On Sunday, voters across Portugal participated in local elections, drawing significant attention to the mayoral battle in Lisbon following a tragic streetcar incident that claimed 16 lives last month.
This election is viewed as a pivotal moment for the political landscape, particularly after the far-right Chega party emerged as the second-largest force in the national parliament during a snap election just five months ago.
Chega’s ambitions and rising competition
The municipal elections present a crucial opportunity for the far right to strengthen its influence nationwide, particularly as Chega aims to elect mayors in key regions like Alentejo and Algarve. The party is fielding prominent candidates, including several Members of Parliament, in major cities, with figures like Pedro Pinto in Faro and Rita Matias in Sintra vying for attention. Notably, Chega’s candidates are neck-and-neck with those from the Socialist Party (PS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in competitive locales such as Sintra and Setúbal.
In Lisbon and Porto, intense contests are anticipated between candidates from the centre-right coalition (PSD-CDS) and the Socialist Party, which is running solo in Porto while forming a broad coalition in Lisbon.
Key races in Lisbon and Porto
In Lisbon, the current mayor, Carlos Moedas of the centre-right coalition, is challenged by Alexandra Leitão from the PS-led coalition. Moedas, who narrowly won the mayoral seat in 2021 after a lengthy Socialist governance, faces mounting pressure due to the recent streetcar tragedy, which has fueled public discontent. Despite the outcry, Moedas has distanced himself from responsibility, refusing to resign.
While the tragic incident weighs heavily on Moedas’ re-election efforts, many voters’ decisions will likely hinge on broader urban issues such as housing affordability and waste management, particularly as Lisbon grapples with rising tourist numbers and escalating real estate prices.
Leitão, aiming to be Lisbon’s first female mayor, faces competition from João Ferreira of the CDU (Communist Party-led coalition), who opted not to join the PS-led coalition that includes the Left Bloc, Livre, and PAN (People-Animals-Nature). The redistribution of votes between Leitão and Ferreira could significantly impact Moedas’ chances of retaining his position.
In Porto, the elections mark a notable change as former mayor Rui Moreira, who has held office since 2013, is unable to run due to term limits. Moreira was elected as an independent with backing from the CDS and the Liberal Initiative, successfully defeating candidates from major parties. With his departure, the focus shifts to the Socialist Party’s candidate, former Health Minister Manuel Pizarro, and the PSD/CDS coalition led by Pedro Duarte, who previously served as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
Furthermore, the rise of independent candidates continues to reshape the political terrain. From just seven elected independent mayors in 2005, the number surged to 19 in the last elections, reflecting voters’ growing preference for non-partisan leadership.
With 9,303,840 registered voters casting ballots for city councils, municipal assemblies, and parish assemblies across 308 municipalities and 3,259 parishes in mainland Portugal and its island territories, the stakes are high. This election sees participation from approximately 800 political parties and independent civic groups.
Despite a historical trend of high abstention rates—peaking at 47.4% in 2013—analysts anticipate a stronger voter turnout this year.