2025 Viseu local election

Main article: 2025 Portuguese local elections

2025 Viseu local elections

←  2021 12 October 2025
All 9 Councillors in the Viseu City Council [1] 5 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	61.6% 5.1 pp
First party Second party Third party   Leader João Azevedo Fernando Ruas Bernardo Pessanha Party PS PSD CH Last election 4 seats, 38.3% 5 seats, 46.7% 0 seats, 3.0% Seats won 4 4 1 Seat change 0 1 1 Popular vote 24,095 23,296 4,859 Percentage 42.3% 40.9% 8.5% Swing 4.0 pp 5.8 pp 5.6 pp
Mayor before election Fernando Ruas PSD Elected mayor João Azevedo PS

The 2025VIseu local election was held on 12 October 2025 to elect the members for Viseu City Council, Viseu Municipal Assembly and the city's 25 parish assemblies.

Incumbent Mayor Fernando Ruas, from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), ran for a second consecutive term. ^[2] Former Mayor of Mangualde and former MP João Azevedo was chosen as the candidate of the Socialist Party (PS) again, after his defeat in 2021. ^[3] The Chega party (CH) chose the MP Bernardo Pessanha. ^[4] The CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP), who once held the mayorship of the city, chose former MP and former member of the Viseu City Council, Hélder Amaral. ^[5]

In a historic result, the Socialist Party (PS) surpassed the PSD and won the most votes for Viseu city council, with João Azevedo becoming the first center-left mayor in Viseu's history. Incumbent mayor Fernando Ruas (PSD) failed to be elected to another term and defending the Social Democrats winning streak in the city since 1989. Chega elected a councillor, with 8.5% of the votes, and could become kingmaker in the council. ^[6] Nearly 62% of all registered voters cast a ballot, the highest share since 2001.

Background

In the 2021 election, the PSD held on to their majority with nearly 47% of the votes and elected 6 councillors, with former mayor Fernando Ruas, in office between 1990 and 2013, returning to the post. ^[7] Ruas became the PSD mayoral candidate after the sudden death of then mayor António Almeida Henriques of COVID-19, in April 2021. ^[8] The PS, led by João Azevedo, former mayor of Mangualde (2009–2019), achieved its best showing ever in Viseu with more than 38% of the votes and elected 5 councillors. ^[9] The rest of parties, Chega, the Liberal Initiative, CDS – People's Party, the Left Bloc, People Animals Nature and the Unitary Democratic Coalition polled badly, all with results below 3%.

Electoral system

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. ^{[10] [11]}

Parties and candidates

Party/Coalition			Political position	Candidate	2021 result		Ref.
					Votes (%)	Seats
	PSD	Social Democratic Party Partido Social Democrata	Center-right	Fernando Ruas	46.7%	5 / 9	[12]
	PS	Socialist Party Partido Socialista	Center-left	João Azevedo	38.3%	4 / 9	[13]
	CH	Enough! Chega!	Right-wing to far-right	Bernardo Pessanha	3.0%	0 / 9	[14]
	IL	Liberal Initiative Iniciativa Liberal	Center-right to right-wing	Hélio Marta	2.2%	0 / 9	[15]
	CDS–PP	CDS – People's Party CDS – Partido Popular	Right-wing	Hélder Amaral	2.0%	0 / 9	[16]
	CDU	Unitary Democratic Coalition Coligação Democrática Unitária PCP, PEV	Left-wing to far-left	Leonel Ferreira	1.2%	0 / 9	[17]
	ADN	National Democratic Alternative Alternativa Democrática Nacional	Far-right	Paulo Quintão	—	—	[18]

Campaign period

Party slogans

Party or alliance		Original slogan	English translation	Refs
	PSD	« Viseu Cresce com Futuro. »	"Viseu Grows with a Future."	[19]
	PS	« Nova energia para Viseu. »	"New energy for Viseu."	[20]
	CH	« Mudar Viseu. »	« Change Viseu »
	IL	« Prontos para liberalizar Viseu. »	"Ready to liberalize Viseu."	[21]
	CDS–PP	« Viseu com mais ambição. »	"Viseu with more ambition."	[22]
	CDU	TBA	TBA

Candidates' debates

2025 Viseu local election debates
Date	Organisers	Moderator(s)	P Present [a]   NI Not invited  I Invited   A Absent invitee
			PSD Ruas	PS Azevedo	CH Pessanha	IL Marta	CDS–PP Amaral	CDU Ferreira	Refs
20 Sep 2025	RTP3	António Esteves	P	P	P	P	P	P	[23]

Opinion polling

Polling firm/Link	Fieldwork date	Sample size	PSD	CDS	PS	CH	IL	BE	CDU	O	Lead
2025 local election [24]	12 Oct 2025	—	40.9 4	2.0 0	42.3 4	8.5 1	1.9 0	—	1.0 0	3.4 0	1.5
2025 Legislative election	18 May 2025	—	40.7 (5)		21.5 (2)	22.3 (2)	4.5 (0)	1.5 (0)	1.1 (0)	8.4 (0)	18.4
2024 EP election	9 Jun 2024	—	38.3 (4)		29.9 (3)	9.8 (1)	8.3 (1)	3.5 (0)	1.7 (0)	8.5 (0)	8.4
2024 Legislative election	10 Mar 2024	—	35.6 (4)		25.7 (3)	19.7 (2)	4.0 (0)	3.4 (0)	1.2 (0)	10.4 (0)	8.4
2022 Legislative election	30 Jan 2022	—	36.6 (4)	1.9 (0)	39.2 (4)	8.2 (1)	3.8 (0)	3.6 (0)	1.6 (0)	5.1 (0)	2.6
2021 local election	26 Sep 2021	—	46.7 5	2.0 0	38.3 4	3.0 0	2.2 0	2.0 0	1.2 0	4.6	8.4

Results

Municipal Council

Summary of the 12 October 2025 Viseu City Council elections results

4 4 1
Parties		Votes	%	±pp swing	Councillors
					Total	±
	Socialist	24,095	42.28	4.0	4	0
	Social Democratic	23,296	40.88	5.8	4	1
	CHEGA	4,859	8.53	5.6	1	1
	People's	1,148	2.01	0.0	0	0
	Liberal Initiative	1,076	1.89	0.3	0	0
	Unitary Democratic Coalition	545	0.96	0.2	0	0
	National Democratic Alternative	197	0.35	—	0	—
Total valid		55,216	96.89	0.3	9	0
Blank ballots		1,130	1.98	0.2
Invalid ballots		643	1.13	0.1
Total		56,989	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		92,583	61.55	5.1
Source: [24]

Municipal Assembly

Summary of the 12 October 2025 Viseu Municipal Assembly elections
results

12 12 3
Parties		Votes	%	±pp swing	Seats
					Total	±
	Social Democratic	22,326	39.17	5.1	12	2
	Socialist	21,753	38.16	2.3	12	1
	CHEGA	6,161	10.81	6.9	3	2
	Liberal Initiative	1,542	2.71	0.0	0	0
	People's	1,294	2.27	0.0	0	0
	Left Bloc	1,074	1.88	1.3	0	1
	Unitary Democratic Coalition	709	1.24	0.6	0	0
	National Democratic Alternative	197	0.35	—	0	—
Total valid		55,056	96.59	0.6	27	0
Blank ballots		1,260	2.21	0.4
Invalid ballots		686	1.20	0.2
Total		57,002	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		92,583	61.57	5.1
Source: [25]

Parish Assemblies

Results of the 12 October 2025 Viseu Parish Assembly elections

Parish	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	Total S
	PSD		PS		CH		IND		MPT		IL
Abraveses	38.7	6	36.5	5	11.3	1					6.2	1	13
Barreiros e Cepões	16.9	1	19.8	2					59.0	6			9
Boa Aldeia, Farminhão e Torredeita	60.9	6	35.5	3									9
Bodiosa	51.0	5	38.4	4	8.5	-							9
Calde	55.5	5	41.0	4									9
Campo	32.0	3	18.1	2	5.2	-	26.0	3			10.7	1	9
Cavernães	69.9	7	25.4	2									9
Cota	65.0	6	31.1	3									9
Coutos de Viseu	64.9	6	30.2	3									9
Fail e Vila Chã de Sá	49.2	5	37.4	3	9.8	1							9
Fragosela	30.8	3	31.1	3			35.4	3					9
Lordosa	33.4	3	63.0	6									9
Mundão	45.1	4	29.0	3	21.0	2							9
Orgens	61.0	6	33.3	3									9
Povolide	51.7	5	44.9	4									9
Ranhados	40.3	4	39.6	4	8.7	1					5.7	-	9
Repeses e São Salvador	34.6	5	52.3	7	7.1	1							13
Ribafeita	52.9	5	44.2	4									9
Rio de Loba	29.2	4	49.4	7	7.1	1	9.8	1					13
Santos Evos	57.6	6	36.4	3	3.6	-							9
São Cipriano e Vil de Souto	65.4	7	21.8	2	7.9	-							9
São João de Lourosa	42.4	4	49.3	5									9
São João de France	51.7	5	44.5	4									9
Silgueiros	40.5	4	18.2	2	13.8	1	25.3	2					9
Viseu	37.8	8	38.4	9	8.6	2					3.6	-	19
Total	41.9	123	37.9	97	6.4	10	4.2	9	1.0	6	2.1	2	247
Source: [26]

Notes

1. Denotes a main invitee attending the event.

References

1. "Mapa do número de mandatos por órgão municipal" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Comissão Nacional de Eleições. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
2. Lusa, Agência. "Autárquicas. Fernando Ruas recandidata-se a segundo e último mandato a Viseu". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
3. Lusa, Agência. "Autárquicas. PS volta a apostar em João Azevedo para a Câmara de Viseu". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
4. Eduardo, Carlos (24 January 2025). "Bernardo Pessanha é o candidato do Chega à Câmara de Viseu - Jornal do Centro" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
5. Rodrigues, Sandra (22 July 2025). "Autárquicas: CDS avança com Hélder Amaral à Câmara de Viseu para "despertar a ambição adormecida dos viseenses" - Jornal do Centro" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
6. ""Isto agora é nosso": PS vence em Viseu, o antigo "cavaquistão"". Expresso (in European Portuguese). 13 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
7. "Fernando Ruas: "Vamos pedir para Viseu tudo o que foi prometido"". RTP (in European Portuguese). 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
8. "Morreu Almeida Henriques, presidente da Câmara de Viseu, vítima de covid-19". Público (in European Portuguese). 4 April 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
9. "PS em Viseu conseguiu o "melhor resultado de sempre"". RTP (in European Portuguese). 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
10. "Lei n.º 169/99, de 18 de Setembro". www.pgdlisboa.pt. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
11. "Eleição dos titulares dos órgãos das autarquias locais" (in Portuguese). Diário da República. 14 August 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
12. Lusa, Agência. "Autárquicas. Fernando Ruas recandidata-se a segundo e último mandato a Viseu". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2025.
13. Lusa, Agência. "Autárquicas. PS volta a apostar em João Azevedo para a Câmara de Viseu". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2025.
14. Eduardo, Carlos (24 January 2025). "Bernardo Pessanha é o candidato do Chega à Câmara de Viseu - Jornal do Centro" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2025.
15. Lopes, Jorge (14 July 2025). "Autárquicas: IL candidata Hélio Marta à presidência da Câmara de Viseu - Jornal do Centro" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2025.
16. "Viseu: na cidade onde o PS nunca mandou, o CDS pode complicar as contas a Fernando Ruas". Expresso (in Portuguese). 12 August 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
17. Lopes, Jorge (31 March 2025). "Autárquicas'25: Leonel Ferreira é o candidato da CDU à Câmara de Viseu - Jornal do Centro" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2025.
18. "Autárquicas. ADN aposta em Paulo Quintão para Viseu". Observador (in Portuguese). 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
19. "Com Fernando Ruas, Viseu Cresce com Futuro". PSD Viseu Facebook account (in Portuguese). 16 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
20. "Vamos juntos trazer uma nova energia a Viseu!". João Azevedo Facebook account (in Portuguese). 22 June 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
21. "Está entregue!". IL Viseu Facebook account (in Portuguese). 14 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
22. "None". CDS Concelhia Viseu Facebook account (in Portuguese). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
23. "Debates Eleições Autárquicas 2025". RTP (in Portuguese). 20 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
24. "Autarquicas Locais 2025" (in Portuguese). Ministry of Home Affairs. 17 October 2025.
25. "Autarquicas Locais 2025" (in Portuguese). Ministry of Home Affairs. 17 October 2025.
26. "Autarquicas Locais 2025" (in Portuguese). Ministry of Home Affairs. 18 October 2025.

External links

• Interior Ministry election results page