With 36,56% of the votes Socialist Party win the Portuguese elections but, as it was predicted, without the parliament majority. The biggest opposition party, Social Democratic Party (PSD) had 29,09% of the votes and was declared by all the political analysts as the “big looser” of this elections.
The biggest rise was Christian Democratic Party (CDS-PP) that went from 7,26% to 10,46% of the votes and elected 21 pe…
2009 Portuguese Legislative Election
Socialist party win Portuguese Elections
Socialist Party is pointed as winner
Today were released the last pools before the electoral act next Sunday. After the “technical draw” in the beginning of the campaign, Socialist Party gain advantage and today pools indicate more than 8 points in the vote intentions than the second party, the Social Democrat Party.
What happened between the beginning of the campaign and today? Like in a “soap opera”, various episodes. First the more professional ca…
What’s next?
Most Portuguese, this writer included, have never seen such a “dirty” campaign as this actual campaign. The attacks and counter-attacks are launched every day, maybe every hour.
Will this have a effect in absenteeism? Will the non voters number rise? Or will the voters be more motivated to vote?
One thing is certain: The next Government, whatever it will be (and the polls are tending to PS – the actual government part…
Debates and More Debates
From September 2nd through the 21th, Portuguese voters are watching TV debates between the leaders from the five parties represented in the parliament.
The debates began with José Sócrates from PS, the actual Prime-Minister, and Paulo Portas, from CDS. Sadly, the debates weren’t particularly useful in helping voters to make a choice. They were very short on new ideas for the future.
But the last debate will be be…
Polls suggest Portuguese election is a “technical draw”
To Portugal the beginning of the fourth quarter will be a political show, in a kind of a loop. The Portuguese will vote for a new national government on September 27, closely followed by local elections on October 11. This means that the campaigns began a few months ago and will reach their peak in the next two weeks.
There are two major parties disputing the national elections, PS – Socialist Party and PSD – Social Democr…
Lead Blogger
Telmo Carrapa
Being in Public Relations/Communications Portuguese market for almost 15 years, Telmo worked with several companies in almost every economic activities. He…
Major Parties
- The Socialist Party (PS): a Social Democratic party, that resembles the British Labour or the German SPD, affiliated to the Socialist & Democrats group in the European Parliament; it was founded in April 1973 by socialist militants; prominent figures include current Prime Minister José Sócrates and former Presidents Jorge Sampaio and Mario Soares;
- The Social Democratic Party (PSD): founded in 1975, it originally adhered to social-democracy and populism; now is a centre-right party, member of the European People's Party in the European Parliament; main leaders include the current President Anibal Silva and former Prime Ministers José Manuel Durao Barroso (current President of the European Commission) and Pedro Lopes;
- Portuguese Communist Party (PCP): a Marxist-Leninist party, advocating proletarian internationalism, founded in 1921. Led by Jeronimo de Sousa the party enjoys popularity amongst large sectors of the population including the rural areas of the Alentejo and Ribatejo, and the industrialized areas around Lisbon and Setúbal, where it holds the leadership of many municipalities.
- People's Party (CDS/PP): a right-wing, conservative party founded in 1974. In 1976 it was the only party that voted against approval of a socialist constitution. Led by Jose Ribeiro e Castro, it strongly opposes legalization of abortion.
- Leftwing Bloc (BE): a left-wing party founded in 1999; advocates civil rights, the rights of immigrants and minorities and it is under the leadership of Franciso Anacleto Louca.
- Green Party (PEV): founded in 1982 and closely related to the Portuguese Communist Party. It is led by Heloisa Apolonia and holds many mandates in local assemblies and two seats in the Assembly of Republic. PEV is a founding member of the European Federation of Green Parties and is a member of the European Greens.
Goverment Structure
- Portugal is a parliamentary democracy which comprises of 18 districts and two autonomous regions. It has proclaimed itself an independent republic in 1910 and has adopted a modern Constitution in 1976. Subsequent revisions of it, the last one having taken place in September 1997, laid the foundations for a stable pluralistic liberal democracy as well as privatization of the government owned media and nationalized firms. Portugal joined the European Union in 1986, thus moving towards greater political and economic integration and development.
- The national government is composed of four main branches: the presidency, the government, the parliament and the judiciary.
- The 230 members of the Assembly are elected by proportional representation in each constituency on a basis of a party list. The proportional representation favors the large parties by awarding them a greater percentage of assembly seats than the percentage of votes they win. However, the small parties are protected as no minimum percentage of votes is required in order to enter the assembly. Portuguese citizens are obliged to register to vote, but voting itself is voluntary.