As Portugal approaches its local elections on October 12, 89 mayors are exiting their positions, joining 46 other leaders who have stepped down in the past two years. Many of these former mayors have pursued roles within the government, the National Assembly, or Europe: 28 from the PSD or social-democratic coalitions, 16 from the PS, one from CDU (PCP/PEV), and one from Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP).
Among those reaching the end of their terms, 49 are socialists, 21 are from the PSD or its led coalitions, 12 from the CDU, three from the CDS-PP, and four independents.
High-profile mayors departing include independent Rui Moreira in Porto, Carlos Carreiras (PSD) in Cascais, Basílio Horta (PS) in Sintra, Ribau Esteves (PSD) in Aveiro, Ricardo Rio in Braga (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM/Aliança), and Rogério Bacalhau in Faro (PSD/CDS-PP/IL/MPT/PPM).
Alongside Rui Moreira, six other mayors from Porto will exit, with three being from the PS (Lousada, Paços de Ferreira, and Valongo) and three from the PSD or its coalitions (Póvoa de Varzim, Penafiel, and Amarante).
In Viana do Castelo, the socialist mayors of Paredes de Coura and Melgaço cannot run again, mirroring the constraints on six mayors in Aveiro: Aveiro, Estarreja, and Murtosa (PSD), Vale de Cambra and Albergaria-a-Velha (CDS-PP), and Anadia’s citizen movement-elected mayor.
In Braga, in addition to the district capital’s mayor, those in Guimarães (PS) and Amares (PSD) will also leave. Santa Marta de Penaguião’s (PS) mayor in Vila Real faces the same restriction.
Eight mayors in Viseu are at the end of their terms in Armamar, Tabuaço, and Tarouca (PSD or CDS-PP alliances), and the PS-governed São Pedro do Sul, Santa Comba Dão, Resende, Penalva do Castelo, and Cinfães.
Six socialist mayors in Coimbra will step down in Condeixa-a-Nova, Lousã, Miranda do Corvo, Montemor-o-Velho, Soure, and Vila Nova de Poiares.
In Guarda, three mayors—two socialists from Trancoso and Fornos de Algodres, and a social democrat from Gouveia—will conclude their terms.
In Castelo Branco, six mayors are affected, including five socialists from Covilhã, Fundão, Belmonte, Penamacor, Idanha-a-Nova, and Vila Velha de Ródão, hindered by the term limit.
In Santarém, the PS-led councils in Almeirim, Chamusca, Coruche, Salvaterra de Magos, Torres Novas, and Vila Nova da Barquinha, along with the CDU’s Benavente and Sardoal (PSD), face similar leadership changes.
The term limit has also hit Figueiró dos Vinhos’s (PS) mayor in Leiria.
Lisbon witnesses five mayors at their limit in Cascais (PSD/CDS-PP) and Sobral de Monte Agraço (CDU), plus the PS leaders in Sintra, Lourinhã, and Alenquer.
Four CDU mayors in Setúbal—Palmela, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém, and Alcácer do Sal—alongside Sines’ (PS) mayor cannot seek re-election.
In Évora, four mayors are barred from re-election in municipalities: Évora, Arraiolos (PCP), Portel (PS), and Borba (independent).
Portalegre sees six mayors unable to re-run: the PS’s in Gavião, Ponte de Sor, and Nisa; the CDU mayors in Monforte and Avis; and the PSD’s in Castelo de Vide.
Beja’s term-end is marked for two mayors: Almodôvar (PS) and Cuba (CDU).
In the Algarve, five mayors will exit, including Faro’s (PSD) and the PS in Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Olhão, and Silves, the latter being CDU.
Azores will see the departure of PS mayors in Angra do Heroísmo, Corvo, Santa Cruz das Flores, a centrist in Velas, a PSD mayor in Ribeira Grande, and an independent in Calheta.
Madeira sees five of its 11 mayors, specifically three PSD or satellite coalition leaders in Calheta, Ribeira Brava, São Vicente, and the PS’s in Machico and Porto Moniz, reaching term limits.
Bragança stands alone with no mayors reaching term limits.
Out of 308 municipalities in Portugal, the majority elected socialist executives in 2021.
Last year, as of August, out of 308 municipal leaders, 105 remained in positions but were barred from re-election due to a three-mandate consecutive limit leading the same municipality.
