2025 Sintra local election

Main article: 2025 Portuguese local elections
2025 Sintra local elections
12 October 2025
All 11 Councillors in the Sintra City Council
6 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout50.0% 9.9 pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Marco Almeida Ana Mendes Godinho Rita Matias
Party PSD PS CH
Alliance Always with the People of Sintra[a] The People, Always[b]
Last election 3 seats (VCS)[c] 5 seats, 35.3% 1 seat, 9.1%
Seats won 4 4 3
Seat change 0 1 2
Popular vote 55,088 51,528 38,048
Percentage 33.9% 31.7% 23.4%
Swing 0.4 pp 3.6 pp 14.3 pp
Mayor before election

Basílio Horta
PS

Elected mayor

Marco Almeida
PSD

The 2025 Sintra local election was held on 12 October 2025 to elect the members for Sintra City Council, Sintra Municipal Assembly and the city's 15 parish assemblies.

Incumbent Mayor Basílio Horta, from the Socialist Party (PS), was ineligible for a fourth term.[1] Former Minister of Labour Ana Mendes Godinho was chosen as the candidate of the PS, in a coalition with LIVRE (L) and supported by Volt Portugal (VP),[2][3] while former Deputy Mayor Marco Almeida ran for the third time, this time with the support of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Liberal Initiative (IL) and People Animals Nature (PAN).[4] Meanwhile, Chega (CH) presented the leader of Chega Youth, Rita Matias, as its candidate.[5]

CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) broke away with the PSD, after disagreements regarding the lists and the inclusion of the Liberal Initiative, and will contest the election in a coalition with the People's Monarchist Party (PPM) and the National Democratic Alternative (ADN), with local party councillor Maurício Rodrigues as mayoral candidate.[6] The Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU) repeated their 2021 mayoral candidate and local party councillor Pedro Ventura.[7]

In his 3rd try to reach the office of mayor of Sintra, Marco Almeida (PSD/IL/CDS) was successful, winning nearly 34% of the votes and electing 4 councillors. The PS/LIVRE coalition was close behind, gathering 32% of the voted and also electing the same number of councillors as the PSD led-coalition, four. Chega increased to 23% of the voted and elected 3 councillors. CDU lost its representation in Sintra municipal council for the first time in democracy.[8] Turnout increased with 50% of all registered voters casting a ballot.

Background

Incumbent Mayor Basílio Horta, from the Socialist Party (PS), won a third and final term, with 35.3% of the votes and electing five seats, losing its absolute majority. The coalition between PSD, CDS–PP and their allies, led by Ricardo Baptista Leite, got 27.5% of the votes and elected 4 seats.[9]

Meanwhile, the Unitary Democratic Coalition (CDU), led by Pedro Ventura, managed to hold onto its single councillor, despite a small decrease to 9.0%, while Chega (CH) elected Nuno Afonso as city councillor and got 9.1% of the votes.[9] Nuno Afonso would go on to leave Chega in January 2023 and remained as an Independent councillor.[10]

Candidate selection

The Social Democratic Party regarded 2025 as the perfect oportunity to retake Sintra, due to Basílio Horta being term limited.[11] Several potential candidates were considered, including former Deputy Mayor and two times candidate Marco Almeida,[12] Figueira da Foz Mayor and former Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes,[13] and even television presenter Manuel Luís Goucha.[14] Marco Almeida announced his candidacy in December 2024, stating that he would be a candidate with or without the support of the PSD.[15]

Meanwhile the Socialist Party also had several potential candidates, at a time when some internal polls had the party in third place behind PSD and Chega,[16] such as Deputy Mayor Bruno Parreirão, parliamentary leader Alexandra Leitão,[11] and MP António Mendonça Mendes.[17] Ultimately, the choice fell on former Minister of Labour Ana Mendes Godinho.[18] She ended up negotiating a coalition with LIVRE.[19]

Chega, who lost his own City Councillor after he left the party,[10] also discussed some potential candidates, such as MP Pedro Frazão[20] and the leader of Chega Youth Rita Matias, which was eventually chosen as the party's candidate for Mayor of Sintra.[21]

During the coalition negotiations, PSD decided to make a coalition with the Liberal Initiative and People Animals Nature, while dumping CDS–PP who was seeking to keep their seat in the city council, which caused incumbent City Councillor Maurício Rodrigues to run in a coalition between the CDS–PP, the People's Monarchist Party and the National Democratic Alternative.[22][23]

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.[24][25]

Parties and candidates

Party/Coalition Political
position 		Candidate 2021 result Ref.
Votes (%) Seats
APS[b]
The People, Always
(As Pessoas, Sempre) 		PS Socialist Party
Partido Socialista 		Centre-left Ana Mendes Godinho 35.3%
5 / 11
 [26][27]
[3]
L FREE
LIVRE 		Center-left
to left-wing 		N/a N/a
SCS
Always with
the People of Sintra
(Sempre com os
Sintrenses) 		PAN People Animals Nature
Pessoas-Animais-Natureza 		Syncretic Marco Almeida 3.3%
0 / 11
 [28][4]
IL Liberal Initiative
Iniciativa Liberal 		Centre-right
to right-wing 		2.7%
0 / 11
PPD/PSD Social Democratic Party
Partido Social Democrata 		Center-right 27.5%
3 / 11
PSANC[d]
For Sintra, Our Home
(Por Sintra,
A Nossa Casa) 		CDS–PP CDS – People's Party
CDS – Partido Popular 		Center-right
to right-wing 		Maurício Rodrigues
1 / 11
 [6]
[29]
[30]
PPM People's Monarchist Party
Partido Popular Monárquico 		Right-wing
0 / 11
ADN National Democratic Alternative[e]
Alternativa Democrática Nacional 		Far-right
0 / 11
CH Enough!
Chega! 		Far-right Rita Matias 9.1%
1 / 11
 [5]
CDU Unitary Democratic Coalition
Coligação Democrática Unitária PCP, PEV 		Left-wing
to far-left 		Pedro Ventura 9.0%
1 / 11
 [7]
BE Left Bloc
Bloco de Esquerda 		Left-wing
to far-left 		Tânia Russo 5.8%
0 / 11
 [31]
ND New Right
Nova Direita 		Right-wing Júlio Gourgel Ferreira N/a N/a [32]

Campaign period

Party slogans

Party or alliance Original slogan English translation Refs
APS « As Pessoas, Sempre » "The People, Always" [33]
SCS « Sempre com os Sintrenses » "Always with the People of Sintra" [34]
CH « Sintra na Linha » "Sintra in Line" [35]
CDU « Presta Contas » "Accountability" [36]
PSANC « Por Sintra, A Nossa Casa » "For Sintra, Our Home" [37]
BE « Sintra + Solidária e Sustentável » "Sintra + Solidarity and Sustainable" [38]

Candidates' debates

2025 Sintra local election debates
Date Organisers Moderator(s)     P  Present[f]    NI  Not invited   I  Invited    A  Absent invitee 
APS
Godinho 		SCS
Almeida 		CH
Matias 		CDU
Ventura 		PSANC
Rodrigues 		BE
Russo 		Refs
16 Sep 2025 SIC Notícias Nelma Serpa Pinto P P P P P P [39]
22 Sep 2025 RTP3 Luísa Bastos P P P P P P [40]

Opinion polling

  Exit poll

Polling firm/Link Fieldwork date Sample size APS SCS PSANC CH CDU BE ND O Lead
PS L PAN IL PSD CDS PPM ADN
2025 local election 12 Oct 2025 N/a 31.7
4 		33.9
4 		2.1
0 		23.4
3 		4.6
0 		1.6
0 		0.5
0 		2.2 2.2
CESOP–UCP 12 Oct 2025 4,134 32–36
4/5 		33–37
4/5 		1–2
0 		19–22
2/3 		4–6
0 		1–2
0 		0–1
0 		2–4 1
ICS/ISCTE/
Pitagórica 		12 Oct 2025 5,679 30.4–35.4
3/5 		32.1–37.3
3/5 		1.1–3.1
0/1 		19.4–23.6
2/4 		3.6–6.6
0/1 		1.0–3.0
0 		1.7
Intercampus 12 Oct 2025 5,653 30.4–34.4
3/5 		33.8–37.8
4/6 		0.0–3.7
0/1 		19.3–23.3
1/3 		3.2–7.2
0/1 		0.0–4.0
0/1 		0.0–3.6 3.4
Aximage 17–23 Sep 2025 508 35.0
4 		31.9
4 		1.1
0 		21.9
3 		6.8
0 		1.1
0 		N/a 2.2
0 		3.1
Pitagórica 13–18 Sep 2025 500 30.3
4 		32.1
4 		1.6
0 		24.5
3 		5.5
0 		2.1
0 		0.3
0 		3.6 1.8
ICS/ISCTE 3–14 Sep 2025 803 32
4 		30
4 		2
0 		28
3 		3
0 		1
0 		1
0 		3 2
Aximage 11–22 Jul 2025 502 39.5
5 		2.2
0 		38.2
5 		0.3
0 		11.3
1 		2.3
0 		2.9
0 		N/a 3.3
0 		1.3
2025 Legislative election 18 May 2025 N/a 23.8
(3) 		6.0
(0) 		2.1
(0) 		6.5
(1) 		24.8
(3) 		0.1
(0) 		1.3
(0) 		26.1
(4) 		3.1
(0) 		2.5
(0) 		0.2
(0) 		3.7
(0) 		1.3
2024 EP election 9 Jun 2024 N/a 32.9
(5) 		4.6
(0) 		1.8
(0) 		9.6
(1) 		24.2
(3) 		1.8
(0) 		13.1
(2) 		4.5
(0) 		5.1
(0) 		0.2
(0) 		2.4
(0) 		8.7
2024 Legislative election 10 Mar 2024 N/a 28.8
(4) 		4.6
(0) 		2.9
(0) 		5.9
(1) 		22.5
(3) 		1.5
(0) 		21.2
(3) 		3.3
(0) 		5.4
(0) 		0.2
(0) 		3.9
(0) 		6.3
2022 Legislative election 30 Jan 2022 N/a 44.0
(7) 		1.9
(0) 		2.3
(0) 		6.3
(0) 		20.7
(3) 		1.3
(0) 		N/a 0.3
(0) 		9.7
(1) 		4.7
(0) 		5.3
(0) 		N/a 3.5
(0) 		23.3
2021 local election 26 Sep 2021 N/a 35.3
5 		N/a 3.3
0 		2.7
0 		27.5
4 		9.1
1 		9.0
1 		5.8
0 		N/a 7.3
0 		7.8

Results

Municipal Council

Summary of the 12 October 2025 Sintra City Council elections results
Parties Votes % ±pp swing Councillors
Total ±
PSD / IL / PAN 55,088 33.88 0.4 4 0
Socialist / LIVRE 51,528 31.69 3.6 4 1
CHEGA 38,048 23.40 14.3 3 2
Unitary Democratic Coalition 7,531 4.63 4.4 0 1
CDS–PP / PPM / ADN 3,438 2.11 N/a 0 N/a
Left Bloc 2,647 1.63 4.2 0 0
New Right 739 0.45 N/a 0 N/a
Total valid 159,019 97.79 2.2 11 0
Blank ballots 2,085 1.28 1.4
Invalid ballots 1,517 0.93 0.8
Total 162,621 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 324,885 50.05 9.9
Source:[41]

Municipal Assembly

Summary of the 12 October 2025 Sintra Municipal Assembly elections
results
Parties Votes % ±pp swing Seats
Total ±
PSD / IL / PAN 52,347 31.97 0.6 11 0
Socialist / LIVRE 50,688 30.96 2.8 11 2
CHEGA 39,521 24.14 14.3 9 6
Unitary Democratic Coalition 8,908 5.44 4.2 2 1
CDS–PP / PPM / ADN 3,760 2.30 N/a 0 N/a
Left Bloc 3,504 2.14 4.5 0 2
New Right 905 0.55 N/a 0 N/a
Total valid 159,633 97.49 2.1 33 0
Blank ballots 2,478 1.51 1.3
Invalid ballots 1,634 1.00 0.8
Total 163,745 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 324,885 50.40 10.2
Source:[41]

Parish Assemblies

Results of the 12 October 2025 Sintra Parish Assembly elections
Parish % S % S % S % S Total
S
SCS APS CH CDU
Agualva e Mira-Sintra 28.0 6 35.3 7 25.1 5 5.4 1 19
Algueirão–Mem Martins 31.3 7 30.6 7 25.4 6 5.5 1 21
Almargem do Bispo 35.5 5 28.4 4 26.6 4 4.3 - 13
Belas 34.2 7 28.3 6 24.9 5 5.6 1 19
Cacém e São Marcos 28.7 6 30.0 6 27.3 6 5.6 1 19
Casal de Cambra 15.5 2 53.9 8 21.4 3 3.3 - 13
Colares 42.1 6 27.5 4 14.3 2 7.6 1 13
Massamá e Monte Abraão 32.2 8 34.9 8 19.4 4 6.2 1 21
Montelavar 38.7 4 37.4 4 14.1 1 4.8 - 9
Pêro Pinheiro 49.5 5 18.9 2 21.1 2 3.7 - 9
Queluz 23.5 5 33.0 7 27.1 6 7.9 1 19
Rio de Mouro 29.2 7 31.8 7 25.8 6 6.3 1 21
Santa Maria e São Miguel, São Martinho e São Pedro de Penaferrim 42.5 9 26.1 5 18.4 4 5.5 1 19
São João das Lampas 46.2 7 25.1 3 19.6 3 3.9 - 13
Terrugem 39.2 4 33.9 3 19.7 2 3.0 - 9
Total 32.4 88 31.6 81 23.4 59 5.6 9 237
Source:[42]

Aftermath

Marco Almeida was sworn in as mayor on 1 November 2025, under a minority.[43] A few days later, Almeida forged a coalition deal with Chega, giving him an absoute majority, however, the Liberal Initiative removed their political confidence in its sole councillor for being against the deal with Chega.[44]

Notes

  1. ^ Coalition with PSD, IL and PAN.
  2. ^ a b Coalition with PS and LIVRE, also supported by Volt Portugal.
  3. ^ In the 2021 election, PSD/CDS/A/MPT/PDR/PPM/RIR had 4 seats and 27.5% of the votes, PAN had 3.3% and failed to elect any seats, while IL had 2.7% and also failed to elect any seats.
  4. ^ Coalition with CDS–PP, PPM and ADN.
  5. ^ The National Democratic Alternative (ADN) was in 2021 called the Democratic Republican Party (PDR).
  6. ^ Denotes a main invitee attending the event.

References

  1. ^ Ralha, Leonardo (19 November 2024). "Sintra começa a definir o pós-Basílio com indícios de viragem à direita". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. ^ ECO (7 July 2025). "Candidata do PS em Sintra apresenta-se na freguesia de Ventura e promete 10 mil casas até 2030". ECO (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b ""Ameaça da extrema-direita" leva Volt Portugal a declarar apoio a Ana Mendes Godinho em Sintra". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 19 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b Lopes, Maria (18 July 2025). "PAN junta-se ao PSD e à IL no apoio a Marco Almeida para a Câmara de Sintra". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b Lusa (29 January 2025). "Rita Matias será candidata do Chega à Câmara de Sintra". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b Lopes, Maria (29 June 2025). "Descontente com aliança do PSD com IL, CDS-PP sai da coligação e concorre sozinho em Sintra". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b Tavares, Jorge (13 February 2025). "Pedro Ventura é o candidato da CDU à Câmara Municipal de Sintra - Sintra Notícias". sintranoticias.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Marco Almeida derrota Ana Mendes Godinho e conquista Sintra para o PSD". Expresso (in Portuguese). 13 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  9. ^ a b Notícias, Sintra (27 September 2021). "PS vence autárquicas em Sintra - Sintra Notícias". sintranoticias.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b Lopes, Maria (27 January 2023). "Nuno Afonso, fundador do Chega e principal adversário de Ventura, deixa o partido". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b Ralha, Leonardo (7 August 2024). "PS e PSD sob pressão para arranjar candidatos nas maiores câmaras". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Marco Almeida apontado como candidato do PSD em Sintra". Sintra Notícias. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Eleições autárquicas: Santana Lopes cria confusão em Sintra, Marco Almeida avança". Expresso (in Portuguese). 19 December 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  14. ^ "PSD pondera Manuel Luís Goucha para presidente da Câmara de Sintra". A Televisão (in European Portuguese). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Em Sintra o "PSD não pode ceder a chantagens de proto-candidatos que se indicam a si próprios"". Sintra Notícias. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Sondagens internas dão vitória ao PSD na Câmara de Sintra". SOL (in Portuguese). 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  17. ^ Tavares, Rita. "Basílio Horta. "Altura de PS avançar com candidato em Sintra é agora"". Observador (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  18. ^ Henriques, Susete (28 January 2025). "Ana Mendes Godinho é a aposta do PS para a Câmara de Sintra. Tem "uma visão moderna das cidades e do país", destaca Pedro Nuno Santos". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  19. ^ Lusa (6 July 2025). "PS e Livre apresentam coligação autárquica em Sintra contra "retrocessos"". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  20. ^ Ralha, Leonardo (19 November 2024). "Sintra começa a definir o pós-Basílio com indícios de viragem à direita". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Rita Matias será candidata do Chega à Câmara de Sintra". SOL (in Portuguese). 28 January 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  22. ^ Lopes, Maria (29 June 2025). "Descontente com aliança do PSD com IL, CDS-PP sai da coligação e concorre sozinho em Sintra". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  23. ^ Ralha, Leonardo (19 August 2025). "Vereador do CDS avança para Câmara de Sintra: "Não pode continuar a ficar para trás face a concelhos vizinhos"". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Lei n.º 169/99, de 18 de Setembro". www.pgdlisboa.pt. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Eleição dos titulares dos órgãos das autarquias locais" (in Portuguese). Diário da República. 14 August 2001. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Ana Mendes Godinho é a candidata do PS à Câmara de Sintra". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 January 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  27. ^ Lopes, Maria (1 July 2025). "Livre assina coligação com PS em Sintra, mas não deve conseguir eleger na câmara. Compromisso tem 60 medidas". PÚBLICO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  28. ^ Notícias, Sintra (4 February 2025). "Marco Almeida é candidato do PSD à Câmara de Sintra - Sintra Notícias". sintranoticias.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  29. ^ "PPM e ADN coligados com CDS-PP na corrida à Câmara de Sintra". Observador (in Portuguese). 17 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Acórdão (extrato) n.º 752/25, de 13 de agosto". Diário da República (in Portuguese). 13 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  31. ^ "Autárquicas: Concelhia do BE aprova candidatura de Tânia Russo em Sintra". www.lusa.pt. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  32. ^ "Autárquicas 2025". NOVA DIREITA (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  33. ^ "As Pessoas, sempre". Ana Mendes Godinho Facebook account (in Portuguese). 16 July 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  34. ^ "Autárquicas Sintra 2025". PSD Sintra Facebook account (in Portuguese). 20 July 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  35. ^ "None". Chega Sintra Facebook account (in Portuguese). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  36. ^ "None". CDU Sintra Facebook account (in Portuguese). 20 August 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  37. ^ "None". CDS Sintra Facebook account (in Portuguese). 6 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  38. ^ "A nossa candidatura está aí por uma Sintra + Solidária e Sustentável. Junta-te a nós e traz mais alguém!". BE Sintra Facebook account (in Portuguese). 6 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  39. ^ "Eleições Autárquicas: o debate de Sintra". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 16 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  40. ^ "Debates Eleições Autárquicas 2025". RTP (in Portuguese). 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ "Autarquicas Locais 2025" (in Portuguese). Ministry of Home Affairs. 18 October 2025.
  43. ^ "Marco Almeida toma posse como presidente da Câmara de Sintra" (in Portuguese). SIC Notícias. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  44. ^ "Sintra governada por PSD e Chega. IL tira confiança a vereadora eleita" (in Portuguese). ECO. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
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