decrease1242Decrease13
Portuguese Workers' Communist 8,0030.16Increase0.1292Increase20Steady0
PPM / PND / PPV 4,7290.09—270—0—
Earth 4,5690.09Decrease0.11418Decrease290Decrease2
People's / Social Democratic 4,3030.09—2263—5—
Party for Animals and Nature 4,0010.08—141—0—
Labour 2,6810.05—301—0—
New Democracy 2,6700.05Increase0.1125Increase20Steady0
Social Democratic / Earth 2,1230.04—1027—1—
PS / PTP / PND / BE 2,0850.04—57—0—
People's / Earth 1,6100.03Increase0.094Increase10Steady0
National Renovator 7160.01Increase0.0100Steady00Steady0
People's Monarchist 5490.01Steady0.0711Increase80Steady0
Communist 570.00—10—0—
People's Monarchist / PPV 470.00—20—0—
Total valid 4,647,249 92.99 Decrease3.4 — 27,167 Decrease7,505 3,085 Decrease1,022
Blank ballots 194,9783.90Increase1.8
Invalid ballots 155,2713.11Increase1.6
Total 4,997,498 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 9,500,20252.60Decrease6.4
Source:[16][20]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ DGAI - Reorganização Administrativa do Território das Freguesias - (RATF)
  2. ↑ Sum of votes between PS-only lists and lists with other parties.
  3. ↑ Sum of votes between PSD-only lists and lists with other parties.
  4. ↑ Number of municipalities won between PS-only lists and lists with other parties. PS-only lists: 149; PS-coalition lists: 1.
  5. ↑ Number of municipalities won between PSD-only lists and lists with other parties. PSD-only lists: 86; PSD-coalition lists: 20.
  6. ↑ This accounts for seats won on PS-only lists and lists with other parties. The PS ran on joint lists in two municipalities in this election, and ran joint lists in no municipalities in 2009. In the municipalities where they ran on joint lists, those lists received a combined 6 seats.
  7. ↑ This accounts for seats won on PSD-only lists and lists with other parties.
  8. ↑ This decrease is also relative to the number of seats won on PSD-only lists and lists with other parties in 2009.
  9. ↑ Público (5 September 2013). "Tribunal Constitucional dá luz verde aos candidatos autárquicos com três mandatos". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "Limitação de mandatos autárquicos renovou poder local em 2013". www.rtp.pt/ (in Portuguese). RTP. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  11. ↑ New relationship of trust between Portuguese people and PS, says Seguro. Expresso (in Portuguese.) Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  12. ↑ Eleição dos titulares dos órgãos das autarquias locais. Diário da República (in Portuguese.) Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "Eleições / Referendos". Comissão Nacional de Eleições (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "Autárquicas 2013 - Afluência". eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/autarquicas2013/index.html (in Portuguese). Ministry of Internal Administration. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "Autárquicas 2009 - Afluência". eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/autarquicas2009/index.html (in Portuguese). Ministry of Internal Administration. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 "Autárquicas 2013 - Resultados". eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/Autarquicas2009/ (in Portuguese). Ministry of Internal Administration. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "Resultados do ano 2013 - Autárquicas". www.rtp.pt (in Portuguese). RTP. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "População residente 2013". www.ine.pt (in Portuguese). Statistics Portugal. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Resultados do ano 2013 - Autárquicas". www.rtp.pt (in Portuguese). RTP. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Resultados do ano 2013 - Autárquicas". www.rtp.pt (in Portuguese). RTP. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
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