1983 Portuguese legislative election

none 1983 Portuguese legislative election Portugal parliamentary no 1980 Portuguese legislative election 1980 1985 Portuguese legislative election 1985 All 250 seats in the Assembly of the Republic 126 7,337,064 2.2% 5,707,695 (77.8%) 6.1 pp 25 April 1983 Mário Soares 1975b (cropped).jpg 110 110 150 0 0 Mário Soares Socialist Party (Portugal) 19 April 1973 Lisbon 66 seats, 27.8%Republican and Socialist Front 101 35 2,061,309 36.1% 8.3 pp 85px Carlos Mota Pinto Social Democratic Party (Portugal) 27 February 1983(designated candidate) Coimbra 82 seats (AD) 75 7 1,554,804 27.2% Democratic Alliance Alvaro Cunhal 1980 (cropped).jpg 110 110 150 0 0 FF0000 Álvaro Cunhal PCP APU 14 April 1978 Lisbon 41 seats, 16.8% 44 3 1,031,609 18.1% 1.3 pp Francisco Lucas Pires 1989.jpg 120 110 150 0 5 Francisco Lucas Pires CDS 0093DD 20 February 1983 Lisbon 46 seats (AD) 30 16 716,705 12.6% Democratic Alliance Prime Minister Prime Minister after election Francisco Pinto Balsemão Social Democratic Party (Portugal) Mário Soares Socialist Party (Portugal) 230px Vote winner strength by district 272px Results by constituency outgoing members elected members The 1983 Portuguese legislative election took place on 25 April. The election renewed all 250 members of the Assembly of the Republic. The election was called after two and a half years of significant instability, from the dead of Francisco Sá Carneiro in an aircrash in December 1980, to deep internal divisions within the Democratic Alliance (AD) under the leadership of Francisco Pinto Balsemão. The Socialist Party (PS) emerged victorious with 36 percent, and Mário Soares was nominated Prime Minister. However, the Socialists lacked a majority in the Assembly of the Republic and were forced to form a coalition with the Social Democrats, which achieved 27 percent, in what was called the "Central Bloc". Although this coalition allowed Soares to govern, several members of both parties were against it, and internal attacks led to the collapse of the coalition after less than two years. Besides the two main parties, the Communist-dominated United People Alliance (APU) gained 3 MPs and 18 percent of the votes, while the Democratic and Social Center (CDS), after the dissolution of the Democratic Alliance, garnered 30 MPs, a loss of 16, and 12 percent of the votes. On the other hand, the Popular Democratic Union (UDP) lost its sole seat that it had since 1975. This would the last legislative election to be won by the Socialist Party until 1995. Background 1980 Camarate air crash In October 1980, the Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Francisco Sá Carneiro, was reelected with a reinforced majority, but it was cut short with his death, his partner Snu Abecassis, his Defense minister Adelino Amaro da Costa and wife, plus other crew members, in a tragic plane crash in Camarate, Loures, shortly after taking off from Lisbon Airport.https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/sa-carneiro-morre-em-acidente-de-aviacao_v853556 Sá Carneiro morre em acidente de aviação RTP 8 October 2022 8 September 2015 pt This tragic air crash sparked a series of conspirancy theories, mainly because of Portugal's involvement in the Iran–Iraq War and the supply of weapons to both Iraq and Iran.https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/atentado-de-camarate-familiar-de-vitima-acusa-republicanos-dos-eua_v1254263 Atentado de Camarate. Familiar de vítima acusa republicanos dos EUA RTP 8 October 2022 25 August 2020 pt Following the death of Sá Carneiro, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, CDS leader, became interim Prime Minister until the election of a new PSD leader. Days later, Francisco Pinto Balsemão was elected PSD leader and sworn in as Prime Minister. During Balsemão's term in office, a significant revision of the Constitution in 1982, approved by the AD and the Socialists (PS), dissolved the Revolutionary Council, created the Constitutional Court (thus putting an end to military dominance over elected civilian power), removed some of the left-leaning ideological tone from the supreme law, and aimed to reduce the powers of the President of the Republic.https://www.infopedia.pt/artigos/$revisao-constitucional-de-1982 Revisão Constitucional de 1982 Infopédia Porto Editora 8 August 2026 pthttps://50anos25abril.pt/historia/as-armas-ou-as-urnas/das-presidenciais-a-revisao-constitucional-de-1982/ Das Presidenciais à revisão Constitucional de 1982 50 anos do 25 de Abril 8 August 2026 pt At the same time, Balsemão's government faced a deterioration in the country's economic conditions, resulting from the adverse external situation, but mostly from the expansionary fiscal policies during the early days of the AD government, which severely damaged public finances.https://www.publico.pt/2011/04/07/jornal/a-crise-economica-que-levou-portugal-a-provar-pela-primeira-vez-a-receita-do-fmi-21786788 A crise económica que levou Portugal a provar pela primeira vez a receita do FMI Público 10 August 2026 7 April 2011 pthttps://ffms.pt/pt-pt/estudos/1983-1984-crise-que-demorou-chegar 1983-1984: A crise que demorou a chegar Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos 10 August 2026 pt Government fall 1980 Portuguese legislative election#Fall of the government Pinto Balsemão had a lot of problems in leading the government, as he lacked support from many senior members of his party, such as Aníbal Cavaco Silva, former Finance minister under Sá Carneiro, and several of his cabinet ministers kept resigning, like Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/balsemao-nao-perdoa-deslealdade-a-marcelo-presidente-ausenta-se-de-homenagem_v1346279 Balsemão não perdoa deslealdade a Marcelo, Presidente ausenta-se de homenagem RTP 23 April 2026 2 September 2021 pt not to mention the very tense and fraught relationship with President Ramalho Eanes.https://expresso.pt/presidenciais2016/2016-01-19-Eanes-e-Balsemao-o-principio-da-desconfianca Eanes e Balsemão: o princípio da desconfiança Expresso 23 April 2026 19 January 2016 pt Moreover, the right-wing policies were criticized by the left-wing and by trade unions, culminating in the General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers, with the support of the Communists, calling a general strike in February 1982 that shook the government.https://www.publico.pt/2012/02/12/jornal/o-primeiro-bracodeferro-entre-um-governo-de-direita-e-os-sindicatos-23968659 O primeiro braço--de-ferro entre um Governo de direita e os sindicatos Público 23 April 2026 12 February 2012 pt The wave of resignations among Balsemão's ministers continued and by the end of 1982, and also influenced by the AD's weak results in the 1982 local elections, Balsemão himself also resigned.https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/demissao-pinto-balsemao_a853792 Demissão Pinto Balsemão RTP 23 April 2026 8 September 2015 pt The Social Democratic Party proposed, to President Ramalho Eanes, a government led by Vítor Crespo, and despite this name being narrowly approved by the Council of State,https://anibalcavacosilva.arquivo.presidencia.pt/?idc=13&idi=24 Ramalho Eanes Arquivo da Presidência da República 28 August 2026 pt President Eanes rejected the proposal citing that the political conditions were just too deteriorated, and instead decided to dissolve Parliament and call an election for April."Presidente da República dissolve Assembleia da República, em 1983 ", RTP, 8 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2022. Shortly after, the AD was dissolved as PSD, CDS and PPM decided to contest by their own the April snap election.https://expresso.pt/podcasts/memorias-de-francisco-pinto-balsemao/2025-05-16-balsemao-e-o-fim-da-ad-em-1983-a-desagregacao-da-ad-e-tao-grande-que-o-governo-comeca-a-cair-antes-de-saber-os-resultados-eleitorais-61cf86bc Balsemão e o fim da AD em 1983: “A desagregação da AD é tão grande que o Governo começa a cair antes de saber os resultados eleitorais” Expresso 23 April 2026 16 May 2025 pt Leadership changes and challenges Social Democratic Party On 13 December 1980, just a few days after Sá Carneiro's death, the PSD national party council elected Francisco Pinto Balsemão as party leader and nominated him to became Prime Minister. Balsemão was sworn in as Prime Minister on 9 January 1981.https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/tomada-de-posse-do-vii-governo-constitucional/ Tomada de posse do VII Governo Constitucional RTP 8 October 2022 9 January 1981 pt Ballot: 13 December 1980 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |bgcolor=Social Democratic Party (Portugal)| | align=left | Francisco Pinto Balsemão | align=right | 59 | align=right | 96.7 |- | colspan=2 align=left | Against | align=right | 1 | align=right | 1.6 |- | colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots | align=right | 1 | align=right | 1.6 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right | 61 | align=center | |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: Públicohttps://www.publico.pt/2004/06/29/jornal/pinto-balsemao-primeiroministro-nao-eleito-190277 Pinto Balsemão, primeiro-ministro não eleito Público 23 March 2025 29 June 2004 pt |} In early 1983, after the collapse of the AD coalition, the then PSD leader Francisco Pinto Balsemão announced he would not run again for the leadership of the party nor be the party's candidate for the early legislative election."Declarações de Pinto Balsemão", RTP, 8 February 1983. Retrieved 7 June 2022. Carlos Mota Pinto, former Prime Minister, supported Nuno Rodrigues dos Santos' candidacy for President of the party, in order for him to be the party's candidate for Prime Minister, while Pinto Balsemão's wing supported João Bosco Mota Amaral, President of the Regional Government of the Azores, who ended up dropping out.Mestrinho Fernanda 1983-02-28 PSD: um Congresso empatado http://casacomum.org/cc/visualizador?pasta=06839.189.29574#!6 2026-03-15 Diário de Lisboa 5 In a deeply divided Congress, Nuno Rodrigues dos Santos won the presidency, while Mota Pinto was selected by the PSD as the party's candidate for Prime Minister."PSD Carlos Mota Pinto", PSD. Retrieved 7 June 2022. Ballot: 27 February 1983 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |bgcolor=Social Democratic Party (Portugal)| | align=left | Nuno Rodrigues dos Santos | align=right | 596 | align=right | 73.3 |- |bgcolor=Social Democratic Party (Portugal)| | align=left | João Bosco Mota Amaral | colspan=2 align=center | withdrew |- | colspan=2 align=left | Against | align=right | 118 | align=right | 14.5 |- | colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots | align=right | 99 | align=right | 12.2 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right | 813 | align=center | |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: Diário de Lisboa |} Democratic and Social Center Just like in the PSD, after the dissolution of the Democratic Alliance (AD), Diogo Freitas do Amaral also resigned from his party's leadership, and a snap congress to elect a new leader was called."História CDS", CDS-PP. Retrieved 7 June 2022. Two candidates were on the ballot, Francisco Lucas Pires and Luís Barbosa, with Lucas Pires being elected as new party leader."Do CDS ao CDS-PP: o Partido do Centro Democrático Social e o seu papel na política portuguesa", Richard A. H. Robinson, 1996. Retrieved 7 June 2022. Ballot: 20 February 1983 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |bgcolor=CDS – People's Party| | align=left | Francisco Lucas Pires | align=right | | align=right | 58.2 |- |bgcolor=CDS – People's Party| | align=left | Luís Barbosa | align=right | | align=right | 41.8 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right | | align=center | |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: Diário de LisboaAnta Manuel 1983-02-21 CDS mais à direita? http://casacomum.org/cc/visualizador?pasta=06839.189.29568#!5 2026-03-15 Diário de Lisboa 5 |} Electoral system The Assembly of the Republic has 250 members elected to four-year terms. Governments do not require absolute majority support of the Assembly to hold office, as even if the number of opposers of government is larger than that of the supporters, the number of opposers still needs to be equal or greater than 126 (absolute majority) for both the Government's Programme to be rejected or for a motion of no confidence to be approved. http://www.en.parlamento.pt/Legislation/CRP/Constitution7th.pdf Constitution of the Portuguese Republic 2019-12-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222446/http://www.en.parlamento.pt/Legislation/CRP/Constitution7th.pdf 2016-03-03 dead The number of seats assigned to each district depends on the district magnitude.http://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/staff/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/effthresh.php Effective threshold in electoral systems Trinity College, Dublin 2015-10-21 The use of the d'Hondt method makes for a higher effective threshold than certain other allocation methods such as the Hare quota or Sainte-Laguë method, which are more generous to small parties.Gallaher, Michael (1992). "Comparing Proportional Representation Electoral Systems: Quotas, Thresholds, Paradoxes and Majorities" For these elections, and compared with the 1980 elections, the MPs distributed by districts were the following:http://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/md_ar1983.html Eleição da Assembleia da República de 25 de Abril de 1983 CNE - Comissão Nacional de Eleições - Eleição da Assembleia da República de 25 de Abril de 1983 3 December 2020 District Number of MPs Map Lisbon 56 Portuguese legislative election - Blank map.svg 220 0.64 0.21 180 140% 16 0.62 0.09 180 140% 6 0.64 0.33 180 140% 38 0.85 0.23 180 140% 6 0.98 0.22 190 140% 4 0.58 0.50 180 140% 15 0.74 0.50 180 140% 10 0.97 0.50 180 140% 5 0.62 0.69 180 140% 11 0.89 0.77 180 140% 6 0.48 0.85 180 140% 11 0.59 0.97 180 140% 12 0.25 0.652 300 140% 56 0.85 0.999 180 140% 4 0.48 0.737 300 140% 5 0.29 0.732 300 140% 17 0.48 0.887 300 140% 5 0.41 0.870 350 140% 9 0.03 0.60 350 140% 5 0.03 0.75 350 140% 5 0.11 0.85 350 140% 2 0.07 0.89 350 140% 2 Porto 38 Setúbal 17 Bragagreen (+1) 16 Aveiro 15 Santarém 12 Leiria and Coimbrared (–1) 11 Viseu 10 Faro 9 Castelo Branco, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real 6 Azores, Beja, Évora, Guarda and Madeira 5 Bragança and Portalegre 4 Europe and Outside Europe 2 Parties The table below lists the parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic during the 2nd legislature (1980–1983) and that also contested the elections: Name Ideology Political position Leader 1980 resultComposição dos Grupos Parlamentares/Partidos % Seats PPD/PSD Social Democratic PartyPartido Social Democrata Liberal conservatismCentre-right Carlos Mota Pinto47.6%Democratic Alliance 82 250 Social Democratic Party (Portugal) CDS Democratic and Social CenterCentro Democrático e Social Christian democracy Centre-rightto right-wing Francisco Lucas Pires 46 250 CDS – People's Party PPM People's Monarchist PartyPartido Popular Monárquico MonarchismGreen conservatism Right-wing Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles 6 250 People's Monarchist Party (Portugal) PS Socialist PartyPartido Socialista Social democracy Centre-left Mário Soares27.8%Republican and Socialist Front 66 250 Socialist Party (Portugal) UEDS Left-wing Union for the Socialist DemocracyUnião da Esquerda para a Democracia Socialista Democratic SocialismWorkers' self-management Left-wing António Lopes Cardoso 4 250 Red ASDI Independent Social-Democratic ActionAcção Social Democrata Independente Democratic SocialismSocial democracy Centre-left António de Sousa Franco 4 250 #2E3191 PCP Portuguese Communist PartyPartido Comunista Português CommunismMarxism–Leninism Far-left Álvaro Cunhal16.8%United People Alliance 39 250 #FF0000 MDP/CDE Portuguese Democratic MovementMovimento Democrático Português Left-wing nationalismDemocratic socialism Left-wing José Manuel Tengarrinha 2 250 Democratic Electoral Commission UDP Popular Democratic UnionUnião Democrática Popular MarxismSocialism Left-wing Mário Tomé 1.4% 1 250 Red Campaign period Issues The country's very difficult economic situation, with the need for austerity measures, dominated the campaign.https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/25/world/socialists-are-favored-to-win-the-portuguese-election-today.html SOCIALISTS ARE FAVORED TO WIN THE PORTUGUESE ELECTION TODAY en The New York Times 25 July 2026 25 April 1983 The campaign itself was rather low-key, sign of the country's problematic economic situation and a gloomy electorate.https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/05/world/around-the-world-portugal-is-off-on-election-campaign.html AROUND THE WORLD; Portugal Is Off On Election Campaign en The New York Times 25 July 2026 5 April 1983 The Socialist Party (PS), under the leadership of Mário Soares, envisioned a comeback, with Soares pointing to the need for a "clear majority" due to the country's bad shape, while the Social Democrats (PSD), led by a new leader, Carlos Mota Pinto, warned of the dangers of instability. Álvaro Cunhal's communist APU coalition ran under the motto of "defeating the reactionary parties", whereas the Democratic Social Center (CDS) campaigned on the basis of national liberalism. Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Refs PSD « Firmeza na decisão. Competência na acção. » "Firmness in the decision. Competence in action." https://ephemerajpp.com/2018/12/24/eleicoes-legislativas-de-1983-psd/ ELEIÇÕES LEGISLATIVAS DE 1983 – PSD pt EPHEMERA 11 May 2020 PS « Juntos vamos conseguir » "Together we will do it" https://www.slideserve.com/keiki/evolu-o-da-comunica-o-pol-tica-e-eleitoral-em-portugal-os-outdoors-partid-rios-de-1975-a-2005 Evolução da Comunicação Política e Eleitoral em Portugal pt 11 May 2020 CDS « O nosso caminho é Portugal » "Our path is Portugal" https://ephemerajpp.com/2020/03/24/eleicoes-legislativas-de-1985-cds-2/ ELEIÇÕES LEGISLATIVAS DE 1985 – CDS pt EPHEMERA 11 May 2020 APU « Vota APU, A solução! » "Vote APU, The Solution!" https://www.repository.utl.pt/bitstream/10400.5/4386/3/Anexo%203.pdf Comunicação Política em eleições legislativas em Portugal: uma análise a partir dos cartazes eleitorais (1975-2009) pt Francisco Teixeira 11 May 2020 Candidates' debates 1983 Portuguese legislative election debates Date Organisers Moderator(s)    black #D0FFD0  P  Present   black #ffffdd  A  Absent invitee black #FFD0D0  N  Non-invitee  PSDPinto PSSoares CDSPires APUCunhal Refs 23 Mar Antena 1 PPPP 1983 https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/debate-entre-lideres-partidarios-na-rdp/ Debate entre líderes partidários na RDP pt RTP 11 May 2020 31 Mar RTP1 PPPP 1983 http://casacomum.org/cc/visualizador?pasta=06840.190.29601#!1 Corpo a corpo esta noite na RTP pt Fundação Mário Soares 11 May 2020 Opinion polling #EAFFEA Exit poll / Forecast 1px solid #AAAAAA Polling firm/Link Date Released 29px|link=Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD 25px|link=CDS – People's Party|CDS PS 34px|link=United People Alliance|APU O Others Lead 1983 legislative election 25 Apr 1983 27.275% Verdana 75 12.675% Verdana 30 36.175% Verdana 101 18.175% Verdana 44 6.075% Verdana 08.9 RTP 75% Verdana (23:15) 25 Apr 1983 25.4–27.775% Verdana 69/72 11.5–12.075% Verdana 27/30 36.0–39.175% Verdana 98/104 17.2–18.575% Verdana 42/46 – 10.611.4 RTP 75% Verdana (20:30) 25 Apr 1983 22.0–25.575% Verdana 65/72 12.0–14.575% Verdana 35/40 36.0–38.575% Verdana 94/102 16.5–19.075% Verdana 42/46 – 13.014.0 Tempo Apr 1983 24 12.5 38 17 8.5 14 Euroexpansão 29 Jan 1983 24 12 33 19 12 9 1982 local elections 12 Dec 1982 42.5 31.8 20.7 5.0 10.7 Euroexpansão Sep 1982 22 19 28 18 13 6 AntroposAntropos 27 Jul 1981 42.0 36.1 13.9 8.0 5.9 25.1 9.9 42.4 14.0 8.6 17.3 1980 legislative election 5 Oct 1980 47.675% Verdana 134 27.875% Verdana 74 16.875% Verdana 41 7.875% Verdana 1 19.8 Results National summary File:AR Eleicoes 1983.svg Socialist Party1980 electionRepublican and Socialist Front 2061309 +8.34 101 +35 Social Democratic PartyDemocratic Alliance 1554804 — 75 –7 United People AllianceUnited People Alliance 1031609 +1.32 44 +3 Democratic and Social CentreDemocratic Alliance 716705 — 30 –16 Christian Democratic Party 39180 +0.29 0 0 People's Monarchist Party 27635 — 0 –6 Popular Democratic Union 27260 –0.90 0 –1 Popular Democratic Union–Revolutionary Socialist Party 25222 — 0 — Portuguese Workers' Communist Party 20995 –0.22 0 0 Workers' Party of Socialist Unity 19657 –1.04 0 0 Revolutionary Socialist Party 13327 –0.73 0 0 Socialist Workers League 11500 New 0 New Portuguese Marxist–Leninist Communist Organization 6113 +0.05 0 0 Democratic Party of the Atlantic 5523 –0.04 0 0 Communist Party (Reconstructed)PCP(R) 86 New 0 New 0 5707695 –0.29 42494 +0.17 104276 +0.12 7337064 –6.15 Comissão Nacional de Eleiçõeshttp://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/1983/05/12101/00010005.pdf Mapa oficial. D.R. n.º 121, Suplemento, Série I de 1983-05-26 Diário da República 22 June 2025 26 May 1983 pt Vote share #ddd 550px 500px PS Socialist Party (Portugal) 36.11 PSD Social Democratic Party (Portugal) 27.24 APU Portuguese Communist Party 18.07 CDS Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party 12.56 PDC darkolivegreen 0.69 Others #777777 2.75 Blank/Invalid #DDDDDD 2.57 Parliamentary seats #ddd 550px 500px PS Socialist Party (Portugal) 40.40 PSD Social Democratic Party (Portugal) 30.00 APU Portuguese Communist Party 17.60 CDS Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party 12.00 Distribution by constituency Results of the 1983 election of the Portuguese Assembly of theRepublic by constituency yes |- class="unsortable" !rowspan=2|Constituency!!%!!S!!%!!S!!%!!S!!%!!S !rowspan=2|TotalS |- class="unsortable" style="text-align:center;" !colspan=2 | PS !colspan=2 | PSD !colspan=2 | APU !colspan=2 | CDS |- | style="text-align:left;" | Azores | 31.1 | 2 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|54.4 | 3 | 3.1 | - | 4.7 | - | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Aveiro | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|36.6 | 6 | 34.8 | 6 | 7.0 | 1 | 16.4 | 2 | 15 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Beja | 28.0 | 2 | 11.8 | - | style="background:red; color:white;"|49.4 | 3 | 4.1 | - | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Braga | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|39.7 | 7 | 27.0 | 5 | 8.8 | 1 | 18.3 | 3 | 16 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Bragança | 30.4 | 1 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|35.8 | 2 | 4.8 | - | 20.9 | 1 | 4 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Castelo Branco | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|37.1 | 3 | 30.6 | 2 | 11.3 | - | 13.2 | 1 | 6 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Coimbra | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|45.3 | 6 | 27.8 | 3 | 10.7 | 1 | 10.2 | 1 | 11 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Evora Évora | 23.9 | 1 | 18.6 | 1 | style="background:red; color:white;"|47.6 | 3 | 4.5 | - | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Faro | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|43.2 | 5 | 23.1 | 2 | 18.6 | 2 | 7.4 | - | 9 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Guarda | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|33.5 | 2 | 31.5 | 2 | 4.9 | - | 23.8 | 1 | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Leiria | 32.7 | 4 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|35.6 | 4 | 9.5 | 1 | 16.2 | 2 | 11 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Lisbon | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|35.8 | 21 | 21.8 | 13 | 25.3 | 15 | 11.7 | 7 | 56 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Madeira | 24.4 | 1 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|56.2 | 4 | 2.8 | - | 8.2 | - | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Portalegre | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|38.5 | 2 | 19.1 | 1 | 28.7 | 1 | 7.5 | - | 4 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Porto | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|43.0 | 18 | 26.2 | 10 | 13.6 | 5 | 12.5 | 5 | 38 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Santarém | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|38.4 | 5 | 24.7 | 3 | 20.0 | 3 | 10.0 | 1 | 12 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Setúbal | 30.6 | 6 | 12.7 | 2 | style="background:red; color:white;"|45.8 | 8 | 5.1 | 1 | 17 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Viana do Castelo | 32.5 | 2 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|32.6 | 3 | 9.9 | - | 18.4 | 1 | 6 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Vila Real | 32.3 | 2 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|42.0 | 3 | 5.4 | - | 12.7 | 1 | 6 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Viseu | 30.9 | 4 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|36.6 | 4 | 4.6 | - | 20.7 | 2 | 10 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Europe | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|33.6 | 1 | 31.2 | 1 | 17.1 | - | 11.1 | - | 2 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Outside Europe | 7.0 | - | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|48.2 | 1 | 2.8 | - | 34.1 | 1 | 2 |- |- class="unsortable" style="background:#E9E9E9" | style="text-align:left;" | Total | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|36.1 | 101 | 27.2 | 75 | 18.1 | 44 | 12.6 | 30 | 250 |- | colspan=10 style="text-align:left;" | Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições |} Maps Aftermath Fall of the government The Central Bloc government had become deeply unpopular by 1984, with the consequences of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to save public finances and the economy hitting hard on the population.https://www.publico.pt/2011/04/07/jornal/a-crise-economica-que-levou-portugal-a-provar-pela-primeira-vez-a-receita-do-fmi-21786788 A crise económica que levou Portugal a provar pela primeira vez a receita do FMI Público 8 December 2023 7 April 2011 pt The budget cuts and increasing poverty were creating deep disagreements between PS and PSD, but also within both parties rifts were being formed, in addition to conflicting strategies for the 1986 presidential election.https://www.publico.pt/2016/06/07/politica/noticia/ja-nao-se-fazem-acordos-como-antigamente-1734293 Bloco Central: já não se fazem acordos como antigamente Público 7 June 2016 26 August 2026 pt In the Social Democrats, these rifts came to a breaking point in February 1985 with party leader Carlos Mota Pinto resigning and announcing he would contest the next leadership ballot.https://www.publico.pt/2017/01/15/politica/noticia/mota-pinto-o-aliado-de-soares-que-militava-no-ppd-1758090 Mota Pinto, o aliado de Soares que militava no PPD Público 8 December 2023 15 January 2017 pt But, Mota Pinto died unexpectedly just days prior to the party’s May congress and Aníbal Cavaco Silva, which was against the Central Bloc, was elected as leader.https://expresso.pt/blogues/blogue_um_olhar/19-de-maio-de-1985-o-lider-inesperado=f513822 19 de Maio de 1985: O líder inesperado Expresso 8 December 2023 17 May 2009 pt Shortly after his election as party leader, Cavaco Silva withdrew the PSD support to the Central Bloc, and the government fell with Soares announcing his resignation as prime minister on 13 June 1985,https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/diario-de-noticias/a-intencao-de-mario-soares-em-demitir-se--11008660.html A intenção de Mário Soares em demitir-se Diário de Notícias 8 August 2026 14 June 2019 pt one day after he signed Portugal's entry into the European Economic Community.https://expresso.pt/economia/2023-04-13-1986-A-ver-Portugal--finalmente--na-CEE-5b25725c 1986: A ver Portugal (finalmente) na CEE Expresso 16 April 2023 8 August 2026 pt President Ramalho Eanes decided to dissolve Parliament and call a snap election for 6 October 1985. See also Politics of Portugal List of political parties in Portugal Elections in Portugal Notes Democratic Alliance The Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Democratic Social Center (CDS) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM) contested the 1980 election in a coalition called Democratic Alliance (AD) and won a combined 47.6% of the vote and elected 134 MPs to parliament. Republican and Socialist Front The Socialist Party (PS), the Left-wing Union for the Socialist Democracy (UEDS) and the Independent Social-Democratic Action (ASDI) contested the 1980 election in a coalition called Republican and Socialist Front (FRS) and won a combined 27.8% of the vote and elected 74 MPs to parliament. United People Alliance The Portuguese Communist Party (41 MPs) and Portuguese Democratic Movement (3 MPs) ran in coalition. 1980 election The Socialist Party (PS) results are compared to the combined total share of the vote from the Republican and Socialist Front and from the 66 seats elected by the PS, within the coalition, in the 1980 election. PCP(R) The Communist Party (Reconstructed) list only in Europe and Rest of the World. Antropos AD coalition poll - Results presented here exclude undecideds (10.4%), abstention (2.6%) and doesn't answer (6.6%). With their inclusion results are: AD: 33.8%; PS: 29.0%; APU: 11.2%; Others/Invalid: 6.4%. PSD and CDS separate lists poll - Results presented here exclude undecideds (10.4%), abstention (2.2%) and doesn't answer (6.2%). With their inclusion results are: PS: 34.4%; PSD: 20.4%; APU: 11.4%; CDS: 8.0%; Others/Invalid: 7.0%. References External links Comissão Nacional de Eleições Centro de Estudos do Pensamento Político Category:Legislative elections in Portugal Category:1983 elections in Portugal Category:April 1983 in Europe