Over ten million electors cast their votes today, filling the positions of 230 Members of the European Parliament.
Let's Chat About Portugal's Early Legislative Elections
Wanna know the lowdown on Portugal's early legislative elections set for May 18, 2025? Here's the skinny!
Typically, polling stations in Portugal operate from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM local time. But, it's essential to double-check the specific hours for the upcoming elections, as there might be slight variations.
The cost of these elections is borne by the government, and the exact figure for the 2025 elections isn't publicly disclosed yet.
Portugal's Assembly of the Republic, consisting of 230 deputies, will be at stake in these elections, with the same number of representatives up for grabs as in previous elections. These representatives will be elected through proportional representation using the d'Hondt method.
The major parties contesting the elections include the Socialist Party (PS), led by Pedro Nuno Santos, the Democratic Alliance (AD), a coalition of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the People's Party (CDS-PP), led by Luís Montenegro, the far-right party Chega, and other parties such as the Liberal Initiative (IL), Left Bloc (BE), and the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), among others.
Historically, Portugal has seen varying levels of voter turnout, with figures for the 2025 elections yet to be released. For comparison, the 2022 elections saw a turnout of around 51.4%, and the 2019 elections saw a turnout of about 54.5%.
This election marks the third in less than four years, owing to political instability that triggered the snap elections. The 2025 elections are expected to be a tight race between the Socialist Party and the Democratic Alliance, with neither party expected to achieve a majority.
The political turbulence leading to these elections centers around news about a company belonging to the Prime Minister's family, Spinumviva, which has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and transparency concerns against Luís Montenegro.
Interestingly, Marcelo recently jabbered that abstaining from voting in these elections makes even less sense than in other elections. Food for thought, ain't it?
References:[1] Noticias ao Minuto. (2025, May 1). "Os principais candidatos às eleições legislativas de 2025 em Portugal." Retrieved from https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/politica/os-principais-candidatos-as-eleicoes-legislativas-de-2025-em-portugal
[2] RTP. (2025, March 1). "Eleições legislativas: As diferentes horas de votação no país." Retrieved from https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/eleicoes-legislativas-as-diferentes-horas-de-votacao-no-pais-1024955
[3] Expresso. (2025, January 1). "Eleições legislativas em Portugal: 230 deputados a disputar em 22 circuitos eleitorais." Retrieved from https://www.expresso.pt/noticias/eleicoes-legislativas-em-portugal-230-deputados-a-disputar-em-22-circuitos-eleitorais-2955620
In light of Portugal's upcoming legislative elections on May 18, 2025, it's crucial to explore the French perspective on their policy-and-legislation and political dynamics, as these could provide valuable insights for the general news. Given the proximity of Portugal and France, their politics often intertwine, making a comparison intriguing.
In contrast to Portugal, the French legislative elections utilize a two-round system, with voters electing representatives to the National Assembly, their equivalent to Portugal's Assembly of the Republic. Understanding this contrast could offer unique insights into the Portuguese elections.
