2025 Porto local election

2025 Porto local elections

12 October 2025

All 13 Councillors in the Porto City Council
7 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout57.0% 8.2 pp
  First party Second party
 
Leader Pedro Duarte Manuel Pizarro
Party PSD PS
Alliance Porto is us[a]
Last election 2 seats, 17.2% 3 seats, 18.0%
Seats won 6 6
Seat change 4 3
Popular vote 42,984 40,863
Percentage 37.4% 35.5%
Swing 20.2 pp 17.4 pp

  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Miguel Corte-Real Filipe Araújo
Party CH Independent
Alliance Do it as Porto
Last election 0 seats, 3.0% 6 seats, 40.7%
Seats won 1 0
Seat change 1 6
Popular vote 9,473 5,845
Percentage 8.2% 5.1%
Swing 5.2 pp 35.6 pp

Mayor before election

Rui Moreira
Independent

Elected mayor

Pedro Duarte
PSD

The 2025 Porto local election was held on 12 October 2025 to elect the members for Porto City Council, Porto Municipal Assembly and the city's 7 parish assemblies.

This election was expected to be extremely competitive after the 3 mandates of the liberal-backed Independent Rui Moreira, which was barred from running for a 4th term, with both the Socialists and Social Democrats hoping to win the second major city in Portugal,[1] with Moreira's independent movement presenting then deputy mayor Filipe Araújo as a candidate,[2] despite not having the endorsement of Rui Moreira himself.[3]

The Socialist Party chose former Health minister Manuel Pizarro as their candidate, while the Social Democratic Party formed a coalition with the CDS – People's Party and the Liberal Initiative with former minister of Parliament Affairs Pedro Duarte as their candidate.[4]

The final result was very close, with the PSD/CDS/IL candidate, Pedro Duarte, prevailing over the PS by just 2,000 votes. Manuel Pizarro (PS) failed in his 3rd attempt to become mayor of Porto, leading the Socialists to another defeat; the last time the PS won a local election in Porto was 1997.[5] Chega gathered 8.5% of the voted and elected one councillor, while CDU failed to win representation for Porto city council for the first time ever. Deputy mayor Filipe Araújo had a very poor result, just 5% and failed to be elected to council, while the Left Bloc also lost its sole councillor, and polled at just 1.8%.[6] Turnout increased considerably in this election, with 57% of voters casting a ballot, the highest share since 1993.

Background

In the 2021 election, Rui Moreira, mayor since 2013, won a third term as Mayor of Porto, winning 40.7% of the votes and 6 seats, losing his majority in the city council. The Socialist candidate, Tiago Barbosa Ribeiro, won 18.0% of the vote and 3 seats, while the Social Democratic candidate, Vladimiro Feliz, won 17.2% of the votes and 2 seats.[7]

The Unitary Democratic Coalition, led by Ilda Figueiredo, won 7.5% of the votes and 1 seat, while the Left Bloc, which presented Sérgio Aires as a candidate for mayor, gained a seat in the City Council, for the first time in its history, achieving 6.3% of the votes.[8]

Candidates selection

After 12 years of Independent Rui Moreira as Mayor, the two major parties, the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party, sought to retake Porto.[9]

On the right, Filipe Araújo, the leader of Rui Moreira's independent movement and Deputy Mayor, sought to run as an independent,[10] despite pressures from the PSD who wanted to prevent a split among the right.[11] The PSD waited for Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pedro Duarte to be the party's candidate for Mayor, despite having other options such as MP Miguel Guimarães,[12] while initiating talks with CDS–PP and the Liberal Initiative for a coalition.[13]

On April 2025, Pedro Duarte confirmed his intention to run for Mayor with a PSD/CDS/IL coalition.[14] Meanwhile, Filipe Araújo decided to still run, despite not having the endorsement of Rui Moreira.[15]

On the left, the PS had several potential candidates, such as former minister and former Mayor of Baião José Luís Carneiro,[16] executive director of the National Healthcare Service Fernando Araújo[17] and former minister of Health and candidate for mayor in 2013 and 2017 Manuel Pizarro. Pizarro was eventually chosen as the candidate.[18]

Electoral system

Each party or coalition must present a list of candidates. The winner of the most voted list for the municipal council is automatically elected mayor, similar to first-past-the-post (FPTP). The lists are closed and the seats in each municipality are apportioned according to the D'Hondt method. Unlike in national legislative elections, independent lists are allowed to run.[19][20]

Parties and candidates

Declared

Party/Coalition Political
position
Candidate 2021 result Ref.
Votes (%) Seats
FA Filipe Araújo: Do it as Porto[b]
Filipe Araújo: Fazer à Porto
Centre-right
to right-wing
Filipe Araújo 40.7%
6 / 13
[2]
PS Socialist Party[c]
Partido Socialista
Centre-left Manuel Pizarro 18.0%
3 / 13
[18]
OPSN Porto is us
O Porto somos nós PSD, IL, CDS–PP
Centre-right
to right-wing
Pedro Duarte 17.2%
2 / 13
[14][21]
CDU Unitary Democratic Coalition
Coligação Democrática Unitária PCP, PEV
Left-wing
to far-left
Diana Ferreira 7.5%
1 / 13
[22]
BE Left Bloc
Bloco de Esquerda
Left-wing
to far-left
Sérgio Aires 6.3%
1 / 13
[23]
CH Enough!
Chega!
Far-right Miguel Corte-Real 3.0%
0 / 13
[24]
L FREE
LIVRE
Left-wing Hélder Sousa 0.5%
0 / 13
[25]
VP Volt Portugal
Volt Portugal
Centre
to centre-left
Guilherme Jorge 0.4%
0 / 13
[26]
NC Porto First – Nuno Cardoso
Porto Primeiro – Nuno Cardoso NC, PPM
Centre
to centre-right
Nuno Cardoso 0.2%
0 / 13
[27][28]
ADN National Democratic Alternative
Alternativa Democrática Nacional
Far-right Frederico Duarte Carvalho N/a N/a [29]
PLS Liberal Social Party
Partido Liberal Social
Centre Luís Tinoco Azevedo N/a N/a [30]
PTP Portuguese Labour Party
Partido Trabalhista Português
Left-wing Maria Amélia Costa N/a N/a [30]

Withdrew

Party/Coalition Political
position
Candidate 2021 result Ref.
Votes (%) Seats
RIR React, Include, Recycle
Reagir, Incluir, Reciclar
Centre Vitorino Silva N/a N/a [31][32]
ND New Right
Nova Direita
Right-wing Aníbal Pinto N/a N/a [33][34]
AA Porto with Porto
Porto com Porto
Centre António Araújo N/a N/a [35][36]

Campaign period

Party slogans

Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Refs
FA « Fazer à Porto » "Do it as Porto" [37]
PS « À moda do Porto » "Porto style" [38]
OPSN « O Porto somos nós » "Porto is us" [39]
CDU « Porto para todos » "Porto for all" [40]
BE « Estamos aqui » "We are here" [41]
CH « O Miguel Chega para resolver » "Miguel arrives to solve" [42]

Candidates' debates

2025 Porto local election debates
Date Organisers Moderator(s)     P  Present[d]    NI  Not invited   I  Invited    A  Absent invitee 
FA
Araújo
PS
Pizarro
OPSN
Duarte
CDU
Ferreira
BE
Aires
CH
Côrte-Real
Refs
21 Sep 2025 SIC Notícias Nelma Serpa Pinto NI P P P P P [43]
26 Sep 2025 Rádio Observador Carla Jorge de Carvalho
Miguel Viterbo Dias
P P P P P P [44]
27 Sep 2025 CNN Portugal João Póvoa Marinheiro P P P P P P [45]
30 Sep 2025 RTP1 Carlos Daniel P P P P P P [46]

Opinion polling

  Exit poll

Polling firm/Link Fieldwork date Sample size FA OPSN PS CDU BE CH L NC
PPM
O Lead
IL CDS PSD
2025 local election 12 Oct 2025 N/a 5.1
0
37.4
6
35.5
6
3.9
0
1.8
0
8.2
1
3.4
0
1.9
0
2.8
0
1.9
CESOP–UCP 12 Oct 2025 6,124 4–6
0/1
36–40
5/7
33–37
5/7
4–6
0/1
1–3
0
6–9
1
3–5
0
1–3
0
2–7
0
3
ICS/ISCTE/Pitagórica 12 Oct 2025 7,532 3.8–6.8
0/1
34.2–39.4
5/7
32.0–37.2
5/7
2.7–5.5
0/1
1.1–3.1
0/1
6.8–10.2
0/2
1.1–3.1
0/1
1.4–3.4
0/1
2.2
Intercampus 12 Oct 2025 5,890 3.5–7.5
0/1
37.0–41.0
6/8
30.8–34.8
4/6
2.5–6.5
0/1
0.1–4.1
0/1
6.2–10.2
0/2
1.3–5.3
0/1
2.7–6.7 6.2
Pitagórica 29 Sep–4 Oct 2025 625 7.0
1
33.1
6
32.9
5
3.3
0
2.9
0
10.4
1
3.9
0
3.3
0
3.2
0
0.2
CESOP–UCP 27–28 Sep 2025 1,163 6
0/1
32
4/6
29
4/6
5
0/1
3
0
10
1/2
6
0/1
4
0
5
0
3
ICS/ISCTE 5–16 Sep 2025 805 3
0
34
6
37
6
4
0
3
0
10
1
3
0
2
0
4
0
3
ICS/ISCTE 17 Jun–2 Jul 2025 805 5
0
33
5
36
6
4
0
3
0
12
2
1
0
2
0
4
0
3
2025 Legislative election 18 May 2025 N/a N/a 8.1
(1)
35.1[e]
(5)
23.7
(4)
3.6
(0)
2.9
(0)
14.1
(2)
7.2
(1)
N/a 5.2
(0)
11.4
2024 EP election 9 Jun 2024 N/a N/a 12.7
(2)
31.2[e]
(4)
27.6
(4)
4.4
(0)
6.6
(1)
6.6
(1)
6.5
(1)
N/a 4.4
(0)
3.6
2024 Legislative election 10 Mar 2024 N/a N/a 6.8
(1)
34.3[e]
(6)
28.3
(4)
3.4
(0)
5.7
(1)
10.0
(1)
5.6
(0)
N/a 5.9
(0)
6.0
2022 Legislative election 30 Jan 2022 N/a N/a 7.8
(1)
2.0
(0)
34.7
(5)
35.1
(6)
4.7
(0)
6.0
(1)
3.3
(0)
2.2
(0)
N/a 4.2
(0)
0.4
2021 local election 26 Sep 2021 N/a 40.7
6
17.2
2
18.0
3
7.5
1
6.3
1
3.0
0
0.5
0
0.2
0
6.6
0
22.7

Results

Municipal Council

Summary of the 12 October 2025 Porto City Council elections results
Parties Votes % ±pp swing Councillors
Total ±
Social Democratic / People's / Liberal Initiative 42,984 37.36 20.2 6 4
Socialist 40,863 35.52 17.4 6 3
CHEGA 9,473 8.23 5.2 1 1
Filipe Araújo: Do it as Porto 5,845 5.08 35.6 0 6
Unitary Democratic Coalition 4,515 3.92 3.6 0 1
LIVRE 3,825 3.32 2.8 0 0
We, the Citizens! / People's Monarchist 2,192 1.91 N/a 0 N/a
Left Bloc 2,075 1.80 4.4 0 1
National Democratic Alternative 363 0.32 N/a 0 N/a
Liberal Social 291 0.25 N/a 0 N/a
Volt Portugal 222 0.19 N/a 0 N/a
Labour 62 0.05 N/a 0 N/a
Total valid 112,710 97.96 1.4 13 0
Blank ballots 1,439 1.25 1.0
Invalid ballots 904 0.79 0.4
Total 115,053 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 201,968 56.97 8.2
Source:[47]

Municipal Assembly

Summary of the 12 October 2025 Porto Municipal Assembly elections
results
Parties Votes % ±pp swing Seats
Total ±
Social Democratic / People's / Liberal Initiative 41,892 36.41 17.8 15 5
Socialist 35,211 30.60 11.4 13 3
CHEGA 10,873 9.45 6.1 4 3
LIVRE 6,361 5.53 4.9 2 2
Filipe Araújo: Do it as Porto 6,139 5.34 29.2 2 13
Unitary Democratic Coalition 5,928 5.15 3.2 2 1
Left Bloc 2,925 2.54 5.0 1 2
We, the Citizens! / People's Monarchist 2,149 1.87 N/a 0 N/a
National Democratic Alternative 388 0.34 N/a 0 N/a
Liberal Social 352 0.31 N/a 0 N/a
Volt Portugal 227 0.20 N/a 0 N/a
Total valid 112,445 97.73 1.2 39 0
Blank ballots 1,613 1.40 0.9
Invalid ballots 1,002 0.87 0.3
Total 115,060 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 201,968 56.97 8.2
Source:[47]

Parish Assemblies

Results of the 12 October 2025 Porto Parish Assembly elections
Parish % S % S % S % S % S % S % S Total
S
OPSN PS CH FA L CDU BE
Aldoar, Foz do Douro e Nevogilde 51.0 11 22.0 5 9.0 2 6.5 1 3.5 - 2.9 - 1.5 - 19
Bonfim 33.8 8 27.5 6 8.7 2 6.5 1 7.1 1 7.7 1 3.8 - 19
Campanhã 23.5 5 41.0 10 14.0 3 3.6 - 3.5 - 5.8 1 1.9 - 19
Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória 30.8 7 31.9 7 6.5 1 5.2 1 8.3 1 7.0 1 4.3 1 19
Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos 40.8 9 28.9 6 8.9 1 4.6 1 5.1 1 5.0 1 1.8 - 19
Paranhos 39.8 9 29.6 6 8.4 1 4.3 1 5.7 1 5.2 1 3.1 - 19
Ramalde 40.8 9 30.0 6 9.4 2 5.1 1 4.5 1 3.9 - 1.8 - 19
Total 37.6 58 30.1 46 9.2 12 5.4 6 5.3 5 5.2 5 2.6 1 133
Source:[48]

Aftermath

Despite winning the same number of councillors as the PS, Pedro Duarte "gained" an absolute majority after managing to get one of the councillors elected by the PS, Jorge Sobrado, to be part of his local government.[49] Pedro Duarte was sworn in as mayor of Porto, under a majority capacity, on 5 November 2025.[50]

Notes

  1. ^ Coalition with PSD, IL and CDS–PP.
  2. ^ Supported by People-Animals-Nature (PAN).
  3. ^ Supported by React, Include, Recycle (RIR).
  4. ^ Denotes a main invitee attending the event.
  5. ^ a b c PSD and CDS ran in a coalition, the Democratic Alliance (AD).

References

  1. ^ "Autárquicas 2025 já aquecem. Confira os nomes apontados à Câmara do Porto". Porto Canal (in Portuguese). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Rui Moreira confirma que vice-presidente Filipe Araújo será candidato ao Porto". Público (in Portuguese). 5 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Rui Moreira descola do seu vice e não deixa que use o mesmo movimento para concorrer à Câmara do Porto". Expresso (in Portuguese). 15 February 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  4. ^ Tavares-Teles, Alexandra (16 June 2025). "Autárquicas. Iniciativa Liberal apoia candidatura de Pedro Duarte no Porto". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Autárquicas. Pedro Duarte conquista câmara municipal do Porto". RTP (in Portuguese). 13 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  6. ^ Portugal, Rádio e Televisão de (13 October 2025). "Porto: em noite histórica, Chega quase triplicou o número de votos". Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  7. ^ Portugal, Rádio e Televisão de (27 September 2021). "Noite sem grandes surpresas no Porto com reeleição de Rui Moreira, mas sem maioria absoluta". RTP (in Portuguese). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  8. ^ Renascença (27 September 2021). "Bloco de Esquerda saúda eleição do primeiro vereador na Câmara do Porto - Renascença". Rádio Renascença (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  9. ^ Ralha, Leonardo (7 August 2024). "PS e PSD sob pressão para arranjar candidatos nas maiores câmaras". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Filipe Araújo. "Herdeiro de Rui Moreira", "engenheiro tecnocrata", "geek do ambiente". Temos candidato à Câmara do Porto em 2025?". Porto Canal (in Portuguese). 27 November 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  11. ^ Castro, Adriana (19 February 2025). ""Vice" de Moreira pressionado pelo PSD para não se candidatar à Câmara do Porto". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  12. ^ Inácio, Alexandra Tavares-Teles,Ana Mafalda (15 April 2025). "Miguel Guimarães: "Foi uma desilusão não ser candidato à Câmara do Porto"". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 25 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Com visita ao final da Convenção, Pedro Duarte 'namora' IL (de olho em coligação para o Porto)". Expresso (in Portuguese). 1 February 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  14. ^ a b Portugal, Rádio e Televisão de (2 April 2025). "Pedro Duarte lança-se como candidato à presidência da Câmara do Porto". Pedro Duarte lança-se como candidato à presidência da Câmara do Porto (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  15. ^ Portugal, Rádio e Televisão de (16 April 2025). ""Não conto apoiar nenhum candidato". Rui Moreira neutro na Câmara do Porto quer entrar num período "sabático"". "Não conto apoiar nenhum candidato". Rui Moreira neutro na Câmara do Porto quer entrar num período "sabático" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  16. ^ Costa, Fernando (25 September 2024). "Movimento cívico junta José Luís Carneiro e Rui Rio para "pensar o Porto"". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Pizarro em perda para a Câmara do Porto: PS avalia outros candidatos". Expresso (in Portuguese). 5 September 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Manuel Pizarro eleito candidato do PS à Câmara do Porto". Público (in Portuguese). 7 December 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  19. ^ "Lei n.º 169/99, de 18 de Setembro". www.pgdlisboa.pt. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Eleição dos titulares dos órgãos das autarquias locais" (in Portuguese). Diário da República. 14 August 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  21. ^ Tavares-Teles, Alexandra (16 June 2025). "Autárquicas. Iniciativa Liberal apoia candidatura de Pedro Duarte no Porto". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  22. ^ "CDU lança Diana Ferreira para a Câmara do Porto". www.cmjornal.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  23. ^ Vilarinho, Luísa (10 April 2025). "Sérgio Aires volta a ser candidato pelo BE à Câmara do Porto - JPN". JPN - JornalismoPortoNet (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Ex-PSD é o candidato do Chega à Câmara do Porto". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  25. ^ LIVRE, Administrador LIVRE Administrador (16 June 2025). "Resultados provisórios da 1ª Ronda da Primárias Abertas – Eleições Autárquicas 2025". LIVRE (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Estudante Guilherme Alexandre Jorge candidata-se pelo Volt ao Porto". Porto Canal (in Portuguese). 25 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  27. ^ JPN (29 January 2025). "Nuno Cardoso é candidato independente à Câmara do Porto - JPN". JPN - JornalismoPortoNet (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  28. ^ Lusa, Agência. "Autárquicas. Nós, Cidadãos! e PPM coligados no Porto com nome do ex-autarca Nuno Cardoso". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  29. ^ "O Porto tem mais um candidato e bate recorde de candidaturas à câmara: 12". Público (in European Portuguese). 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Partido Liberal Social candidata ao Porto empresário Luís Tinoco Azevedo". Porto Canal (in European Portuguese). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  31. ^ Redação (30 January 2025). "Tino de Rans apresenta sexta-feira a sua candidatura à Câmara do Porto". Jornal de Notícias (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  32. ^ Cruz, Hermana (2 July 2025). "Vitorino Silva desiste do Porto para apoiar Pizarro e avançar às presidenciais". Jornal de Notícias (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Aníbal Pinto é candidato à Câmara do Porto". Jornal de Notícias (in European Portuguese). 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  34. ^ "Aníbal Pinto desiste da candidatura à câmara do Porto". Radio Renascença (in European Portuguese). 18 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  35. ^ Araújo, Leonor (29 May 2025). "António Araújo confirma candidatura independente à Câmara do Porto - JPN". JPN - JornalismoPortoNet (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Rejeitada candidatura de António Araújo ao Porto por falta de assinaturas". Expresso (in Portuguese). 29 August 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  37. ^ "Este é o nosso compromisso com a cidade". Filipe Araújo Facebook account (in Portuguese). 15 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  38. ^ "None". Manuel Pizarro Facebook account (in Portuguese). 29 May 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  39. ^ "None". Pedro Duarte Facebook account (in Portuguese). 16 June 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  40. ^ "None". CDU Porto Facebook account (in Portuguese). 10 July 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  41. ^ "None". Sérgio Aires Facebook account (in Portuguese). 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  42. ^ "None". Miguel Corte Real Facebook account. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  43. ^ "O problema da habitação, a segurança e os transportes: o debate do Porto". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  44. ^ "Porto em debate na Rádio Observador". Observador (in Portuguese). 26 September 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  45. ^ "Críticas à Amadora, o alegado convite de Pedro Duarte a Filipe Araújo e a definição certa de "renda moderada": o debate do Porto". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). 27 September 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  46. ^ "Eleições Autárquicas 2025 - Debate Porto". RTP (in Portuguese). 30 September 2025. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  47. ^ a b "Comissão Nacional de Eleições Mapa Oficial n.º 2-B/2025" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Diário da República. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  48. ^ "Autarquicas Locais 2025" (in Portuguese). Ministry of Home Affairs. 17 October 2025.
  49. ^ "Pedro Duarte assegura maioria na Câmara do Porto com vereador eleito pelo PS" (in Portuguese). ECO. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  50. ^ "Pedro Duarte tomou posse como presidente da Câmara do Porto" (in Portuguese). Sapo. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.