Election Profile:

Flag of Portugal Source for election date

At stake in this election:

  • The office of President of Portugal

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Jorge Fernando Branco de SAMPAIO
  • Head of Government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES
  • Assembly: Portugal has a unicameral Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica) with 230 seats.

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
  • In the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica) 230 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

  • Aníbal António Cavaco SILVA*
    Party: Independent Candidate
  • Manuel ALEGRE de Melo Duarte**
    Party: Independent Candidate
  • Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES***
    Party: Independent Candidate
  • Jerónimo Carvalho de SOUSA****
    Party: Portuguese Communist Party (PCP)
  • Francisco Anacleto LOUÇÃ
    Party: Left Block / (BE)
  • António Pestana Garcia PEREIRA
    Party: Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers - Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat / Partido Comunista dos Trabalhadores Portugueses/Movimento Reorganizativo do Partido do Proletariado (PCPT/MRPP)

* Anibal CAVACO SILVA has the support of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Popular Party (CDS/PP).
** Although a member of the Social Party (PS), Manuel ALEGRE does not have the support of his party.
*** Mario SOARES has the support of the Socialist Party.
**** Jerónimo Carvalho de SOUSA is also supported by the Green Ecologist Party (PEV).

Last Presidential election:

  • The last presidential election was held on January 14, 2001. Jorge SAMPAIO was reelected president with 55.55% of the vote against Joaquim FERREIRA do Amaral with 34.68% and António ABREU with 5.16%.

Population and number of registered voters:

  • Population: 10,566,212 (July 2005 est.)
  • Registered Voters: 9,085,339 (January 2006 )

Last Updated on 02/04/2010