Local elections will be held in Portugal on 12 October 2025.[3] The election consistes of three separate elections in the 308 Portuguese municipalities, the election for the Municipal Chambers, another election for the Municipal Assembly, as well an election for the lower-level Parish Assembly, whose winner is elected parish president. This last will be held separately in the more than 3,000 parishes around the country.
In this election, 89 incumbent mayors (28.9 percent) have reached their term limit so are barred from seeking re-election. Of those 89, 49 are from the PS, 21 from the PSD, 12 from CDU, 4 Independents and 3 from the CDS–PP.[4] The number of parishes up for election will grow from the current 3,092 to 3,259 because of changes in the 2013 local reform law that allowed the separation of merged parishes, of which 167 separations were approved.[5][6][7]
Background
Date
According to the local election law, an election must be called between 22 September and 14 October of the year that the local mandates end. The election is called by a Government of Portugal decree, unlike legislative elections which are called by the President of the Republic. The election date must be announced at least 80 days before election day. Election day is the same in all municipalities, and should fall on a Sunday or national holiday. The 2025 local elections would, therefore, have to take place no later than 12 October 2025,[8] which was the date chosen to hold the elections.[3]
Electoral system
Map of the 308 municipalities up for election.
All 308 municipalities are allocated a certain number of councilors to elect corresponding to the number of registered voters in a given municipality. Each party or coalition must present a list of candidates. The winner of the most voted list for the municipal council is automatically elected mayor, similar to first-past-the-post (FPTP). The lists are closed and the seats in each municipality are apportioned according to the D'Hondt method. Unlike in national legislative elections, independent lists are allowed to run.[9]
Council seats and Parish assembly seats are distributed as follows:
a For parishes with more than 30,000 voters, the number of seats mentioned above is increased by one per every 10,000 voters in excess of that number, and then by one more if the result is even.
Parties
Several parties, mainly PSD and PS, will present several coalitions with other minor parties. In the case of the PSD with IL and the CDS–PP, plus with parties like Earth Party (MPT) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM), while in the case of the PS, coalitions between BE, PAN and Livre will also be on the ballot in several municipalities.[11] The main political forces that will be involved in the election are:[12]
The following table lists the current party control in all district capitals, highlighted in bold, as well as in municipalities above 100,000 inhabitants.[13] Population estimates from 2024.[14]
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