1997 Portuguese local elections

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1997 Portuguese local elections
Flag of Portugal.svg
  1993 14 December 1997 2001  

All 305 Portuguese municipalities and 4,260 Portuguese Parishes
All 2,021 local government councils
Turnout60.1% Decrease2.svg 3.3 pp
 First partySecond party
 
Antonio Guterres 18 Jan 1996.jpeg
Marselu Rebelu de Souza (36674108876).jpg
Leader António Guterres Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Party PS PSD
Last election127 mayors, 40.2%116 mayors, 33.7%
Popular vote2,206,315 [1] 1,886,242 [2]
Percentage41.3%35.2%
SwingIncrease2.svg 1.1 pp Increase2.svg 1.5 pp
Mayors128 [3] 127 [4]
Mayors +/–Increase2.svg 1Increase2.svg 11
Councillors879 [5] 810 [6]
Councillors +/–Increase2.svg 57Increase2.svg 4

 Third partyFourth party
 
Carlos Carvalhas no XIX Congresso do PCP (cropped).png
CDS
Leader Carlos Carvalhas Manuel Monteiro
Party PCP CDS
Alliance CDU
Last election49 mayors, 12.8%13 mayors, 8.4%
Popular vote643,956302,763 [7]
Percentage12.0%6.3%
SwingDecrease2.svg 0.8 pp Decrease2.svg 2.1 pp
Mayors418
Mayors +/–Decrease2.svg 8Decrease2.svg 5
Councillors23687 [8]
Councillors +/–Decrease2.svg 10Decrease2.svg 48

Local elections were held in Portugal on 14 December 1997. The elections consisted of three separate elections in the 305 Portuguese municipalities, the election for the Municipal Chambers, whose winner is automatically elected mayor, similar to first-past-the-post (FPTP), another election for the Municipal Assembly and a last one for the lower-level Parish Assembly, whose winner is elected parish president. This last was held separately in the more than 4,200 parishes around the country.

Contents

The Socialist Party (PS) maintained as the largest local political force, although only just, winning 128 cities, one more compared to 1993, and increasing their vote share to above 41 percent. In reality, PS and PSD basically tied in this elections, but the Socialists were able to hold on to big cities like Lisbon, Porto, Sintra and Coimbra. [9] On the other hand, the PS lost some cities to the PSD, particularly Vila Nova de Gaia and Figueira da Foz, the latter won by Pedro Santana Lopes, future Lisbon mayor and Prime Minister.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) made big gains, winning 11 cities and basically catching up with the Socialists. They also increased their share of vote to 35 percent. The PSD gained many cities from the PS, such as Bragança, Covilhã, Silves, Tavira and Alcobaça. Although the PSD didn't performed very strongly in the big urban centers, they performed extremely well in many medium and small cities across the country, but that same bad performance in the big urban centers, such as Lisbon and Porto, created criticisms to the leadership of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. [10]

The election was quite bad for Democratic Unity Coalition (CDU), as they continued their fall in local politics. The Communist/Green coalition lost 8 cities and decreased their vote share to 12 percent. The CDU lost many of their bastions to the PS, such as Cuba, Amadora, Vila Franca de Xira and Sesimbra. They also saw a decrease in number of councillors, although here the fall was soft, as they lost just 10 councillors compared to 1993.

The People's Party (PP) also continued its decline in local politics. The party only won 8 cities, a fall of 5 cities, and dropped its share of the vote to the lowest level till that time, 5.7 percent. They lost big cities like Aveiro to the PS and Vila Verde to the PSD. One surprise in the elections was the victory of the People's Monarchist Party (PPM) in Penalva do Castelo, Viseu district, over the People's Party.

Turnout in these elections dropped in comparison with the 1993 election, as 60.1 percent of the electorate cast a ballot.

Parties

The main political forces involved in the election were:

1 The PSD and the CDS–PP formed coalitions in some municipalities.
2 The PS formed a coalition with CDU and UDP in Lisbon.

Results

Municipal Councils

National summary of votes and seats

Summary of the 14 December 1997 Municipal Councils elections results
Parties Votes%±pp swing CandidaciesCouncillorsMayors
Total±Total±
Socialist 2,041,30738.07Increase2.svg2.0869Increase2.svg73127Increase2.svg1
Social Democratic 1,761,38332.85Decrease2.svg0.9803Decrease2.svg3127Increase2.svg11
Democratic Unity Coalition 643,95612.01Decrease2.svg0.8236Decrease2.svg1041Decrease2.svg8
People's 302,7635.65Decrease2.svg2.883Decrease2.svg528Decrease2.svg5
PS / CDU / UDP 165,0083.08Decrease2.svg0.810Decrease2.svg71Steady2.svg0
Social Democratic / People's 124,8592.3370
People's / Social Democratic 35,4950.6640
People's Democratic Union 21,0790.39Increase2.svg0.20Steady2.svg00Steady2.svg0
Portuguese Workers' Communist 18,6740.35Increase2.svg0.10Steady2.svg00Steady2.svg0
PSR / Politics XXI 9,1750.1700
Revolutionary Socialist 9,1260.1700
People's Monarchist 7,1290.13Increase2.svg0.15Increase2.svg51Increase2.svg1
Politics XXI 6,9950.1310
Christian Democratic 4,3610.08Increase2.svg0.11Increase2.svg10Steady2.svg0
National Solidarity 2,3010.04Decrease2.svg0.50Decrease2.svg30Steady2.svg0
Earth 1,8840.04Decrease2.svg0.42Steady2.svg00Steady2.svg0
Democratic Renewal 1,4830.03Steady2.svg0.00Steady2.svg00Steady2.svg0
Democratic Party of the Atlantic 5670.01Steady2.svg0.00Steady2.svg00Steady2.svg0
Left Revolutionary Front 1200.0000
Total valid5,157,66596.18Decrease2.svg0.42,021Increase2.svg6305Steady2.svg0
Blank ballots117,3602.19Increase2.svg0.3
Invalid ballots87,5841.63Increase2.svg0.1
Total5,362,609100.00
Registered voters/turnout8,922,18260.12Decrease2.svg3.3
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições Archived 2017-11-25 at the Wayback Machine

Municipality map

Most voted parties or coalitions in each Municipality. Municipalities won by:
# - PSD: 127
# - PS: 128
# - CDU: 41
# - CDS-PP: 8
# - PPM: 1 Autarquicas portuguesas de 1997 (Mapa Camara).png
Most voted parties or coalitions in each Municipality. Municipalities won by:
- PSD: 127
- PS: 128
- CDU: 41
- CDS–PP: 8
- PPM: 1

City control

The following table lists party control in all district capitals, highlighted in bold, as well as in municipalities above 100,000 inhabitants. Population estimates from the 1991 Census. [11]

MunicipalityPopulationPrevious controlNew control
Almada 151,783 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Amadora 181,774 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Socialist Party (PS)
Aveiro 66,444 CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) Socialist Party (PS)
Barcelos 111,733 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Beja 35,827 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Braga 141,256 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Bragança 33,055 Socialist Party (PS) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Cascais 153,294 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Castelo Branco 54,310 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Socialist Party (PS)
Coimbra 139,052 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Évora 53,754 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Faro 50,761 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Funchal 115,403 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Gondomar 143,178 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Guarda 38,765 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Guimarães 157,589 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Leiria 102,762 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Lisbon 663,394 PS / CDU / UDP PS / CDU / UDP
Loures 322,158 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Matosinhos 151,682 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Oeiras 151,342 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Ponta Delgada 61,989 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Portalegre 26,111 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Socialist Party (PS)
Porto 302,472 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Santarém 62,621 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Santa Maria da Feira 135,964 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Santo Tirso 102,593 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Seixal 116,912 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU)
Setúbal 103,634 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Sintra 260,951 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Viana do Castelo 83,095 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Vila Franca de Xira 103,571 Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) Socialist Party (PS)
Vila Nova de Famalicão 114,338 Socialist Party (PS) Socialist Party (PS)
Vila Nova de Gaia 248,565 Socialist Party (PS) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Vila Real 46,300 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Viseu 83,601 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Social Democratic Party (PSD)

Municipal Assemblies

National summary of votes and seats

Summary of the 14 December 1997 Municipal Assemblies elections results
Parties Votes%±pp swing CandidaciesMandates
Total±
Socialist 2,030,02537.85Increase2.svg2.22,887Increase2.svg258
Social Democratic 1,633,77830.46Decrease2.svg3.42,579Decrease2.svg92
Democratic Unity Coalition 668,89612.47Decrease2.svg0.6798Decrease2.svg5
People's 395,2097.37Decrease2.svg0.9437Decrease2.svg119
PS / CDU / UDP 163,4113.05Decrease2.svg0.730Decrease2.svg6
Social Democratic / People's 124,4722.3222
People's / Social Democratic 42,3210.7913
People's Democratic Union 25,5520.48Increase2.svg0.32Steady2.svg0
Portuguese Workers' Communist 12,3090.23Increase2.svg0.01Steady2.svg0
PSR / Politics XXI 11,1500.211
Revolutionary Socialist 8,8500.16Decrease2.svg0.01Increase2.svg1
Politics XXI 6,4830.128
People's Monarchist 6,0080.11Increase2.svg0.116Increase2.svg16
Christian Democratic 4,2540.085
National Solidarity 3,9400.07Decrease2.svg0.40Decrease2.svg16
Earth 1 8440.03Decrease2.svg0.45Decrease2.svg6
Democratic Renewal 1,3410.03Steady2.svg0.02Steady2.svg0.
Democratic Party of the Atlantic 5760.010
Total valid5,140,41995.83Decrease2.svg0.56,807Increase2.svg38
Blank ballots135,7382.53Increase2.svg0.4
Invalid ballots87,8001.64Increase2.svg0.0
Total5,363,957100.00
Registered voters/turnout8,922,18260.12Decrease2.svg3.3
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições Archived 2017-12-06 at the Wayback Machine

Parish Assemblies

National summary of votes and seats

Summary of the 14 December 1997 Parish Assemblies elections results
Parties Votes%±pp swing CandidaciesMandatesPresidents
Total±Total±
Socialist 1,952,46836.56Increase2.svg2.013,626Increase2.svg1,314
Social Democratic 1,615,10030.24Decrease2.svg3.412,960Decrease2.svg719
Democratic Unity Coalition 661,25412.38Decrease2.svg0.92,731Decrease2.svg16
People's 287,7245.39Decrease2.svg2.41,840Decrease2.svg339
Social Democratic / People's 206,8393.87561
PS / CDU / UDP 169,8933.18Decrease2.svg0.7408Decrease2.svg119
Independents152,0552.85Increase2.svg0.61,594Increase2.svg360
People's / Social Democratic 43,2670.8177
People's Democratic Union 16,1160.30Increase2.svg0.26Increase2.svg4
People's Monarchist 5,5010.10Increase2.svg0.180Increase2.svg78
Portuguese Workers' Communist 4,5750.09Increase2.svg0.02Increase2.svg1
Earth 3,1620.06Decrease2.svg0.239Increase2.svg1
Christian Democratic 2 5980.058
National Solidarity 2,0250.04Decrease2.svg0.46Decrease2.svg10
Democratic Renewal 1 5490.03Steady2.svg0.09Increase2.svg7
Democratic Party of the Atlantic 3950.013
Portuguese Party of Regions3940.013
Revolutionary Socialist 340.000
Total valid5,124,94996.05Decrease2.svg0.633,953Increase2.svg495
Blank ballots119,7782.24Increase2.svg0.4
Invalid ballots96,0141.80Increase2.svg0.1
Total5,340,741100.00
Registered voters/turnout8,922,18259.86Decrease2.svg3.3
Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições Archived 2019-10-01 at the Wayback Machine

See also

References

  1. Sum of votes between PS-only lists and lists with other parties.
  2. Sum of votes between PSD-only lists and lists with other parties.
  3. Number of municipalities won between PS-only lists and lists with other parties. PS-only lists: 127; PS-coalition lists: 1.
  4. Number of municipalities won between PSD-only lists and lists with other parties. PSD-only lists: 127; PSD-coalition lists: 0.
  5. Sum of councillors between PS-only lists and lists with other parties.
  6. Sum of councillors between PSD-only lists and lists with other parties.
  7. Sum of votes between CDS-only lists and lists with other parties.
  8. Sum of councillors between CDS-only lists and lists with other parties.
  9. "As cores políticas que pintam o mapa do poder local de 1976 a 2013". Jornal de Negócios (in Portuguese). 2017.
  10. "A primeira vez em que os 10 foram notícia". Expresso newspaper (in Portuguese). 2016.
  11. "Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Recenseamentos Gerais da População)". www.ine.pt (in Portuguese). Statistics Portugal . Retrieved 17 July 2021.