Political parties in Portugal are set to spend a total of 8.33 million euros on the upcoming campaign, marking an increase from the 7.98 million euros budgeted for 2024, yet still 2.09 million euros less than the 10.42 million euros spent in the previous year’s campaign.
André Ventura’s party estimates to spend approximately 1.6 million euros, despite not providing detailed financial data to the press that will be submitted to the Entity for Accounts and Political Financing.
This forecast surpasses the 700,000 euros budgeted for the 2024 legislative elections, during which the party ultimately spent about 1.3 million euros.
After experiencing the most significant growth in the last legislative elections, Ventura’s party is the only parliamentary force planning to increase its expenditure compared to the anticipated 2024 legislative elections.
The AD, having transitioned from opposition to government, overtakes the PS in leading the budgeted expenses for this campaign, anticipating a spend of 2.55 million euros, which is 705,000 euros less than the 3.25 million euros (755,000 above budgeted) eventually spent in 2024.
The focus in their budget is an increased allocation for campaign design, communication agencies, and electoral studies – planning to invest one million euros in this area for the anticipated May legislative elections, up from the 750,000 euros planned (and only 728,272 euros spent) in 2024.
Social Democrats and centrists aim to largely finance their campaign through a state subsidy of 2.25 million euros and cover the remaining 300,000 euros with own funds.
The PS follows the cost reduction trend—parties collectively plan to spend 2.1 million euros less than in 2024—with a budget of 2.25 million euros, which is 1.2 million euros less than what they spent preparing for the last parliamentary elections.
Compared to the previous year’s expenditure (which exceeded the budget by nearly 970,000 euros), the party notably cuts costs in street propaganda, such as billboards and banners, reducing the anticipated expense to 300,000 euros from 624,000 euros in 2024.
However, the largest opposition party, despite planning to fully finance its campaign from state subsidies, is increasing its budget for digital and print advertising, from 297,800 euros to 420,000 euros. According to data provided to the Constitutional Court in 2024, the party spent more than 524,000 euros in this area and seems to be adjusting expectations for this campaign.
The Liberal Initiative, without detailed budget data available, estimates to spend 575,000 euros, 197,183 euros less than in 2024. Their income primarily consists of public subsidies, supplemented by anticipated fundraising efforts.
CDU (PCP/PEV/ID) plans to spend 595,000 euros on the campaign, funded by a 441,000-euro state subsidy, 144,000 euros from the party, and 10,000 euros from fundraising. Their spending is restrained compared to the 785,000 euros budgeted last year, during which only 656,000 euros were spent.
The BE reduces its budget from 508,000 euros in 2024 to just over 460,000 euros this year, planning to finance most of the campaign (386,400 euros) through state subsidies, supplemented by 68,700 euros from the party and 5,000 euros from fundraising. Similar to CDU, they opt not to spend on campaign studies and strategy.
Finally, Livre maintains its projected expenditure closest to last year’s actual spend but plans to spend 1,200 euros less than the 151,000 euros used in 2024. PAN expects to spend 150,000 euros, entirely funded by a state subsidy, 23,500 euros less than in 2024.
