Portugal Elections: All You Need to Know
Portugal will hold a general election next Sunday, 18 May 2025. These early elections follow the rejection of the government's vote of confidence in the Assembly of the Republic on 11 March 2025, which led to the resignation of the current government.
As a reminder, the Portuguese government was elected on 10 March 2024. We have developed an article for those interested in viewing the results of the 2024 Portuguese elections.
For the 2025 Portuguese general elections, we have developed this article to inform voters about how they can exercise their right to vote and the options available to them.
What Is the Election Campaign Period?
The election campaign period started on 4 May and will continue until 16 May, with 17 May dedicated to the day of reflection.
Which Parties Are Running in the 2025 Portugal Elections?
Political parties and coalitions that are running in these elections are the following:
- PS
- AD (PSD/CDS-PP)
- Chega
- Iniciativa Liberal
- BE
- CDU (PCP/PEV)
- Livre
- PAN
- PPM
- JPP
- Ergue-te
- ADN
- PCTP/MRPP
- Volt Portugal
- Nós, Cidadãos!
- Nova Direita
- RIR
- MPT
- PTP
- Partido Liberal Social
It is important to highlight that some of the parties mentioned will have a limited presence in certain electoral districts.
Which Parties Are Represented in the Portuguese Parliament?
Of the 20 parties and coalitions running in the 2025 general elections in Portugal, eight are currently represented in the Portuguese Parliament. They are:
- PS
- AD (PSD/CDS-PP)
- Chega
- Iniciativa Liberal
- BE
- CDU (PCP/PEV)
- Livre
How Many Members of Parliament Are Elected in Each Electoral District?
Each electoral district elects a number of Members of Parliament proportional to its population. Portugal's Parliament has a total of 230 Members of Parliament, distributed among the districts accordingly.
For example,
Lisbon, the largest electoral district, elects 48 Members of Parliament (20.9% of the Parliament), followed by
Porto with 40 (17.4% of the Parliament). The third-largest is a tie between
Braga and Setúbal, each electing 19 Members of Parliament (8.3% of the Parliament each). Closing the top five is Aveiro, which elects 16 Members of Parliament (7% of the Parliament).
Portugal Elections: Who Is Eligible to Vote?
Regarding the upcoming legislative election in Portugal, all Portuguese citizens aged 18 or over have the right to vote, provided they are duly registered in the electoral roll. Brazilian citizens residing in Portugal, who hold a Citizen Card or Identity Card, are also eligible to vote thanks to the Equality of Political Rights statute.
Where Can I Vote in the Portuguese Elections?
There are two options available to know when to vote in the future legislative elections that will happen on 18 May 2025, they are:
- Send a text message with the following text: RE [Identification Number] [Date of Birth in the format YYYYMMDD] to the number 3838. This service is free of charge.
- On the Electoral Registration Portal: Use your Citizen Card number or Identity Card number and your date of birth in the format YYYYMMDD, or enter your full name and date of birth in the same format.
Portugal Elections: What Will I Need to Vote?
To vote, the voter must provide their name to the polling station and present an official identification document. The Citizen Card or Identity Card is the most common document, but if the voter does not have either, any other official document with a recent photograph may be accepted.
If the voter does not have any identification document, they may be identified by two voters who confirm their identity through a declaration of honour or by unanimous recognition from the polling station members.
What Is the Election Timetable?
The polling stations will be open from 08:00 am to 7:00 pm on the day of the legislative elections. Usually, all Portugal elections follow this schedule.
What Happens After the Election?
Following the closing of polls at 7:00 pm on 18 May, counting will begin immediately. Once the results are announced, the President of Portugal will invite the leader of the party or coalition with the most seats to form a government.
Should no single party secure an outright majority (116 seats), negotiations may lead to coalition agreements or the formation of a minority government. Portugal has increasingly seen coalition governments in recent years as the political landscape has become more fragmented.
As we reach the end of this article, we hope our readers and clients exercise their right to vote with awareness, actively participating in the democratic process – a right that many have fought for. At
Belion Partners, we will be closely monitoring the developments that arise from these elections.
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