Aníbal Cavaco Silva, former President of Portugal, urged citizens to exercise their voting rights in the context of a complex international situation. Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at the Josefa D’Óbidos School in Lisbon, he emphasized, “Voting is not just a right, it is a duty,” and expressed hope for a “great majority” participation in the election.
Cavaco Silva remarked, “Portugal needs stability,” stressing that political stability is essential to address the significant challenges the country faces, especially given the demanding global context that requires competent governance to navigate. He further noted his analysis suggests no viable solutions to Portugal’s critical issues without such stability.
Regarding voter turnout, Cavaco Silva expressed “strong hope” that abstention rates would decrease compared to the last election, asserting its importance, as it empowers the Portuguese people to make crucial decisions for the country’s future.
Today’s legislative elections see 10.8 million eligible voters, as reported by the Secretaria-Geral do Ministério da Administração Interna (SGMAI). A total of 230 deputies will be elected across 22 constituencies, including mainland Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, Europe, and beyond, with the election process costing approximately 26.5 million euros.
Twenty-one political parties are contesting this election, three more than in last March’s elections. Notable is the debut of the Partido Liberal Social (PLS), joining established parties like AD (PSD/CDS-PP), PS, Chega, IL, BE, CDU (PCP/PEV), Livre, PAN, and others.
In the previous legislative elections held on March 10, 2024, the abstention rate was 40.16%, the lowest since 2005, when José Sócrates achieved the first PS majority with 35.74% abstention.
