Twenty political factions, comprising 18 parties and two coalitions, are set to participate in the upcoming legislative elections: PS, AD (PSD/CDS-PP), Chega, Iniciativa Liberal, BE, CDU (PCP/PEV), Livre, PAN, PPM, JPP, Ergue-te, ADN, PCTP/MRPP, Volt Portugal, Nós, Cidadãos!, Nova Direita, RIR, MPT, PTP, and Partido Liberal Social.
In the previous legislative elections held in March last year, 19 political groups competed in at least one electoral district.
The order of candidacy on each ballot was determined via a draw on Tuesday by the respective court for each of the 22 electoral districts.
According to results released today by the National Election Commission (CNE), the ballots for Lisbon, Porto, Setúbal, Europe, and Outside Europe will feature the most candidates, with 18 entries, followed by Aveiro, Braga, and Madeira with 16.
Meanwhile, the districts of Beja, Coimbra, and Faro each have 15 candidates, and Castelo Branco, Évora, Guarda, Leiria, and Portalegre will list 14 options on the ballot.
The districts with the fewest competing parties and coalitions—each hosting 13 candidates—are Bragança, Santarém, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu, and the Azores.
Almost all parliamentary parties are contesting all 22 electoral districts, except for PAN, which is absent from the Viseu ballot.
Among the two coalitions, AD – Coalition PSD/CDS is competing in 21 electoral districts, with the PPM joining them in the Azores. The PCP and PEV are presenting candidates in all 22 districts under the CDU – United Democratic Coalition.
From the non-parliamentary parties, Ergue-te, PPM, ADN, and RIR are running in all districts.
Volt Portugal is contesting in 20 districts, Nova Direita in 13, JPP and PCTP/MRPP in 10, and Nós, Cidadãos! in eight.
The newly formed Partido Liberal Social, registered with the Constitutional Court less than a month ago on March 11, is fielding candidates in five districts.
PTP has only presented a candidate list for the Madeira district, while MPT is competing in Madeira and the Azores, having pledged support to the PSD/CDS coalition.
Following a period for complaints and appeals, the final candidate lists will be displayed by May 2, according to the CNE’s timetable.
Out of the 24 parties registered with the Constitutional Court, only MAS and (A)TUA (formerly PURP) are not fielding candidates in any district for these legislative elections.
In the legislative elections of 2019 and 2022, 21 political entities appeared on the ballots.
In 2015, 16 political factions participated in the legislative elections, but only 12—comprising ten parties and two coalitions—contested in all 22 districts, whereas in 2011, 17 political groups did so, with ten covering all districts.
