2021 Portuguese presidential election explained

Election Name:2021 Portuguese presidential election
Country:Portugal
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2016 Portuguese presidential election
Previous Year:2016
Next Election:2026 Portuguese presidential election
Next Year:2026
Election Date:24 January 2021
Registered:10,847,434 (11.24%)
Turnout:39.26% (9.40pp)
Opinion Polls:Opinion polling for the 2021 Portuguese presidential election
Candidate1:Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Party1:PSD
Popular Vote1:2,531,692
Percentage1:60.67%
Candidate2:Ana Gomes
Party2:Independent
Popular Vote2:540,823
Percentage2:12.96%
Candidate3:André Ventura
Party3:Chega (political party)
Popular Vote3:497,746
Percentage3:11.93%
President
Before Election:Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Before Party:Social Democratic Party (Portugal)
After Election:Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
After Party:Social Democratic Party (Portugal)
Colour2:D02090

Presidential elections were held in Portugal on 24 January.[1] The incumbent President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was reelected for a second term.

The elections were held during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Portugal was under a lockdown as of election day.[2] President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was reelected by a landslide, winning 60.7 percent of the votes.[3] He won every district in the country and all 308 municipalities, a result which happened for the first time ever in Portuguese democracy; he won 3,083 parishes out of 3,092.[4] The election also marked the rise of right-wing candidate André Ventura, leader of CHEGA, who polled 3rd with almost 12 percent of the votes.[5] In second place, former MEP and Ambassador Ana Gomes was able to win 13 percent of the votes, the best result ever for a female candidate in a presidential election.[6] The rest of candidates did not receive above 5 percent each.

Voter turnout fell to 39 percent, a drop of nine percentage points, mainly due to the automatic registration of overseas voters; this practice increased the number of registered voters to almost 11 million.[7] In Portugal alone, turnout stood at 45.45 percent, a decrease of 4.6 percentage points when compared to the 2016 election. This was the lowest drop in turnout in an election with an incumbent running since 1980.[8]

Background

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was elected in 2016 with 52.00% of the votes on the first round.[9] He took the oath of office on 9 March 2016 and has been in cohabitation with Socialist Prime Minister António Costa since then.[10]

In Portugal, the president is the head of state and has mostly ceremonial powers.[11] However, the president does have some political influence, and can dissolve the Parliament of Portugal if a crisis occurs. The president's official residence is the Belém Palace in Lisbon.[12]

Electoral system

Under Portuguese law, a candidate must receive a majority of votes (50% plus one vote) to be elected. If no candidate achieved a majority in the first round, a runoff election (i.e., second round, held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round) should be held.[13]

In order to stand for election, each candidate must gather 7,500 signatures of support one month before the election and submit them to the Constitutional Court of Portugal. The Constitutional Court then certifies the candidacies which meet the requirements to appear on the ballot. The highest number of candidacies ever accepted was ten in 2016.[14]

Early voting

Voters were also able to vote early, which would happen one week before election day on 17 January 2021. Voters had to register between 10 and 14 January in order to be eligible to cast an early ballot; a total of 246,880 voters requested to vote early in 2021.[15] On 17 January, 197,903 voters (80.16 percent of voters that registered) cast an early ballot.[16]

Candidates

There were seven candidates certified to run in this election. In addition, the Constitutional Court rejected Eduardo Baptista's nomination due to insufficient signatures, although his name still appeared on the ballot. Six more individuals had announced their intention to run for President, but did not present any application to the Court, two of whom publicly stated that they would withdraw. Finally, three more individuals were, for a while, thought of as potential candidates, but later refused to participate.

Formalized candidacy

Rejected candidates

Unsuccessful candidates

Withdrew

Refused

Campaign

Issues

At the beginning of the electoral campaign, the president of the French National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, confirmed that she would go to Lisbon to support André Ventura's presidential candidacy.[37]

Candidates' slogans

CandidateOriginal sloganEnglish translationRefs
Marisa Matias« Força Maior »"Greater Force"[38]
João Ferreira« Coragem e confiança. Um horizonte de esperança »"Courage and confidence. A horizon of hope"[39]
« O Povo a Presidente! »"The People for President!"[40]
Ana Gomes« Cuidar de Portugal »"Taking care of Portugal"[41]
André Ventura« Por Portugal, Pelos Portugueses! »"For Portugal, for the Portuguese!"[42]
Tiago Mayan Gonçalves« A alternativa liberal »"The liberal alternative"[43]
Bruno Fialho« A escolha certa »"The right choice"[44]

Candidates' debates

2021 Portuguese presidential election debates
DateTimeOrganisersModerator(s)
Rebelo de SousaGomesVenturaMatiasFerreiraMayanSilvaRefs
2 Jan 20219PMRTP1Carlos DanielPP[45]
10PMTVI24Carla MoitaPP
3 Jan 20219PMRTP1Carlos DanielPP
4 Jan 20219PMTVIPedro MourinhoPP
10PMSIC NotíciasClara de SousaPP
10:45PMRTP3Carlos DanielPP[46]
5 Jan 20219PMRTP1Carlos DanielPP
10PMSIC NotíciasClara de SousaPP
10:45PMRTP3Carlos DanielPP
6 Jan 20219PMSICClara de SousaPP
10PMTVI24Carla MoitaPP
10:45PMRTP3Carlos DanielPP
7 Jan 20219PMSICClara de SousaPP
10PMTVI24Carla MoitaPP
10:45PMRTP3Carlos DanielPP
8 Jan 20219PMTVIPedro MourinhoPP
9:30PMRTP1Carlos DanielPP
10:45PMRTP3Carlos DanielPP
9 Jan 20219PMRTP1Carlos DanielPP
10PMSIC NotíciasClara de SousaPP
10:45PMRTP3Carlos DanielPP
12 Jan 20219PMRTP1Carlos DanielPPPPPPP[47]
18 Jan 20219AMAntena 1,
RR,
TSF		Natália Carvalho
Eunice Lourenço
Judith Menezes e Sousa		PPAPPPP[48]

Opinion polling

See main article: Opinion polling for the 2021 Portuguese presidential election.

Voter turnout

The table below shows voter turnout throughout election day including voters from Overseas.

TurnoutTime
12:0016:0019:00
20162021±20162021±20162021±
Total15.82%17.07% 1.25 pp37.69%35.44% 2.25 pp48.66%39.26% 9.40 pp
Sources[49] [50]

Results

Results by district

DistrictMarceloGomesVenturaFerreiraMatiasMayanVitorino SilvaTurnout
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
 Aveiro
color:#000;"
176,763
color:#000;"
65.66%31,81211.82%25,8949.62%6,3092.34%10,4213.87%8,3383.10%9,6703.59%42.78%
 Azores
color:#000;"
56,178
color:#000;"
69.67%8,94011.09%7,5609.38%1,5361.90%3,1763.94%1,6662.07%1,5751.95%36.07%
 Beja
color:#000;"
26,910
color:#000;"
51.30%5,61310.70%8,49016.19%7,87715.02%1,8953.61%7081.35%9621.83%43.94%
 Braga
color:#000;"
234,617
color:#000;"
63.93%44,78012.20%39,28110.70%10,1922.78%12,5723.43%11,9323.25%13,6223.71%48.52%
 Bragança
color:#000;"
27,258
color:#000;"
60.47%4,85110.76%7,93917.61%1,0192.26%1,5113.35%8421.87%1,6563.67%33.28%
 Castelo Branco
color:#000;"
44,170
color:#000;"
62.13%8,21211.55%9,92013.95%2,4993.52%2,9464.14%1,4772.08%1,8692.63%43.33%
 Coimbra
color:#000;"
97,778
color:#000;"
62.44%20,93813.02%15,68210.01%6,0223.85%8,5885.48%3,9682.53%4,1712.66%42.37%
 Évora
color:#000;"
31,712
color:#000;"
54.70%5,97410.30%9,72016.76%6,26210.80%2,0793.59%1,1762.03%1,0551.82%43.60%
 Faro
color:#000;"
89,393
color:#000;"
57.33%18,31211.74%26,02316.69%6,6074.24%7,6124.88%4,0382.59%3,9432.53%42.11%
 Guarda
color:#000;"
34,582
color:#000;"
64.04%5,63710.44%7,73714.33%1,3282.46%1,8743.47%1,0301.91%1,8103.35%37.41%
 Leiria
color:#000;"
115,484
color:#000;"
63.94%18,87110.45%22,57612.50%5,7613.19%7,2224.00%5,1852.87%5,5263.06%44.70%
 Lisbon
color:#000;"
556,028
color:#000;"
57.80%136,60814.51%123,64412.85%48,7215.06%36,6183.81%39,1904.07%18,1731.89%50.97%
 Madeira
color:#000;"
77,945
color:#000;"
72.16%8,5107.88%10,6429.85%1,8551.72%4,6014.26%2,4842.30%1,9861.84%42.71%
 Portalegre
color:#000;"
21,984
color:#000;"
55.71%4,03410.22%7,90820.04%2,8687.27%1,2343.13%7031.78%7311.85%42.23%
 Porto
color:#000;"
450,175
color:#000;"
60.01%116,90615.58%63,1948.42%24,4563.26%29,8673.98%32,1944.29%33,4274.46%48.10%
 Santarém
color:#000;"
101,233
color:#000;"
60.74%16,3599.81%26,26015.76%8,2744.96%6,2293.74%3,7592.26%4,5632.74%44.90%
 Setúbal
color:#000;"
190,912
color:#000;"
56.17%45,44213.37%43,72012.86%30,3978.94%14,7924.35%7,8382.31%6,7711.99%46.54%
 Viana do Castelo
color:#000;"
56,937
color:#000;"
63.66%10,34811.57%10,17711.38%2,8513.19%3,2963.69%2,2442.51%3,5834.01%38.49%
 Vila Real
color:#000;"
47,960
color:#000;"
63.50%8,62911.42%10,34713.70%1,9122.53%2,4613.26%1,5722.08%2,6503.51%35.81%
 Viseu
color:#000;"
81,568
color:#000;"
65.25%12,99210.39%16,44613.16%2,7502.20%4,1743.34%2,5242.02%4,5533.64%37.26%
 Overseas
color:#000;"
15,158
color:#000;"
52.65%5,32818.51%3,61312.55%1,0223.55%1,5735.46%1,6165.61%4781.66%1.88%
Source: 2021 Presidential election results

Accomplishments

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won the third highest vote margin ever in presidential elections in Portugal since democracy was restored, only behind Mário Soares' 70.35 percent in 1991 and António Ramalho Eanes' 61.59 percent in 1976.[51] He was also the first candidate ever to win the vote in all municipalities,[52] and won in 3083 out of 3092 parishes of the country.[53]

Ana Gomes became the most voted woman ever in presidential elections in Portugal, beating Marisa Matias' previous record of 10.12 percent in 2016, and the first to get second place.[54]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: O Presidente da República, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, marcou hoje as eleições presidenciais para 24 de janeiro de 2021.. www.24.sapo.pt. Sapo. 24 November 2020. pt.
  2. Web site: Portugal holds presidential election as COVID-19 cases spiral. Reuters. 23 January 2021.
  3. Web site: President Rebelo de Sousa wins landslide reelection in Portugal. Politico. 24 January 2021.
  4. Web site: As nove freguesias — em 3.092 — onde Marcelo não ganhou. Observador. 25 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Marcelo dominou, Ana Gomes foi 2.ª mas Ventura venceu mais distritos. Esquerda caiu a pique . SIC Notícias. 25 January 2021.
  6. Web site: Presidenciais: Ana Gomes é a mulher mais votada de sempre . Público. 24 January 2021.
  7. Web site: Recenseamento automático de emigrantes fez subir abstenção seis pontos. TSF Radio. 25 January 2021.
  8. Web site: Sem eleitores no estrangeiros, abstenção foi de 54,46% . Público. 26 January 2021.
  9. Web site: Marcelo ganha à primeira com dobro dos votos de Nóvoa . Público. 24 January 2016.
  10. Web site: A tomada de posse de Marcelo em imagens. Rádio Renascença. 9 March 2016.
  11. Web site: Presidente de Portugal, Rebelo de Sousa, ganha novo mandato em cédula socialmente distanciada . Diário Regiao Sul. 24 January 2021.
  12. Web site: Funções do Presidente . Presidency of the Republic.
  13. Web site: LEI ELEITORAL DO PRESIDENTE DA REPÚBLICA. Portal do Eleitor.
  14. Web site: Regulamenta a eleição do Presidente da República. Diário da República.
  15. https://eco.sapo.pt/2021/01/16/portugueses-comecam-a-votar-nas-presidenciais-este-domingo-e-ha-246-mil-inscritos/ "Portugueses começam a votar nas Presidenciais este domingo e há 246 mil inscritos "
  16. https://eco.sapo.pt/2021/01/21/80-dos-inscritos-votaram-no-domingo-para-as-presidenciais/ "80% dos inscritos votaram no domingo para as presidenciais"
  17. Web site: Ana Gomes é candidata à Presidência da República. www.publico.pt. 7 September 2020 . Público. 8 September 2020. pt.
  18. Web site: Presidenciais: "Se não estivesse aqui não haveria uma candidatura para os que se reveem no socialismo democrático", afirma Ana Gomes. www.executivedigest.sapo.pt. 23 December 2020 . Executive Digest. 23 December 2020. pt.
  19. https://ionline.sapo.pt/artigo/668958/depois-das-legislativas-ventura-avanca-para-as-presidenciais?seccao=Portugal “Depois das legislativas, Ventura avança para as Presidenciais”
  20. Web site: PCP anuncia candidatura do eurodeputado João Ferreira às eleições presidenciais. www.jornaleconomico.sapo.pt. 12 September 2020 . Jornal Económico. 12 September 2020. pt.
  21. https://tvi24.iol.pt/politica/07-12-2020/nao-vou-sair-a-meio-de-uma-caminhada-exigente-e-penosa-marcelo-confirma-recandidatura “Marcelo confirma recandidatura: “Não vou sair a meio de uma caminhada exigente e penosa“
  22. https://visao.sapo.pt/atualidade/politica/2020-12-23-presidenciais-marcelo-entrega-12-747-assinaturas-e-promete-campanha-pela-positiva/ “Presidenciais: Marcelo entrega 12.747 assinaturas e promete “campanha pela positiva”“
  23. Web site: BE entra na corrida às eleições presidenciais com Marisa Matias. Borges. Liliana. 5 September 2020. September 5, 2020. pt.
  24. Web site: Iniciativa Liberal já tem candidato a Belém: chama-se Tiago Mayan Gonçalves e diz-se "descomprometido" . Borges . Liliana . 25 July 2020 . pt . Liberal Initiative already has a candidate for Belém: his name is Tiago Mayan Gonçalves and he says he is "uncompromised". Público. 27 July 2020 .
  25. Web site: Tiago Mayan formaliza candidatura à Presidência da República. Tello Silva. Mafalda. 24 December 2020. Notícias ao Minuto. 24 December 2020. pt.
  26. Web site: Presidenciais. De André Ventura a Tino de Rans, já são oito os pré-candidatos a Belém . September 8, 2020 . pt . Presidentials. From André Ventura to Tino de Rans, there are already eight pre-candidates for Belém . Observador . September 8, 2020.
  27. Web site: Tino de Rans diz-se "candidato do povo" com gabinete "na rua" ao oficializar candidatura à presidência. Agência Lusa . December 23, 2020 . pt . December 23, 2020.
  28. https://24.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/eduardo-baptista-e-o-primeiro-nome-do-boletim-de-voto-para-as-presidenciais-mas-nao-vai-a-votos “Eduardo Baptista é o primeiro nome do boletim de voto para as presidenciais. Mas não vai a votos“
  29. Web site: O PS já tem uma militante que quer ser Presidente. Luciano. Alvarez. PÚBLICO. 27 August 2020 .
  30. Web site: Presidenciais têm mais um candidato. E não poupa críticas a Marcelo - DN. www.dn.pt. 5 November 2020 .
  31. Web site: Patinha Antão quer ser candidato a PR para ser rosto dos desempregados. October 5, 2020. Notícias ao Minuto.
  32. Web site: Presidenciais. Bruno Fialho do PDR desiste de candidatura a Belém . 12 December 2020 . pt . Presidentials. Bruno Fialho of PDR gives up his candidacy to Belém. Público. 12 December 2020.
  33. Web site:
    1. 221 Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira Desiste da Candidatura Presidencial - Eleições Presidenciais 2021 - YouTube
    . www.youtube.com.
  34. Web site: Adolfo Mesquita Nunes afasta candidatura às Presidenciais. www.observador.pt. Observador. June 8, 2020. pt.
  35. https://www.publico.pt/2018/01/24/video/se-ha-uma-coisa-que-aprendi-e-que-nunca-se-deve-dizer-nunca-a-nada-20180124-001551 “Se há uma coisa que aprendi é que nunca se deve dizer nunca a nada”
  36. Web site: Miguel Albuquerque continua a equacionar candidatura a Belém . 10 September 2020. www.dnoticiais.pt. Diário de Notícias da Madeira. 10 September 2020. pt.
  37. Web site: Presidenciais. André Ventura e Marine Le Pen juntos em Lisboa no início da campanha eleitoral . Observador . pt-PT.
  38. News: Marisa 2021. pt. 28 November 2020. 9 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201209063439/https://www.marisa2021.pt/. dead.
  39. News: João Ferreira 2021. pt . 28 November 2020.
  40. News: Partido RIR. pt . 28 November 2020.
  41. News: Ana Gomes 2021. pt. 28 November 2020. 24 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210124204006/https://anagomes2021.pt/. dead.
  42. News: Ventura 2021. pt. 28 November 2020. 2 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210102233708/https://ventura2021.pt/. dead.
  43. News: Mayan 2021. pt . 28 November 2020.
  44. News: PDR Facebook. pt . 28 November 2020.
  45. News: 10 December 2020 . Debates televisivos arrancam em 2 de janeiro e terminam no dia 9 . Portuguese . RTP . 11 December 2020.
  46. News: 2 January 2021 . Debates televisivos para as presidenciais já arrancaram. Conheça o calendário . Portuguese . ECO . 3 January 2021.
  47. News: 10 December 2020 . Marcelo abre e fecha os debates eleitorais nas televisões, entre 2 e 9 de Janeiro . Portuguese. Público . 11 December 2020.
  48. News: 2 January 2021 . Presidenciais. Marcelo segura votos, Ventura e Ana Gomes na luta pelo segundo lugar. Portuguese. Diário de Notícias . 2 January 2021.
  49. Web site: Presidenciais 2021 - Afluência . pt . eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/presidenciais2021/resultados/globais . . 9 June 2023.
  50. Web site: Presidenciais 2016 - Afluência. pt . eleicoes.mai.gov.pt/presidenciais2016/index.html . . 9 June 2023.
  51. News: Machado . Alexandra . Filipe . Celso . Santiago . David . Curvelo . Pedro . Marcelo obteve o terceiro melhor resultado de sempre em presidenciais . 27 January 2021 . Jornal de Negócios . 25 January 2021.
  52. News: Camilo . Diogo . Marcelo é o primeiro Presidente da República a vencer em todos os concelhos do país . 27 January 2021 . Sábado . 25 January 2021.
  53. News: Tânia . Pereirinha . As nove freguesias — em 3.092 — onde Marcelo não ganhou . 27 January 2021 . Observador . 25 January 2021.
  54. News: Lusa . Presidenciais: Ana Gomes é a mulher mais votada de sempre em Portugal . 27 January 2021 . Visão . 25 January 2021.

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