2009 Portuguese legislative election

none February 2016 2009 Portuguese legislative election Portugal parliamentary no 2005 Portuguese legislative election 2005 2011 Portuguese legislative election 2011 All 230 seats in the Assembly of the Republic 116 9,519,921 6.4% 5,681,258 (59.7%) 4.6 pp 27 September 2009 Opinion polling for the 2009 Portuguese legislative election José Socrates cropped from Dmitry Medvedev in Portugal 20 November 2010-2 (cropped).png 180 110 150 3 32 José Sócrates Socialist Party (Portugal) 26 September 2004 Castelo Branco 121 seats, 45.0% 97 24 2,077,238 36.6% 8.4 pp Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Congress Bonn (696) (cropped).jpg 140 110 150 2 15 Manuela Ferreira Leite Social Democratic Party (Portugal) 31 May 2008 Lisbon 75 seats, 28.8% 81 6 1,653,665 29.1% 0.3 pp P Portas 2009 (cropped).png 140 110 150 5 5 Paulo Portas CDS – People's Party 21 April 2007 Aveiro 12 seats, 7.2% 21 9 592,778 10.4% 3.2 pp Deputados do Bloco de Esquerda (16) (4026598621).jpg 130 110 150 0 10 Francisco Louçã Left Bloc (Portugal) 24 March 1999 Lisbon 8 seats, 6.4% 16 8 557,306 9.8% 3.4 pp Jerónimo de Sousa 2007b (cropped).jpg 110 110 150 0 0 FF0000 Jerónimo de Sousa PCP CDU 27 November 2004 Lisbon 14 seats, 7.5% 15 1 446,279 7.9% 0.3 pp Prime Minister Prime Minister after election José Sócrates Socialist Party (Portugal) José Sócrates Socialist Party (Portugal) 230px Vote winner strength by district 272px Results by constituency outgoing members elected members The 2009 Portuguese legislative election was held on 27 September, to renew all 230 members of the Assembly of the Republic. Cavaco Silva marca eleições legislativas para 27 Setembro https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/cavaco-silva-marca-eleicoes-legislativas-para-27-setembro_a229159 Antena 1 27 August 2009 10 October 2022. The election took place during the regular term of the previous four-year legislative period, following four years under a majority government of the Socialist Party (PS). A total of 13 parties and two coalitions competed in this election. For the first, and so far only, time in legislative elections in Portugal, one of the candidates from the two main parties for the position of prime minister was a woman. Política "no feminino" entra em força na campanha da mulher candidata a primeira-ministra https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/politica-no-feminino-entra-em-forca-na-campanha-da-mulher-candidata-a-primeira-ministra_n279451 RTP 16 September 2009 12 August 2026. The Socialist Party, led by then-prime minister José Sócrates, won the largest number of votes and seats, but failed to repeat the overall majority it obtained in 2005. PS vence com 36,56 por cento, mais 7,47 por cento que o PSD https://www.tsf.pt/micro-sites/legislativas-2009/ps-vence-com-3656-por-cento-mais-747-por-cento-que-o-psd-1374326.html TSF Radio 28 September 2009 10 October 2022. Despite polling first at 36.6%, the Socialists lost 8 percent of the vote and 24 seats, but still maintained a clear advantage over the conservative Social Democrats, which remained stable at 29%, while the CDS – People's Party and the Left Bloc made strong gains. The communist-led alliance, the Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU), made minor gains but dropped from third to fifth place. On 12 October, José Sócrates was invited by President Aníbal Cavaco Silva to form a government. The new cabinet, a minority one, was announced on 22 October and sworn in on 26 October.2009-09-26 Sócrates makes pledge on public investment https://www.ft.com/content/3cb52eaa-c26a-11de-be3a-00144feab49a 2026-09-29 Financial Times pt Due to the sharp increase in registered voters, voter turnout fell considerably, with 59.7% of the electorate casting their ballots, although the number of votes cast was only slightly lower than in 2005.2009-08-15 Há 650 mil "eleitores fantasma" nos cadernos portugueses https://www.publico.pt/2009/08/15/politica/noticia/ha-650-mil-eleitores-fantasma-nos-cadernos-portugueses-1396260 2026-09-29 Público pt Background In the February 2005 early election, the Socialists, under the leadership of José Sócrates, won 45 percent of the votes and 121 MPs, the first time ever the Socialists won an absolute majority,2005-02-21 PS conquista primeira maioria absoluta da sua história https://www.publico.pt/2005/02/21/politica/noticia/ps-conquista-primeira-maioria-absoluta-da-sua-historia-1216407 2026-08-13 Público pt whereas the PSD suffered a heavy defeat, achieving their worst results since 1983, and faced with this failure, the then PSD leader and outgoing Prime Minister, Pedro Santana Lopes, resigned from the leadership.2005-02-23 Santana abandona liderança do PSD, apesar de não se sentir obrigado https://www.publico.pt/2005/02/23/jornal/santana-abandona-lideranca-do-psd-apesar-de-nao-se-sentir-obrigado-8333 2026-08-13 Público pt During the first months in his government, Sócrates raised taxes to reduce the deficit and initiated a policy of strict fiscal control.2005-05-25 Sócrates justifica austeridade por faltarem 5,5 mil milhões de euros https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/socrates-justifica-austeridade-por-faltarem-55-mil-milhoes-de-euros_n10728 2026-08-13 RTP pt At the same time, he faced a very harsh summer with severe wildfires across the country. Incêndios em 2005 devastaram mais de 325 mil hectares https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/incendios-em-2005-devastaram-mais-de-325-mil-hectares_n24777 RTP 30 January 2006 10 October 2022. That same October, the Socialists suffered a heavy defeat in the 2005 local elections, winning just 108 cities, a drop of four, against the PSD's 158 mayoral holds, with the party unable to regain control of Lisbon and Porto.2005-10-10 Sócrates derrotado, socialistas em minoria https://www.publico.pt/2005/10/10/jornal/socrates-derrotado-socialistas-em-minoria-43088 2026-08-13 Público pt In January 2006, a new president was elected, with Aníbal Cavaco Silva, prime pinister between 1985 and 1995, becoming the first center-right candidate to win a presidential election, although only just.2006-01-23 Cavaco Silva vence à primeira volta e deixa a esquerda destroçada https://www.publico.pt/2006/01/23/politica/noticia/cavaco-silva-vence-a-primeira-volta-e-deixa-a-esquerda-destrocada-1245600 2026-08-13 Público pt The PS candidate, former prime minister and president Mário Soares, polled a disappointing third place with just 14% of the votes.2006-01-23 Mário Soares assumiu derrota com "fair play", mas omitiu Manuel Alegre https://www.publico.pt/2006/01/23/politica/noticia/mario-soares-assumiu-derrota-com-fair-play-mas-omitiu-manuel-alegre-1245592 2026-08-13 Público pt In 2007, a referendum for the legalization of abortion was held. After the failure of the 1998 referendum, the Yes side prevailed winning 59 percent of the votes against the No's 41 percent, making abortion legal in Portugal. Catholic Portugal votes to allow abortion in early pregnancy https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/feb/12/gilestremlett.international The Guardian 12 February 2007 7 December 2017. While the deficit reduction had been successful, and with the economy growing around 2 percent of GDP by 2007,2008-02-14 Economia cresceu em 2007 ao ritmo mais elevado dos últimos seis anos https://www.publico.pt/2008/02/14/economia/noticia/economia-cresceu-em-2007-ao-ritmo-mais-elevado-dos-ultimos-seis-anos-1319586 2026-08-13 Público pt the government faced heavy opposition for its policies, particularly from teachers unions. Professores "recebem" Sócrates com um protesto https://www.tsf.pt/arquivo/artigo/professores-recebem-socrates-com-um-protesto/877979 TSF 8 October 2006 13 August 2024. In March 2008, more than 100,000 teachers protested in Lisbon against Sócrates and his Education minister, Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues. 100 mil professores na rua https://expresso.pt/dossies/dossiest_actualidade/dos_crise_educacao/100-mil-professores-na-rua=f262140 Expresso 8 March 2008 10 October 2022. José Sócrates four-year term was also marred by a series of corruption and sleaze accusations against the Prime Minister himself, with the two main cases being the Independent affair and the Freeport affair. Freeport e licenciatura entre os assuntos que envolveram o nome de Sócrates https://www.jn.pt/justica/artigo/freeport-e-licenciatura-entre-os-assuntos-que-envolveram-o-nome-de-socrates/4255195 Jornal de Notícias 22 November 2014 13 August 2026. In the first, Sócrates was accused of obtaining his degree in engineering by irregular means from the Independente University, with this case, plus further irregularities, leading to the closure of the university. Polémica com a Licenciatura de Sócrates https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/polemica-com-a-licenciatura-de-socrates/ Rádio e Televisão de Portugal 5 April 2007 13 September 2024. Mariano Gago fecha definitivamente Universidade Independente https://expresso.pt/actualidade/mariano-gago-fecha-definitivamente-universidade-independente=f110684 Expresso 3 August 2007 13 September 2024. Several years later, the Public Prosecution office ruled that Sócrates indeed obtained his degree illegally. MP diz que licenciatura de Sócrates é ilegal mas não tenta invalidar diploma https://www.publico.pt/2015/12/16/sociedade/noticia/mp-diz-que-licenciatura-de-socrates-e-ilegal-mas-nao-tenta-invalidar-diploma-1717689 Público 16 December 2015 13 September 2024. In the second case, the Freeport affair, Sócrates was accused, as environment minister (1999–2002), of allegedly ignoring environmental restrictions, due to interventions from members of his own family, in order to allow the construction of a shopping mall in Alcochete by the British company Freeport. Caso Freeport https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/caso-freeport/ Rádio e Televisão de Portugal 22 January 2009 13 September 2024. Regarding this case, the end of a primetime evening news show on TVI network, anchored by Manuela Moura Guedes, also led to accusations of pressure from Sócrates and the PS to end the evening news show, as it had several reports on the Freeport affair and an unfavorable coverage towards the Prime Minister. Sócrates nega mão do PS no fim do Jornal de Sexta https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/socrates-nega-mao-do-ps-no-fim-do-jornal-de-sexta_n276255 Rádio e Televisão de Portugal 4 September 2009 13 September 2024 The Freeport affair was ultimately closed due to lack of evidence. Caso Freeport arquivado por falta de provas https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2012-10-09-Caso-Freeport-arquivado-por-falta-de-provas SIC Notícias 9 October 2012 13 September 2024. Entering 2009, Portugal was strongly affected by the 2008 financial crisis and entered in a recession, Sócrates admite recessão e vai alterar previsões para crescimento e desemprego https://www.publico.pt/2009/01/06/jornal/socrates-admite-recessao-e-vai-alterar--previsoes-para-crescimento-e-desemprego-290377 Público 6 January 2009 13 August 2026. alongside the government facing problems in the banking sector, with the collapse of BPP and the bailout and nationalization of BPN, a bank with figures close to President Cavaco Silva. Há 15 anos BPN e BPP foram as vítimas da crise financeira em Portugal https://expresso.pt/50anos/2023-09-16-Ha-15-anos-BPN-e-BPP-foram-as-vitimas-da-crise-financeira-em-Portugal-17aab886 Expresso 2 March 2016 26 July 2026. O cavaquismo e o lado negro da força https://observador.pt/especiais/cavaquismo-lado-negro-da-forca/ Observador 16 September 2013 26 July 2026. As a result, the government adopted stimulus measures that worsened public finances, increasing the deficit and the national debt. Sócrates argumenta que défice disparou por "boa razão" https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/socrates-argumenta-que-defice-disparou-por-boa-razao_n315349 Rádio e Televisão de Portugal 1 February 2010 13 August 2026. In the European elections of June 2009, the PSD defied expectations by winning a European election for the first time since 1989, with 31.7 percent of the votes, while the Socialists suffered a huge defeat, obtaining just 26.5 percent of the votes, a drop of 18 points. PSD não ganhava europeias há 20 anos https://expresso.pt/dossies/dossiest_actualidade/dossie_eleicoes_2009/psd-nao-ganhava-europeias-ha-20-anos=f519572 Expresso 7 June 2009 13 August 2026. Leadership changes and challenges Social Democratic Party Following Santana Lopes exit from the leadership, in the party's congress in April 2005, Luís Marques Mendes became party leader winning 56 percent of the delegates, against the 44 percent of his rival, Luís Filipe Menezes. Luís Marques Mendes é o novo líder do PSD https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/luis-marques-mendes-e-o-novo-lider-do-psd_n8416 RTP 11 April 2005 7 December 2017. The results were the following: Ballot: 9 April 2005 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Luís Marques Mendes | align=right | 497 | align=right | 56.6 |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Luís Filipe Menezes | align=right | 381 | align=right | 43.4 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right | 878 | align=center | |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: |} 2007 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election By 2007, party leader Luís Marques Mendes was being very criticized for his opposition strategy and was left further weakened after the party's disappointing result in the 2007 Lisbon mayoral by-election, where the PSD polled 3rd with less than 16 percent of the votes. Mau resultado em Lisboa é culpa de Marques Mendes, acusa Mendes Bota https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/mau-resultado-em-lisboa-e-culpa-de-marques-mendes-acusa-mendes-bota_n47662 RTP 16 July 2007 11 November 2021. Marques Mendes called a snap leadership election and was challenged by his rival in the 2005 PSD congress, Luís Filipe Menezes. PSD: Marques Mendes está disponível para debates https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/geral/06-08-2007/psd-marques-mendes-esta-disponivel-para-debates MaisFutebol 6 August 2007 11 November 2021. Menezes easily defeated Marques Mendes. The results were the following: Ballot: 28 September 2007 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Luís Filipe Menezes | align=right | 21,101 | align=right | 53.6 |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Luís Marques Mendes | align=right | 16,973 | align=right | 43.1 |- | colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots | align=right | 1,279 | align=right | 3.3 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right | 39,353 | align=right | 62.42 |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: Congressos e Eleições Diretas PPD/PSD https://www.psd.pt/pt/congressos-e-eleicoes-diretas Social Democratic Party 10 October 2022 |} 2008 Portuguese Social Democratic Party leadership election By the spring of 2008, PSD leader, Luís Filipe Menezes, who had been elected in September 2007, resigned after just 6 months in the job. Luís Filipe Menezes demite-se de presidente do PSD https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/luis_filipe_menezes_demite_se_de_presidente_do_psd Jornal de Negócios 17 April 2008 7 December 2017. In the following leadership election, held in May 2008, Manuela Ferreira Leite became the first woman to lead a major party in Portugal, «Dama de ferro», a primeira mulher a liderar o PSD https://tvi.iol.pt/noticias/politica/ferreira-leite/dama-de-ferro-a-primeira-mulher-a-liderar-o-psd TVI 1 June 2008 13 August 2026. winning 38 percent of the votes, against the 31 percent of Pedro Passos Coelho and the 30 percent of Pedro Santana Lopes. Manuela Ferreira Leite venceu eleições no PSD https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/crise-psd/manuela-ferreira-leite-venceu-eleicoes-no-psd_n62671 RTP 1 June 2008 7 December 2017. The results were the following: Ballot: 31 May 2008 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Manuela Ferreira Leite | align=right | 17,278 | align=right | 37.9 |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Pedro Passos Coelho | align=right | 14,160 | align=right | 31.1 |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Pedro Santana Lopes | align=right | 13,495 | align=right | 29.6 |- |bgcolor=orange| | align=left | Patinha Antão | align=right | 308 | align=right | 0.7 |- | colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots | align=right | 351 | align=right | 0.8 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right| 45,592 | align=right | 59.13 |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: |} CDS – People's Party Party leader Paulo Portas resigned from the leadership following the disappointing result of the party in the 2005 elections, saying that "in no civilized country in the world, the difference between Trotskyists and Christian Democrats is one percent", referring to the result of the BE."Paulo Portas deixa liderança do CDS no rescaldo da noite eleitoral", TVI24, 21 February 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2021. A snap leadership congress was called to elect a new leader. Two candidates were in the ballot:"CDS partido ao meio", Correio da Manhã, 24 April 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2021. Telmo Correia, the preferred candidate of Paulo Portas, and José Ribeiro e Castro, more critical of Portas. Ribeiro e Castro was easily elected"Ribeiro e Castro é o novo presidente do CDS-PP", TVI24, 25 April 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2021. and the results were the following: Ballot: 24 April 2005 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |CDS – People's Party | align=left | José Ribeiro e Castro | align=right | 492 | align=right | 56.0 |- |CDS – People's Party | align=left | Telmo Correia | align=right | 387 | align=right | 44.0 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right | 879 | align=center | |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: Ribeiro e Castro ganha Congresso https://www.cmjornal.pt/politica/detalhe/ribeiro-e-castro-ganha-congresso Correio da Manhã 25 April 2005 10 October 2022. |} 2007 CDS – People's Party leadership election In April 2007, former CDS–PP leader Paulo Portas challenged the then party leader, José Ribeiro e Castro, for the leadership and was elected for his former job by a landslide. Paulo Portas vence directas com 74,6 por cento https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/paulo-portas-vence-directas-com-746-por-cento_n43458 RTP 22 April 2007 11 November 2021. The results were the following: Ballot: 21 April 2007 |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px"|% |- |CDS – People's Party | align=left | Paulo Portas | align=right | 5,642 | align=right | 74.6 |- |CDS – People's Party | align=left | José Ribeiro e Castro | align=right | 1,883 | align=right | 24.9 |- | colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots | align=right | 38 | align=right | 0.5 |- |- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" | colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | Turnout | align=right | 7,563 | align=center | |- | colspan="4" align=left|Source: |} Electoral system vertical right 250px Eleições legislativas 2009.png Official logo of the election. Vote Portugal 20090910.jpg Ballot for the district of Setúbal. The Assembly of the Republic has 230 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 116 (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 29 December 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222446/http://www.en.parlamento.pt/Legislation/CRP/Constitution7th.pdf 3 March 2016 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" Changes to the electoral registration system, approved in 2008, which made registration automatic based on each voter's Identity card, led to a significant increase in the number of registered voters, from 8,9 million in 2005 to 9,5 million in 2009.https://www.publico.pt/2009/06/04/jornal/eles-nunca-foram-eleitores-e-gostavam--de-assim-ter-continuado-308863 Eles nunca foram eleitores e gostavam de assim ter continuado Público 14 July 2026 4 June 2009 For these elections, and compared with the 2005 elections, the MPs distributed by districts were the following:http://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/mapa_de_deputados_ar2009.pdf Mapa Oficial n.º 2/2009 CNE - Comissão Nacional de Eleições - DR, 1.ª Série, n.º 147, de 31 de Julho de 2009 2 December 2020 District Number of MPs Map Lisbonred (–1) 47 Portuguese legislative election - Blank map.svg 220 0.64 0.21 180 140% 19 0.62 0.09 180 140% 6 0.64 0.33 180 140% 39 0.85 0.23 180 140% 5 0.98 0.22 190 140% 3 0.58 0.50 180 140% 16 0.77 0.50 180 140% 9 0.97 0.50 180 140% 4 0.62 0.69 180 140% 10 0.89 0.77 180 140% 4 0.48 0.85 180 140% 10 0.59 0.97 180 140% 10 0.25 0.652 300 140% 47 0.85 0.999 180 140% 2 0.48 0.737 300 140% 3 0.29 0.732 300 140% 17 0.48 0.887 300 140% 3 0.41 0.870 350 140% 8 0.03 0.60 350 140% 6 0.03 0.75 350 140% 5 0.11 0.85 350 140% 2 0.07 0.89 350 140% 2 Portogreen (+1) 39 Bragagreen (+1) 19 Setúbal 17 Aveirogreen (+1) 16 Leiria, Santarém and Coimbra 10 Viseu 9 Faro 8 Madeira and Viana do Castelo 6 Azores and Vila Real 5 Castelo Brancored (–1) and Guarda 4 Beja, Bragançared (–1) and Évora 3 Portalegre, Europe and Outside Europe 2 Parties Once more, the possibility of a joint PSD/CDS–PP coalition was touched upon, but it was quickly rejected by the Social Democrats (PSD). PSD rejeita coligações eleitorais com o CDS-PP https://www.jn.pt/politica/artigo/psd-rejeita-coligacoes-eleitorais-com-o-cds-pp/1073670 Jornal de Notícias 26 July 2026 19 January 2009 The table below lists the parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic during the 10th legislature (2005–2009) and that also partook in the election: Name Ideology Political position Leader 2005 result Seats atdissolution Assembleia da República - Composição dos Grupos Parlamentares/Partidos https://www.parlamento.pt/DeputadoGP/Paginas/GruposParlamentaresI.aspx Assembly of the Republic 10 October 2022 % Seats Socialist Party (Portugal) PS Socialist PartyPartido Socialista Social democracyThird Way Centre-left to Centre José Sócrates 45.0% 121 230 Socialist Party (Portugal) 121 230 Socialist Party (Portugal) Social Democratic Party (Portugal) PPD/PSD Social Democratic PartyPartido Social DemocrataConservatismClassical liberalism Centre-right Manuela Ferreira Leite 28.8% 75 230 Social Democratic Party (Portugal) 75 230 Social Democratic Party (Portugal) PCP Portuguese Communist PartyPartido Comunista Português CommunismMarxism–Leninism Far-left Jerónimo de Sousa7.5%Unitary Democratic Coalition 12 230 #FF0000 11 230 #FF0000 Ecologist Party "The Greens" PEV Ecologist Party "The Greens"Partido Ecologista "Os Verdes" Eco-socialismGreen politicsLeft-wing Heloísa Apolónia 2 230 Ecologist Party "The Greens" 2 230 Ecologist Party "The Greens" CDS – People's Party CDS–PP CDS – People's PartyCentro Democrático e Social - Partido Popular Christian democracyConservatism Centre-rightto right-wing Paulo Portas 7.2% 12 230 CDS – People's Party 11 230 CDS – People's Party Left Bloc (Portugal) BE Left BlocBloco de Esquerda Democratic socialismAnti-capitalism Left-wing Francisco Louçã 6.4% 8 230 Left Bloc (Portugal) 8 230 Left Bloc (Portugal) Independent Ind. IndependentIndependenteLuísa Mesquita (expelled from the Portuguese Communist Party caucus);Deputada Luísa Mesquita expulsa do PCP , Público, 27 November 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2020.José Paulo Carvalho (left the CDS – People's Party caucus)Deputado sai do CDS-PP, mas fica na Assembleia da República como não inscrito , Público, 17 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2020. 2 230 Independent Seat changes On 24 October 2007, the Portuguese Communist Party removed their confidence in MP Luísa Mesquita, and one month later, she was expelled from the party. The party had asked her to leave her seat in 2006, something she refused, and a rift between her and the party's central committee was created. She decided to remain as an Independent MP. On 17 December 2008, CDS – People's Party MP José Paulo Carvalho announced he was leaving the party, citing "lack of strategy" in the party and an "abdication of the party's fundamental ideas and values". He remained in Parliament as an Independent MP. Campaign period Issues The campaign focused on the impact of the 2008 financial crisis, the construction of new infrastructure projects, including the Lisbon-Madrid and Lisbon-Porto-Vigo high-speed rail links, as well as the new Lisbon airport, and accusations of "democratic asphyxiation" by the right-wing opposition against the PS government, ranging from concentration of power to interference in the media.Os temas que dominaram a campanha do PS foram praticamente os mesmos que tomaram conta da campanha do PSD, RTP, 25 September 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2020.Ferreira Leite acusa Sócrates de "asfixia democrática", RTP, 21 August 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2020. During the campaign, an alleged wiretapping case also broke, in which advisors to President Aníbal Cavaco Silva suspected that they were being monitored by the government.Cronologia do caso das escutas, Público, 30 September 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2020. On the left-wing, mainly from the Left Bloc (BE), Sócrates' educational policies and his government's response to the economic crisis were the main points of attack. Francisco Louçã acusou Sócrates de ser um perigoso radical do mercado https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/legislativas-2009/francisco-louca-acusou-socrates-de-ser-um-perigoso-radical-do-mercado_v281471 Rádio e Televisão de Portugal 24 September 2009 29 September 2026. Louçã dirige-se ao eleitorado socialista:"É tempo de decisão" https://www.jn.pt/micro-sites/artigo/louca-dirige-se-ao-eleitorado-socialistae-tempo-de-decisao/1360909 Jornal de Notícias 13 September 2009 29 September 2026. Opinion polls conducted at the start of the official election campaign period, on 12 September 2009, showed a too close to call race between the Socialists and the conservative Social Democrats, PS e PSD separados por dois pontos nas sondagens https://www.publico.pt/2009/09/11/politica/noticia/ps-e-psd-separados-por-dois-pontos-nas-sondagens-1400202 Público 11 September 2009 10 October 2022. but a few days before the election, the Socialists increased their lead over the Social Democrats. PS com vantagem de 8 pontos percentuais sobre o PSD https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/ps-com-vantagem-de-8-pontos-percentuais-sobre-o-psd_n281592 Rádio e Televisão de Portugal 24 September 2009 10 October 2022. Party slogans Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Refs width="1" Socialist Party (Portugal) PS « Avançar Portugal » "Go forward Portugal" https://ephemerajpp.com/2017/07/18/ps-eleicoes-legislativas-de-2009/ EPHEMERA ELEIÇÕES LEGISLATIVAS DE 2009 – PS pt 11 May 2020 Social Democratic Party (Portugal) PSD « Compromisso de verdade » "Real commitment" https://ephemerajpp.com/2010/05/15/psd-%E2%80%93-eleicoes-legislativas-de-2009-distritos/ PSD – ELEIÇÕES LEGISLATIVAS DE 2009 – DISTRITOS pt EPHEMERA 11 May 2020 Unitary Democratic Coalition CDU « Soluções para uma vida melhor » "Solutions for a better life" https://ephemerajpp.com/2009/08/30/cdu-eleicoes-legislativas-de-2009/ CDU – ELEIÇÕES LEGISLATIVAS DE 2009 pt EPHEMERA 11 May 2020 CDS – People's Party CDS–PP « Não basta pensar. É preciso votar. » "Thinking is not enough. You need to vote." https://ephemerajpp.com/2009/09/10/cds-pp-eleicoes-legislativas-de-2009/ CDS – PP – ELEIÇÕES LEGISLATIVAS DE 2009 pt EPHEMERA 11 May 2020 Left Bloc (Portugal) BE « Estamos prontos » "We are ready" https://www.bloco.org/not%C3%ADcias/elei%C3%A7%C3%B5es/item/2029-legislativas-2009-uma-retrospectiva-da-campanha-do-bloco-de-esquerda.html Legislativas 2009: uma retrospectiva da campanha do Bloco de Esquerda pt BE 11 May 2020 Candidates' debates 2009 Portuguese legislative election debates Date Organisers Moderator(s)    black #D0FFD0  P  Present   black #ffffdd  A  Absent invitee black #FFD0D0  N  Non-invitee  PSSócrates PSDLeite CDUJerónimo CDS–PPPortas BELouçã Refs Socialist Party (Portugal) Social Democratic Party (Portugal) Unitary Democratic Coalition CDS – People's Party Left Bloc (Portugal) 2 Sep TVI Constança Cunha e SáPNNPN 29 August 2009 https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/televisoes-e-partidos-acertam-debates_v274885 Televisões e partidos acertam debates pt RTP 11 May 2020 3 Sep SIC Clara de SousaNNPNP 5 Sep RTP1 Júdite de SousaPNPNN 6 Sep TVI Constança Cunha e SáNPNNP 7 Sep SIC Clara de SousaNNPPN 8 Sep RTP1 Júdite de SousaPNNNP 9 Sep TVI Constança Cunha e SáNPPNN 10 May RTP1 Júdite de SousaNPNPN 11 Sep RTP1 Júdite de SousaNNNPP 12 Sep SIC Clara de SousaPPNNN Candidate viewed as "most convincing" in each debateDateOrganisersPolling firm/Link PS PSD CDU CDS–PP BE Notes Socialist Party (Portugal) Social Democratic Party (Portugal) Unitary Democratic Coalition CDS – People's Party Left Bloc (Portugal) 12 Sep SIC Aximage 45.6 30.2 24.2% Neither/Tie Opinion polling Opinion polling for the 2009 Portuguese legislative election Opinion polling for the 2009 Portuguese legislative election.chart Opinion polling for the 2009 Portuguese legislative election.tab Voter turnout The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day including voters from Overseas. Turnout Time 12:00 16:00 19:00 2005 2009 ± 2005 2009 ± 2005 2009 ± Total 21.93% 21.29% 0.64 pp 50.94% 43.30% 7.64 pp 64.26% 59.68% 4.58 pp Sourceshttps://www.eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/legislativas2009/afluencia.html Legislativas 2009 - Afluência pt eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/legislativas2009/index.html Ministry of Internal Administration 8 June 202327 September 2009 https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/afluecircncia_agraves_urnas_era_de_433_ateacute_agraves_16h Afluência às urnas era de 43,3% até às 16h pt Jornal de Negócios 8 June 202327 September 2009 https://www.jn.pt/micro-sites/eleicoes-legislativas-2009/noticias/dois-milhoes-de-eleitores-votaram-ate-ao-meio-dia-1373978.html Dois milhões de eleitores votaram até ao meio-dia pt Jornal de Notícias 8 June 202320 February 2005 https://www.dn.pt/arquivo/2005/mais-de-metade-dos-eleitores-votaram-ate-as-1600-610196.html Mais de metade dos eleitores votaram até às 16.00 pt Diário de Notícias 8 June 2023 Results National summary detailed results by constituency Results breakdown of the 2009 Portuguese legislative election File:AR Eleicoes 2009.svg Socialist Party 2077238 –8.47 97 –24 Social Democratic Party 1653665 +0.34 81 +10 CDS – People's Party 592778 +3.19 21 +9 Left Bloc 557306 +3.46 16 +8 Unitary Democratic CoalitionCDU 446279 +0.32 15 +1 Portuguese Workers' Communist Party 52761 +0.09 0 0 Hope for Portugal Movement 25949 New 0 New New Democracy Party 21876 –0.31 0 0 Merit and Society Movement 16924 New 0 New People's Monarchist PartyPPM 15262 — 0 –2 Ecology and Humanism Front (MPT–PH)MPT 12405 –0.08 0 0 National Renovator Party 11503 +0.04 0 0 Portugal Pro-Life Party 8461 New 0 New Portuguese Labour Party 4974 New 0 New Workers' Party of Socialist Unity 4632 –0.02 0 0 Earth PartyMPT2PPM 3265 — 0 –2 0 5681258 –0.16 99086 –0.06 76894 +0.21 9519921 –4.58 Comissão Nacional de Eleições Diário da República Mapa Oficial https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_ar_2009.pdf Comissão Nacional de Eleições 10 October 2022 Vote share #ddd 550px 500px PS Socialist Party (Portugal) 36.56 PSD Social Democratic Party (Portugal) 29.11 CDS-PP CDS – People's Party 10.43 BE Left Bloc (Portugal) 9.81 CDU Portuguese Communist Party 7.86 PCTP/MRPP Portuguese Workers' Communist Party 0.93 Others #777777 2.21 Blank/Invalid #DDDDDD 3.09 Parliamentary seats #ddd 550px 500px PS Socialist Party (Portugal) 42.17 PSD Social Democratic Party (Portugal) 35.22 CDS-PP CDS – People's Party 9.13 BE Left Bloc (Portugal) 6.96 CDU Portuguese Communist Party 6.52 Distribution by constituency Results of the 2009 election of the Portuguese Assembly of the Republicby constituency yes |- class="unsortable" !rowspan=2|Constituency!!%!!S!!%!!S!!%!!S!!%!!S!!%!!S !rowspan=2|TotalS |- class="unsortable" style="text-align:center;" !colspan=2 | PS !colspan=2 | PSD !colspan=2 | CDS–PP !colspan=2 | BE !colspan=2 | CDU |- | style="text-align:left;" | Azores | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|39.7 | 3 | 35.7 | 2 | 10.3 | - | 7.3 | - | 2.2 | - | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Aveiro | 33.8 | 6 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|34.6 | 7 | 13.0 | 2 | 9.0 | 1 | 3.8 | - | 16 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Beja | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|34.9 | 2 | 14.6 | - | 5.7 | - | 10.0 | - | 29.1 | 1 | 3 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Braga | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|41.7 | 9 | 30.8 | 6 | 9.7 | 2 | 7.8 | 1 | 4.6 | 1 | 19 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Bragança | 33.0 | 1 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|40.6 | 2 | 12.6 | - | 6.2 | - | 2.4 | - | 3 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Castelo Branco | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|41.0 | 2 | 29.8 | 2 | 8.4 | - | 9.1 | - | 5.1 | - | 4 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Coimbra | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|38.0 | 4 | 30.6 | 4 | 8.8 | 1 | 10.8 | 1 | 5.7 | - | 10 |- | style="text-align:left;" | EvoraÉvora | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|35.0 | 1 | 19.0 | 1 | 6.4 | - | 11.1 | - | 22.3 | 1 | 3 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Faro | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|31.9 | 3 | 26.2 | 3 | 10.7 | 1 | 15.3 | 1 | 7.8 | - | 8 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Guarda | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|36.0 | 2 | 35.6 | 2 | 11.2 | - | 7.6 | - | 3.3 | - | 4 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Leiria | 30.1 | 4 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|34.9 | 4 | 12.6 | 1 | 9.5 | 1 | 5.1 | - | 10 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Lisbon | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|36.4 | 19 | 25.1 | 13 | 11.0 | 5 | 10.8 | 5 | 9.9 | 5 | 47 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Madeira | 19.4 | 1 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|48.1 | 4 | 11.1 | 1 | 6.2 | - | 4.2 | - | 6 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Portalegre | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|38.3 | 1 | 23.8 | 1 | 8.0 | - | 10.8 | - | 12.9 | - | 2 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Porto | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|41.8 | 18 | 29.2 | 12 | 9.3 | 4 | 9.2 | 3 | 5.7 | 2 | 39 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Santarém | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|33.7 | 4 | 27.0 | 3 | 11.2 | 1 | 11.8 | 1 | 9.2 | 1 | 10 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Setúbal | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|34.0 | 7 | 16.4 | 3 | 9.1 | 1 | 14.0 | 2 | 20.1 | 4 | 17 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Viana do Castelo | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|36.3 | 3 | 31.3 | 2 | 13.6 | 1 | 8.6 | - | 4.2 | - | 6 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Vila Real | 36.1 | 2 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|41.1 | 3 | 10.1 | - | 5.5 | - | 2.9 | - | 5 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Viseu | 34.7 | 4 | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|37.5 | 4 | 13.4 | 1 | 6.5 | - | 2.9 | - | 9 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Europe | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|43.3 | 1 | 23.8 | 1 | 4.7 | - | 4.7 | - | 4.4 | - | 2 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Outside Europe | 22.0 | - | style="background:Social Democratic Party (Portugal); color:white;"|54.5 | 2 | 3.2 | - | 2.0 | - | 1.0 | - | 2 |- |- class="unsortable" style="background:#E9E9E9" | style="text-align:left;" | Total | style="background:Socialist Party (Portugal); color:white;"|36.6 | 97 | 29.1 | 81 | 10.4 | 21 | 9.8 | 16 | 7.9 | 15 | 230 |- | colspan=12 style="text-align:left;" | Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições Maps Aftermath Fall of the government 2010–2014 Portuguese financial crisis By 2010, Portugal was facing a big economic crisis and the government was forced to implement austerity measures.29 September 2010 https://www.publico.pt/2010/09/29/politica/noticia/socrates-medidas-de-austeridade-so-foram-tomadas-porque-nao-restava-qualquer-outra-alternativa-1458712 Sócrates: medidas de austeridade só foram tomadas porque não restava qualquer outra alternativa pt Público Lisbon 25 June 2023 Plus, Sócrates himself was also implicated in a new corruption investigation, Face Oculta,https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/face-oculta-socrates-classifica-noticias-como-jornalismo-de-buraco-de-fechadura_a316851 Face Oculta: Sócrates classifica notícias como "jornalismo de buraco de fechadura" RTP 6 February 2010 13 September 2024 although no accusation was made.https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/despacho-do-pgr/ Despacho do PGR RTP 19 February 2010 13 September 2024 Despite the government's announcement of more fiscal restraint policies in order to control public spending, the economy entered in a recession and protests against the government policies began.27 December 2010 https://www.publico.pt/2010/12/27/economia/noticia/austeridade-gera-recessao-e-obriga-a-medidas-adicionais-de-mil-milhoes-1472564 Austeridade gera recessão e obriga a medidas adicionais de mil milhões pt Público Lisbon 25 June 2023 On 12 March 2011, protests against the government's austerity measures drew up to 280,000 people just in the streets of Lisbon and Porto alone.12 March 2011 https://www.publico.pt/2011/03/12/sociedade/noticia/protesto-geracao-a-rasca-juntou-entre-160-e-280-mil-pessoas-so-em-lisboa-e-porto-1484504 Protesto Geração à Rasca juntou entre 160 e 280 mil pessoas só em Lisboa e Porto pt Público Lisbon 25 June 2023 By March 2011, the PS government had presented three Stability and Growth Pacts (PEC) and all failed in controlling spending and convincing markets.27 June 2013 https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/financas-publicas/detalhe/um_orcamento_e_tres_pec_para_domar_o_defice 2010 - Um Orçamento e três PEC para domar o défice pt Jornal de Negócios Lisbon 25 June 2023 A forth one, PEC IV, was put for a vote in Parliament on 23 March 2011 but it was rejected by all opposition parties and only supported by the Socialists. 2011 PEC IVJosé Sócrates (PS) Ballot → 23 March 2011 Required majority → Simple Yes • PS (97) 97 230 green 125px No • PSD (80) • CDS–PP (21) • BE (16) • PCP (13) • PEV (2) 132 230 red 125px Abstentions 0 230 gray 125px Absentees • PSD (1) 1 230 black 125pxResult →Rejected 15 Sources23 March 2011 https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2011-03-23-parlamento-chumba-pec-4 Parlamento "chumba" PEC 4 pt SIC Lisbon 25 June 2023 Reunião Plenária Ordinária de 2011-03-23. https://www.parlamento.pt/DeputadoGP/Paginas/DetalheReuniaoPlenaria.aspx?BID=64364 Assembly of the Republic 25 June 2023 Before the vote, Prime Minister José Sócrates threatened to resign if the PEC failed to pass. After the result of the vote was announced, Sócrates tendered his resignation to President Aníbal Cavaco Silva.2 April 2011 https://www.publico.pt/2011/04/02/jornal/chumbo-do-pec-e-demissao-de-socrates-penalizaram--mais-passos-coelho-21743032 Chumbo do PEC e demissão de Sócrates penalizaram mais Passos Coelho pt Público Lisbon 25 June 2023 A snap legislative election was then called for 5 June 2011.31 March 2011 https://www.publico.pt/2011/03/31/politica/noticia/cavaco-marca-eleicoes-para-5-de-junho-1487739 Cavaco marca eleições para 5 de Junho pt Público Lisbon 25 June 2023 See also Politics of Portugal List of political parties in Portugal Elections in Portugal Notes Unitary Democratic Coalition The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Ecologist Party "The Greens" (PEV) contested the 2005 election in a coalition called Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) and won a combined 7.5% of the vote and elected 14 MPs to parliament. CDU Portuguese Communist Party (13 MPs) and "The Greens" (2 MPs). PPM Elected in 2005 in the Social Democratic Party electoral lists. MPT Earth Party / Humanist Party joint electoral list only in continental Portugal. MPT2 Earth Party electoral list only in Madeira and Azores. References External links Preliminary results of the 2009 election Portuguese Electoral Commission Legislative Category:Legislative elections in Portugal Legislative