The Chega party has taken control of the São Vicente City Hall in Madeira from the PSD, which has governed the regional executive since 1976.
This marks the first city hall that Chega has won since it began competing in local elections.
In other shifts, the Socialist Party defeated the PSD in Penedono, in Viseu district, and Mação, in Santarém, while in Lisbon district, the opposite occurred in Lourinhã and Torres Vedras.
In these areas, the social democrats claimed city halls that had traditionally been under PS control.
In Beja district, the socialists ousted the CDU from power in Serpa.
Meanwhile, the independent movement “Condeixa Novos Caminhos” took Condeixa-a-Nova from the PS in Coimbra district.
Independent candidate Maria das Dores Meira removed the communists from the city hall of Setúbal, where she had previously been an elected president representing the CDU (PCP/PEV coalition) and returned this time as an independent.
The 15 municipalities that have remained loyal to the same party since 1976 are split between PS, PSD, and CDU.
Municipalities like Gavião and Campo Maior in Portalegre district, Alenquer in Lisbon district, and Olhão and Portimão in Faro district have always been socialist strongholds.
The municipality of Odivelas in Lisbon district has also always been PS-led since its creation in 1998 after separating from Loures.
PSD strongholds include Câmara de Lobos and Calheta in Madeira, Boticas and Valpaços in Vila Real, Arcos de Valdevez in Viana do Castelo, Santa Maria da Feira in Aveiro, and Oleiros in Castelo Branco.
The municipalities of Palmela and Seixal in Setúbal district remain a bastion of the CDU.
